CONFIDENTIAL 1

Subject Combination Talk for 2020 Secondary 2 Students (Exp)

OBJECTIVES

Help parents and students to make informed decisions through:

Better understanding of the Post Secondary Pathways and the Post-Secondary Education Institutions

Tentative subject combinations offered in 2021 and the respective criteria to offer these subjects

We apologise that this year, the subject combination talk was delayed due to the COVID-19 situation. We wanted to be clear about the assessment structure involving WA2, WA3 and End-of-year Exam so that adjustments to our criteria can be adjusted, if nec.

Having this talk now helps students better set their academic goals. Notwithstanding this, the social-emotional well-being of our students is important as they settle into new routines and catch up on their studies.

BACKGROUND

Subject combinations options are reviewed annually

and modified based on

1. Post-Secondary Education Institute’s admission

requirements

2. Manageability of subjects, based on past cohorts

• YOUR CHILD’S INTERESTS,

STRENGTHS AND ASPIRATIONS

• YOUR CHILD’S ABILITY TO

COPE WITH THE DEMAND OF

THE SUBJECT COMBINATION

GENERAL GUIDELINES

In guiding your child to select a suitable subject

combination, please consider:

POST-SECONDARY OPTIONS

https://www.moe.gov.sg/microsites/whats-next/for-gce-o-level-students/index.html

YOU HAVE CHOICES! EDUCATION PATHWAYS FOR O-LEVEL STUDENTS

GCE

‘O’ Levels

Junior Colleges /

Millennia Institute

(2 / 3 years)

GCE ‘A’ Level / IB

Polytechnics

Diploma (3 years)

Arts Institutes

Diploma (3 Years)

Degree (3 Years)

Universities

World of Work / Continuing

Education and Training

(CET)

ITE Colleges

Higher Nitec (2 years)

Nitec (2 years)

• Applied & Practice-based Learning

• Cumulative GPA

• Career-Ready with Sector-specific

Skills & Knowledge

• 25 - 30 bite-sized Modules per course,

spread out in 3 years

• 5 Polys - 35 to 50 different Diploma

Courses per Poly (some courses offer

exemptions to related degree

programmes in local/Australian

universities)

POLYTECHNIC PATHWAYJC/MI pathway

• 7 Academic Subjects

• 1 big Exam at the end of

Year 2 (GCE ‘A’ Levels/IB)

• Academic Deep Dive to

prepare for University

education

• Lectures & Tutorials

• 16 JCs/MI

OR

ADMISSION CRITERIA FOR JCL1R5 must be ≤ 20

Minimum Requirement for

- English Language C6

- Math D7

- Mother Tongue D7/ Pass in Mother Tongue(B)

L1R4 must be ≤ 20

Minimum Requirement for

- EL C6

- Math D7

- Mother Tongue D7/ Pass in Mother Tongue(B)

ADMISSION CRITERIA FOR MI

AGGREGATE COMPUTATIONS TO POLYTECHNICS

Each polytechnic offers different courses that comes with different pre-requisites.

Please refer to http://www.polytechnic.edu.sg/introduction/available-courses

EXAMPLE OF CUT-OFF POINTS FOR POLY

@ TP

CONFIDENTIAL 12@ TP

CONFIDENTIAL 13@ TP

14

CONSIDERATIONS FOR SUBJECT COMBINATION

Subject performance in Secondary 2 overall

marks (not just SA2) need to meet the criteria

stated

Minimum of 20 students is needed to form a

subject class

SUBJECT INFORMATION

(ENGLISH/LITERATURE)

Subject Lower Secondary Syllabus Upper Secondary Syllabus

English

Language

(Paper 1)

Personal recount, formal/informal

letter, e-mail, report, descriptive

writing

Discursive essay, argumentative

essay, speech, proposal writing,

hybrid essays (including revision of

lower sec essay types)

English

Language

(Paper 2)

Factual questions, inferential

questions, in-your-own-words

questions, summary, visual text

Language for Impact questions,

Point-of-view questions (including

lower sec question types)

Literature

in English

Introduction to different genres

(poetry, prose and drama). Key

areas of Literature: plot, character

and theme. Short structured

questions.

In-depth study of poetry, prose and

drama. Key areas of Literature: plot,

character, theme, setting, and style.

Essay questions

SUBJECT INFORMATION

(MOTHER TONGUE LANGUAGES)

Subject Lower Secondary

Syllabus

Upper Secondary Syllabus

Mother

Tongue

Languages

(Paper 1)

Narrative/situational Writing/,

informal email writing

Discursive/argumentative/hybri

d essay, formal email writing

Mother

Tongue

Languages

(Paper 2)

Vocabulary based

questions/Factual Question/

Inferential Question/Use

Your Own Words

Question./Summary (HMT)

Same as lower secondary but

more higher order inferential

questions

We are working towards offering MTLB for Sec 3 students in 2021. More updates will be given. Should

students offer MTLB, they need another 6 subjects to qualify for JC or 5 subjects to qualify for poly.

SUBJECT INFORMATION

(HUMANITIES)

Subject Lower Secondary

Syllabus

Upper Secondary Syllabus

Pure

History

Both lower sec and upper sec

has both Source Based Case

study that test critical thinking

skills and Structured Essay

Question that tests constructing

explanation

Colonisation of Southeast Asia and European history up till World

War 2.

Combined

Humanities

Social Studies is about citizenship education. Also includes

critical thinking skills in handling sources.

