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Transfer from Non-IP school to IP school

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 9:52 pm
by Ninjazz34
Hi parents:) Ninjazz34 here!

I have intentions on transferring to a IP school this year for Sec 3 next year.I decided that I would apply to a few schools instead of just one so that I can try my luck.However,one of the IP schools I'm deciding to apply for doesn't have an entrance exam.Since its one of the top schools,for a neighbourhood school student,chances are deemed to be 0% as their criteria will be really strict and what's more,the whole curriculum will be different and such.

So I would like to clear the following doubts to reconsider my decision:

1.Is studying in an IP school hard as what people make it out to be?
2.What are the usual hours your child gets back from school?(excludes days that they have CCA)Do they have enough time to complete homework and projects?
3.Are they stressed out or depressed of the competitiveness in the school(if any)?

I hope that someone can help and answer these questions.Thank you!

Re: Transfer from Non-IP school to IP school

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2015 8:33 am
by slmkhoo
Ninjazz34 wrote:Hi parents:) Ninjazz34 here!

I have intentions on transferring to a IP school this year for Sec 3 next year.I decided that I would apply to a few schools instead of just one so that I can try my luck.However,one of the IP schools I'm deciding to apply for doesn't have an entrance exam.Since its one of the top schools,for a neighbourhood school student,chances are deemed to be 0% as their criteria will be really strict and what's more,the whole curriculum will be different and such.

So I would like to clear the following doubts to reconsider my decision:

1.Is studying in an IP school hard as what people make it out to be?
2.What are the usual hours your child gets back from school?(excludes days that they have CCA)Do they have enough time to complete homework and projects?
3.Are they stressed out or depressed of the competitiveness in the school(if any)?

I hope that someone can help and answer these questions.Thank you!
Different people have different experiences even in the same school, same class! My daughter is in Yr 4 of an IP school now, so I'll answer based on what I see.

1. It depends on ability and stress tolerance. Some find it OK, others don't. I think that quite a bit of independent learning is expected, and it can be hard if the student can't keep up with the teacher.

2. School dismisses around 2pm. On CCA days (twice a week), she doesn't get home till around 6pm. On early days, she can get home around 3-4pm. But there are frequent "other stuff" that happens, so it varies. My daughter has her busy times when a few assignment deadlines are set around the same time, but mostly she can keep things under control. She gets to bed by 10.30pm most nights, and has some free time during weekends, and sometimes even on weekdays. She is quite organised and is a fast worker, so that helps. And she doesn't have tuition, so that frees up more time too.

3. Stress from competition is largely self-induced. If a student has a fair idea what is reasonable for herself, and is satisfied with her best efforts, then there won't be too much stress. If the student has unrealistic expectations and wants to ace everything all the time, it can be stressful.

Hope that helps a bit.

Re: Transfer from Non-IP school to IP school

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2015 11:10 pm
by Ninjazz34
Different people have different experiences even in the same school, same class! My daughter is in Yr 4 of an IP school now, so I'll answer based on what I see.

1. It depends on ability and stress tolerance. Some find it OK, others don't. I think that quite a bit of independent learning is expected, and it can be hard if the student can't keep up with the teacher.

2. School dismisses around 2pm. On CCA days (twice a week), she doesn't get home till around 6pm. On early days, she can get home around 3-4pm. But there are frequent "other stuff" that happens, so it varies. My daughter has her busy times when a few assignment deadlines are set around the same time, but mostly she can keep things under control. She gets to bed by 10.30pm most nights, and has some free time during weekends, and sometimes even on weekdays. She is quite organised and is a fast worker, so that helps. And she doesn't have tuition, so that frees up more time too.

3. Stress from competition is largely self-induced. If a student has a fair idea what is reasonable for herself, and is satisfied with her best efforts, then there won't be too much stress. If the student has unrealistic expectations and wants to ace everything all the time, it can be stressful.

Hope that helps a bit.
hi slmkhoo,

thanks for the information:) i roughly get what this whole thing is about now.

your advice is definitely appreciated,thank you!

Re: Transfer from Non-IP school to IP school

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2015 7:01 pm
by VALyap
it is all about self-discipline and self-learning. The IP school's teacher will not spoon-feed, only the concept. Be prepared to commit to CCA too, project timeline…. if the child is disciplined, do not waste time on social media, should be able to sleep before 11pm. UNLEss project work or whatever, then that is different story! DD and her friends were so involved in CCA , performing, leading , they were so self-motivated that beyond school hours (came home 10pm etc. even on weekend!) and on their own they practice & practice their dance routine till perfection just to be the winning team during the sports festival…. :rahrah: :boogie: That is the dedication, commitment and self-motivation……they did it on their own…. :rahrah: :imcool: That is on top of preparing for exams or assessments papers...

Re: Transfer from Non-IP school to IP school

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2015 5:34 pm
by Ninjazz34
hi valyap,

thanks for the valuable information,i appreciate it:)
kudos to your dd for being so dedicated towards her cca,there's only a minority of people in my school who are like her.
I guess being in IP,its all about effort,attitude and consistency to produce good results and "survive" hahah.
anyways thank you once again:D

Re: Transfer from Non-IP school to IP school

Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2016 11:16 am
by sushigal
Hi Ninjazz34

Can please share more how do you go about transferring your child out to IP school.

I try to PM you direct unable to do so.

Maybe, you can PM me direct.

Thank you.

