Nanyang Girls' High School [*IP]

[Swc]

octbride\" post_id=\"2000941\" time=\"1604194288\" user_id=\"1083:

Thanks @mommyng and @swc

How to do well for history and geo? Any tutor for geo and history to recommend ? Is it true that nygh papers are much tougher than other schools ?

My daughter sec1 this year and she can’t gasp the concepts .. worries me as I don’t even know how to teach and just know that there is a msg computation 😰

DD did not make use of any outside guidebooks as she feels that the notes provided by the school are more than sufficient. However, for Geography, she does a fair bit of research on real-life case studies to supplement her school notes.

Also, before eoy, after she practised answering past year papers, she will book consultation sessions with her teachers to get their feedback on her answers as well as clarify anything she was not sure of. She seems to find such sessions very useful. The sessions might not be individual coz teachers sometimes group a few into one session. You might want to ask your DD to seek help from teachers through such sessions.

[Ganjiongspider]

mommyNg\" post_id=\"2000937\" time=\"1604190878\" user_id=\"2838:

I think by Sec 3, most girls take 7-8 examinable subjects, so msg is calculated based on all 7 or 8 subjects? Eg, LA, HCL, IM1, IM2, IH, Chem, Physics, biology/lit/geog/history. There is usually one Sec 3 SIP class every year, so that’s about 20+ girls?

Swc\" post_id=\"2000927\" time=\"1604187452\" user_id=\"178585:

[quote=octbride post_id=2000926 time=1604184442 user_id=1083]Hi, is it most of the students able to continue IP program and what’s % of students that will be on O levels prog ?

Sorry for being ignorant, I just realize that need to have msg of 4.0 to continue in the program after receive the report book on Friday.

Is msg calculated using the average of subject grade and anyone can shed some light how the calculation is done ? Food studies and art etc have no scores at all.

From sec 1 to sec 3, MSG is calculated based on core subjects ie LA, HCL, Maths, Science, Geog and History. All the rest of the subjects are graded by not calculated into MSG. A1 - MSG 1, A2 - MSG 2 and so on. Final MSG is the mean of the score for the 6 core subjects.

I am not sure how many % each year has to do SIP. I do know that 2019 sec 1 - all promoted as per DD's form teacher. But this year, no such info.

[/quote]Just to correct it - for S3, the MSG is calculated based on 8 or 9 subjects, not the 6 core subjects. Meaning if you opt for 9 subjects-combi in S3, you still must meet the promotion criteria of MSG 4.0, based on your 9 total subjects. So if you opt for 8 subjects-combi, you also must meet the promotion criteria of MSG 4.0 based on your 8 total subjects. But come to Sec 4, the promotion criteria to HCJC is based on L2R5, only 7 subjects, & must meet promotion criteria of MSG 3.0. So those taking 9 subjects still can choose which is the best grade to add in the L2R5 when come to S4. Of course the stake is higher in S3 if you have 9 or 10 subjects-combi, coz you are competing with those who take 8 subjects-combi, but meeting the same promotion criteria lo.

So grading, all subjects weightage are 1.0. A1: 75% abv; A2: 70-74%; B3: 65-69%; B4: 60-64%; C5: 55-59%; C6: 50-54; D7: 45-49%; E8: 40-44%; F9: 0-39%. Based on schools' WA1 (10%), WA2 (15%), WA3 (15%) (different % weightage for different level)--- 40% + 60% for EOY = Overall grade for each subject. Then total overall grade for all subjectis divided by the total subjects, will be the MSG for that year.

For instance, 8 subjects LA: A1, HCL: A2, Chem: B3, Phy: A1, Bio: B4, IM1 : A1, IM2: A1, Geo: B4.
(1+2+3+1+4+1+1+4 = 17/8 = 2.13 MSG

For 9 subjects LA: A1, HCL: A2, Chem: B3, Phy: A1, Bio: B4, IM1 : A1, IM2: A1, Geo: B4, Lit: A2
(1+2+3+1+4+1+1+4+2 = 19/9 = 2.11 MSG

[LeeTaiTai]

Octbride… i feel the same about History and Geography. It is not just the subjects but as a whole, the directions from the school are not clear too at times. For LA, they uploaded the past year exam paper close to 1 month before the eoy and the teacher told them the format of the exam a few weeks before when someone asked. Not sure if its normal for secondary schools… it s a big jump and the kids are expected to grasp quickly and understand well within a short time. This is probably the IP system but the jump is quite steep for aome. Really glad parents here are generous to ahare and I thought all these imformation should come from the achool to begin with. I had a one to one conervsation with their form teacher and somehow feel discussion is superficial.

