KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

Hi, seeking some advice from the experienced parents/students here...
DS is progressing to Sec 2 when the new school year starts, and I have been looking through this thread to pick up some knowledge on subject combi selection when it’s time for him to do so. Was looking at his Sec 1 humanities subject results, will it be too early to conclude his strength on a particular subject based on this set of results or should we monitor through say the first half of Sec 2?
Unfortunately, DS is the type who is still rather blur on his interest and strengths, whenever I ask him it’s always “ok ok” or “anything”
Any advice will help, thx!

wishingstar0 wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 26, 2020 8:15 pm

Was looking at his Sec 1 humanities subject results, will it be too early to conclude his strength on a particular subject based on this set of results or should we monitor through say the first half of Sec 2?

He doesnt need to choose, or rather, he doesnt get to choose, until the end of sec 2, by then you will have every set of results, to make whatever conclusions you wish to make.

Next year (2021) ,
Ssc 2 streaming

After the mid-year exam is over in 2021 in the month of May,
tick your checklist -
every Sec 2 student, ought to know for themselves

amongst their 3 Humanities
subjects (History, Geography, Eng Literature)

Ask your son or daughter, for his opinion & learn to make self-responsibility decision, identify his or her own unique (strength & weaknesses)

1)

- identify which is their strongest, best Performance, highest scored Humanities subject &

- identity which is their weakest, lowest poorest scored Humanities subject, so far, out of these 3 ?

Just examine their Sec 2 (May mid-year & October year-exam) Report card content + this current year (2020) End-of-year Sec 1 Assessment Report card, will do


And



2)

be honest about it, ask themselves which is the Humanities subject that they are interested in to pursue & continue further into Sec (3 & 4).

E.g.

Do you prefer to do
(single or double, because feel safer) Sec 3 Humanities subjects ?


And


3)

which is the least dis-interested Humanities subject, that is, you just can't wait to drop and have nothing more to do with it any more ! Phew ! heave a sigh of relief, you know, that kind of feeling inside !


Example

Some students can't stand doing English Literature, they can't wait to drop Lit !


4)

start thinking what JC1 subject combination you intend to do, in mind

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


Anyway,
along the way,
there will be a few check-point junction,


because

Humanities class Teachers in your school will start talking to each of the students inside their class, if they need guidance or feedback from the Humanities Teachers, so, there will be constant consultation provided along the way, from Term 1 all the way up to EYA

And

the actual, final submission of your Sec 3 subject combination choices,

will only be done

after the Sec 2 final Year end October exam is over,
although every now & then,
the Teachers do guide & provide feedback to all Sec 2 pupils


EYA :

End-of-year Assessment

wishingstar0 wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 26, 2020 8:15 pm

Hi, seeking some advice from the experienced parents/students here...
DS is progressing to Sec 2 when the new school year starts, and I have been looking through this thread to pick up some knowledge on subject combi selection when it’s time for him to do so. Was looking at his Sec 1 humanities subject results, will it be too early to conclude his strength on a particular subject based on this set of results or should we monitor through say the first half of Sec 2?
Unfortunately, DS is the type who is still rather blur on his interest and strengths, whenever I ask him it’s always “ok ok” or “anything”
Any advice will help, thx!

If not sure what to do, ask your son to walk into Popular branch bookstore

1) flip through Sec 3 (Geography and History guide books, textbooks), then answer the question : if given the choice, does he prefer to choose Sec 3 (History or Geog) ?

Note down the answer


2) look at his Secondary school's Sec 3 booklist. Find out title of the o-level Literature text used, in his school . Then do the same thing. Walk into Popular Book store, flip through the Literature text, used in his school.

Then ask your son the same question.

If given a choice -
will he still prefer to take the subject from answer (1) above, or prefer to do this Literature text, used in his school?

3) then ask him, he prefer to do (single or double Humanities, because feel safer ) ?


4) go,
find out from your son's school -


To do Core or Full Humanities, need how much minimum, at end of Sec 2 exam ?

Is it minimum
60 % (B4) or

65 % (B3) or

70 % (A2) overall,
at year end exam,
for each of the 3 Humanities ?


5) ask your son to ask his seniors around in his school, maybe can ask his Cca classmates :-

Based on the most recent past 3 years O level or IP (if is IP school), roughly what's the distinction rate like, for those Humanities he has narrowed down to ?

Example

This school, Paya Lebar Methodist Girls Secondary, inside, they have very good Teachers for subject English Literature. Thus, at O level, the PLMGS girls often excelled in English Literature.



Likewise,
your son's school will also have strong Teachers in certain Humanities.

Go, check it out,
get him to ask around, what are the Tr strong in teaching, specifically in his school , which Humanities subject ?

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

Also, find out,
in case your son's school behaved similar.

