KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

This is an important question when you turn Sec 2.

I have posted in this forum statistically inferred that Physics is the easiest to score and pass.

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum ... 9#p1624199

Was thinking ahead of subject combi for my gal who is in sec2 now, as she set goals for her various subjects.

Her school is one the few in spore that offer Econs as a subject.

Does parents have any experience to share? Is it a difficult subject to learn and score?

It doesn't seem to be a popular, from the fact that I can't find a single O level Econs textbook or assessment book at population book store.

The cohort size taking Econs is very small, so this will impact the bell curve?

Thank you

MMM wrote:Streaming is settled for us. dd got her first choice.

Unsure if this is the right thread. But thought there should be alot of Sec 2 parents viewing this thread so I can get some ideas.

dd is doing HCL so she is sitting for O level CL next year. How can we prepare them for O level CL? Do we need to get those O level papers for them to practise?

My ds use dou how that comes out every wed at buzz stations.. But honestly i dont see any difference ...

Vail wrote:hello all. can I ask if the subjects you choose sec 2 streaming affects what course you want to take in future? like if you want go poly. or in Uni

thanks ^_^

At my ds briefing session, the school mapped a entry requirements of the different courses at nus, ntu and some ivy league unis, as well as the subjects offering at ri and hci...

Pretty informative

Following...

Vail wrote:hello all. can I ask if the subjects you choose sec 2 streaming affects what course you want to take in future? like if you want go poly. or in Uni

thanks ^_^

Yes some subjects affect, mainly in the JC route. They are Additional Mathematics and Sciences (Physics, Chemistry and Biology).

For Additional Mathematics (A Maths), schools typically select based on the Mathematics score at the end of Sec 2. The cut-off mark depends on the school.

The same can be said for streaming of Sciences.


Let's take two steps ahead and look at the minimum subject requirements for NTU based on A Level results: http://www3.ntu.edu.sg/oad2/website_fil ... ements.pdf

For example, majority of the courses in Engineering requires H2 Maths in JC. So what is the prerequisite to take H2 Maths in JC? Well in most JCs, you would minimally need to pass/do well in O Level A Maths.

In other words, if you did not take A Maths in Upper Sec, you will not be able to take H2 Maths in JC and finally be unable to meet the prerequisite for Engineering courses in NTU.

Another example: A degree in Economics and Psychology requires H1 Maths. O level A Maths is not required to take H1 Maths in JC.

Bare in mind those are the minimum subject requirements. Your child still needs to fulfill the admission requirement for the course. For a popular and sought-after course like Aerospace Engineering, typically you need to score 3-4 A's in A Levels to gain entry.


For poly, you can check this page: https://wis.ntu.edu.sg/webexe/owa/adm_a ... nt_diploma

If you choose a 'broad' diploma e.g. engineering, there should be plenty of courses in University to choose from.

Also if your diploma is related to your degree, exemptions from first year courses may be awarded. So you can complete your degree in a shorter time.

Dreamgear wrote: At my ds briefing session, the school mapped a entry requirements of the different courses at nus, ntu and some ivy league unis, as well as the subjects offering at ri and hci...

Pretty informative

Some ivy league universities (e.g. Harvard, Cambridge, Imperial) focus more on SAT scores. I have a buddy who did not do well for his A Levels but managed to get into Imperial College's Medicine course based on his SAT score.

Vail wrote:hello all. can I ask if the subjects you choose sec 2 streaming affects what course you want to take in future? like if you want go poly. or in Uni

thanks ^_^

Yes, it does. In a nutshell, the main thing to bear in mind is that maths/sciences must be taken as long as you think you may want to take them at JC, or if you may want to take a poly course that have them as prerequisites. Humanities subjects can be picked up again later (eg. you can take Geog at A level even if you didn't do it at O level). So take A Maths if you think you may want to take H2 Maths at JC or something more mathematical at poly. And don't drop a science if you think that you may want to take it later.

For the chronically undecided, like my daughter when she was in Sec 2, she chose triple science, double maths and 1 other humanities as the combination which kept the max. no. of options open. In JC, as she still doesn't know what she wants to study later on, she is taking 2 sciences, maths and 1 other subject, which is also the combination which keeps the max. no. of options open!

slmkhoo wrote: In JC, as she still doesn't know what she wants to study later on, she is taking 2 sciences, maths and 1 other subject, which is also the combination which keeps the max. no. of options open!

What is her subj combi (if you don't mind sharing)?

zbear wrote:

slmkhoo wrote: In JC, as she still doesn't know what she wants to study later on, she is taking 2 sciences, maths and 1 other subject, which is also the combination which keeps the max. no. of options open!

What is her subj combi (if you don't mind sharing)?

Physics, Chem, Maths, Econs - we refer to it as the "subject comb. of the undecided".

slmkhoo wrote:

zbear wrote:

slmkhoo wrote: In JC, as she still doesn't know what she wants to study later on, she is taking 2 sciences, maths and 1 other subject, which is also the combination which keeps the max. no. of options open!

What is her subj combi (if you don't mind sharing)?

Physics, Chem, Maths, Econs - we refer to it as the "subject comb. of the undecided".

Oh really? First time I hear this

I always thought this is the most popular subj combi which allows you more Uni choices n not so much as the undecided?