All About GEP

[a child]

comfy:

Thanks once again, a child for replying. I thought I better take this opportunity to ask you all these questions as you mentioned that you are 'slacking in the hols'. I din known that this is :offtopic: as I thought that it is a GEP but in another place (sec school). Anyway, whether it is on or off topics, I appreciate your time and sharing on it. :snuggles:

Haha this is the primary school section 'All about GEP'. (well, the secondary school section doesn't have one, so ...) But really, in SBGE there aren't many (or even any in some cases) differences as compared to the normal mainstream RGS curriculum. The GPAs are a bit higher, and the ex-GEPers and 270+ mainstreamers are placed together so the environment's better, the teachers may be a bit better but not a noticeable difference, and the main difference is actually - as the Director of Talent Development told the GEPers - the special super-selective programs offered in Sec 2 such as Odyssey of Mind, of which a very disproportionate 80+% are ex-GEPers. However, I'm not really interested in these programs, and even though they're prestigious in the school, instead I've applied to some programs the caught my interest and which appeal to me, same with some other friends. So basically there's not much difference.

And yep - feel free to ask me the questions you have, I'll be lazing around KSP chatting and reading (and laughing) for the next few weeks, and I'm only busy for a few days - out with friends and everything. Going to see the musical WICKED tomorrow with classmates (and hopefully also catch the Prologue sale on our way) - heard wonderful reviews about it - and I'm also getting braces consultation soon. I hope they don't hurt too much.

[a child]

Faun:

achild,


Thanks so much for sharing info. No, i'm not kiasu or kiasi. In fact I am planning to bring dd for a shoestring travel to India during the June holiday before the PSLE. For my other kid, we did the same, go Disneyland and detox just before PSLE.

Can I check with you is AMEC worth joining? Dd has been invited but I'm hesitant as there's also SYF competition next year. Plus with what you just decribed on the workloar, now I really think it's not wise. For me, first priority is enough rest, all else is secondary, at least for now. There is only 1 year of childhood left.

You sound like a pretty balance student. You apPear to me to have good awareness of yourself and your environment. For this, I congratulate you. As for Mrs Tan, she's my son's current principal. We like her alot.

Sorry, no offence intended with that comment. :imsorry:

Anyway yep I also went overseas during the June holidays as did some other friends of mine. No worries about PSLE as ample practice will be given after the June holidays. Though 3-4 papers a day for homework (on some days, not all, or I probably wouldn't have survived) may seem like some monstrous load but I assure you the teachers eased us in like experts and we didn't really notice the pressure during that time. By the time the load was at its heaviest, we've already had practiced and did papers pretty fast, so it was very manageable. Everybody was able to turn in their work on time.

I'm sorry, I don't remember any AMEC. Probably didn't get invited to it. I've never been in performing arts, so I don't know the SYF schedule either. Anyway more about the workload so that hopefully you can make a more informed choice - P6 first-half has a similar pace to that of any other year, or even if the workload's heavier the teachers did such a superb job of transitioning us that I didn't notice.

Haha thanks for the compliments. Anyway I though Ms Deborah Tan was president of Singapore Sports School? Nothing to do with a primary school?

[a child]

vlim:

Hi faun,

this yr p6 geps projects are the same as 'a child' cohort... And thanks a child .. Old auntie here was scratching my head trying to recall the p6 projects.. To add on to the ss projects, as mentioned earlier, my ds did 2 projects which they were supposed to come out with their own Ss related topics.. With teacher approval on the proposed topic ( I supposed) , the kids will start to do research, google search and / or simple survey for the write up ... Example of the topics are obesity, myopia etc .. How they affect locally and globally ... As what a child has mentioned, your child will be brief in detail by the teachers .. So not to worry now .. Try her best for ca1 and sa1 which are important for DSA and then after 1 st semester Chiong for prelim and psle ....

Haha I think that the aforementioned project with your own proposal, I think that's the SS portfolio. Anyway yes, CA1 and SA1 are important, but don't be too stressed. Study hard, study well, and the eventual result if it is not so good may not be weighted so much. I'm relatively good at math (not bragging), topped my school's cohort - which is very, very weak in Math - in P5, got a few (not so spectacular) certificates and for RGS's own math competition I was top 10 (gosh even I forgot my own position - but I know it was top 10 because I received $80). Anyway here's the problem: I scored 72/100 for my SA1, due a combination of factors but mainly a dangerous dose of overconfidence and a serious lack of practice. I managed to get A*s for Prelims and PSLE, but that's not the question. Question: How was I to explain this to the RGS admissions committee? (I DSAed to Nanyang also, but that didn't require an interview. Apparently they found an answer for my ridiculously low math marks by themselves). But to RGS, should I say that I was 'lazy'? Admit that my math deproved by leaps and bounds in the intervening months? My answer in the end was an honest explanation of my mistake. I made it a point during the interview to talk about what I could have done better and what I was already doing to improve (basically great amounts of self-reflection plus some handy practice assessments) and I got accepted. So really it's not the end if you make even a big mistake for CA/SA. Just explain your mistake, and what you'd do in the future. School's meant to be a journey of self- and knowledge-exploration, so as long as you've gained something and you've learnt something and the admissions people know it, it should be fine. Don't stress too much, and enjoy the last leg of the journey!