In some CO-ed Secondary schools where is boys domineering type, example,

(70 % boys, 30% girls) school ratio, sometimes, the schools do not offer any English Literature, because boys tend to avoid Literature. In such schools, their Sec 3 subject combination is often limited to (History or Geography), but no Lit

MerlionInGermany wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 26, 2020 9:22 pm

wishingstar0 wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 26, 2020 8:15 pm

Was looking at his Sec 1 humanities subject results, will it be too early to conclude his strength on a particular subject based on this set of results or should we monitor through say the first half of Sec 2?

He doesnt need to choose, or rather, he doesnt get to choose, until the end of sec 2, by then you will have every set of results, to make whatever conclusions you wish to make.

Precise and concise.

wishingstar0 wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 26, 2020 8:15 pm

Hi, seeking some advice from the experienced parents/students here...
DS is progressing to Sec 2 when the new school year starts, and I have been looking through this thread to pick up some knowledge on subject combi selection when it’s time for him to do so. Was looking at his Sec 1 humanities subject results, will it be too early to conclude his strength on a particular subject based on this set of results or should we monitor through say the first half of Sec 2?
Unfortunately, DS is the type who is still rather blur on his interest and strengths, whenever I ask him it’s always “ok ok” or “anything”
Any advice will help, thx!

The choice is still a year away, but it's good to start thinking. If your son is not sure about his strengths and interests, it could mean that he is an all-rounder, or that he is just immature and unsure. As a parent, use this year to observe what he is interested in, and what his strengths are. Don't just look at schoolwork, but overall. I wasn't "good" at history in lower sec, but that was because I didn't like the teacher, and she didn't like the way I answered the questions! I actually do enjoy reading and learning about history. In any case, Sec 3 subjects still require a wide spread of sciences and humanities, so it's possible to select a "cover most bases" combination if he and you still are unsure at that stage.

Thx a lot for all your responses and suggestions...guess I’ll really hv to monitor and work closely with DS when the school year starts. It’s gonna be more of me gan cheong than him gan cheong

phtthp - thx for all the checks that you hv suggested, I hv not thought of some of those...yes DS is in an all-boys school now so the point you mentioned about whether pure/combi Lit is even offered has to be confirmed.

slmkhoo - so far from what I could observe from DS’s Sec 1 learning, he seems to have an easier time with his humanities subjects. Apart from exam results that are clearly better than his Math/Science, he was also able to learn more independently. I am tending towards believing that he could be one who is stronger in humanities (contrary to popular belief that boys tend to be better in Math/Science) and should fully utilize his strength. But having been a Science stream student all my life with old school beliefs, I’d probably want him to still hv a good balance in both areas.

Sorry, kind of drifted a little from my original query , but all these considerations will prob kick in to consider subject combinations as a whole...

wishingstar0 wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 31, 2020 12:48 am

slmkhoo - so far from what I could observe from DS’s Sec 1 learning, he seems to have an easier time with his humanities subjects. Apart from exam results that are clearly better than his Math/Science, he was also able to learn more independently. I am tending towards believing that he could be one who is stronger in humanities (contrary to popular belief that boys tend to be better in Math/Science) and should fully utilize his strength. But having been a Science stream student all my life with old school beliefs, I’d probably want him to still hv a good balance in both areas.

Sorry, kind of drifted a little from my original query , but all these considerations will prob kick in to consider subject combinations as a whole...

Looking at exam results is just 1 indicator; also consider your son overall - what topics energise him? what is his style of learning? is he a linear or global thinker? Does he memorise or understand? Talk to him about what he is learning, reading, watching, thinking about... Some kids are quite clearly going to be science boffins happy to be in a lab with their samples, while others are clearly going to be artistic/creative/social types. The difficulty is when kids so not show their bents so clearly. But that is far more important to look out for than what results he gets for individual subjects in Sec 2.

The are many males who are NOT stronger in Maths and Science, and similarly, there are many females who ARE strong in Maths and Science. There are also many who can combine areas. Try to look at your son as a person, without gender stereotypes, and without expecting him to be interested in what you are (some kids will be like their parents, others won't).

In upper sec, the curriculum is designed so that every student must do at least some Maths and Science. Similarly, every student must do some humanities subjects. Even at A levels, there has to be 1 constrasting subject, GP and PW. So "balance" is not the main reason for choosing subjects carefully. The main reason is because Maths & Science A level subjects have prerequisites, and if you think your son is likely to want to study those, then he must take the prerequisite subject in upper sec. You will briefed by the school towards the end of the year.

Hope this helps.

Thx a lot for your valuable inputs!

For those considering Sec 2 subject combinations for your child..if you child has no preference,
then you may want to consider SS/Hist combination... why?
Because, both subject have very similar approach to answering GCE O level questions. unlike SS/GEOG.

You kill 2 birds with 1 stone.