Raffles Institution (Year 1-4)

[mathsparks]

Kiasu person:

Hi all, I'm new to this forum...just curious.... when you mentioned earlier that there was no need to prepare for the RA selection test, what exactly did you mean? And for RA sciences, are the questions tested year 3/4 standard, or are they totally not in the RP? What kind of materials and sources should one focus on in order to clear the RA Selection test? Please reply soon... THANK YOU in advance...

Hi,
Haven't seen kohjl around in a long time and there doesn't seem many active RI parents here, so looks like you won't get your answers which I'm also curious to know.

[mathsparks]

hi carrot,

don't be so upset. :hugs:
one door closes, another one opens. There's still the psle result that can get him in. Goodluck!

[ruyu]

anyone knows what time the half day selection test on 24th july is?

Seems there is not many parents with their ds shortlisted

[randomguy]

Hi,


I'm not kohjl, just dropping by, new to this forum too. Just to answer your queries:
\"when you mentioned earlier that there was no need to prepare for the RA selection test, what exactly did you mean?\" : I don't know what he means, maybe he takes humanities RA. However, for science RA, you do need to prepare for the test, as the questions are of pretty high standard. Something between o-level & a level stuff. Of course, some questions test critical thinking other than just textbook knowledge, but most require experience in higher level materials. For the science RAs, I would recommend you to borrow the RA textbook from the school library 1st. They are: Chemistry: Advanced Chemistry (Oxford Publishing), Biology: Biology (7th or 8th edition will suffice) (authored by Campbell & Reece, Pearson publishing), Physics: College Physics (Young and Geller, Pearson publishing). I have no idea what happens for Humaninities, although if you are applying for Geography, you should read lots of newspapers, and borrow \"Geography-An Integrated Approach (Don't know the author or publisher, sorry!)
If you are in RISC, mug your ESP notes, they are very very helpful.

Hope that helped! Cheers.

Kiasu person:

[quote]kohjl wrote:

Hi edanson

My son's unedited comments are below as requested. Hope they adequately answer your queries.

Regards.

=========================================================

There is no need to \"prepare\" for the selection test or the interview, although it ALWAYS HELPS (hint hint) to read up more on the subject you are interested in. The student does not need to be reading way ahead of the school syllabus, but he definitely needs to have a strong interest in the subject as well as a natural talent in that subject.

I have a few friends who do have a strong interest in the subject, but are not able to cope with the coursework. They unfortunately suffer in their RA subjects as it is no fun not understanding and eventually gaining nothing from RA classes. **You have been warned.**

I am in a science RA and humanities RA. But sorry I don't really want to disclose which RAs I'm in... just in case SOME people read this. People might be able to identify me. Heh heh.

And have a nice day too.

Hi all, I'm new to this forum...just curious.... when you mentioned earlier that there was no need to prepare for the RA selection test, what exactly did you mean? And for RA sciences, are the questions tested year 3/4 standard, or are they totally not in the RP? What kind of materials and sources should one focus on in order to clear the RA Selection test? Please reply soon... THANK YOU in advance...[/quote]

[mathsparks]

:welcome: randomguy, thanks for replying.


Does RA in Science cover all 3 sciences or there're separate RAs for the 3 Sciences. ds' interest is in Physics but not Bio, can he try for RA in Physics?

Those who make it to RA are mostly RISC members (Science Club)? How about Galileo boys or boys who are neither of them?

:oops: I quite kancheong though ds is only in sec1 coz not many ri parents and students hang around here, so I must grab you while you're here.

[Cheers_for_Kids]

Hi everyone. My boy is also in P6 and trying for DSA as well. He will be going for the NUS Maths & Science Camp this Sat. Understand that results will be out in early Sep while HCI and RI will be out only in end August. The wait to know if the child has been offered a place is agonizing. Anyways, I have told him that DSA option is just an alternative. Regardless of whether he is being offered a place or not, he should still work hard for PSLE.

[randomguy]

Hi there,


There are separate RAs for the 3 sciences. Eg, I'm in bio and chem. The choices of RA subjects are: Bio, chem, physics, math, history, literature and geog. Your ds can apply for any RA he would like, as long as his Sec 2 GPA exceeds 3.6 in total, and he obtains a GPA of 4.0 and above for the subject of application (eg, 4.0 for Sec 2 combined science, in order to apply for any of the science RAs).

I'm not very familiar with the Galileo program (If I'm not mistaken, I think 2010 is its pioneering year). However, with regards to the science club, I would say members have a definite advantage over others, as the RISC ESP program for lower sec members give them a vast exposure to advanced topics ahead of their peers. However, since there are less than 20 RISC members per Sec 2 batch, and about 50 students is the 3 RAs combined, there is more than enough chance for non-members. ESP (Experience science program- conducted for lower sec members by the RISC EXCO, held every Friday from 2pm-3.30pm) is also open to 10 non-members, who can register for the sessions on the signup sheet at the centralized notice board, so if they have the interest, non-members can also attend the trainings.

Cheers.

mathsparks:

:welcome: randomguy, thanks for replying.

Does RA in Science cover all 3 sciences or there're separate RAs for the 3 Sciences. ds' interest is in Physics but not Bio, can he try for RA in Physics?

Those who make it to RA are mostly RISC members (Science Club)? How about Galileo boys or boys who are neither of them?

:oops: I quite kancheong though ds is only in sec1 coz not many ri parents and students hang around here, so I must grab you while you're here.

[mathsparks]

Thankyou, randomguyfor your replies. It is very helpful. The books you mentioned are RA textbooks. Would it be too tough for sec1s to read?


PS: I’m thinking of buying 2nd hand at bras basah. DS likes to spend his freetime researching on wiki, so I’m thinking of getting him the books to start him off.

[randomguy]

You're welcome. If he has uncertainties, I'm sure his science teachers or seniors (PSLs?) will be happy to entertain his queries. Or he could research on the internet.


With regards to the Person books (Biology and College Physics) I would recommend borrowing from school library 1st though, unless you are willing to pay for 1 brand new. That's because the books contain unique online access codes to online science portals that some of the RA teachers use. If bought second hand, the codes have probably been activated, and you might have to buy a new book eventually for the code.

Cheers.

mathsparks:

Thankyou, randomguyfor your replies. It is very helpful. The books you mentioned are RA textbooks. Would it be too tough for sec1s to read?

PS: I'm thinking of buying 2nd hand at bras basah. DS likes to spend his freetime researching on wiki, so I'm thinking of getting him the books to start him off.

[mathsparks]

randomguy:

Hi there,


There are separate RAs for the 3 sciences. Eg, I'm in bio and chem. The choices of RA subjects are: Bio, chem, physics, math, history, literature and geog. Your ds can apply for any RA he would like, as long as his Sec 2 GPA exceeds 3.6 in total , and he obtains a GPA of 4.0 and above for the subject of application (eg, 4.0 for Sec 2 combined science, in order to apply for any of the science RAs).

hi randomguy,
hope you're still loitering around. sec2 gpa exceed 3.6. Is this the average of all exam. subjects including HCL? Oh, and thanks for the tip abt the access code thingy. Those books you mentioned are texbks for RA students, would they be too cheem for the sec1s to read? Anyway, ds cant attend the ESP, coz he's got ccas on fridays.

Thanks for your reply.