As I gathered myself and try my best to hastened toward the door to greet my mother, the rampant thudding in my heart got louder. Unease slithered down my spine. My legs turned jelly. I could feel myself wobbling uncontrollably.
“What did the doctor tell them? Is it finally over?” I thought to myself grimly. As the door swung open, a draft of air hits my face, the air was warm and with a tincture of bleach. I have been trapped in this hospital ward for weeks yet the acrid smell of the hospital never fails to assault my senses. I looked with anticipation at my mother’s weary face, hoping that she will give me some answers that I’ve longed for.
“Can I leave now?”
“Carin, hang in there. The doctor has not told us the results yet.” my mother whispered as she stroked my cheeks gently, wiping away my tears.
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“This is not fair!” I whimpered as I ran my hand over the rough paint on the hospital wall. I could feel my insides squirm in a way they haven’t done before. I absolutely hate this place. This cold, unfeeling and upsetting place.
“How long more must we wait?” I begged for an answer in a soft voice.
My mother bit her lips in an attempt to stop them from quivering. I could feel her body press in, soft and warm as she enveloped me in a hug so tight, it was as if she was worried it would be for the last time.
“Just a few more days, sweetheart. The doctor said we can go home today but we have to come back in three days for the results” she answered tenderly, pointing at the doctor’s letter with a date circled in red ink and a note scribbled ‘White Blood Cell Count Results.”
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“I cannot do this anymore, Mummy! Please let me stop all these tests!” I screamed inconsolably, my energy depleting along with my tears.
The day finally came and we headed back to the dreaded hospital waiting room again. Everything was the same. The rooms, the outfits, the pain. Nothing felt different and I was losing sight of when, if ever, this nightmarish ordeal would ever end.
“Carin Tan Xiyue” I heard the nurse called my name and I nearly jumped out of my seat.
“He’s ready to see you now,” the nurse announced as she opened the door, motioning for my mother and I to enter. I dragged my feet into the doctor’s room reluctantly, moving to sit opposite the doctor, a man in his late forties with heavy brown-rimmed glasses that kept sliding down from his nose.
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“I have good news for you Carin. Your wait is finally over . That was your last chemotherapy session,” the doctor cheerfully declared. Your cancer cells have been destroyed.”
As he uttered these words, I could not believe my ears. Tears of relief rolled down my cheeks. I thought to myself, “Of the hardships a person had to face, none was more punishing than the simple act of waiting.” I am so glad that this long wait is finally over.
Are you or your child in Secondary Three this year? If you are a parent, are you aware that there has been a syllabus change for O’Levels English when you are buying new assessment books for your children? Are your tutors trained in the requirements of the new syllabus?
Most of the assessment books that you see in the popular local bookstores are still based on the old syllabus. If you are taking O’levels next year in 2023, it is pertinent that you are equipping yourself with the right resources and hiring the best tutor for your child. Most resources available in the bookstores right now are still based on the old syllabus (EL 1128). A check by our staff at the local bookstores show that most of the assessment books are not updated to the new syllabus yet because changes take time.
What is the new EL syllabus and where can we can free resources for that?
In school, our teachers are teaching based on the new syllabus and if you have not caught up, subscribe and stay tuned to our youtube channel and blogs for a series of FREE resources for O’levels English O’levels New Syllabus 1184. You can also reach out to our team of MOE trained (current) or ex-MOE teachers and get 1 on 1 tuition with them. Whatsapp or email us today.
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English Paper 1 Syllabus 1184- Situational Writing
To start off, we are looking at Paper 1: Situational Writing (Formal Letters/Email)
Situational Writing Notes for English O’levels New Syllabus 1184
Format: Letter Writing – Formal Email / Writing
Section B: Situational Writing (30 marks)
Requirements: Candidates must write 250–350 words on a given situation which will involve viewing a visual stimulus. Our focus for today is Email/ Letter Writing, specifically, formal letter writing. Students could be tasked to write a formal letter to a manager or a restaurant complaining for its shoddy service or complimenting a restaurant for impeccable service. Other scenarios include writing application letters for internship, applying for a course/programme or nominating someone for an award.
How to get a better score for Situational Writing?
Mind your tone!
You will never go far in Situational Writing if you don’t write with the correct tone and register. For formal letters, you should sound ‘business-like’ and official.
2. Start with a Good Hook /Introduction!
Examples of Introductions for Formal Letter:
How to greet and Introduce yourself
Dear Sir / Dear Madam
Dear Mr Leong (address the recipient by their last name / surname)
I am Simon Woo, a Secondary Three Student from Kangkong Secondary School. I am writing to apply for an internship at XXX.
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How to end a formal letter / email
Thank you for your valuable time. Should you need to clarify any details, feel free to contact me. I am looking forward to the good news that my internship has been accepted.
Signing Off
Yours Faithfully (Yours faithfully’ should be used for emails or letters where the recipient is unknown, meaning you start the letter with ‘Dear Sir/Madam’.)
Yours Sincerely (should be used when you have the name of the recipient).
Study Notes for EL Syllabus 1184 Paper 1: Formal Letter Writing
Types of Formal Letter
How to write introductions
How to write conclusions
Writing a complaint letter
As a concerned member of the public, I am appalled to see that …
As a resident of West Coast Group Representation Constituency (GRC), I am writing to offer some feedback about …
I urge you to take immediate action and hope to hear from you soon.
2. To commend
I am writing this letter to nominate a student for the Excellent Character Award / MOE Caring Teacher Award 2023
I strongly believe that Mr Ouyong is a very deserving candidate. He often goes beyond the call of duty and does his utmost in nurturing the holistic development of their students.
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3. To invite guest for an event
On behalf of my CCA, I am honoured to invite you to the annual gathering dinner that will take place at the [Venue] on [Date, Timing].
It is my privilege to have you with us at this special occasion.
I sincerely hope that you will be able to grace us with your presence.
4. To apply for internship
I am writing to you regarding (internship opportunity title) that opened up recently/advertised on (website). I am drawn to this exciting opportunity as I am seeking a challenging but rewarding internship during my year end holidays.
I am most delighted to find that my academic
accomplishments meet the necessary requirements.
I sincerely hope that you will consider my application. Looking forward to your favourable reply. I can be contacted at (insert your hp/email).
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For more study notes by teachers and if you are keen on getting that coveted A1 for English, subscribe to us today and watch our youtube videos for Paper 1 tips, Sample Oral Questions and Listening Comprehension. If you need more guidance on Secondary School English, reach out to our team of teachers, we have classes running both online and 1 to 1 private tuition. Whatsapp or email us today.
Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) is a rite of passage for all students from mainstream primary schools in Singapore. It is an annual national examination that is taken by candidates at the end of their final year of primary school education.
Each year, our team of tutors helps anxious parents prepare their children for PSLE. Mark these dates down and contact us to get a tutor today! For those of you who are planning the well-deserved break after PSLE, you will be glad to know that we have included the PSLE Marking dates for 2022. Read on!
See below for important PSLE Examination Dates, you can also check out MOE website for the schedule.
Simply put, you use ‘An’ when initials sound a e i o u. In uniform ‘u’ sounds like ‘you’ which starts with ‘y’ not ‘u’ sound like the one in an umbrella. Hence a uniform is correct.’
How can you improve on your Editing?
In O’levels English Paper 1 (1128), Editing is a weighty section worth 10 marks. Many students are unable to score a good grade for this section because they may not be familiar with some key rules of grammar. Read on for some quick tips for editing and common preposition mistakes.
To get professional help for English Tuition in Singapore, reach outto us and our team of tutors (MOE Trained Teachers, Full Time Tutors and University Undergrads) today. For a limited time, you can get a trial lesson for online Secondary English Tuition at just $40 onwards.
Tips for Editing at O’Levels
(i) Prepositions of Time
When do you use ‘In’ , ‘On’ and ‘At’ ?
In
Parts of days
Morning / Afternoon
E.g. It is 7am in the morning.
Months
E.g. My birthday is in July
Years
E.g. I was born in the year 2005.
Centuries
E.g. As we usher in the 21st Century …
On
Holidays that end with ‘day’
E.g. I was born on National Day.
Days of the week
E.g. I forgot that my homework was due on Monday.
Days of the month
E.g. Singapore’s National Day is on 9th August.
Dates
At
Holidays without ‘day’ (Lunar New Year, Deepavali)
E.g. I am always busy at Deepavali because I have many relatives to visit.
Time (Midnight, Noon, 10am, 1pm)
E.g. I am going to meet my best friend for lunch at 1.30pm.
Prepositions of Place >> in, on, and at.
In
Neighbourhoods
E.g. I live in Clementi
Cities
E.g. I work in London
Countries
(China)
E.g. My family lives in China
On
Streets, Avenues
E.g. I live on the Sixth Avenue
Islands
I live on Sentosa Island
Large Vehicles or surfaces
E.g. Train, Bus, Ship
E.g. I lost my wallet on the train
At
Addresses
E.g. I live at 210 Riverdale Street
Specific Location
E.g. I am at home now
For a limited time only, we are offering a special promotion for Secondary 1 to 5 O’levels Express Online Tuition at just $40 for one class (50% off). You will gain access to notes and coaching by our team of ex and current MOE Teachers. Whatsapp us or email us today.
The recent 2021 PSLE Math paper has done it again! Every year, students and parents take to the internet to consult one another on how to solve a particular math question. This year is no exception.
Question involved: (source: Mothership and CNA)
Question from my whatspp:
*Apparently, there’s different versions of the question. A reader alerted us.
I admit. I tried to used algebra to solve it. It didn’t work.
I wanted to text the person who shared the question with me that there must be some other information or that the question is incomplete. Otherwise, how can i not solve it?
My second attempt at the question taught me something. Sometimes, it the user that complicates things. The Singapore Math Model uses Bar Modeling as a pictorial method to solve word problems.
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Solution based on my whatsapp message:
Please take note that diagram is not drawn to the correct scale. (It doesn’t need to)
And that both Helen and Ivan have the same number of coins.
From the above bar model, we can deduce that it does not matter how many coins do each Helen or Ivan has nor does the question ask the student to solve for the total number of coins.
What we should take note of is that as Ivan has 40 more 20 cent coins than Helen, it would mean that Helen would have 40 more 50 cent coins than Ivan. (Only 2 type of coins involved here, 20 cent and 50 cent)
From here, we know that having more 50 cent coins would mean Helen has more money and by $12 (Difference of 50 cent and 20 cent X Difference of 40 coins)
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Since Helen has more 50 cent coins, Ivan’s coins would weight lesser than Helen’s. And what’s the difference? (2.7 g X Difference of 40 coins) = 108g difference.
Therefore, mass of Ivan’s coins = 1.134kg – 108g = 1.026kg.
My math tutor used to tell me that it’s alright when I cannot mange to solve certain questions in the paper. I was quite puzzled by what he said. Now, I seem to realize what he meant. He was saying that as his assumption was that I was able to complete the math papers with above 75% grades on a consistent basis. And that if there were any questions that I could not solve, it still would not amount to my grade being less than A1.
However, it has always been my goal to get 100% for my math papers. In reality, when you aim for 100, you may fall short a little (careless mistakes, silly errors, etc). But chances are that you would still get the highest possible grade of A1 or AL1.
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So I ask myself: “What would my overall math grade be, if I failed to answer Helen’s and Ivan’s coins question”?
To better prepare for the challenges of PSLE Math, we provide Online Math Tuition (4 x 1.5 hours a month). All lessons are conducted online in small groups. Contact us today for more details!
Primary 5 and Primary 6 PSLE taking students who are keen to ace their Math papersducation Programme (English, Maths and General Ability). Whatsapp us for more details.
THE GIFTED EXAMINATION PROGRAMME (GEP) Sample Test Papers is available for download for all members of The Learning Space. Please sign up here and indicate your interest in getting a sample question for the GEP Sample Test Paper (English).
We provide GEP preparation class online (3 Days) either group or individual 1 on 1. Our GEP Preparation Programme will give your children the critical insights and familiarise your child with question types commonly seen during the GEP round 1 Screening Exercise. Run twice each year, this highly sought after popular programme is conducted by our team of specialist teachers and provide practical strategies and techniques to excel in the MOE’s highly competitive 2-stage selection exercise.
What is the GEP Programme?
GEP Screening Exercise is held annually for all Primary 3 students in Singapore.
There are two stages:
Stage 1: Screening
Stage 2: Selection
At the Learning Space, we provide GEP Preparatory Tuition for students who are keen to have a head start. Students can choose a small group class or engage a 1 to 1 GEP Prep Teacher to guide them in this exciting endeavour. Lessons are available online or in-person and conducted by our team of highly experienced GEP Teachers.
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How can you prepare your child for the GEP Identification Exercise?
Is a gifted child a product of nature or nurture? Since time immemorial, this has been a highly controversial subject. Evidence from many recent source points to the superior character of most of the homes or families as a strong contributing factor to the high standing of these boys and girls whose I.Qs are 130 or higher. According to the University of Chicago Press Journals, other than genetics, nurture is an important consideration and there has been a consideration of methods of training gifted children.
