UBKmom:

Everyone is concentrating on HCI Q class and stringent promotion criteria, however, at the end of the day, how many % still get promoted to JC? I read 95%, so what is the problem? I felt this whole thing have been blown out of proportion. If we want a fear free and stress free, guaranteed through train system to JC, we probably have to migrate to Finland .

Yes possibly at the end it is a handful at 5%. But why cut at a stringent criteria and go thru appeal, retest, moderation etc. the other schools seems to take a different approach of being less stringent but manage the poor performers nonetheless. The impact to the psyche of the general students is different.

PS: my ds is not in SIP. But he is worried the subjects he take next year (Yr 3) will affect his MSG. This shows the impact of such a school policy.

kiasuparent2012:

Nebbermind:

perhaps the issue here is whether the stringent promotion criteria was designed to filter out those who will struggle in the JC level so that they can move on to somewhere that is more suitable for their capability, or for the purpose of maintaining the stellar statistics of the school.

Yes, it is a bit of both. However, if you look at the promotion criteria, it's not \"stringent\" at all for the academic subjects, given the academic rigour and expectations the school is expected to have.

A maximum 3.0 MSG is not \"stringent\" at all, given that that means an average B3 for every academic subject.

However, the requirements for the non-academic subjects Oral Communications (OC) and Independent Studies (IS) may be a bit stringent should the students not be as outspoken (though a student doesn't need to be animadvert frequently to pass) or do as well in projects.

I think for those students in the CSE of the cohort it is probably not a big deal for 3.0.

If we compare with other IP schools - RI, DHS, NJC - their promotion criteria all the way to JC is GPA 2.0 -- which would be equivalent to HCI MSG 6!

And assuming papers' difficulty is the same between HCI and RI, a HCI MSG of 3 is equivalent of an RI 3.2 (based on the grading scale someone posted earlier in this thread) which would be considered reasonably good i believe. And how could an OK grade becomes the threshold and constant threat (from year 2 to year 3) for streaming students to 'O' level classes, and a potential to be posted to poly after sec 4.

And from what I know this new stringent criteria was introduced only last year. The rule change while the game is going on.

I have a lot of respect for what the school does in other areas, such as the community invovlement programme, promoting students independence, critical thinking and outspokenness, and many oppties available. The one thing I can't figure out their rationale is these promotion and O-level class criterias.

HairyOrange:

Structured IP and IP takes the same EOY papers. Only Q prepares for O levels.

No they are not the same paper, at least not for some subjects including Science. Their exam time table for the same subjects are different.

Nebbermind:

This thing about 2-3 yrs ahead...what kind of school are we comparing with?

if like that, then can almost skip class after yr4.

When at sec 2 you give your child 0-level ten year series and he finds it easy for topics that has been taught, but yet have problems with school tests.

rains:

Nebbermind:

Even if the school had made known about the B3 requirement, I supposed most parents wouldn't blink an eye coz it's the 65~69 range or thereabout.

Who would have doubt in achieving that when most were getting A* for all subjects. One would also assume the standard to be pitched a yr or two ahead their peers elsewhere.

Sigh, true ... until parents see the papers with their own eyes, perhaps. I for one wouldn't expect to see what I did for A levels to be in a sec one paper - that's perhaps my greatest gripe, and shock, and wake-up call, of all.

I agree with you. The papers can be 2-3 years ahead of their level.

The way I see it, given the proportion of students in CSE, which is about 1/4-1/3 of the cohort - these students would have no problem tackling the syllabus. The bottom 10% or less will go to O-level. However, I think those in the middle segment may struggle. These students would have done well in O-levels, but may struggle and lose self-esteem and interests.

Cheerfuldad:

The school is using MSG and not L1R5.


Regards

Yes I understand, I didn't mean L1R5 in the true O-level sense. What I want to know is that since there can be different number of subjects taken by different students, for promotion purposes (sec 3 to 4, and sec to JC), do they calculate the MSG over all subjects taken or only the MSG over 1 language and 5 best subjects?

joe0599:

mkkiasu:

[quote=\"joe0599\"]Finally sec2 is over!! How times fly, my DS is finally going to sec3 next year...


I would like to check with current sec2 parents, what subject combination are your DS choosing for sec3? There is a new econ subject for selection among other IHE eg geo, history and lit...do you think choosing econ is a better choice if we think about JC subject combi?

My DS is choosing 3 triple sci and most probably econ.

Anyone going SMTP or BCP etc?

Any details about this Econs elective available such as it's syllabus? This seems to be a new subject for choice.

Yes, this is the first time econ is available as a choice. The school don't seem to have given any detail on this subject but he has decided to take it up.

What is the subject combi of your DS?[/quote]He is now considering Geography for IHE.

What is the implication of not taking Biology? For promotion to JC how many subjects' grade does the school use to calculate the MSG - is it all or L1R5?

joe0599:

Finally sec2 is over!! How times fly, my DS is finally going to sec3 next year...


I would like to check with current sec2 parents, what subject combination are your DS choosing for sec3? There is a new econ subject for selection among other IHE eg geo, history and lit...do you think choosing econ is a better choice if we think about JC subject combi?

My DS is choosing 3 triple sci and most probably econ.

Anyone going SMTP or BCP etc?

Any details about this Econs elective available such as it's syllabus? This seems to be a new subject for choice.

When does the selection of subject combination for sec 2 going sec 3 take place ?

WeiHan:

Jennifer:

Those now voicing their displeasure at HCI have their own valid reasons in doing so. Not simply becos they r more vocal than other schools' students.

I haven't seen any \"valid reasons\". Maybe you can share what you know?

Their test/exam questions are usually harder than O levels. Even at lower sec level the questions difficulty can already be more than that. So much so that the students will find O level ten-year-series easy.

That said, these are supposedly smarter students and should be stretched, which otherwise they will find the subjects too easy. The challenge is balancing how much to stretch.