@Patrick:


Thanks for your response and advice! :goodpost:

I've done well in the O-Levels and have chosen to go for the IB programme. First choice, hopefully can get in.

sigh... that's the way our education system is..I don't understand why they must make the streams so rigid.

I know of friends on primary school who were in the \"worse\" class and took foundation subjects, yet did Higher Chinese too. They went into Normal stream and did well academically. It is unfair that they have to stay in secondary school for an extra year. In fact, I don't see the rationale behind using a national exam as a \"funnel\" to determine whether a student is \"good enough\" to... sit for another national exam! :scratchhead:

Do you mind sharing, did you go to JC, Poly or ITE after your O-Levels?

We would like to know more about the N(T) programme and the pathways after finishing secondary school.

TheWriter, thank you for your response and sharing! :udaman:

My mum feels that it will be better for her to go to the Normal stream. She has seen us (my sister's 3 older siblings) gone through secondary school and she feels that my sister will not be able to take the stress/pressure/academic rigour.


Well, actually it is quite the opposite. She is not at all stressed or very much bothered/concerned about her studies...

However, all 3 of us older kids have gone through Express stream, so we do not know much about the Normal stream.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I know,

N(A) is similar to Express, just that after 4 years, take N-Levels, then the following year (Sec 5) either take O-Levels, or go to Poly under PFP.
I find this quite a silly idea. Take 2 national exams in consecutive years, and both are about the same standard??

N(T) is supposed to be a more hands-on and vocational approach (???) but from one person whom I know, is it also the same, study, go for tuition etc., then they take N(T)-Levels after 4 years and then go to ITE.

What is the difference between ITE and Poly education?
Can N(T) students go to Poly directly after secondary school? From the education progression chart thingy from MOE, N(T) students have to go ITE, the Poly... why?

http://www.cutoffpoint.sg/images/sg-edu ... dscape.jpg

Your advice is greatly appreciated!

Hi there


I have a younger sister in Primary 6 this year. She is attending a convent school, but it is an \"average\" one, not too competitive in terms of academics..

She has, somewhat, been struggling with academics since P1.
Based on last year's results, her English marks are in the 40s, Science in the 30s and Maths in the 20s. Exempted from Chinese (and can't really speak or read Chinese, like an angmoh )

My mother has tried to opt for her to do at least Maths at Foundation level, however, the school objected, saying that they can help her to do better at the standard level. Main reason is that, apparently, once you take a Foundation subject, you can only go to the Normal stream.

However, my sister's maths tutor advises that it is better to do Foundation because, with her marks now, she could fail the PSLE if she gets a U grade for a subject :sick:

Nerve-wrecking.

@twilight:


So textbooks aren’t necessary?

How about guidebooks/past-year papers, does the school recommend or ask you to buy any?

emoh:

would this help ?

http://www.sji.edu.sg/subpage.php?id=383

Thanks!

also,

does anyone know if the IB schools (ACSI, SJI - not the international ones) use textbooks? I know this is a weird question to ask, but after seeing how most of my seniors who did A-Levels mostly used photocopies or school-printed notes, I can't help but wonder how the IB schools do it...

...and especially since the IB textbooks at Popular (went there to recee ) are pretty expensive.. about ~$50 for one.

:?

Are the syllabuses for the various IB subjects available online? I've been sieving through the IBO website and doing many google searches, but I can't seem to find anything...

For example, you can find the detailed O-Level and A-Level syllabuses from SEAB website, with information on the assessments, subject content etc. However for IB, I can only seem to find general overviews of the 6 Groups.

Your help is greatly appreciated!