To help parents better prepare for the challenges of the GEP Prep test, we provide a 16 hours of intensive preparation (6 lessons of 3 hours each) to tackle the commonly tested components of the GEP Screening Exercise. All lessons are conducted online in small groups. Contact us today for more details!
Primary 2 and Primary 3 students who are keen to gain exposure to sample questions of the Gifted Education Programme (English, Maths and General Ability). Whatsapp us at 9364 6977 for more details.
In a blink of an eye, soon it will be time for this year’s Primary Six students to go for their PSLE exams in September to October 2021. Click here to download the latest PSLE schedule 2021 from MOE. In view of the recent changes to the PSLE scoring system to AL 1 to AL8, it is critical that students and parents examine closely which secondary schools they would like to go.
Many questions come to mind, “How to choose a secondary school that suits my children? What are the cut off points? What are the academic programmes to consider? Does the school offer DSA admission? What are the niche programmes offered by the school? Any affiliations to Junior Colleges?” The list of questions that parents ponder on goes on and on endlessly.
Our PSLE series of articles will give you key insights such as providing a list of the latest secondary school cut-off points so that you can guide your child to make his/her plans.
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PSLE Scoring System
Four important things you MUST know when it comes to choosing a suitable secondary school
1) Watch out for Affiliation Bonus
Schools that are affiliated with one another offer a lower cut-off point to students from affiliated Primary Schools. These schools with exception of Nanyang High and Hwa Chong Institution, are typically missionary schools like SJI Junior, CHIJ Kellock Convent, CHIJ Katong, MGS, and ACS et cetera.
2) Choosing a school with the ‘right’ school culture. What is a SAP school?
Special Assistance Plan (SAP) known in Chinese as 新加玻特选中学 / 特选学校， caters to students who excel in both their Mother Tongue and the English language. At the moment, the SAP schools only cater to the Mandarin mother tongue language.
SAP schools tend to place a higher priority on Chinese bi-cultural education and most offer special programmes like Bicultural Studies and tend to attract more students from China. Historically, the SAP schools normally attract the Top 10% – 20% of each PSLE cohort.
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This is especially relevant for students who took Higher Chinese at PSLE,
According to MOE, Students who obtained Distinction/Merit/Pass in HCL and a PSLE Score of 14 or better (i.e. PSLE Score ≤ 14) at PSLE will be eligible for posting advantage to SAP schools. However, under the new scoring system, students with better PSLE scores will be posted first to SAP schools, event if they DID NOT take HCL. In the scenario where students have the same PSLE score, those with better HCL grades will be posted to SAP schools first.
There are a total of 26 SAP schools (both primary and secondary) in Singapore. Secondary SAP schools include highly established school Nan Chiau High, Chung Cheng (Main), Maris Stella High School, Anglican High School, CHIJ Saint Nicholas’ Girls, Nan Hua High School.
3) Consider the IB Programme
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme is another option for your child to consider. Embarking on the programme will eventually lead students to IBDP which is the equivalent of GCE A’levels. Most of the international schools in Singapore usually adopt the iGCSE and IB education programme. Students who choose the IB Programme will have the opportunity to enjoy a more holistic programme offering. Local schools like The Singapore Sports School, SOTA, MGS, SJI, ACS offers students IB programme. The Learning Space is a pioneer in IB and iGCSE tuition, our team of IB tutors are fully equipped and highly experienced in helping students achieve their ideal scores for the IB programme. It is important tot note that the IB curriculum places emphasis on the research processes of the students, as well as on their inquiry and problem-solving skills. Students will also have to work on programmes like the theory of knowledge essay and the individual extended essay, which are completed by students over a specified period of time under teacher supervision.
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You can find out more about IB tuition and contact our IB tutors here.
4) What is an IP Programme?
Integrated Programme (IP) is a programme where the students do not take GCE O levels instead they will embark on a six-years education programme from secondary school to junior college, culminating with the GCE A-level exams. Therefore the programme is also known as the “choo-train”, where students who get into this programme will be automatically secured a spot in the respective JCs, without having to go through another examination.
The list of IP schools in Singapore are Dunman High, River Valley High, MGS, Nanyang, Hwa Chong Institution, Raffles Girls School, Raffles Institution, Catholic High, Cedar Girls, National Junior College, Temasek Junior College and more.
INSIDERS’ TIPS: Advice for Parents
Former HOD of Language Arts from a top IP school, Ms Melanie Chan shares that IP programme (at Year One and Two) emphasises more on the holistic development of students who exhibited higher academic competence. Instead of “chasing the curriculum” students are given the opportunity to explore in depth and alternative assessments. For instance, IP students in Raffles Girls School have the opportunity to learn how to write poems and biography. They learn how to create animations and get fully hands-on Applied Science concepts. IP schools also tend to attract former GEP gifted students because of their academic rigour. However, it is important for parents to note that IP schools can sometimes be regarded as an epitome of the pressure cooker system because the curriculum for IP school can get progressively demanding at the Upper Secondary Level as teachers start to prepare students for A’levels. Students who are self-directed learners will definitely thrive in an IP school environment. Like the IB students, IP students are also expected to take English Literature as part of their Language Arts programmes. Students who need tuition and guidance for IP Language Arts can contactour team of MOE tutors.
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Cut-off points for Secondary School in 2021
See below for the affiliated points for the school.
