2009 is the first year MOE introduces the \"Refined Promotion Criteria\" for N-level students. What it means is to make N-level syllabus closer to O-level. For example, NA math textbook used to be 4 chapters less than Express Math textbook. So by Sec-4, N-level students study 16 chapters less than the Express students. Now the difference is only 2-chapter per year. Prior to 2009, Sec-4N student entering into Sec-5 always find themselves a far distance away from their counterparts doing Sec-4 Express. Most N-level school teachers will tell their students that they are 3-grades down from their Express counterpart when they go into Sec-5. The 16-chapter gap is too great for them to leap over. This is why only 60% of the Sec-5 student made it to Poly.For parents, one question naturally comes to mind is: If the difference between N-level and O-level is so narrow, why not pursue the path of O-level instead. Why opt for Normal stream if a student has to study almost as much as an Express student?Even if the child is not the “study kind”, he needs only to work hard in Sec-1 and Sec-2. Sec-3 is always the hardest year in secondary education, but most school would allow student to repeat. In this manner, the student will still make it to O-level in 5 year. So, for http://singapore.math-chinese-tutor.com/normal-academic-streaming-in-secondary-school/, a better path is:Sec-1-NA --> Sec-2 Express --> Sec-3 Express --> Repeat Sec-3 if cannot cope --> Sec-4 O-LevelFor for http://singapore.math-chinese-tutor.com/normal-technical-streaming-in-secondary-school/, a better path is:Sec-1-NT --> Sec-2 NA --> Sec-3 Express --> Repeat Sec-3 if cannot cope --> Sec-4 O-levelThis will work only for students entering into Sec-1 N-level now. To all Sec-1 N-level students, all the best.

There should be a system where children only need to go to school to learn and not continue to tuition centres to learn. This will certainly save all of us parents loads of money.