KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

BishopDurham wrote:Can I ask what happens with Mother Tongue exemption with English as the only Language (L1).

Does this mean that these children will not get the potential -2 bonus for HMT and thus never get the potential maximum of -4 points in the L1R5, leaving them at a greater disadvantage in applying for Junior College?

It occurs to me that for RI's cut off requirement of 3 to be met everyone must get at least a point deduction from HMT.

1. Those students aren't at a greater disadvantage when applying for JC. They are only at a greater disadvantage when applying for RI and HCI.

2. There are more than one way to earn those bonus points.

floppy wrote:

BishopDurham wrote:Can I ask what happens with Mother Tongue exemption with English as the only Language (L1).

Does this mean that these children will not get the potential -2 bonus for HMT and thus never get the potential maximum of -4 points in the L1R5, leaving them at a greater disadvantage in applying for Junior College?

It occurs to me that for RI's cut off requirement of 3 to be met everyone must get at least a point deduction from HMT.

1. Those students aren't at a greater disadvantage when applying for JC. They are only at a greater disadvantage when applying for RI and HCI.

2. There are more than one way to earn those bonus points.

Thank you for your reply.

According to the MOE FAQ each student is allowed a deduction of 4 points from their L1R5
1. Two for a grade A1/A2 at CCA,
2. Two for passing (A1-C6) English and HMT
3. Two for passing MSP/CSP
4. Two for coming from a feeder school.

If my DS does not take HMT, the only way to get more than two points is to take MSP/CSP or apply from a "feeder" school.

Have I got this correct?

If so, with a mother tongue exemption can my DS apply to attend a CSP?

And will it apply as a "third" language as intended for bonus points?

Thanks again for your help!!!!

BishopDurham wrote:

floppy wrote:

BishopDurham wrote:Can I ask what happens with Mother Tongue exemption with English as the only Language (L1).

Does this mean that these children will not get the potential -2 bonus for HMT and thus never get the potential maximum of -4 points in the L1R5, leaving them at a greater disadvantage in applying for Junior College?

It occurs to me that for RI's cut off requirement of 3 to be met everyone must get at least a point deduction from HMT.

1. Those students aren't at a greater disadvantage when applying for JC. They are only at a greater disadvantage when applying for RI and HCI.

2. There are more than one way to earn those bonus points.

Thank you for your reply.

According to the MOE FAQ each student is allowed a deduction of 4 points from their L1R5
1. Two for a grade A1/A2 at CCA,
2. Two for passing (A1-C6) English and HMT
3. Two for passing MSP/CSP
4. Two for coming from a feeder school.

If my DS does not take HMT, the only way to get more than two points is to take MSP/CSP or apply from a "feeder" school.

Have I got this correct?

If so, with a mother tongue exemption can my DS apply to attend a CSP?

And will it apply as a "third" language as intended for bonus points?

Thanks again for your help!!!!

Not sure about RI. But if your DS or DD gets straight As but don't have HMT, you are encouraged to apply for HCI.

Can i apply for HCL as my language instead of english ?

lastdaynight wrote:Can i apply for HCL as my language instead of english ?

Yes, but if you use HCL as your L1, you will not be able to use your Express Chinese grade in your R5. You will, however, still be able to get your two bonus points for passing English and HMT.

Wow ! Thanks alot!
But i was wondering if i could take chinese literature as one of the subjects , but am afraid that i cant take it as my school does not support it .
Funny to say , i heard they did not support english literature too.
Is it possible for me to take both at o level myself ? Or should i try my best to get better grades and transfer out at the end of the year? ( streaming this year )
I really hope to take history and the two lits as these are the only ones i can score better in
Thanks

lastdaynight wrote:Wow ! Thanks alot!
But i was wondering if i could take chinese literature as one of the subjects , but am afraid that i cant take it as my school does not support it .
Funny to say , i heard they did not support english literature too.
Is it possible for me to take both at o level myself ? Or should i try my best to get better grades and transfer out at the end of the year? ( streaming this year )
I really hope to take history and the two lits as these are the only ones i can score better in
Thanks

How many subjects are you planning to take at O level? Besides those 3 subjects, you will also have to take 2 languages, 1 maths, 1 science, and Social studies which has to be paired with another humanities subject. That makes a total of 8. Are you planning to take A levels? If so, you need to consider if your O level subjects will allow you to take the A level subjects you want. If you are planning on going to poly, you also need to consider if you are closing off any options you may want.

