KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

Hi

I am not familiar with JC and University requirements and wish to seek some advice on combination of subjects for secondary three.

I am toying with the idea of letting my kid pursue his interest by acceding to his request of taking three humanities subjects. (yet to check with his school).

Will this affect his subject combination in JC?

Best wishes

I would like to know more too, especially what are the considerations parents/child made that lead to the choice of the subjects combination.

I don't think 3 humanities subject is an option offered in many schools. How many science subjects will he be taking then? Combined science? As far as I know, most JC, especially the top few do allow combined science to take H2 sciences in JC if they have obtained A1 or A2. However if they had offered pure sciences, they would only need to have passed that subject in O level. Most humanities subject do not have much prerequisite, for example history and geography, except english literature, where you need to have distinction or B3 in english, and econs where you need to have obtained a certain grade for math.

tianzhu wrote:Hi

I am not familiar with JC and University requirements and wish to seek some advice on combination of subjects for secondary three.

I am toying with the idea of letting my kid pursue his interest by acceding to his request of taking three humanities subjects. (yet to check with his school).

Will this affect his subject combination in JC?

Best wishes

I think you need to ask your child what he likes to do in the future, before deciding what combinations to do in Sec 3.

In JC, you need to do contrast subjects. Hence your child can do Arts subjects like Econ, Lit, Hist, Geog etc, but there must be a Science subject which can be Maths.

So far, I only know of one school that offers 3 humanities subjects (Geography, Economics & Combined Humanities (SS+Hist)). However the school only offer it for one year as I don't see such combination again in the following years. Even good schools like SCGS, MGS only offer 3 Pure Sci and 2 Humanities combinations and not 3 Hum subjects.

You also need to check with the school what combinations they offer. You may not get to study what you like if there is manpower constraints in the school. Not many schools allow students to do 2 Lang, 3 Sci, 2 Maths, 2 Hum. Most neighbourhood schools only offer 2 Lang, 3 Sci, 2 Maths, 1 Hum to their top students.

tianzhu wrote:Hi

I am not familiar with JC and University requirements and wish to seek some advice on combination of subjects for secondary three.

I am toying with the idea of letting my kid pursue his interest by acceding to his request of taking three humanities subjects. (yet to check with his school).

Will this affect his subject combination in JC?

Best wishes

Once you decide to take Humanities heavy route, Engineering option is shut-down on you.

Physics is key subject. None of the Engg course allow without physics. If you take Chem & biology , you can still enter some of the enginenering course . but not all.

I suggest following combination for humanies

1) English
2) MT/HTM
3) A- Maths
4) E- Matths
5) Litrature
6) SS+Geogrophy
7)Chem
8) Biology

This way you are both science & humanities student. By dropping Physics , you are clearly pting out of engineering, but leave some other engineering course like bio-tech, pharmacy, Medicine, Dentistry.

Litrature given you option of going in Teching/Physocology( SMU course)/Law.

This is best way , if child's bend is towards languages

DadOfGirl wrote:

I suggest following combination for humanies

1) English
2) MT/HTM
3) A- Maths
4) E- Matths
5) Litrature
6) SS+Geogrophy
7)Chem
8) Biology

This way you are both science & humanities student. By dropping Physics , you are clearly pting out of engineering, but leave some other engineering course like bio-tech, pharmacy, Medicine, Dentistry.

Litrature given you option of going in Teching/Physocology( SMU course)/Law.

This is best way , if child's bend is towards languages

Hi,

My DS who is in Sec 3 now is taking the above double science, double humanities subject combination. Coming from a triple science and Literature background myself, I had encouraged him to take Literature and Bio as he likes both subjects and demonstrates potential to do well in them. He is happy with his choice.

Can someone give me advice on the subjects combinations I should choose?

