PRESENTATION BY

KEY PERSONNEL Meet-the-Parent Session

4 Mar 2016

SCIENCE Chen Poh Keong – HOD/Science

Criteria

To offer 2 Pure Science subjects

min. B3 (65%) in Sec 2 Science (Overall)

Additional requirement to offer Pure Biology or Science

(Biology):

min. B4 (60%) in Sec 2 English (Overall)

Entry Requirements for

Post-secondary Education

Pure Science is NOT a prerequisite for any Science

related courses at Polytechnics.

Pure Science is preferred if intending to take ‘A’ level

Pure Science at H2 level.

Pure Chemistry is required for Medicine and Dentistry

courses in local university.

What qualities do I need?

To do well in Pure Science, one must

enjoy conceptual and theoretical learning;

possess strong reasoning skill;

possess / develop strong scientific and process skills**

have strong foundation in Mathematics to study Pure

Physics;

good command of English language to study Pure

Biology.

**interpreting data, investigating, measuring & observing,

predicting/concluding from data, reasoning & problem solving.

How much do I possess?

ICAS results by UNSW (in Sec 1 & 2) – To what extent

has one has acquired the skills? To what extent compare

to others in Singapore?

Score of ICAS is good indication of the scientific and

process skills attainment.

Pure Science vs Combined Science

Pure Science Combined Science

Content Chemistry: 11 topics

Physics: 22 topics

Biology: 16 topics

(More in-depth knowledge)

Sci(Chemistry): 10 topics

Sci(Physics): 19 topics

Sci(Biology): 13 topics

Lesson

Periods

6 periods for each pure

science

e.g. Pure Physics = 5 periods

e.g. Pure Chemistry = 5

periods

3 periods for each component of

combined science.

e.g. Sci(Phy/Chem) = 3+3 = 6

periods

Pure Science vs Combined Science

Pure Science Combined Science

Exam Paper 1: (1h) MCQ

Paper 2: (1h 45min)

Structured & Essay

Paper 3: (1h 50min)

Practical

Paper 1: (1h) MCQ

Paper 2,3 (1h 15min each)

Short-answer Question & long

Question

Paper 5: (1h 30min) Practical

Assessment

objective

45% Knowledge with

understanding

55% Handling information

and problem solving

50% Knowledge with

understanding

50% Handling information and

problem solving

New

Why Science Education?

Science education for the future involves teaching students

more than just the basic concepts of science. Students

need to be equipped with the skills to be able to use

scientific knowledge to identify questions, and to draw

evidence-based conclusions in order to understand and

make decisions about the natural world and the changes

made to it through human activity.

Why Science Education?

A strong foundation in scientific knowledge and

methodologies will include the development of reasoning

and analytical skills, decision and problem solving skills,

flexibility to respond to different contexts and possessing

an open and inquiring mind that is willing to explore new

territories and learn new things. These are skills and

habits of mind that are aligned to the desired 21st century

competencies.

HUMANITIES Mrs Elsa Khoo – HOD/Humanities

Importance of Humanities

Importance of Humanities

Research

done by:

Association of

American

Colleges and

Universities,

2009

Criteria At least B4 in Secondary 2 History

Suitability Good at making an argument using

evidence and analysing conflicting

points of view.

Enjoys reading.

Strong in English language.

Entry

Requirements

for Post Sec

Education

Humanities is a prerequisite for any

business related Polytechnic courses

or ‘A’ Level courses.

History

Criteria At least a B4 in Secondary 2

Geography.

Suitability Good at analysing and interpreting

data, and seeing the interconnection

between people and the

environment.

Enjoy field work.

Entry

Requirements

for Post Sec

Education

Humanities is a prerequisite for any

business related Polytechnic courses

or ‘A’ Level courses.

Geography

• Lawyer

• Business Management

positions

• HR positions

• Urban Town Planner

• Journalist

• Teacher

Careers - Humanities

Why do Pure Humanities?

• Pure History / Pure Geography is a FULL

subject

• Can be considered as one of the R2/B2

subjects

• In-depth analysis into the areas of

interest(s)

• Small class size – greater attention given to

each student

Pure vs

Combined Humanities Pure Combined

Content History: 4 themes

Geography: 6 main

themes +

Geographical Inquiry

Social Studies: 5 themes

+

Elective History: 2 themes

OR

Elective Geography: 4

main themes +

Geographical Inquiry

Pure vs

Combined Humanities Pure Geography Combined

Lesson

Periods

5 periods for each

pure humanities

e.g. Pure History = 5

periods

e.g. Pure Geography =

5 periods

3 periods for each

component of combined

humanities

e.g. Combined

Humanities(SS/EG) = 3+3

= 6 periods

Pure Geography Combined

Exam Paper 1:

(1hr 40 mins)

Section A: Geographical

Investigations (25m)

Section B:

Structured questions on:

• Coasts

• Global Tourism (25m)

Paper 1: Social Studies

(1hr 45 mins)

Section A: Source Based Case

Study (35m)

Section B: Structured Essay

Question (15m)

Pure vs

Combined Humanities

Pure Geography Combined

Exam Paper 2:

(1hr 30 mins)

Section A: Structured questions

on:

• Living with Tectonic Hazards

• Variable Weather and Climate

(25m)

Section B: Structured questions

on:

• Food Resources

• Health and Diseases (25m)

Paper 2: Elective

Geography (1hr 40 mins)

Section A:Geographical

Investigations (13m)

Section B: Structured

Questions (12m)

Section C: Structured

Questions (25m)

Pure vs

Combined Humanities

Pure vs

Combined Humanities Pure History Combined

Exam Paper 1: European

Dominance and Challenges

(1870s–1945)

(1hr 40 mins)

Section A: Source Based

Case Study (30m)

Section B: Structured

Essay Question (20m)

Paper 1: Social Studies

(1hr 45 mins)

Section A: Source Based Case

Study (35m)

Section B: Structured Essay

Question (15m)

Pure vs

Combined Humanities Pure History Combined

Exam Paper 2: The Bi-Polar

World Order (1945–1991)

(1hr 40 mins)

Section A: Source Based

Case Study (30m)

Section B: Structured

Essay Question (20m)

Paper 3: Elective History

(1 hr 40 mins)

Section A: Source Based Case

Study (30m)

Section B: Structured Essay

Question (20m)

ADDITIONAL MATH

PRINCIPLE OF ACCOUNTS Mrs Serene Ang – Year Head (Sec 2)

Additional Mathematics

Criteria Min B3 (65%) in Sec 2E / Grade 2 for 2NA Math

(Overall) AND at least 70% in the Algebra

components in EOY Exam.

Suitability • Comfortable with abstract thinking.

• Enjoy solving long, complex Math

problems.

• Strong in E Math (especially Algebra).

Entry

Requirements for Post

Secondary

Education

• Not prerequisite for any Polytechnic course,

but an added advantage for engineering courses.

• Preferred if intending to take ‘A’ Level

Mathematics.

Principles of Accounts

Criteria Min C5(55%) in Sec 2E / Grade 5 for 2NA Math

Final allocation based on merit of overall

percentage of ALL subjects

Suitability • Systematic and analytical thinking skills

• Good Language and mathematical ability.

Entry

Requirements for Post

Secondary

Education

• Not prerequisite for any Polytechnic or ‘A’

Level course, but an added advantage for Business & Accounting courses.

ART Mrs Serene Ang – SH/Aesthetics

An Overview

• Requirement for GCE ‘N’ / ‘O’ level Art Exam

• How will you be assess?

• Ex-student’s work

• Q & A

Art Criteria Min Grade B3 for 2E or Grade 3 (65%) for 2NA

in Sec 2 Art(Overall)

Suitability • Appreciate the visual arts and has a keen

eye for the aesthetics.

• Good time management and

organisational skills for coursework.

Entry

Requirements for Post

Secondary

Education

• Not prerequisite for any Polytechnic & ‘A’

Level courses or entry to Lasalle College of Arts and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts

(NAFA).

• Note: Lasalle/NAFA will require portfolio

presentation.

UPPER SECONDARY ART An Introduction to ‘N’ / ‘O’ Level Art Syllabus

Exam Requirements

PAPER DESCRIPTION EXAMINATION

DURATION WEIGHTING REQUIREMENT

Paper 1 Coursework Not Applicable 60% Compulsory

Paper 2

OR

Paper 3

Drawing and Painting

3 hours

40%

Compulsory

(Choose one

out of the

two papers) Study of

Visual Arts 2 hours

Assessment Structure

ASSESSMENT DOMAIN ‘N’ ‘O’

1 Gathering and Investigation of Information 15% 20%

2 Exploration and Development of

Ideas/Concepts 15% 20%

3 Aesthetic Qualities 25% 20%

4 Selection and Control of Materials and

Technical Processes 25% 20%

5 Personal Response 20% 20%

Case Study #1

SYAHIDAH N Level

O Level

Republic Polytechnic Diploma in Interactive and Digital Media

digital media designers, computer animators,

game developers, web application developers, audio visual editors

Case Study #1

SYAHIDAH

Sec 2 Art Grade – Grade 2

N Level 12 points for EMB3 EL – 3

MTL – 4

Math – 3

Science – 1

Art – 1

O Level 21/16 points for L1R5/L1R4 Art – A2

Case Study #2

AIMAN Sec 2 Art Grade – A1 / 1

Sec 3 Art Grade – A2 / 2

N Level 18 points EL – 4

MTL – 4 Math – 4

Science – 5

Art – 1 (O Lvl: A2)

O Level - Current • NO need to take up Art as a subject in Sec 5 for O Level.

• More time for weaker academic subjects.

Case Study #3 (Sec 4 Express) Direct Poly Admission

Sng Yu Qing (2010) @ Temasek Polytechnic Apparel Design & Merchandising

O Level Art Grade: A2

Ain Sakinah Bte Adam (2012) @ Republic Polytechnic Technology & Arts Management

O Level Art Grade: B4

Krystelle Seow (2013) @ Nanyang Polytechnic Space & Interior Design

O Level Art Grade: B3

Jillian Koh(2015) @ Singapore Polytechnic

Visual Communication & Media Design

O Level Art Grade: A2

THANK YOU Q & A