[Ganjiongspider]

LeeTaiTai\" post_id=\"2000961\" time=\"1604208368\" user_id=\"17608:

Octbride.. i feel the same about History and Geography. It is not just the subjects but as a whole, the directions from the school are not clear too at times. For LA, they uploaded the past year exam paper close to 1 month before the eoy and the teacher told them the format of the exam a few weeks before when someone asked. Not sure if its normal for secondary schools.. it s a big jump and the kids are expected to grasp quickly and understand well within a short time. This is probably the IP system but the jump is quite steep for aome. Really glad parents here are generous to ahare and I thought all these imformation should come from the achool to begin with. I had a one to one conervsation with their form teacher and somehow feel discussion is superficial.

I shared the same view as you previously with regards to humanities subjects. The school should put in effort in these subjects as well, or educate the teachers to be really passionate in teaching, give clear directions, or be more delicate to job in providing suggested response from past year exam qs (not last minute though), give handouts what sort of key words/answers or marking scheme they are looking at etc. Fixing consultations are like just rubbing the surface . Some \"specify\" teachers just gave students worksheets to do, expect to handout, but never mark & return forever. Funny. Don't suggest we bring up this matter to teachers. Students ask teachers for it, & the teachers kept \"forgetting\" it. So how to chase, & even bring up to teachers. Some teachers don't like parents to call or write to them, they will expect your dd to be independent & talk to them. But even if gals approach them, like what you say, is sort of superficial, never pinpoint.

Just to share personal opinions, passionate teacher will have a great impact on the students. I understand teaching is not a easy job, but just feel that ever since dd in S1 till S3, the teachers from HCL, Science & Math dept are doing a great job!! I hope the school can invest equally & support given for all subjects to provide holistic education to the students!?

[octbride]

Hi leetaitai and ganjiongspider

Thanks for feedback. I asked my dd how did the teacher assess and shared the same sentiment as well.

[Swc]

LeeTaiTai\" post_id=\"2000961\" time=\"1604208368\" user_id=\"17608:

Octbride.. i feel the same about History and Geography. It is not just the subjects but as a whole, the directions from the school are not clear too at times. For LA, they uploaded the past year exam paper close to 1 month before the eoy and the teacher told them the format of the exam a few weeks before when someone asked. Not sure if its normal for secondary schools.. it s a big jump and the kids are expected to grasp quickly and understand well within a short time. This is probably the IP system but the jump is quite steep for aome. Really glad parents here are generous to ahare and I thought all these imformation should come from the achool to begin with. I had a one to one conervsation with their form teacher and somehow feel discussion is superficial.

Past year papers should be available on the portal I think from term 2 onwards.

[Imp75]

My girls are sec 2 and 4. Personally I feel that as there are no written papers for H and G at year end, perhaps more emphasis was placed on guiding the girls for HI and GI which are considered major research group assignments for Sec 1, something the girls may need more hand-holding. At sec 2 this year, I think the girls are taught enough exam related questions on how to answer essay type questions etc. My girls have no tuition and do not go for extra consultation and they did not so too badly (80s) so I think the normal teaching system in sch is working fine? At sec 4, there are a lot of content so whether doing well or not also depends on a lot of general knowledge too.

[LeeTaiTai]

Swc, actually for some subjects yes… for LA specifically it was put up much later. It was a bit of messy in instructions and the teacher actually ask them to do the papers in class but never return them before exam eg lit response. I am not sure if its just my girl’s teacher. Anyway was a little disappointed with the way the school runs. After appointment with her Geo teacher in term 2, she doesnt feel her question was answered. Maybe my girl still didnt grasp the technique.of answering from the teacher. Other little things like PTM was cancelled on account the issue on ipad.is to be updated but I feel.its good to.discuss about other items on the plate of any and keep.parents.connected. I do agree with Ganchiongspider that hcl.math and science teachers are much better and my dd fav subjects. The quality of teaching affects the students interest in the subjects. Just feel the communication is not there somehow, hope . its just sec 1 and not the whole dept is like that. I.was expecting more from a top school perhaps.

[Swc]

I must say DD had wonderful History and Geography teachers for both sec 1 and sec 2. So definitely not a case of whole department run badly.

[LeeTaiTai]

Imp75\" post_id=\"2000967\" time=\"1604215103\" user_id=\"2358:

My girls are sec 2 and 4. Personally I feel that as there are no written papers for H and G at year end, perhaps more emphasis was placed on guiding the girls for HI and GI which are considered major research group assignments for Sec 1, something the girls may need more hand-holding. At sec 2 this year, I think the girls are taught enough exam related questions on how to answer essay type questions etc. My girls have no tuition and do not go for extra consultation and they did not so too badly (80s) so I think the normal teaching system in sch is working fine? At sec 4, there are a lot of content so whether doing well or not also depends on a lot of general knowledge too.

Thanks for sharing, will take note and monitor her progress. As this is a unique year, we arent sure if the assignments are replacing some written work due to C19 hence less emphasis on answering techiques too. Your girls did well without help.. will ask mine to do some reading during the holidays.