Re: Transfer from Non-IP school to IP school

Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2016 9:50 am
by phtthp
sushigal wrote:Hi Ninjazz34

Can please share more how do you go about transferring your child out to IP school.
does MOE allow "end of Sec 2 students", to transfer from a Non-IP school, into another different IP school?

eg

do MOE allow students to inter-school Transfer, from SCGS Sec 2 (from GCE "O" level track) into RGS Sec (IP track), starting a new academic year in RGS Sec 3 (IP) ?

if originate within the same Sec school (SCGS Sec) :
intra-Transfer definitely allowed, if students do well at end of Sec 2.
eg
possible to transfer from O level track into IP track, at end of Sec 2
That is, if a student do well, at end of Sec 2 :
Yes, student can transfer from O level track into IP track, starting new academic year Sec 3 (IP) at SCGS Sec, direct access into the new Eunoia Junior College in Year 5 for GCE "A" level, bypassing O level major exam.


But inter-Transfer, across different Secondary schools, across different track ?

Re: Transfer from Non-IP school to IP school

Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2016 5:03 pm
by sushigal
Quite a few factors to consider for your child.

If your child is cut for IP then is OK. Usually go to IP in Sec 3 is very tough for a child especially he/she has to leave her former school and classmates known for 2 years. Going to a new environment can be very scary for them. Getting to know new friends again, with projects coming out and most of them already have their click in their IP Sec one and twos. Sometimes, getting into the click is not easy too! Have to managed all the subjects and so on.....

If your child is the easy going type or happy go lucky then I find it ok for he/she to adapt fast.

Some children not ready for IP especially projects.

These are the things we have to put ourselves in our child's heart like can we take it ourselves first?

Re: Transfer from Non-IP school to IP school

Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2016 10:02 pm
by esme38
Ninjazz34 wrote:Hi parents:) Ninjazz34 here!

I have intentions on transferring to a IP school this year for Sec 3 next year.I decided that I would apply to a few schools instead of just one so that I can try my luck.However,one of the IP schools I'm deciding to apply for doesn't have an entrance exam.Since its one of the top schools,for a neighbourhood school student,chances are deemed to be 0% as their criteria will be really strict and what's more,the whole curriculum will be different and such.

So I would like to clear the following doubts to reconsider my decision:

1.Is studying in an IP school hard as what people make it out to be?
2.What are the usual hours your child gets back from school?(excludes days that they have CCA)Do they have enough time to complete homework and projects?
3.Are they stressed out or depressed of the competitiveness in the school(if any)?

I hope that someone can help and answer these questions.Thank you!

I have 2 DDs. One just graduated from SCGS (Old batch so no IP) and currently at HCI. The other DD at IP RGS currently at year 4.
1) Studying in IP requires different approaches..i mean practically very different style of learning. Alot of self research, no much studying materials given to student, very JC/Uni style of learning, uses alot of internet and library material resources. I am glad i chose RGS for her and her ability to grow up as what she is capable of to be.

2. Both DD whether IP and non-IP goes home about same timing. Only thing is CCA commitment.

3. Both options can create stress. If you choose non-IP, in SCGS, they too have many frequent tests/assignments/projects. I see no different in the stress.

Ask your self do you prefer to research resource notes/materials for self style learning (in IP) or studying materials being dump onto you and goes for tests/exam (non-IP)?

Re: Transfer from Non-IP school to IP school

Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2016 10:53 am
by phtthp
Ninjazz34 wrote:Hi parents:) Ninjazz34 here!

I have intentions on transferring to a IP school this year for Sec 3 next year.I decided that I would apply to a few schools instead of just one so that I can try my luck.However,one of the IP schools I'm deciding to apply for doesn't have an entrance exam.Since its one of the top schools,for a neighbourhood school student,chances are deemed to be 0% as their criteria will be really strict and what's more,the whole curriculum will be different and such.

So I would like to clear the following doubts to reconsider my decision:

1.Is studying in an IP school hard as what people make it out to be?
2.What are the usual hours your child gets back from school?(excludes days that they have CCA)Do they have enough time to complete homework and projects?
3.Are they stressed out or depressed of the competitiveness in the school(if any)?

I hope that someone can help and answer these questions.Thank you!
hi Ninjazz34,

why do you want to change from an existing, current Sec 2 O level class, to an IP school, when you've already settled down and stabilized yourself well in an O level class, for almost past 2 years ?
why want to uproot yourself ?

is it because you just want to escape the major O level exam, coming up in 2 years' time, trying to "chope" yourself a seat in an IP school for A level, so that you don't have to compete with rest of the Joint Admission O level graduate students, next time after O level results out ?

important qn is you must ask yourself honestly :
are you the independent, self-study type of student, whereby if the the subject Tr happen to give you very scanty hand-out lecture notes material, you are the type who can exercise initiative independently, research on your own in detail rest of the subject content, set yourself timeline goals & objective, to achieve what you're supposed to know, and to study?

bearing in mind that Secondary school have so many more subjects to tackle (beyond 4 subjects in primary school PSLE + 5th non-academic Cca), u need to be an independent self learner, can't be possibly taking tuition in every single Secondary school subjects, workload.
(you know yourself, best)

if one is the type that need a lot of hand-holding, guidance in subject content from individual subject Tr to spoonfeed, or prefer Tr inside the classroom to teach concepts, follow O level syllabus menu explain step by step clearly to the whole class, set assignment to "push" you to study, then is safer to remain back in your current, existing Sec 2 O level class. You target to do well at O level, use your good results to come back and apply for a good Junior college, sit for "A" level, or also can apply to a Polytechnic to pursue a good faculty Diploma course. The options are open for you.