CatMoon:

I think ultimately, whether JC or Poly, it is important that the end goal is Uni. Majority of my friends who opted for Poly seemed to have \"lost\" their focus and interest in the end - they didn't even try.

havok_ex:

ajcy:

Just sharing my own experiences years ago. I was in a top 5 JC and good science class but wasn't doing well (Ended up with B, B, C) - in JC 2 i had good private tuition for all subjects . If i could go back and choose again, i wouldn't want to be pressured by my parents to 1st go to JC, then 2nd stay in JC to finish what i started. When i went to a good overseas uni to a science course of my choice, i felt that my two years in JC were a complete waste of my time since i did not particularly learn anything useful for university in terms of academics nor skills.

Friends at my uni who came from Singapore polys seemed a lot more prepared for university. They are all now graduates with good jobs.

So, can't say what anyone should do, whether to go to poly or stay on, but just ask yourself, why are you staying on? what will happen if results don't turn out the way you want in the end and you're left with limited choices?

Really? From what I observe in local uni, everyone, both poly and JC are equally unprepared for university. Except for some of the better engineering students from poly who continue in their specific field of engineering.

In fact, when you compare between JC and poly students in humanities courses, I think JC students seem more prepared since most poly students do not have a humanities background (geography, history, lit, philosophy) etc.

ajcy:

Just sharing my own experiences years ago. I was in a top 5 JC and good science class but wasn't doing well (Ended up with B, B, C) - in JC 2 i had good private tuition for all subjects . If i could go back and choose again, i wouldn't want to be pressured by my parents to 1st go to JC, then 2nd stay in JC to finish what i started. When i went to a good overseas uni to a science course of my choice, i felt that my two years in JC were a complete waste of my time since i did not particularly learn anything useful for university in terms of academics nor skills.


Friends at my uni who came from Singapore polys seemed a lot more prepared for university. They are all now graduates with good jobs.

So, can't say what anyone should do, whether to go to poly or stay on, but just ask yourself, why are you staying on? what will happen if results don't turn out the way you want in the end and you're left with limited choices?

ajcy:

Just sharing my own experiences years ago. I was in a top 5 JC and good science class but wasn't doing well (Ended up with B, B, C) - in JC 2 i had good private tuition for all subjects . If i could go back and choose again, i wouldn't want to be pressured by my parents to 1st go to JC, then 2nd stay in JC to finish what i started. When i went to a good overseas uni to a science course of my choice, i felt that my two years in JC were a complete waste of my time since i did not particularly learn anything useful for university in terms of academics nor skills.


Friends at my uni who came from Singapore polys seemed a lot more prepared for university. They are all now graduates with good jobs.

So, can't say what anyone should do, whether to go to poly or stay on, but just ask yourself, why are you staying on? what will happen if results don't turn out the way you want in the end and you're left with limited choices?

sapphiredreams:

Hi, I'm a Y5 student in an IP school. I did alright in Y4, finishing with an overall GPA of 3.47 + 0.2 CCA bonus points. I used to be a very driven/motivated student who really strives to improve every test/exam. However, ever since I entered JC, the workload and subject difficulty suddenly increased tremendously and I find myself unable to cope with the rigour of the A level curriculum. I can't really absorb well in lectures. I've also lost my motivation to even complete my tutorials. It's like when the academic workload was manageable last year (I signed up for a couple of leadership activities), I was able to pace myself and set tiny milestones to work towards the bigger goal (to get 4H2s). Now, I'm just aimless and living a very empty life. I live in a motion and I know that all the trust and respect I've garnered from my friends are also decreasing because they see that I don't complete my tutorials/giving my best shot/studying/revising for any tests. Yes, I do procrastinate but it seems even worse than before because I was able to play catch up previously but now, I just accumulate a backlog of things undone, unsure and I kept clearing my \"debts\" by telling myself that \"I will get my shit together\" but I never seem to be able to do so after a week. I just find myself slacking and I have no 'energy' to pull myself together, knowing that I'm wittingly walking into the lion's den.

Here is the estimate of my recent results:

GP - B/C
Math - B (but i screwed up the last test)
Chemistry - U
Econs - U
History - D

Admittedly, I've not been putting much effort studying and I know this is my own fault. I just feel like the sky is falling down and I can't muster any strength to prevent it. Do you have any advice for me?

sapphiredreams:

Hi, I'm a Y5 student in an IP school. I did alright in Y4, finishing with an overall GPA of 3.47 + 0.2 CCA bonus points. I used to be a very driven/motivated student who really strives to improve every test/exam. However, ever since I entered JC, the workload and subject difficulty suddenly increased tremendously and I find myself unable to cope with the rigour of the A level curriculum. I can't really absorb well in lectures. I've also lost my motivation to even complete my tutorials. It's like when the academic workload was manageable last year (I signed up for a couple of leadership activities), I was able to pace myself and set tiny milestones to work towards the bigger goal (to get 4H2s). Now, I'm just aimless and living a very empty life. I live in a motion and I know that all the trust and respect I've garnered from my friends are also decreasing because they see that I don't complete my tutorials/giving my best shot/studying/revising for any tests. Yes, I do procrastinate but it seems even worse than before because I was able to play catch up previously but now, I just accumulate a backlog of things undone, unsure and I kept clearing my \"debts\" by telling myself that \"I will get my shit together\" but I never seem to be able to do so after a week. I just find myself slacking and I have no 'energy' to pull myself together, knowing that I'm wittingly walking into the lion's den.