[RachelSmiley]

Hi a child


Wanna be my god-daughter? :hi5:

[comfy]

a child:

..... The GPAs are a bit higher, and the ex-GEPers and 270+ mainstreamers are placed together so the environment's better, the teachers may be a bit better but not a noticeable difference, and the main difference is actually - as the Director of Talent Development told the GEPers - the special super-selective programs offered in Sec 2 such as Odyssey of Mind, of which a very disproportionate 80+% are ex-GEPers. ...... Going to see the musical WICKED tomorrow with classmates (and hopefully also catch the Prologue sale on our way) - heard wonderful reviews about it - and I'm also getting braces consultation soon. I hope they don't hurt too much.

I know this is :offtopic: again but can you explain this GPA (maybe can pm me if it is too lengthly). I thought it just A, B,C grade depending on your score. And about Odyssey of Mind, what is it all about? Oh yah, my dd needs to put on braces too when the time come, so do let me know whether it is painful or not. Thks. Note: in order not to post twice, you just need to press the Submit button once (be sure to click once) then wait for it to be posted (able to view it on screen).

[Faun]

comfy:

And about Odyssey of Mind, what is it all about?

I think it is the Secondary School version of DI that the geppers do. DI is Destination Imagination. It is one of the Individualised Study Options (ISO) projects they can opt to do in P5. My dd did it and she had a lot of fun.

[Faun]

vlim:

As a child has mentioned, your child will be brief in detail by the teachers .. So not to worry now .. Try her best for ca1 and sa1 which are important for DSA and then after 1 st semester Chiong for prelim and psle ....

Thanks vlim, I did get a bit worried as I'm trying hard to cut down her activities to only what is necessary. Her CCA commitment is very high. Now they ask her take another CCA, the AMEC. So it's good to know what's coming so can decide and plan better. Happy holidays!

[a child]

RachelSmiley:

Hi a child


Wanna be my god-daughter? :hi5:

Haha well I'm not always this angelic. Or am I? :imanangel:

[a child]

comfy:

a child:

..... The GPAs are a bit higher, and the ex-GEPers and 270+ mainstreamers are placed together so the environment's better, the teachers may be a bit better but not a noticeable difference, and the main difference is actually - as the Director of Talent Development told the GEPers - the special super-selective programs offered in Sec 2 such as Odyssey of Mind, of which a very disproportionate 80+% are ex-GEPers. ...... Going to see the musical WICKED tomorrow with classmates (and hopefully also catch the Prologue sale on our way) - heard wonderful reviews about it - and I'm also getting braces consultation soon. I hope they don't hurt too much.

I know this is :offtopic: again but can you explain this GPA (maybe can pm me if it is too lengthly). I thought it just A, B,C grade depending on your score. And about Odyssey of Mind, what is it all about? Oh yah, my dd needs to put on braces too when the time come, so do let me know whether it is painful or not. Thks. Note: in order not to post twice, you just need to press the Submit button once (be sure to click once) then wait for it to be posted (able to view it on screen).

There are many types of GPA, e.g. 5-point scale, 4-point scale, scales with 1.0 being best and some with the highest point being best. In RGS it's a 4-point scale, and a 4.0 is highest possible grade - the perfect score. The score of each subject is awarded a letter grade, A+, A, B+, B, etc. and has a corresponding grade value. E.g. in RGS A+ = 4.0, A = 3.6, B+ = 3.2, B = 2.8, etc. with a 0.4 difference between each letter grade. From the GPA of the individual subjects an overall GPA is derived. In RGS, that's the average of the GPAs of the core 5 subjects (English, Mother Tongue, Math, 1 Science, 1 Humanities) and best 2 of the remaining subjects (any other examinable subject - can be humanities/science/third language/Music elective/Special art program, etc.) And then you get a GPA on a 4.0 scale.

Faun:

comfy:

And about Odyssey of Mind, what is it all about?

I think it is the Secondary School version of DI that the geppers do. DI is Destination Imagination. It is one of the Individualised Study Options (ISO) projects they can opt to do in P5. My dd did it and she had a lot of fun.

Yes, Odyssey of the Mind is like DI, except more complicated. It's split into the performance and technical sections. For performance you're supposed to put up a show based on a topic - I can't remember specific examples because I'm not very interested in the program, but there's always one to do with a line from a Shakespeare play. For technical, you're supposed to put performance incorporating a machine you've built - this includes stuff like robots and small mechanisms that can bear tons of weight.

[a child]

Faun:

vlim:

As a child has mentioned, your child will be brief in detail by the teachers .. So not to worry now .. Try her best for ca1 and sa1 which are important for DSA and then after 1 st semester Chiong for prelim and psle ....

Thanks vlim, I did get a bit worried as I'm trying hard to cut down her activities to only what is necessary. Her CCA commitment is very high. Now they ask her take another CCA, the AMEC. So it's good to know what's coming so can decide and plan better. Happy holidays!

Sorry but I'll cut in a bit here.

Well I'd say that you know your child best, so the decision about this should be yours. I have a friend who has 4 CCAs which aren't even the slack type - there's sports and performing arts (with the competitions like SYF coming in the package), and she manages to do best in cohort in all the math competitions and has a 3.94 GPA. Other friends don't do that well with little commitment. I think maybe the best thing to do is to talk to your daughter about the commitment and if she's eager and has the determination to do it, it will definitely be possible and such an activity would definitely be beneficial to her development in the long run.