School
IP/IB
SAP school
Express
Normal Academic
Normal Technical
Hwa Chong Institution
Boys
IP
✔
4-7
–
–
Raffles Girls’ School
Girls
IP
4-6
–
–
Methodist Girls’ School
Girls
IP
4-6
–
–
Nanyang Girls’ School
Girls
IP
✔
4-8 /4-7
–
–
Raffles Institution
Boys
IP
4-6
–
–
Dunman High School
Co-ed
IP
✔
4-8
–
–
National Junior College
Co-ed
IP
5-7
–
–
CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School
Girls
IP
✔
4-7
–
–
Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)
Boys
IP
4-7
–
–
Catholic High School
Boys
IP
✔
5-8
–
–
Methodist Girls’ School
Girls
–
6-8 /7-17
–
–
Cedar Girls’ Secondary School
Girls
IP
4-8
–
–
CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School
Girls
–
✔
5-8/5-14
–
–
River Valley High School
Co-ed
IP
✔
4-9
–
–
Singapore Chinese Girls’ School
Girls
IP
4-8
–
–
Singapore Chinese Girls’ School
Girls
–
5-9 /8-17
–
–
Victoria School
Boys
IP
5-8
–
–
Catholic High School
Boys
–
✔
6-9/6-12
–
–
Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)
Boys
–
6-9/7-13
–
–
Cedar Girls’ Secondary School
Girls
–
4-9
–
–
Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School
Girls
–
8-11 /4-20
21-23 /21-25
25-28 /26-28
St Joseph’s Institution
Boys
IP
4-8
–
–
Temasek Junior College
Co-ed
IP
4-9
–
–
Anderson Secondary School
Co-ed
–
4-10
21-24
25-28
CHIJ Toa Payoh
Girls
–
6-10/7-20
21-24/21-25
25-30/27
Victoria School
Boys
–
6-9
–
–
Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)
Boys
–
6-11/7-22
21-21/21-24
25-26/25-28
Bukit Panjang Government High School
Co-ed
–
6-11
21-22
25-26
Nan Hua High School
Co-ed
–
✔
6-11
–
–
St Joseph’s Institution
Boys
–
5-10 /8-12
–
–
Nan Chiau High School
Co-ed
–
✔
4-11
–
–
Chung Cheng High School (Main)
Co-ed
–
✔
6-11
–
–
Crescent Girls’ School
Girls
–
6-11
–
–
Fairfield Methodist School
Co-ed
–
8-11 /8-20
21/21-24
25-27 /25-28
St Andrew’s Secondary School
Boys
–
7-10 /7-22
21-23 /21-25
25-26 /25-29
St Margaret’s Secondary
Girls
–
9-11 /9-20
21-22 /22-25
25-27 /25-28
Swiss Cottage Secondary School
Co-ed
–
4-11
21-22
25-26
Chung Cheng High School (Yishun)
Co-ed
–
6-11
21-23
25-27
Anglican High School
Co-ed
–
✔
5-12
–
–
Commonwealth Secondary School
Co-ed
–
8-12
21-23
25-28
Yishun Town Secondary School
Co-ed
–
6-13
21-23
25-27
CHIJ St Theresa’s Convent
Girls
–
11-13/8-20
22-24/21-25
25-29/25-28
Ngee Ann Secondary School
Co-ed
–
5-12 /12-16
21-22 /21-25
25-26 /26-28
CHIJ St Joseph’s Convent
Girls
–
9-13/8-29
21-23/21-25
25-27/25-29
Maris Stella High School
Boys
–
✔
7-12 /8-16
–
–
Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Secondary School
Co-ed
–
8-13 /11-20
21-24 /21-25
–
Zhonghua Secondary School
Co-ed
–
9-13
21-23
25-27
Fuhua Secondary School
Co-ed
–
6-13
21-23
25-28
Presbyterian High School
Co-ed
–
8-13
21-23
25-27
Tanjong Katong Girls’ School
Girls
–
5-13
–
–
Xinmin Secondary School
Co-ed
–
8-14
21-23
25-27
Clementi Town Secondary School
Co-ed
–
8-14
21-24
25-28
Riverside Secondary School
Co-ed
–
6-14
21-23
25-27
Temasek Secondary School
Co-ed
–
7-13
21-22
25-27
Holy Innocents’ High School
Co-ed
–
10-15 /11-22
21-23/21-25
25-26 /25-28
Kranji Secondary School
Co-ed
–
10-14
21-23
25-27
Tanjong Katong Secondary School
Co-ed
–
9-14
–
–
Dunman Secondary School
Co-ed
–
9-14
21-23
25-27
Edgefield Secondary School
Co-ed
–
7-14
21-22
25-27
St Patrick’s School
Boys
–
10-14 /12-20
21-22 /21-24
25-27 /26-28
Ang Mo Kio Secondary School
Co-ed
–
11-16
21-24
25-28
Bukit Batok Secondary School
Co-ed
–
11-15
21-23
25-28
Geylang Methodist School
Co-ed
–
11-15/13-21
21-23 /21-25
25-26 /25-29
Jurong Secondary School
Co-ed
–
8-16
21-23
25-28
CHIJ Katong Convent
Girls
–
11-15/11-20
21-24/21-25
25-30/26-28
Evergreen Secondary School
Co-ed
–
9-15
21-23
25-27
St Anthony’s Canossian Secondary School
Girls
–
11-15 /10-22
21-24 / 21-25
25-27 /25-28
Bowen Secondary School
Co-ed
–
10-16
21-24
25-27
Gan Eng Seng School
Co-ed
–
7-15
21-23
25-26
Hua Yi Secondary School
Co-ed
–
10-16
21-23
25-29
St Gabriel’s Secondary School
Boys
–
10-17 /13-22
21-23 /22-25
25-28 /26-27
St Hilda’s Secondary School
Co-ed
–
12-15 /13-22
21-23 /21-25
25-28 /26-28
Pei Hwa Secondary School
Co-ed
–
11-16
21-24
25-26
West Spring Secondary School
Co-ed
–
10-17
21-23
25-26
Hai Sing Catholic School
Co-ed
–
10-16
21-24
25-28
Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School
Co-ed
–
10-17
21-24
25-28
Mayflower Secondary School
Co-ed
–
12-17
21-24
25-28
Deyi Secondary School
Co-ed
–
13-17
21-25
25-28
Queensway Secondary School
Co-ed
–
11-17
21-24
25-27
Pasir Ris Secondary School
Co-ed
–
11-18
21-24
25-28
Unity Secondary School
Co-ed
–
13-18
21-24
25-28
Pasir Ris Crest Secondary School
Co-ed
–
9-17
21-25
25-28
Woodlands Ring Secondary School
Co-ed
–
14-19
21-24
25-28
Bedok View Secondary School
Co-ed
–
13-18
21-24
–
Chua Chu Kang Secondary School
Co-ed
–
216
171
137
Beatty Secondary School
Co-ed
–
12-18
21-25
25-27
Yuan Ching Secondary School
Co-ed
–
8-19
21-25
25-28
Compassvale Secondary School
Co-ed
–
11-18
21-24
25-27
Kent Ridge Secondary School
Co-ed
–
10-19
21-24
25-30
North Vista Secondary School
Co-ed
–
12-18
21-24
25-27
Orchid Park Secondary School
Co-ed
–
12-19
21-24
25-28
Bukit View Secondary School
Co-ed
–
14-19
21-25
26-30
Peirce Secondary School
Co-ed
–
12-19
22-25
26-29
Zhenghua Secondary School
Co-ed
–
12-20
21-24
25-27
Bedok South Secondary School
Co-ed
–
14-19
21-25
25-28
Greendale Secondary School
Co-ed
–
8-18
21-23
25-27
Hillgrove Secondary School
Co-ed
–
14-19
21-24
25-28
Meridian Secondary School
Co-ed
–
15-19
21-24
25-27
Woodgrove Secondary School
Co-ed
–
13-20
21-23
25-27
Jurong West Secondary School
Co-ed
–
10-18
21-24
25-28
Montfort Secondary School
Boys
–
15-20 /13-21
21-25 /23-25
25-28 /26-28
Tampines Secondary School
Co-ed
–
13-19
21-25
25-28
Christ Church Secondary School
Co-ed
–
207
166
109
