Vevey\" post_id=\"2134167\" time=\"1716433434\" user_id=\"1350:

Based on personal & friends' sharing over the decade, it is quite common for schools to look at overall results in sec 2. Some schools excluded music & PE (letter grade instead of marks in lower sec) as they do not offer them as an Olevels subjects.

Most will set minimum criteria to take up certain subjects so my guess is that this particular school is trying to assign a ranking score by giving double weightage to maths & sci instead of a 2-step evaluation for each affected subject.

Perhaps you would like to check w the school or senior parents in that school whether it is something new (then more room for negotiation) or has it been this way all along?

Usually I would suggest to find out more about sec 3 subject combination during sec sch open houses. We were disappointed previously when the school was unable to open a class for my child's favorite (& somewhat critical to his post sec ed in terms of portfolio) subject due to lack of interested students in his stream that year & had to compromise ourselves to fit into the school's \"combo menu\", taking an \"irrelevant\" subject.
At least we had tried our best to do our due diligence.

Our school has just changed a new principal this year, so i dunno if this 12-subject calculation is new. In any case, this system seems to benefit my child because he is quite an all-rounder in the 12 subjects (none too terrible), and also he doesn’t meet what other schools set eg min A2 to take A maths and pure sciences.

Schools will always have a caveat that the combi allocated will be dependent on merit first, and then whether there is sufficient demand/resources. Perhaps my child’s preferred combi (also not a popular one) will eventually not be granted, so…we’ll see…

Happy to report that my child got his preferred combi of 8 subjects (2L, 2M, 2S, and 2 humanities). Indeed the 12-subject calculation benefitted him (I asked him to give his best in all of them, not neglecting any, and he did). And also he had tuition for math & science (all along his weakest).

I hate that the sg system is so heavily weighted on STEM, but looking back i have no regrets that i paid for the math & science tuition. Even if all we wanted was the ability to choose his preferred 2 humanities

Came across this YouTube video webinar on choosing Sec 2 subject combi:


“Let Teacher Teddy (Xuan Ming) and Teacher Tony of Blue Tree Education share their personal experiences / opinions and a rough idea of what subjects Secondary 2 students should choose for their [Sec 3] subject combinations.”

https://youtu.be/2D3XpbnA4z4

Here is another video that i came across, but it elaborates more on the Humanities subjects & how to decide on which:

https://youtu.be/qv--0vcH6FI?si=mL8HN2i1GkZJ8hp7

Vevey\" post_id=\"2134167\" time=\"1716433434\" user_id=\"1350:

Based on personal & friends' sharing over the decade, it is quite common for schools to look at overall results in sec 2. Some schools excluded music & PE (letter grade instead of marks in lower sec) as they do not offer them as an Olevels subjects.

Most will set minimum criteria to take up certain subjects so my guess is that this particular school is trying to assign a ranking score by giving double weightage to maths & sci instead of a 2-step evaluation for each affected subject.

Perhaps you would like to check w the school or senior parents in that school whether it is something new (then more room for negotiation) or has it been this way all along?

Usually I would suggest to find out more about sec 3 subject combination during sec sch open houses. We were disappointed previously when the school was unable to open a class for my child's favorite (& somewhat critical to his post sec ed in terms of portfolio) subject due to lack of interested students in his stream that year & had to compromise ourselves to fit into the school's \"combo menu\", taking an \"irrelevant\" subject.
At least we had tried our best to do our due diligence.

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2133945\" time=\"1715840677\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2133945 time=1715840677 user_id=53606]
Yes this is how i understand many schools do it, ie if want to take A maths, need min A1-2 for lower sec maths, if want to take pure science, need min A1-2 for lower sec science. For low to mid-tier schools.

But my above posted 12 subject criteria is set by my son’s school. Just wondering how uncommon it is.

(For higher tier Express schools, i understand that A math and pure science are the default and compulsory.)[/quote]

Vevey\" post_id=\"2134167\" time=\"1716433434\" user_id=\"1350:

Based on personal & friends' sharing over the decade, it is quite common for schools to look at overall results in sec 2. Some schools excluded music & PE (letter grade instead of marks in lower sec) as they do not offer them as an Olevels subjects.

Most will set minimum criteria to take up certain subjects so my guess is that this particular school is trying to assign a ranking score by giving double weightage to maths & sci instead of a 2-step evaluation for each affected subject.

Perhaps you would like to check w the school or senior parents in that school whether it is something new (then more room for negotiation) or has it been this way all along?

Usually I would suggest to find out more about sec 3 subject combination during sec sch open houses. We were disappointed previously when the school was unable to open a class for my child's favorite (& somewhat critical to his post sec ed in terms of portfolio) subject due to lack of interested students in his stream that year & had to compromise ourselves to fit into the school's \"combo menu\", taking an \"irrelevant\" subject.
At least we had tried our best to do our due diligence.

