Secondary 2 Streaming

[ChiefKiasu]

For me, my mind was settled ever since they forced me to dissect cockroaches for \"science\" in Sec 2. That was so disgusting to me that biology was never in my mind when I set foot on a technical stream. Yucks... (there goes my medical career... )

[zac's mum]

ChiefKiasu\" post_id=\"2047472\" time=\"1637642484\" user_id=\"3:

For me, my mind was settled ever since they forced me to dissect cockroaches for \"science\" in Sec 2. That was so disgusting to me that biology was never in my mind when I set foot on a technical stream. Yucks... (there goes my medical career... )

I bore with the cockroach dissection in secondary school, and the frog dissection (its heart was still beating though the teacher claimed it was dead!) in JC…all this because I really did love Biology.

However, when I discovered that for a Medical Degree, I’d have to dissect a human body in Anatomy lessons, I baulked and said no way. Too close for comfort.

[Zeal mummy]

And for some, it’s just the sight of blood that turns you off. Overcome the fear and Choose wisely!

[bbbay]

Qoo10.cashew@gmail.com\" post_id=\"2047469\" time=\"1637642261\" user_id=\"195917:

I walked the path... so i can share my kid's experience.  Chronology:

SCHOLARSHIP:
Singapore Government Scholarship (Overseas)

OVERSEAS UNI OFFER:
LSE Economics (L101). L101 is an extremely competitive course, e.g. all A's in SG GCE \"A\" Level (4 or 5 H2) no guarantee to get in... 4,128 applicants worldwide competing for 265 places.

LOCAL UNI OFFERS:
1. NUS Double Major in Economics and Statistics.
2. NTU Double Degree in Engineering and Economics.

GCE \"A\" LEVEL:
Stream: Science (PCME + H3 Econs)
Academic Unit (AU): 12 (min. is 10 AU).
UAS: 87.5/90.0 (for local uni only).
H3 Economics: Could be useful for scholarship, some scholarship issuers require 11 AU or higher.  Need to be at least a \"Merit\" grade. Go for H3 only if your kids are truly... truly talented in the H3 subject... H3 is not just an extension of H2, H3 no tutorial, take-up rate is not high, but not everyone made it... kids are easily influenced by their peers at this stage and want to decide on things themselves, talk it out with your kids as H3 can make or break their \"A\" Level.

GCE \"O\" LEVEL:
BASED ON SUBJECT COMBINATION SELECTED IN SEC 2
L1R5 = 6
Aggregate Score = 2 (4 bonus pts due to HMT, CCA)

L1 - English or HMT.  HMT is backup, 2 bonus pts for JC if HMT is C6 or better, exempted from JC H1 Chinese + UAS of 10 pts if HMT is Distinction at \"O\" Level.
R1 - Combined Humanities (History & Social Studies) or Pure Geography as backup. Be careful here... R1 is compulsorily a Humanities Subject (many kids stumbled due to R1).
R2 - A/Maths... for JC Science Stream.
R3 - Pure Chemistry... for local uni engineering courses.
R4 - Pure Physics... for local uni engineering courses.
R5 - E/Maths, Chinese or Pure Geography.

Moral of story... Secondary 2 subject combination is highly critical... it affects many things ahead regarding your kids, so do strategise carefully for them, they surely need parental guidance at this stage... select triple sciences only if your kids are truly talented... many kids earn scholarships in the arts, humanities too... be realistic about your kids' abilities which can be improved but cannot be insisted.

Where is the strategise ? The have to be talented part?

[MrsKiasu]

I think the backups and the subj important to Uni courses need take note…

[floppy]

AAA09\" post_id=\"2047291\" time=\"1637548880\" user_id=\"14484:

Hi,
My child is not able to take A math for Sec 3 next year, he is being offered POA instead. If he take A math on his own given private tutor, will he be allowed to register to take O level next year? MOE allows such case?

No.
You can't be a private candidate and a school candidate in the same seating (year).

[sembgal]

You may want to check with the school if out of stream subject is allowed. The school has to give approval to register the additional subject for your child to take for O level exam.


Another advice is not to take pure Biology with pure Geography or pure History as they are very content-heavy and requires more memory work.

Taking E Maths and A Maths with pure Physics is a good choice as it kills 3 birds with 1 stone if your child is very strong in Maths foundation since lower Sec.

[ChiefKiasu]

sembgal\" post_id=\"2048144\" time=\"1637809996\" user_id=\"5559:

You may want to check with the school if out of stream subject is allowed. The school has to give approval to register the additional subject for your child to take for O level exam.

Another advice is not to take pure Biology with pure Geography or pure History as they are very content-heavy and requires more memory work.

Taking E Maths and A Maths with pure Physics is a good choice as it kills 3 birds with 1 stone if your child is very strong in Maths foundation since lower Sec.

Is A Maths really the same as E Maths? I know they are both \"maths\", but it's like an accountant (e-math) vs a astrologist (a-math).

[Skyed]

ChiefKiasu\" post_id=\"2048155\" time=\"1637810623\" user_id=\"3:

Is A Maths really the same as E Maths? I know they are both \"maths\", but it's like an accountant (e-math) vs a astrologist (a-math).

completely different!

amath is definitely a must for those thinking of going to jc (as key concepts like differentiation, integration, quadratic inequalities etc are taught here). without amath background, a student would likely struggle a lot with jc math (assuming h2 math)

[AAA09]

Thanks to all for your advice. I have checked with MOE and their advice is to register A- Math for O level through the school. I have talked to the school HOD and they did not say no but discouraged me from doing so. My son on the other hand is determined to take A math even though his appeal was rejected. So what I can do now is to let him learn his A math privately and appeal again. Hopefully all goes well. Thanks.