Yishun Secondary School
Co-ed
–
207
164
109
Seng Kang Secondary School
Co-ed
–
13-19
21-24
25-27
Admiralty Secondary School
Co-ed
–
15-20
21-24
25-28
Naval Base Secondary School
Co-ed
–
11-20
21-24
25-28
Hougang Secondary School
Co-ed
–
15-20
21-25
26-27
Punggol Secondary School
Co-ed
–
15-20
21-24
25-27
Regent Secondary School
Co-ed
–
15-21
21-25
–
Jurongville Secondary School
Co-ed
–
16-20
21-25
25-30
Westwood Secondary School
Co-ed
–
11-22
21-25
25-28
Greenridge Secondary School
Co-ed
–
195
156
126
Canberra Secondary School
Co-ed
–
11-22
21-24
25-29
New Town Secondary School
Co-ed
–
13-20
21-25
21-25
Juying Secondary School
Co-ed
–
12-21
21-25
25-28
Pei Cai Secondary School
Co-ed
–
8-22
22-25
26-29
Queenstown Secondary School
Co-ed
–
16-22
21-25
25-28
Assumption English School
Co-ed
–
10-22
22-25
25-29
Bartley Secondary School
Co-ed
–
13-22
21-25
25-28
Bedok Green Secondary School
Co-ed
–
13-20
21-25
25-28
Bendemeer Secondary School
Co-ed
–
8-22
21-25
25-29
Boon Lay Secondary School
Co-ed
–
188
152
101
Broadrick Secondary School
Co-ed
–
7-22
21-25
25-27
Bukit Merah Secondary School
Co-ed
–
9-22
21-25
25-28
Changkat Changi Secondary School
Co-ed
–
13-22
21-25
–
Damai Secondary School
Co-ed
–
15-22
21-25
25-28
Dunearn Secondary School
Co-ed
–
9-22
21-25
25-30
East Spring Secondary School
Co-ed
–
12-22
22-25
25-28
Fajar Secondary School
Co-ed
–
8-22
21-25
25-30
Fuchun Secondary School
Co-ed
–
188
152
100
Guangyang Secondary School
Co-ed
–
16-21
21-25
26-29
Junyuan Secondary School
Co-ed
–
17-22
21-25
25-28
Loyang View Secondary School
Co-ed
–
15-21/13-22
22-25/23-25
26-28/26-28
Manjusri Secondary School
Co-ed
–
15-21 /13-22
22-25 /23-25
26-28 /26-28
Marsiling Secondary School
Co-ed
–
9-22
21-25
25-30
Northbrooks Secondary School
Co-ed
–
12-22
21-25
25-28
Northland Secondary School
Co-ed
–
8-22
22-25
26-28
Outram Secondary School
Co-ed
–
4-22
22-25
26-30
Ping Yi Secondary School
Co-ed
–
188
152
108
Sembawang Secondary School
Co-ed
–
9-22
21-25
25-28
Serangoon Garden Secondary School
Co-ed
–
8-22
21-25
25-28
Serangoon Secondary School
Co-ed
–
16-21
22-25
25-28
Springfield Secondary School
Co-ed
–
10-22
21-25
25-28
Tanglin Secondary School
Co-ed
–
188
152
100
Teck Whye Secondary School
Co-ed
–
6-22
21-25
25-29
Whitley Secondary School
Co-ed
–
7-22
21-25
26-29
Woodlands Secondary School
Co-ed
–
9-22
21-25
25-28
Yio Chu Kang Secondary School
Co-ed
–
16-21
22-25
25-28
Yuhua Secondary School
Co-ed
–
14-22
21-25
25-30
Yuying Secondary School
Co-ed
–
8-22
21-25
26-28
Yusof Ishak Secondary School
Co-ed
–
Now that you can refer to this list of cut-off points, it’s time to decide which school you’d be applying for! Why not give yourself a headstart for your secondary school life with
Want more tips for PSLE or Oral? Watch our youtube video here.
It’s finally here! Your O’levels results are released!
Despite the pandemic, students who sat for the O-level examinations last year set a roaring new record, with over 80 per cent of the cohort attaining five or more passes.
What should you do next?
For those of you who passed with flying colours, congratulations. For some who didn’t do as well as you like and aren’t sure what to do next. Grab a treat and read on.
Let’s start by look at some numbers.
How did the previous batch of candidates fare? In 2019, 85.2 per cent secured five or more passes, while the 2020 batch scored 85.4 percent, up 0.4 percentage points from the previous year.
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The Ministry of Education (MOE) said that of the 20,300 candidates who sat for O’levels in 2019, 52 per cent were posted to the five polytechnics here. Another 38 per cent were given places in the junior colleges (JCs) and Millennia Institute, and about another 10 per cent were posted to the Institute of Technical Education.
What to do after O’levels?
First and foremost, be brave, if results aren’t what you expected or you have changed in the last year and now want something different, then do it! Defer entry, travel, change your course just don’t feel trapped into doing something that isn’t right for you. If your results did not meet your expectations, chin up. Take comfort in the fact that local universities will no longer factor in O-level results for admission come 2020.
There could be a myriad of reasons why O’levels did not go well for you. Perhaps, you were too stressed or ran out of time. Move forward. You can’t change the past, but you can make things better.
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Here are some paths you can consider after your O’levels results.
1. Consider retaking your O-levels
If you have an ambition to fulfil, a dream course or school in mind that you cannot get into after trying all avenues (like appeals), give this option some serious thought. Being a year behind your peers is perfectly okay; everyone takes different paths and you’ll see this especially in polytechnics, where you can have classmates twice your age!
If you decide that this is what you want to pursue, please be reminded that you’ll have to pay to sit for the exams again. There are two ways to go about it:
Retaking your O-levels as a private candidate
Retaking your O-levels in your current secondary school, which needs you to meet certain criteria
Retaking as a private candidate demands a lot of self-discipline. You’ll need to work out a studying schedule and keep to it, find out when and where to register for the papers and remember that the extra year you’re taking is an investment of your time and money. Sign up for our preparatory courses for O’levels English or tuition classes and let our tutors guide you. Most of our tutors are former teachers who will definitely be able to give you sound advice. Click here to reach us.
