New L1R4 system for JC entry

[zac's mum]

Announced 6 March 2025:

Students applying to JC from 2028 to use L1R4 score, requiring five O-level subjects instead of six

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/students-applying-to-jc-from-2028-to-use-l1r4-score-requiring-five-o-level-subjects-instead-of-six

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/junior-college-jc-admission-l1r5-l1r4-criteria-4980771?cid=internal_sharetool_iphone_06032025_cna

Affects current Sec 2 batch. My son will be the final batch doing the L1R5 system. Sad.

[bbbay]

This post is deleted!

[bbbay]

I do not think it will reduce stress level. Currently with L1R5, many students are still take more than 6 O level subjects and working towards best grades they can achieve in all subjects, as safety net. This same safety net mindset will still prevail with the new L1R4 system.

[floppy]

This post is deleted!

[floppy]

@bbbay

While the need to score well in the subjects that matter doesn’t change, a 7-subjects combo (L1R4 + 2 back up) is way less stressful than a 8-subjects combo (L1R5 + 2 back up).

For L1R5, students are effectively required to do well in both subjects in 2 of the following categories: maths, sciences or humanities, especially if their mother tongue is weak. Hence, the popularity of 2 language, 2 maths, 2 science and 2 humanities combo.

With L1R4, you are only required to do well in 1 subject from the categories if your MT is good, or both subjects in only 1 of the categories if your MT is weak. That’s more ‘doable’ for a lot of students.

P/S: L1R4 will further reduce the incentive of doing a triple science combo

[SG_KP1]

The bonus points are also reduced from a maximum of four points to three points (excluding the language elective programmes).

Now only down one point if you don’t have HMT or MSP/CSP/BI.

Or on equal standing if you only get 1 point from CCA (and have HMT or MSP/CSP/BI).

[bbbay]

I got to know about the new L1R4 system from Education minister parliamentary speech on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/R3lDaE5NCls?si=IHbj98yWEMgd5sgz

He shared once he asked a group of JC students whether it will help to reduce stress if he reduces their syllabus by half. Those students replied they will be more stress bcos they will then have to compete down to 3 decimal places in their scores.

Another remark is , it wont help if we compete to last decimal point and continue pile on what MOE removed or reduces

The minister commented he is under no illusion that while we reduce the subjects counted in JC admission, we won’t go far if mindsets to compete do not change.

The key take away is while we can change our education systems , society and parents mindsets have to change too.

[sharonkhoo]

@bbbay said in New L1R4 system for JC entry:

I do not think it will reduce stress level. Currently with L1R5, many students are still take more than 6 O level subjects and working towards best grades they can achieve in all subjects, as safety net. This same safety net mindset will still prevail with the new L1R4 system.

I agree that stress may not reduce, at least for the more competitive students/parents. Stress is to a large extent self-induced. But those who are willing to let go a bit should find it less stressful.

What caught my eye in the ST article I read this morning was the statistic that only 27% of O level students went to JC, while 43% went to poly. I recall that it was intended that about a third would go to JC and another third to poly - at least that is what I remember from some years ago. My concern is that poly education is more applied and hands-on (which is good for many), but does it mean that fewer students are reading widely, thinking deeply, and getting practice in writing well, more extensively, and investigating issues more rigorously? And universities are leaning that way too. What does that say for the future of thought and discourse in Singapore?

[zac's mum]

@floppy at the moment i hear of kids choosing to do all 3 sciences at upper sec because they really cannot decide which science to give up (there are several other reasons of course).

I think this change might force them to really think more carefully which 2 sciences they plan to offer at O and A levels. The JC unofficial pre-requisite system is a big factor because eg at most higher-tier JCs they cannot take H2 Bio if did not take O level Pure Bio. Likewise for H2 Physics I believe - need O level Pure Physics + Amath?

Anyway, my DS is struggling badly with Amath despite A1 for Emath. Too abstract for him. If under new system he prob won’t even take that combi cos aiming for Arts stream. Really more time & energy to breathe & destress.

[zac's mum]

@slmkhoo from Zac’s school briefings, what was shared is that many good O level scorers are now choosing Poly over JC. Several reasons:

1. The hot career path right now is ICT-related. People are attracted by the big bucks salary, and Poly offers the fastest way to enter the industry.

2. Some kids have been interested in coding/robotics and computer programming since young (their passion). This includes kids in SST. They may be good in Math & Physics, but poor in languages, and/or particularly their MT. Poly allows these bright kids to specialize in their deep interests, without the stress of having to buck up their MT and/or English to a distinction.

3. Ditto the above group of kids interested in Poly, they may excel more in project work. So they have a good portfolio of robotics etc competitions, to showcase for EAE to Poly. Don’t need to or don’t like to rely on a one-off national written exam (O levels) as a measure of their IQ.