Here is the estimate of my recent results:

GP - B/C
Math - B (but i screwed up the last test)
Chemistry - U
Econs - U
History - D

Admittedly, I've not been putting much effort studying and I know this is my own fault. I just feel like the sky is falling down and I can't muster any strength to prevent it. Do you have any advice for me?

csc:

Thanks for the sharing. Glad to know my gal is not alone. Looking at her results at her promo, I actually went into panic mode and she has to attend tuition classes this holiday.


The classes are helpful in regaining her confidence and clarifying her doubts. The tutors gave good summary notes. Just wondering why her own JC tutors are not doing the same thing?

Dr.Daniel:

I can tell you that for physics there is a big jump in difficulty between O'Level Pure Physics and A'Level H2 Physics. That's why for secondary students who tell me they want to go to JC, I try to go a bit beyond the standard O'Level, so they at least have a head start going into JC. And JC1 can be rather brutal. I've got students now who passed their promos but they are seeing 1/4 or even up to 1/3 of their classmates not getting promoted.

phankao:

So...... is there something in the IP curriculum that prepares them better? Sigh - apart from accelerating them too lah.

phankao:

whizzard:

[quote=\"phankao\"]

Whizzard - not even \"mediocre\" grades. S & U grades basically mean fail at A-level standard. On the flipside, my other child who is now in JC1 but went through the IP programme (no O-levels) got fairly decent grades at Mid-year, including A grades. And he isn't even one of those top students who went thru IP but is in the programme bc of DSA (PSLE score below school COP). So...... is there something in the IP curriculum that prepares them better? Sigh - apart from accelerating them too lah.

Hi phankao: I hope it didn't cause you unnecessary worry then but it's water under the bridge for you now. :boogie:

I just hope they see it as a challenge, persevere and believe in themselves rather than be disillusioned. Of course as a parent, I also get worried but am checking myself not to push my son too much ..... unless he is not building momentum on his own. :spank:

Annabelle21:

Hi All

Thanks for all your sharing. I agree with all of you... some of the JCs are known for setting tough papers.And this may somewhat discourage our poor kids, esp those who are not resilient enough in telling themselves \"I can do it & I must put in my very best\".
My child is one such example. He ( & his peers) have the mentality that \"no matter how hard i try, i'll still fail\".
As parents,this is a frightening scenario for us; seeing our kids giving up hope even before they enter the examination ground
It's exam time now... let's wish all our kids the very best & may they learn to realise that one has to put in effort in order to yield results.

Annabelle21:

Hi All

Thanks for all your sharing. I agree with all of you... some of the JCs are known for setting tough papers.And this may somewhat discourage our poor kids, esp those who are not resilient enough in telling themselves \"I can do it & I must put in my very best\".
My child is one such example. He ( & his peers) have the mentality that \"no matter how hard i try, i'll still fail\".
As parents,this is a frightening scenario for us; seeing our kids giving up hope even before they enter the examination ground
It's exam time now... let's wish all our kids the very best & may they learn to realise that one has to put in effort in order to yield results.

whizzard:

phankao:

Whizzard - not even \"mediocre\" grades. S & U grades basically mean fail at A-level standard. On the flipside, my other child who is now in JC1 but went through the IP programme (no O-levels) got fairly decent grades at Mid-year, including A grades. And he isn't even one of those top students who went thru IP but is in the programme bc of DSA (PSLE score below school COP). So...... is there something in the IP curriculum that prepares them better? Sigh - apart from accelerating them too lah.

Hi phankao: I hope it didn't cause you unnecessary worry then but it's water under the bridge for you now. :boogie:

I just hope they see it as a challenge, persevere and believe in themselves rather than be disillusioned. Of course as a parent, I also get worried but am checking myself not to push my son too much ..... unless he is not building momentum on his own. :spank:

gjooheng:

I am a JC H2 math tutor. A level math is so much easier than the questions in JC.


Analogy: to get A in A level, one need to clear a height of 1m in high jump.

Some schools set questions at 1.2 m high, some set at 1.4 m especially the top JCs. Hence, getting lousy grades in JC does not mean lousy performance in A level.

Try the A level questions and see whether your son can do it. That's the actual standard required. In fact, 50% of students score distinction in A level math.

The high standards set by JCs prepare students well for universities, where only the top 10 to 20% get A grades.

phankao:

Whizzard - not even \"mediocre\" grades. S & U grades basically mean fail at A-level standard. On the flipside, my other child who is now in JC1 but went through the IP programme (no O-levels) got fairly decent grades at Mid-year, including A grades. And he isn't even one of those top students who went thru IP but is in the programme bc of DSA (PSLE score below school COP). So...... is there something in the IP curriculum that prepares them better? Sigh - apart from accelerating them too lah.