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Alternatively, ITE offers a General Education (GE) Programme that offers part-time classes for English, Combined Humanities, Maths, Additional Mathematics, Double Sciences, Literature, Geography, Chinese, Tamil as well as Principles of Accounts. Classes run up to 32 weeks.
2. Take a Foundation Course
Private institutions here offer foundation diplomas that you can take—these last anywhere from 6-12 months full-time and give you the qualifications to progress to relevant diplomas offered by the same institution. Admission criteria is manageable for foundation diplomas; typically, all you’ll require is one GCE O-level pass and an O-level grade in English ranging from A1-D7, depending on the private institution.
Alternatively, you can explore pre-university entry programmes from private universities like Kaplan, MDIS, James Cook or even foundation year programmes abroad (which give you the chance to gain admission to overseas universities).
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Do note that this option can be very costly and in times of Covid-19 pandemic, it may not be the best approach at the moment.
3. Slow down and study in a Centralised Institute
How about joining Millennia Institute (MI)?A Centralised Institute offers three-year pre-university courses under three streams. These are the arts and science streams that a typical JC offers as well as an additional commerce stream.
The three years will give you a little more time to catch up on your studies and mug for the A-levels if you need some time (again, you’ll still need self-discipline). You’ll need an L1R4 of 5-20 to be eligible for admission.
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Specific subject requirements are as follows:
English
Higher Chinese/Malay/Tamil
Chinese/Malay/Tamil
Chinese Basic/Malay Basic/Tamil Basic
E Math/A Math
A1-C6
A1-E8
A1-D7
Merit/Pass
A1-D7
If you find yourself unable to meet these requirements, Millennia Institute has a conditional student programme which will require you to re-sit for the relevant language and/or mathematics papers O-levels. You can re-take them for 2 times before your offer is revoked.
4. Consider enrolling for Poly Early Admissions Exercise
You can consider studying for a NITEC or Higher NITEC in ITE, before applying for a place in a Polytechnic via the Early Admissions Exercise (EAE). The EAE is a centralised aptitude-based admissions exercise, which allows students to apply for and receive conditional offers for admission to polytechnics prior to receiving their final grades.
This will be a longer route that will require a lot of resilience, but there are many who have taken it before you and succeeded. It’s also a suitable option if you’ve already set your heart on a polytechnic course, or have narrowed down an area of interest. You might need to submit portfolios and undergo interviews and aptitude tests, so start preparing early!
Hopefully, this article clears your doubts and let us link you up with a team of best tutors to help you fulfil your dreams. We are currently offering a trial lesson for private candidates. Emailus your interest today.
“We can never close the gender divide.” Do you agree?
(For JC GP Prelims Questions 2020, subscribe to our newsletter and YouTube channel. You will be the first to get the latest essays and questions!)
GP Essay Question: Model Essay
As the COVID-19 pandemic pushes on and persists to affect lives and livelihoods around the world, we are witnessing a tide of economic fallout, which has a regressive effect on gender equality. According to Mckinsey Research, women’s jobs are 1.8 times more vulnerable in this crisis compared to men’s jobs and It is predicted that women make up 39 percent of global employment, will account for 54 percent of overall job losses. Some put forth the view that we can never close the gender divide due to such economic realities, legislative barriers and sexist mindsets that pervades in our society today, creating an irreconcilable chasm between males and females. This has led some to believe that the gender divide is insurmountable. However, it is my conviction that while closing the gender divide will be difficult, it is not out of the question, mainly attributed to changing attitudes in legislature and shifts in societal mindsets towards women. Ergo, it will be difficult, but closing the gender divide is indeed possible.
Some espouse the opinion that it is not possible to close the gender divide largely due to the existence of legislative barriers that institutionalise gender discrimination and perpetuate gender inequality. In Singapore, for instance, although the Government has taken steps in the recent years to educate and incentivise employers to be fair and to promote flexible work arrangements so that, yet there is still an absence of legislation that clearly lays out employer duties and responsibilities, this results in many companies being able to get away with little more than superficial commitments to be more inclusive. The situation is even more bleak in less developed countries like India. In the recent years, the numerous cases of rape across the country once again exposed the failures of the criminal justice system. Nearly six years after the government amended laws and put in place new guidelines aimed at justice for survivors of rape and sexual violence, yet girls and women continue to face barriers to reporting such crimes. Victim-blaming is also rampant, and the lack of witness and victim protection laws make girls and women from marginalized communities even more vulnerable to harassment and threats. Across the spectrum, from developing to more developed countries, what persists is a disturbing observation that legislation either explicitly hurts women and promotes sexism, or it condones behaviours that hurt women and promote sexism. It remains a deeply painful and saddening reality that the patriarchy continues to be entrenched in legislature, and ingrained in societal institutions, leading some to think that it is a futile quest and that we can never close the gender divide. In view of all these challenges, it does seem like an uphill task when it comes to closing the gender divide. But to say that it is an impossible dream would be too fatalistic. I strongly stand by the view that closing the gender divide is not completely impossible- there is definitely more than a glimmer of hope. First and foremost, there have been changing attitudes in legislature that have led to tremendous progress for women’s rights on paper. Right here in Singapore, the government has just announced that they will embark on a review of women’s issues showing a strong committed step towards greater gender equality. In the pipeline are a series of engagements termed as “Conversations on Women Development” scheduled to take place between the public and private sectors, as well as non-governmental organisations, with the objective of identifying and tackling issues concerning women in Singapore.These will culminate in a White Paper to be issued by the Government in the first half of 2021.
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Across the globe, in terms of the right to political representation, the presence of womenhas been growing- in the upcoming US Presidential elections, Kamala Harris’s nomination as the Vice President for the democratic party is a milestone. She is the first woman and the first person of colour to serve as vice president.In Canada, Justin Trudeau made half the ministers in his cabinet women. Similarly, in Singapore, other than having a first female president, the recent election 29 per cent of the 93 seats for elected Members of Parliament (MPs), 27 – or elected seats – went to women, compared to 21 out of 89 seats after the 2015 polls. Even in countries without a female head of government, changes in legislature have indeed been growing to ameliorate gender inequality and boost the rights of women. Japan has adopted new legislation to promote women’s political participation by urging political parties to make the number of male and female candidates as equal as possible and set targets for gender parity. Notoriously patriarchal countries like Afghanistan had a record of 417 female candidates that participated in the October parliamentary elections in 2018. These are all concrete evidence that legislature has been changing to increase rights for women and enact gender parity, closing the gender divide. With more female representation in politics and in view of these steps towards women representation, it is still very much possible for us to close the gender divide in the near future.
