KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

I hope there isn't another thread for this - the search feature won't search "H3"!

Anyone have feedback or info about the MOE H3s for Econs and Maths? I believe the syllabus is changing, and Linear Algebra (NUS) isn't offered this year. My daughter's JC is only going to brief the students next week, and the parents the week after, so I don't think we will have much time to think about it before the deadline. Just trying to find out more.

Also, is the grading A/B/C etc or Distinction/xx ?

What happens if the sessions clash with the student's CCA? Are they excluded from an H3 because of a timetable clash?

Slmkhoo, what is the criteria of your DD's JC to allow students to take H3. Will it be the subject teacher's recommendation, overall JC1 results n a A grade for the H3 subject that she plans to take?

zbear wrote:Slmkhoo, what is the criteria of your DD's JC to allow students to take H3. Will it be the subject teacher's recommendation, overall JC1 results n a A grade for the H3 subject that she plans to take?

I don't really know if it's been communicated in detail to the students. My daughter mentioned seeing some info, but I haven't seen it. From what I recall of something she said, it's something like minimum B grade in promos for that subject, and some overall minimum as well? And I think teacher recommendation is important. I don't think we will hear the details till next week (promo results out on Mon, I think).

slmkhoo wrote:I hope there isn't another thread for this - the search feature won't search "H3"!

Anyone have feedback or info about the MOE H3s for Econs and Maths? I believe the syllabus is changing, and Linear Algebra (NUS) isn't offered this year. My daughter's JC is only going to brief the students next week, and the parents the week after, so I don't think we will have much time to think about it before the deadline. Just trying to find out more.

Also, is the grading A/B/C etc or Distinction/xx ?

What happens if the sessions clash with the student's CCA? Are they excluded from an H3 because of a timetable clash?

Is the MOE for H3 econs or maths conducted in the sch or some other institutions? Not much infor i can share except that i rem during a ptm, one teacher was saying if a student is considering bet H3 econs or H3 Maths/Science, then she will usually advise the student choose H3 Maths/Science. This is because of the higher chance of getting distinction in Maths/science than econs. Of course if the student is very passionate over econ, then he shld go ahead with his choice. My friend's son took H3 econs last yr and did not get a distinction. The son was disappointed. Yep...the son mentioned to the father something like those humanities students did better in H3 econs than those science students in the sch H3 econ prelim exam.

Usually our kids would have already made up their mind which H3 to take, possibly based on their interest. i rem yr gal was doing quite well in Chemistry in her sec sch. She is not thinking of H3 chemistry this time

PiggyLalala wrote:Is the MOE for H3 econs or maths conducted in the sch or some other institutions? Not much infor i can share except that i rem during a ptm, one teacher was saying if a student is considering bet H3 econs or H3 Maths/Science, then she will usually advise the student choose H3 Maths/Science. This is because of the higher chance of getting distinction in Maths/science than econs. Of course if the student is very passionate over econ, then he shld go ahead with his choice. My friend's son took H3 econs last yr and did not get a distinction. The son was disappointed. Yep...the son mentioned to the father something like those humanities students did better in H3 econs than those science students in the sch H3 econ prelim exam.

Usually our kids would have already made up their mind which H3 to take, possibly based on their interest. i rem yr gal was doing quite well in Chemistry in her sec sch. She is not thinking of H3 chemistry this time

Thanks for the info. That's something to take into account. My daughter is interested in Chem, but says she doesn't want to do so much organic Chem (the H3 is pharmaceutical chem and is heavily organic). She's strong in Maths, and may be turned off by a less-quantitative approach to Econs. But she does seem interested in Econs. Does anyone have info about the MOE H3 Maths?

slmkhoo wrote: Thanks for the info. That's something to take into account. My daughter is interested in Chem, but says she doesn't want to do so much organic Chem (the H3 is pharmaceutical chem and is heavily organic). She's strong in Maths, and may be turned off by a less-quantitative approach to Econs. But she does seem interested in Econs. Does anyone have info about the MOE H3 Maths?

For H3 Maths, differential equations will be replaced by number theory and problem solving, while counting and algebra/calculus will continue to stay. Previously differential equations topic was full of routines and procedures which made that portion rather predictable. But its replacement topic, where the problems could be much less routine, makes the new syllabus completely pure math and more testing. I think it leans further towards those who can truly think mathematically and who have excellent problem solving skills, not those who choose H3 simply for practical reasons and prepare to rely on drilling.

Well, since I noticed the word "quantitative", I just want to mention that at H3 or higher math where a good number sense is a must, you may find in the problems fewer numbers and more logical deductions (proofs! ).

Mantissa wrote:

slmkhoo wrote: Thanks for the info. That's something to take into account. My daughter is interested in Chem, but says she doesn't want to do so much organic Chem (the H3 is pharmaceutical chem and is heavily organic). She's strong in Maths, and may be turned off by a less-quantitative approach to Econs. But she does seem interested in Econs. Does anyone have info about the MOE H3 Maths?

For H3 Maths, differential equations will be replaced by number theory and problem solving, while counting and algebra/calculus will continue to stay. Previously differential equations topic was full of routines and procedures which made that portion rather predictable. But its replacement topic, where the problems could be much less routine, makes the new syllabus completely pure math and more testing. I think it leans further towards those who can truly think mathematically and who have excellent problem solving skills, not those who choose H3 simply for practical reasons and prepare to rely on drilling.

Well, since I noticed the word "quantitative", I just want to mention that at H3 or higher math where a good number sense is a must, you may find in the problems fewer numbers and more logical deductions (proofs! ).

Thanks. So the syllabus has been changed and this will be the first year of the new syllabus? So it's really quite unknown what the questions will be like? That may actually be an advantage for my daughter. I suppose the teachers will be given some idea of what the new paper will be like? Anywhere to get sample questions (for my husband to look at - I gave up Maths years ago!)?

Since H3 Econs is also a new syllabus this year, anyone with any comments on what it might be like this year? Do they do projects? Is it a lot of classroom work, ie. an extension of H2?

slmkhoo wrote:

Mantissa wrote:

slmkhoo wrote: Thanks for the info. That's something to take into account. My daughter is interested in Chem, but says she doesn't want to do so much organic Chem (the H3 is pharmaceutical chem and is heavily organic). She's strong in Maths, and may be turned off by a less-quantitative approach to Econs. But she does seem interested in Econs. Does anyone have info about the MOE H3 Maths?

For H3 Maths, differential equations will be replaced by number theory and problem solving, while counting and algebra/calculus will continue to stay. Previously differential equations topic was full of routines and procedures which made that portion rather predictable. But its replacement topic, where the problems could be much less routine, makes the new syllabus completely pure math and more testing. I think it leans further towards those who can truly think mathematically and who have excellent problem solving skills, not those who choose H3 simply for practical reasons and prepare to rely on drilling.

Well, since I noticed the word "quantitative", I just want to mention that at H3 or higher math where a good number sense is a must, you may find in the problems fewer numbers and more logical deductions (proofs! ).

Thanks. So the syllabus has been changed and this will be the first year of the new syllabus? So it's really quite unknown what the questions will be like? That may actually be an advantage for my daughter. I suppose the teachers will be given some idea of what the new paper will be like? Anywhere to get sample questions (for my husband to look at - I gave up Maths years ago!)?

Some teachers were given some sample H3 math questions in order to prepare for the teaching of the subject but I don't think anyone would leak them. Well, I gave my comments above after I tried the questions.

For H3 syllabuses, your daughter may go to SEAB website to check. H3 econs syllabus is very detailed. (All other syllabuses are more detailed than the H3 math one. )