Methodist Girls' School (Secondary)

[CowMooMoo]

jangoh\" post_id=\"2003851\" time=\"1606285857\" user_id=\"24822:

CowMooMoo\" post_id=\"1957355\" time=\"1578159516\" user_id=\"183405:

[quote=pandabear88 post_id=1955147 time=1577152848 user_id=31976]My child is joining the MGS O Levels program. I would like to find out more about the Sophia Blackmore Academy in particular - how many classes are there, is it subject based e.g. humanities, Maths & Science or covering all subjects, what is the cut off point & promotion criteria..... Appreciate any insights into this beyond what is available on the MGS website?

hi, i know you were redirected but i'll post my answer here in direct response to your query

I was in the SBA at MGS (now IP) and there are usually 3 classes for SBA, but based on 2018's intake there happened to be only two (1I and 1E), one for Math and Sciences and the other for Languages (as long as you get an A* for said area, your child will be automatically posted to one of the SBA classes). Usually, there'll be three SBA classes (1E, 1I and 1O), one for both areas and one more for all-rounders; people who got A* for at least one subject in both areas and is in the O Level program will be in said class). Cut-off point for SBA is 250, if she was previously from MGS Primary but 255 for non-affiliated. Assuming she is already in MGS, promotion criteria is that she must pass Language Arts as a subject whole for end-of-year overall grade and get an overall pass for all subjects. Regarding lessons, depending on your class, for example if you are SBA Math and Science there will be a different math book the students get to use, same as IP students (if you're not in said class you are still free to purchase it for additional revision), emphasis is mostly spread out equally but if you are in the SBA *blank* subject-oriented classes only slightly a bit more, but other than that, that's about it. SBA students also get to take one additional non-examinable compulsory subject called Philosophy, Thinking, and Knowledge (PTK) which the IP girls take, and will be beneficial to your child if she is planning to pursue the IP route in Y3 or going to ACSI after the O' Levels in Sec 4.

I do hope your girl will enjoy her time at MGS and her Orientation, because I had a hand in planning some of the games, haha ^^

Hi, may i ask please:
1. what is the latest cut off for SBA
2. how many girls moved from SBA to IB after sec 2
3. how many girls moved from O to IB
thanks![/quote]1) there's no definitive cutoff for SBA, at first they said the range was 250+ but if there's excess (and more likely to be), as long as DD gets A* for minimally one subject and three As even if you get 244 or something then you are eligible to be enrolled into SBA
2) when the jump program started there were like 10-12 girls shifting each year (from 2015(?)-2018) but i think the numbers decreased over the years? i think in 2019 y3 cohort had like 9 girls and then from my year on it was only 8 out of 50-70+ girls applying? and i know the next cohort (2021 y3) there are only 8 as well so i think the school is trying to stagnate the number of girls accepted in here
3) sba is just for advanced classes ahahha they still take the o levels after 4 years but most of the girls moving from express to ip are from sba

[ksp210]

We’re also considering MGS IP for our DD. We have a preference for IB over A-levels, and MGS appears to be the only option for girls. Of course, it is a great school for many other reasons.


One concern we have is the school’s emphasis on religion. We are not religious, but neither are we anti-religion. Both of us went to religious schools too, but in neither of our cases was the student body particularly religious. We’re perfectly fine with regular prayers, scriptures on walls, etc, but wonder if religion plays an important role in student life. Are the students themselves primarily from religious families? Would a non-religious student feel left out?

We are particularly interested in hearing from MGS parents who are not religious. Are our concerns misplaced?

Thanks.

[spud2345]

Hi, we’re considering MGS IP for my DD. I understand that 80% of the places in MGS Secondary are reserved for MGS Pri students due to affiliation. Would anyone be able to advise if 80% of the places in their IP classes are reserved for MGS Pri students as well? Thanks!

[coast]

spud2345\" post_id=\"2005624\" time=\"1606634970\" user_id=\"56717:

Hi, we’re considering MGS IP for my DD. I understand that 80% of the places in MGS Secondary are reserved for MGS Pri students due to affiliation. Would anyone be able to advise if 80% of the places in their IP classes are reserved for MGS Pri students as well? Thanks!

No. IP is purely by merit (with the exception of NYGH with affiliation @ COP 250).

[phtthp]

spud2345\" post_id=\"2005624\" time=\"1606634970\" user_id=\"56717:

Hi, we’re considering MGS IP for my DD. I understand that 80% of the places in MGS Secondary are reserved for MGS Pri students due to affiliation. Would anyone be able to advise if 80% of the places in their IP classes are reserved for MGS Pri students as well? Thanks!

This 80% reserved maximum cap for the Affliates, which you are refering to, is only meant for the O-level track. Not for IP

IB (MGS) :
everybody entered by Merit only, is open to public. Zero reservation !

So, if your daughter is applying for MGS (IB), 100 % seats are there available awaiting her, as long as she is able to meet the IB required prevailing mark-to-market IB cut off point, she can join IB (MGS)

[spud2345]

Thanks Coast and phtthp. I saw on the MGS website as well that they offer up to 50% of the IP places during the DSA phase. Does this mean that only 50% will be left for those applying for IP using PSLE results? And for those who got offered IP during DSA phase, any idea what’s the min cut off point they have to meet? Thanks!

[phtthp]

If IB (MGS) track already consumed 50 % of the Y2021 Sec 1 seats via DSA, means left with only remaining balance 50% vacancies for entry via Tscore


For those candidates who have accepted DSA offer, all they need is minimum Tscore 200

[autolycus]

phtthp\" post_id=\"2005629\" time=\"1606635632\" user_id=\"35251:

So, if your daughter is applying for MGS (IB), 100 % seats are there available awaiting her, as long as she is able to meet the IB required prevailing mark-to-market IB cut off point, she can join IB (MGS)

Small correction: applying for MGS(IP) leading to IB at ACS(I); must always remember it's IP-leading-to-something since IP (Integrated Programme) really means a 4-year course, then no O-levels, then some pre-U qualification for the next 2 years... total 6 years.

[synthesis77]

autolycus\" post_id=\"2005647\" time=\"1606638014\" user_id=\"16143:

phtthp\" post_id=\"2005629\" time=\"1606635632\" user_id=\"35251:

So, if your daughter is applying for MGS (IB), 100 % seats are there available awaiting her, as long as she is able to meet the IB required prevailing mark-to-market IB cut off point, she can join IB (MGS)

Small correction: applying for MGS(IP) leading to IB at ACS(I); must always remember it's IP-leading-to-something since IP (Integrated Programme) really means a 4-year course, then no O-levels, then some pre-U qualification for the next 2 years... total 6 years.

It's best worded as: IP (IB). [Had seen this format in some formal/official document in the past].

[autolycus]

synthesis77\" post_id=\"2005978\" time=\"1606724961\" user_id=\"32304:

It's best worded as: IP (IB). [Had seen this format in some formal/official document in the past].

Yes, that's how we abbreviated it. But for informational purposes, it's clearer to tell people that it is an IP that leads to either the IB or the A-levels. In the MGS case, indeed it is IP(IB) for short.