In addition to this, it is definitely possible to close the gender divide because there has also been shifting societal attitudes towards women. At a societal level, the #MeToo movement directed unprecedented attention to the historic injustices and inequalities experienced by women, specifically those related to sexual harassment in the workplace. Led by grassroots activists, this movement gained traction across Asia, opening space for countless stories of harassment and new opportunities to hold perpetrators to account. Even countries that have been traditionally patriarchal in nature like South Korea is making headways in gender equality. Enterprising Korean women are increasingly visible in a traditionally male dominated country like South Korea. More young women are earning university degrees than men. More than 70% of women between 25 and 34 are active in the workforce. Young women are far more vocal than previous generations in challenging the conservative social mores that hold them back. For instance, two female Youtube Influencers Jung Se-young and Baeck Hana, are part of a wave of feminist activism that has swept South Korea. These ladies have cut their hair, thrown away their make-up and sworn off relationships with men. With the advent of social media, the influence of feminism is increasing spreading across social media platforms and society is waking up to the fact that young digital natives no longer want these conservative traditions, and women are free to reject them. Thus, it is highly possible that due to shifting societal attitudes that promote gender equality, the gender divide will be definitely be closed.
All in all, although the path towards gender equality may seem frustratingly slow. But the fact that inequality is now being openly discussed is progress in itself. In these recent years, societies and government worldwide have been placing gender equality issues on their agenda. With this growing trend towards more rights for women on paper, coupled with the shifting societal mindsets, it is completely possible that our generations will be able to close the gender in our lifetime. The journey towards gender equality may be winding. There is no silver bullet and admittedly there is a lot to do in the field of equality, but nothing is impossible. We must and can continue to fight and narrow the gender divide.
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(This essay has been reviewed and marked by GP Tutors. For GP tuition by school teachers or full time tutors, contact us today.)
Are you entering Junior College soon? Mystified by all the jargons? Read this article and you will be able to fully understand the curriculum of the Singapore Cambridge GCE A-Level. Let us explain in this article what does H1, H2, H3 mean exactly and what are the cut-off points required to enter JC?
Advanced level, better known as the A’levels is the national exam that students will take after the GCE Ordinary Level aka O’levels. Alternatively, secondary students in Singapore can proceed to other forms of tertiary education, which is any one of the following: ITE and Polytechnic.
There are 3 different tertiary options for a student after their O Level results; ITE (Nitec or Higher Nitec), Polytechnic and Junior College (JC) or Millennia Institution (MI).
Junior College
The rumour in the grapevine has always been that by passing your O’levels you prove that you’re not an idiot… but by passing your A’ levels you prove that you’re smart”. Whether this holds any truth remains open to speculation, but what is real is that in order to enter any Junior Colleges in Singapore, students have to either go through the traditional academic route (usually the top 20 percent of the cohort) where they will have to excel at their L1R5 which means first language plus best other 5 subjects (The L1R4 would be for Polytechnic/ITE entry). Do note that a maximum of 4 points can be deducted from a student’s raw L1R4/5 score. (The Raw Scores is the score students have obtained without any deduction of points from CCA or Higher Mother Tongue Language (HMTL).
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Students can also enjoy 2 points from their CCA achievements (usually leadership, competition participation etc) and 2 points can also be deducted from passing their Higher Mother Tongue Language in Secondary school.
What does entering Junior College in Singapore mean?
When students choose to join a Junior College, this means students will embark on a 2-year programme and take the GCE Cambridge A-Level examinations after that. The Singapore GCE Cambridge A-Level is slightly different from the International Cambridge A-Level. For students who are from IP schools, they will join their affiliated junior colleges where some students are from the O’levels. For instance, a student from Temasek IP Programme will progress to Temasek Junior College while students from RI and RGS will join Raffles Junior College, now known as Raffles Institution located at RI. Some schools like River Valley High School offers both Junior and Senior High, students will stay within their school (usually moving to a new building for their final two years).
Not sure about what are the cut-off points requirements to enter Junior College?
These are the cut-off points for your reference.
Below is a table stating the cut-off points for 2021 for the different streams in JC, ranked according to alphabetical order. Please note that you will need to check the requirements each year with your choice colleges. For cut off points in 2022, you will need to check back here again.
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List of Junior Colleges in Singapore
Arts
Science / IB
Anderson Serangoon Junior College, ASRJC
11
11
Anglo-Chinese Junior College, ACJC
9
8
Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), ACSI
–
5
Catholic Junior College, CJC
13
13
Dunman High School, DHS
9
8
Eunoia Junior College, EJC
8
7
Hwa Chong Institution, HCI
5
4
Jurong Pioneer Junior College, JPJC
16
15
Nanyang Junior College, NYJC
6
6
National Junior College, NJC
8
7
Raffles Institution, RI
5
4
River Valley High School, RVHS
9
8
St. Andrew’s Junior College, SAJC
11
10
St. Joseph’s Institution, SJI
–
8
Tampines Meridian Junior College, TMJC
13
13
Temasek Junior College, TJC
9
9
Victoria Junior College, VJC
8
7
Yishun Innova Junior College, YIJC
20
20
Millennia Institution (MI) – An Alternative to Junior College
Junior colleges are not the only way to A’levels. O’level graduates can also pursue a three-year course at Millennia Institution (MI), the only three-year pre university institution in Singapore Some parents may remember days where there used to be another Pre-University Insitute known as the Jurong Institute (JI). At MI, the school offers the same subjects and curriculum as the Junior Colleges in Singapore. However, the only difference they have is that the Milennia Institution is a 3-year Pre-U course, while the other Junior Colleges offer only 2 years. To enter MI, the school will consider the student’s L1R4 instead of their L1R5.
Millennia Institute is the only Centralised Institute offering a 3-year Pre-University course, leading to the GCE ‘A’ Level certification. For students who took the GCE ‘O’ Level examination and are eligible to apply for admission through the Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE), the minimum requirements specified below must be met.
Aggregate Range for L1R4 ≤ 20.