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2133939\" time=\"1715835078\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2133939 time=1715835078 user_id=53606]
I know different schools set different criteria for sec 2 streaming (it’s not regulated by MOE). But someone please tell me it’s not uncommon to have this in Express track:

Students will be ranked on their total score of all 12 subjects:
1. English
2. Mother tongue
3. Math
4. Science
5. History
6. Geography
7. Literature
8. Art
9. Music
10. PE (including Napfa results)
11. FCE
12. D&T

Furthermore, math & science are doubly-weighted aka doubly-counted in the overall total.

Meaning:
13. Math
14. Science[/quote]

phtthp\" post_id=\"2133940\" time=\"1715836538\" user_id=\"35251:

Not true.

At end of Sec 2, Secondary schools only take in consideration or factor in those subjects that formulate your L1R5 (O level). In other words, those non core Sec 2 subjects like PE, Art, Music, FCE, D&T, usually, these are out ! Not factored in.

So, what then are your \"CORE\" Sec 2 subjects identified, being taken into consideration, for end of Sec 2 streaming, into choosing (selecting) your Sec 3 subject combination ?

Of course, will definitely include your

1) two basic languages:
English + Mother tongue.


2) your (Maths & Science), obviously, without any doubt.


3) your Humanities.
That is your Sec 2 (Literature + History + Geography)

At this point in time, now that u have already reached the end of Sec 2, u got to decide for yourself :-

Amongst these 3 subjects (History, Geography and Literature), which one

- do I have more interest, in ?

- do I tend to do better, or analyse & understand, better in ?

- do I have a natural flair (strength) in or towards ?


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

Next question, then arises -

Over & above those essential core subjects named & factored in above,
then,

under what unusual situation(s) or circumstances, will they consider your end of Sec 2 grades in
(Art / Music / PE / Design & Technology ) ?

They will come in handy & useful, if you (an end of Sec 2 student) decide to take up certain specialized O level subjects domain, that are related to Art, PE, Music or Design & Technology. Yes, indeed, there are such specialized O level subjects available, at the National O level exam. If you were to look under the umbrella of all the O level subjects to be sat for each year (batch), these unusual subjects are all there.
And Yes, there are minority students taking such specialized subjects, though not many.

Daddy with one son\" post_id=\"2112179\" time=\"1688359804\" user_id=\"102861:[quote=\"Daddy with one son\" post_id=2112179 time=1688359804 user_id=102861]
My son is in Sec 1 in HCI. Can you tell me about his options when it comes to Sec 2 streaming?

Where can I find this information online? There does not seem to have this information on the HCI official webpage.[/quote]

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2109600\" time=\"1685063799\" user_id=\"28674:

Just to add that some kids may take A maths and still struggle with H2 maths. So before deciding to try so hard to have your daughter take A maths, with the possibility of struggling with H2 maths at JC, do check if she really has interest, aptitude and ability in both maths and sciences.

phtthp\" post_id=\"2109599\" time=\"1685063410\" user_id=\"35251:

Without a SOLID foundation
in A-Maths (O-level),
even if
your kid managed to pass the admission entrance tests in JC (1), because your kid happen to do well in Elementary Maths (O-level),

he (she), the pupil, may still struggle with A-level Maths in JCs.

Blissedsher\" post_id=\"2109591\" time=\"1685056841\" user_id=\"23814:

Thanks for your quick replies.

I think our main problem is math results also affect her chance in getting pure science . So what I meant is A math is together with pure science .

If we don't get Amaths we cant take pure science. It's detrimental for a child wanting to go JC .and i feel it's too early for a child to face such an important checkpoint that will change their pathways.

Blissedsher\" post_id=\"2109595\" time=\"1685060214\" user_id=\"23814:

I maybe wrong but seems art stream also needs Amath for H1 or H2math ?

Blissedsher\" post_id=\"2109591\" time=\"1685056841\" user_id=\"23814:

Thanks for your quick replies. I think our main problem is math results also affect her chance in getting pure science . So what I meant is A math is together with pure science . If we don't get Amaths we cant take pure science. It's detrimental for a child wanting to go JC .and i feel it's too early for a child to face such an important checkpoint that will change their pathways.

Blissedsher\" post_id=\"2109591\" time=\"1685056841\" user_id=\"23814:

Thanks for your quick replies. I think our main problem is math results also affect her chance in getting pure science . So what I meant is A math is together with pure science . If we don't get Amaths we cant take pure science. It's detrimental for a child wanting to go JC .and i feel it's too early for a child to face such an important checkpoint that will change their pathways.

Blissedsher\" post_id=\"2109563\" time=\"1685018813\" user_id=\"23814:

Hi experienced parents
Does anyone know what are the chances of successfully appeal for A math If school criteria is A2 for math but child gets B3 for math?

Blissedsher\" post_id=\"2109563\" time=\"1685018813\" user_id=\"23814:

Hi experienced parents
Does anyone know what are the chances of successfully appeal for A math If school criteria is A2 for math but child gets B3 for math?