Compulsary Subjects:
1. English
2. E. Mathematics
3. Pure Chemistry
4. Chinese
5. Soical Studies + Geog/History Elective
6. A. Mathematics

Choose 1 subject from Group 1 and Group 2 each:
Group 1:
Pure Biology
Pure Physics

Group 2:
POA
Chinese Literature
English Literature
Full Geography
Full History
Art

Here is my Overall Results for my Secondary 2:
English- 60
Chinese- 67
E. Maths-90
Science-63
Geography-70
History-64
English Literature-52
Art-C5

Criteria for Subjects:
Double Science-Science must be B4 and above
Triple Science- Maths and Science must be A1 and above
English Literature- Literature must be B4 and above
POA- Maths must be a pass and English must be B3
Chinese-Literature- Must take Higher Chinese and score A1
Art-None
Full Geography- Geography must be B4 and above
Full History-History must be B4 and above

Subject Combinations offered to us:
3S:
1. English
2. Mother Tongue
3. Mathematic
4. Additional Maths
5. Pure Chemistry
6. Pure Physics
7. Pure Biology
8. Social Studies+ Geography Elective

2B1:
1. English
2. Mother Tongue
3. Mathematic
4. Additional Maths
5. Pure Chemistry
6. Pure Biology
7. Social Studies+ Geography Elective
8. Full History

2B2:
1. English
2. Mother Tongue
3. Mathematic
4. Additional Maths
5. Pure Chemistry
6. Pure Biology
7. Social Studies+ History Elective
8. Full Geography

2B3:
1. English
2. Mother Tongue
3. Mathematic
4. Additional Maths
5. Pure Chemistry
6. Pure Biology
7. Social Studies + Geography Elective/History Elective
8. English Literature

2P1:
1. English
2. Mother Tongue
3. Mathematic
4. Additional Maths
5. Pure Chemistry
6. Pure Physics
7. Social Studies + Geography Elective
8. Full History

2P2:
1. English
2. Mother Tongue
3. Mathematic
4. Additional Maths
5. Pure Chemistry
6. Pure Physics
7. Social Studies + History Elective
8. Full Geography

2P3:
1. English
2. Mother Tongue
3. Mathematic
4. Additional Maths
5. Pure Chemistry
6. Pure Physics
7. Social Studies + Geography Elective/History Elective
8. Chinese Literature

2P4:
1. English
2. Mother Tongue
3. Mathematic
4. Additional Maths
5. Pure Chemistry
6. Pure Physics
7. Social Studies + Geography Elective/History Elective
8. English Literature

2P5:
1. English
2. Mother Tongue
3. Mathematic
4. Additional Maths
5. Pure Chemistry
6. Pure Physics
7. Social Studies +Geography/History Elective
8. POA

My preferred Subjects are:
POA
Geography

Give suggestions please! I need to hand up the Streaming form by tomorrow night!

Hey, I just did my streaming exercise yesterday. Alright, it seems that your school isn't so flexible, you have to score at least 75% for Maths and Science to get into Triple Science. For my school I just need a 60% we can straight away get into TS.

Back to your situation. It seems that you have got pretty good results for most of your subjects, firstly, well done. I would advise you to take a look at your Physical Science and Life Science paper. Which do you have more interest in and which have you done better? Go with the one you like most and the one that you will do well.

Physics as physics require more of calculations to be done than to memorize. If you're the kind which easily memorizes (or more to remember facts), go with Biology. If you're the kind which learns formula and grabs the concept, go with Physics.

From Group 2, most likely you wouldn't take Art. There goes your English literature too. POA is a good alternative for if you like accounting or want to try out something new. Accordingly to your results, Pure Geog is a better choice for you - you should take it. If you want to go with History it's actually OK. You still will do well. Ask yourself which do you like best and which can you do best in.

Since you prefer Geography and POA, you should take 2P5. Take Elect Geog instead of Elect Hist. If you have a second choice, go with 2P2 accordingly to your results.

That's my piece of advice, listen or not, it's still up to you since it's your streaming exercise, best of luck in advance!

Thanks! The sciences in our school are much harder, so their triple science requirement is much higher. There is only 1 class of triple science, so they have to raise the requirement so that only around 30+-40+ students can enter.

I'm just afraid that I cannot get into 2P5 since POA requires 65% for English, but I only got a 60%..

You can request for an appeal right? Just try placing 2P5 as your choice first, and see if the committee will approve your first choice. If not, get an appeal form and write an appeal letter to them telling them that you will work hard and improve your English.