Meet Subject Requirements:
Subject
Requirement
English Language
A1 to C6
Mother Tongue Language:
Chinese Language, Malay Language, Tamil Language
OR Higher Chinese Language, Higher Malay Language, Higher Tamil Language
OR Chinese Language ‘B’ Syllabus, Malay Language ‘B’ Syllabus, Tamil Language ‘B’ Syllabus
A1 to D7
A1 to E8
Merit or Pass
Mathematics:
Mathematics
OR Additional Mathematics
A1 to D7
A1 to D7
Students who satisfy the conditional admission criteria and are conditionally admitted to Millennia Institute would be required to re-sit for the relevant language and/or mathematics papers by the following year’s GCE ‘O’ Level Examination.
For more information, please access the MOE website
Your ultimate guide to Singapore GCE Cambridge A-Level Curriculum
Step 1: Choose a stream.
Depending on your score, you will be eligible for different streams Science or Arts when they are choosing for their post-secondary choices. For students, who wish to pursue Business Management at A’level, the option will be to join MI as most JCs do not offer this subject.
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Step 2: Find a college that offers you the best standing
Consider your preferred stream over your dream Junior College. Most students, if not all, have their ideal Junior Colleges that they want to enter. Some are doing so because of a particular school’s brand name or heritage, others want to keep their family tradition and join their parent’s alma mater, whatever the motivation, it is worth to take a moment and consider “What’s at stake?”. Ultimately, you are looking for entry to University and it is pivotal to note that some students do consider entering a lower-tier JC so that they can stay in the science stream which offers them more options to courses in University.
Step 3: Decide on what are your H1, H2, H3 subjects
The H in H1, H2 and H3 stands for Higher.
To enter University, you need this minimum subject combination:
Three H2 content-based subjects
One H1 content-based subject
Compulsory H1 subjects
Mother-Tongue Language (MTL) if you did not take higher Chinese at O’levels
General Paper
Project Work
Do note that A-Level students must take at least one contrasting subject. What is considered a contrasting subject? For Science stream students, you must take at least one subject from the Humanities & the Arts. On the other hand, Arts stream students must take at least one Science subject, usually H1 or H2 Mathematics.
What is the difference between H1 and H2 subjects?
The difference between H1 and H2 subjects is similar to IB Standard Level versus IB Higher Level. H1 subjects cover lesser topics compared to H2 subjects. For instance, H2 Economics is worth 20 rank points and will cover more topics and there are P1 and P2 (Essays). Economics is a challenging subject but most students will choose to take it because it is a practical subject. If you need help in Economics tuition, contact us today via whatsapp us or email.
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Why do some students take four H2 subjects?
Some students can take four H2 content-based subjects if they meet a minimum cut-off points requirement and for students who truly excel in a particular domain, they can choose to pursue H3 content-based subjects if they are eligible.
How will H3 subjects be graded?
H3 is an additional subject on top of all your H1 and H2 subjects, therefore, you have to be mentally prepared to devote more and sufficient time to all your subjects. H3 subjects are not graded into the rank points. They are additional subjects that are taken on top of their H1 and H2 subjects. H3 subjects can allow students to be exempted from modules in their university, depending on the course and module taken by the student.
Grading
H3 Grade
Marks (%)
Distinction
70 to 100
Merit
55 to 69
Pass
45 to 54
Ungraded
0 to 44
Frequently Asked Questions by JC Students:
What is H1, H2, H3?
H1 subjects are worth 1 point and H2 subjects are worth 2 points. H3 subjects are ONLY offered to students who are academically able to cope with the additional subject(s) on top of their H1 and H2 subjects. Usually, schools will decide who are the students they will be “inviting” to take H3 subjects. Students who choose to take H3 subjects usually want to stand out among competitors who are choosing a similar University course. However, it is important to note that the demands of H3 subjects are considerable, if students are not able to excel in H3 subjects at A’levels it may backfire instead.
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What are rank points?
The maximum number of rank points (RP) for admission to university is 90. A higher score would place a student in a better position for admissions to university.
Grade
Scores
H1 Ranking Points
H2 Ranking Points
A
70% and above
10
20
B
60% to 69%
8.75
17.5
C
55% to 59%
7.5
15
D
50% to 54%
6.25
12.5
E
45% to 49% (passing grade)
5
10
S (sub-pass)
40% to 44%
2.5
5
Ungraded
39% and below
0
0
GCE a-level Rank Points Calculation
Overview of the GCE A-Level curriculum
H1, H2 and H3 refer to the depth of the subject taken by the student, with H1 subjects being briefer than H2 and H3 subjects and H3 being a more advanced level of the subject.
For example, an H2 Chemistry subject would have more topics than H1 Chemistry but their difficulty level of the questions asked would roughly be the same.
As for H3 Chemistry, the topics learned will not be more than H2 Chemistry since H3 subjects are an extension to H2 subjects. This would mean, learning would be more in-depth and specific when it comes to taking an H3 subject.
Arts/Science Stream Criteria
One of the four content-based subjects must be from a contrasting discipline. In other words, you are not allowed to take all Science-based subjects as such; Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
H1
The compulsory subjects that should be taken by all students would be General Paper and Project Work. Students may also offer Knowledge and Inquiry in place of General Paper (GP), or offer Mother Tongue Language and Literature at H2.
Students can be exempted from taking H1 Mother Tongue if they have passed their Higher Mother Tongue in Secondary School, but it still counts as 1 point. However, if the student did not undertake Higher MTL in Secondary school ‘O’ Level, it is compulsory for him/her to complete H1 MTL in JC.
National Examinations for H1 subjects will be taken at the end of JC2 (second year of JC) with the exception of H1 Mother-Tongue Language and H1 Project Work which will be taken in JC1.
H2
Taking 4 H2
Students can be offered to take up 4 H2 instead of the standard combination of 3 H2 and 1 H1 at the beginning of their J1. Schools will determine whether a student can be offered to take up 4 H2s, determining factor being the student’s raw cut-off points when they enter the JC. This differs from JC to JC.
How to calculate your GCE A-level Rank points
Some Junior colleges include the students’ rank points in their results. If your college does not, do not fret, here’s how you can calculate it.
Rank Points for Students take 4H2 Subjects → For students that are offered 4H2 subjects instead of 3H2 and 1H1? RP is calculated this way:
Should the scenario arise when a 4H2 student do not have an H1 content-based subject, the student’s weakest H2 subject will then be computed as an H1 content subject. This means the rank points of the H2 subject would be halved (calculated as /10 instead of /20).
3 H2 + weakest 1 H2 calculated as H1 + H1 GP + H1 PW
= (20 + 20 + 20) + (17.5/20 x 10) + 10 + 10
= 88.75 RP
Looking for more GCE A-Level related resources? Click here for GP Model Essays.
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