Hearsay seems to indicate that not that many schools offer Eng Lit; I would expect even fewer would offer Ch Lit. You will have to ask around and find out which schools offer those subjects, and whether they will allow students to take all the 3 you want. They will probably want to see your results to date, and you will have to convince them that you are a strong enough candidate so they will offer to take you. I don't advise taking subjects as a private candidate concurrently with your school workload as you will end up overloaded. All the best.

lastdaynight wrote:Wow ! Thanks alot!
But i was wondering if i could take chinese literature as one of the subjects , but am afraid that i cant take it as my school does not support it .
Funny to say , i heard they did not support english literature too.
Is it possible for me to take both at o level myself ? Or should i try my best to get better grades and transfer out at the end of the year? ( streaming this year )
I really hope to take history and the two lits as these are the only ones i can score better in
Thanks

I presume you are not in a SAP school? SAP schools offer Chinese Literature.

Errr...may I know what humanities subjects your school supports? Surprised that schools don't support English Literature.

I know there is one SAP school that offers Chinese Literature. As far as I am aware of, if you are in this SAP school (not sure of other SAP schools, though), you MAY be able to take both Chinese and English Literature. However, for this particular SAP school, you will only be allowed to take two humanities subjects - one pure and the other elective (combined with Social Studies). In this instance, it will be Pure English Literature and Elective Chinese Literature. So, you won't be able to take History plus the other two Literature subjects.

slmkhoo wrote:

lastdaynight wrote:Wow ! Thanks alot!
But i was wondering if i could take chinese literature as one of the subjects , but am afraid that i cant take it as my school does not support it .
Funny to say , i heard they did not support english literature too.
Is it possible for me to take both at o level myself ? Or should i try my best to get better grades and transfer out at the end of the year? ( streaming this year )
I really hope to take history and the two lits as these are the only ones i can score better in
Thanks :)

How many subjects are you planning to take at O level? Besides those 3 subjects, you will also have to take 2 languages, 1 maths, 1 science, and Social studies which has to be paired with another humanities subject. That makes a total of 8. Are you planning to take A levels? If so, you need to consider if your O level subjects will allow you to take the A level subjects you want. If you are planning on going to poly, you also need to consider if you are closing off any options you may want.

Hearsay seems to indicate that not that many schools offer Eng Lit; I would expect even fewer would offer Ch Lit. You will have to ask around and find out which schools offer those subjects, and whether they will allow students to take all the 3 you want. They will probably want to see your results to date, and you will have to convince them that you are a strong enough candidate so they will offer to take you. I don't advise taking subjects as a private candidate concurrently with your school workload as you will end up overloaded. All the best.

Thanks for your reply !!!

Im planing to take A level , and put my focus on chinese subjects that are avilable ... But im not sure without the combination of chinese lit , will it be aviliable ?

I really do not want to take 8 subjects as it is quite a stress and workload as i tend to study better with more focus .

My Studies right now:

I proberbly will be taking Hcl instead of english , as my english is not something that will be able to excel, although i am trying my best.

The subject combinations im planing to take is : Hcl , Social Studies , History / El lit , Chinese Lit , Biology and perhaps Elementary Math.

I cannot do well in Math, thus i would rather want to be able to focus on one of the math....

My subject marks to date is something i am quite worrided of too. For english , my marks are not excellent, or either even good at all , as my school is a neighbourhood school. My math is not something i am able to do well , although with the practise my marks was able to improve very much recently..... On the other hand , my chemistry and physic dosent tend to do well... Although it is compulsory for our school to study chemistry.

Whereas in higher chinese , i am able to top the class often , along with history and literature....
( A2 and A1 )

Thanks! :thankyou:

qms wrote:

lastdaynight wrote:Wow ! Thanks alot!
But i was wondering if i could take chinese literature as one of the subjects , but am afraid that i cant take it as my school does not support it .
Funny to say , i heard they did not support english literature too.
Is it possible for me to take both at o level myself ? Or should i try my best to get better grades and transfer out at the end of the year? ( streaming this year )
I really hope to take history and the two lits as these are the only ones i can score better in
Thanks

I presume you are not in a SAP school? SAP schools offer Chinese Literature.

Errr...may I know what humanities subjects your school supports? Surprised that schools don't support English Literature.

I know there is one SAP school that offers Chinese Literature. As far as I am aware of, if you are in this SAP school (not sure of other SAP schools, though), you MAY be able to take both Chinese and English Literature. However, for this particular SAP school, you will only be allowed to take two humanities subjects - one pure and the other elective (combined with Social Studies). In this instance, it will be Pure English Literature and Elective Chinese Literature. So, you won't be able to take History plus the other two Literature subjects.

Yes , its quite surprising my school does not support it. Although my teachers say it was due to the lack of students , my form teacher suggested that the reason was because the school did not have a teacher that is able to support the teaching of literature.

It is quite ok if i am only be able to take two of the three that i want , but i am really unsure of the options avilable to me as i am really intrested in chinese studies and is quite sure it is the only subject i am able to do well in.

I dont really know how to improve my english or my biology or chemistry ( one of the 2 that i am planing to take . )

Definetly need to work towards my english , math and science........


Haiz.....