History elective is on World War 1 to collapse of communism

Combined

Geography

Physical Geography

(Water supply, Rainforest + Map

Reading)

Physical Geography

(Tectonic Hazards & Weather)

Human Geography

(Tourism & Food Resources)

Skills test are more rigorous than lower sec. This includes

analysing, evaluating and synthesising. Geographical data to

make informed and sound decisions.

Geographical Investigations skills are part of Section A of Paper

1.

Draw conclusions based on a reasoned consideration of

evidence

SUBJECT INFORMATION

(ADDITIONAL MATHEMATICS)

Subject Additional Mathematics

Additional

Mathematics

(A math)

● Add Math questions typically have more marks attached as compared to E Math

questions. The number of marks ranges from 4 marks to 12 marks

● Very little scaffolding of Add Math questions into parts as compared to E Math

questions

Topics not covered in E Math: Differentiation and its applications, Integration and its

applications, Trigonometric functions, formulae and identities, Binomial Theorem, Linear

Law, Polynomials and Remainder/Factor Theorems, Surds, Exponential and Logarithmic

functions

SUBJECT INFORMATION

(PURE SCIENCE)

Subject Description

Pure

Sciences

The content for Pure Science is broader and more in depth compared to Combined

Science. Pure Sciences will cover approximately 20% more content than Combined

Sciences.

Pure Sciences emphasize on Data Reading & Analysis as well as Application of

Concepts and questions are more rigorous and challenging.

Students should be able to think deeply and critically and draw inferences.

A good foundation in Mathematics is essential to ensure that students can handle and

interpret visual, numerical and graphical data confidently.

There is a practical exam at the end of the course which is 1 h 50 min for each Pure

Science subject and 1 h 30 min for Combined Science.

SUBJECT INFORMATION

(CRAFT & TECHNOLOGY)

Subject Lower Secondary Syllabus Upper Secondary Syllabus

Design &

Technology

Focuses on the development of

freehand sketching skills through idea

generation and development.

Foundation for D&T learning at upper

secondary level.

Focuses on research to define user needs,

exploration and develop design solutions,

prototyping their ideas using

tools/equipment/machines. Cultivating

creative, critical and reflective thinking.

Food &

Nutrition

(Food & Consumer Education) -

Students will learn to make sound food

choices and consumer decisions in

their everyday living.

Demonstrate principle of nutrition and

scientific principles underlying food

preparation, processing and safety.

ART Expressing Art ideas and concepts

Basic Art Techniques (Pencil and

Colourwork)

Advanced art techniques (Niche

mediums)

Art movements and inspirations

Independent discovery and concept

development

SUBJECT INFORMATION

(PRINCIPLES OF ACCOUNT)

Subject Description

Principles of Account

(POA)

The study of accountancy involves:

• recording,

• summarizing,

• analysing,

• interpreting, and

• reporting financial information of a business

POA students will therefore learn how to prepare,

communicate and use accounting information.

22

FOR MORE INFO ONGCE O- LEVEL SUBJECT

SYLLABUSES

https://www.seab.gov.sg/home/examinations/gce-o-level/o-

level-syllabuses-examined-for-school-candidates-2021

English Language

Mother Tongue /Higher Mother Tongue Language

Elementary Mathematics

Combined Humanities (Social Studies, History), OR

Combined Humanities (Social Studies, Geography)

Pure Chemistry Pure Chemistry

Combined Science

(Chemistry, Physics)Pure PhysicsPure Physics OR

Pure Biology

Additional

Mathematics

Additional

Mathematics

Design & Technology,

OR

Food & Nutrition

OR

ART

OR

Additional Mathematics

Pure History, OR

Pure Literature, OR

Pure Biology

Pure History, OR

Pure Literature,

Principles Of Accounts

No. of

Subjects8 7 7

SUBJECT COMBINATION

SUBJECTS CRITERIA (EXPRESS)

Sec 3 Subjects Sec 2 Subjects Overall %

Triple Sciences Science &

Mathematics

≥70

≥65

Double Sciences Science &

Mathematics

≥70

≥65

Pure Literature English Literature &

English Language

≥60

≥60

Pure History History ≥60

Additional

Mathematics

Mathematics ≥65

SUBJECTS CRITERIA (EXPRESS)

Sec 3 Subjects Sec 2 Subjects Overall %

Principle of

Accounts

Mathematics ≥50

Art Art ≥65

F&N FCE ≥65

D&T D&T ≥60

(not part of Subject Combination option)

HMTL only for existing

HCL/HML/HTL

students

≥60

26

USEFUL REFERENCES

Information for

joint admission exercise 2020

https://www.moe.gov.sg/admi

ssions/joint-admissions-

exercise

The document is for the current batch of graduates and serves only as a guide

BONUS POINTS – CCA / HMTLTO QUALIFY STUDENTS MUST MEET THE MINIMUM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR

ADMISSION INTO JC / MILLENIA INSTITUTE OR POLYTECHNICS.

JC / MI Poly

CCA A1-A2 = 2 points

B3-C6 = 1 point

HMTL 2 points

(A1-C6 for

EL & HMTL)

NA

List of Subject Combinations will be available on the website.

Please note that your child/ward is to submit his/her Subject Combination Option Form (Online) through the following subject streaming website : https://punggol.schoolhub.sg/

If your child/ward have any problems with the login, please email jonathan@rjcat.com with the following info:1. School:2. Class:3. Name:4. Username:5. Password:

ONLINE SUBMISSION

Date of

submission:

28 October 2020 –

31 October 2020

(2pm)

CONFIDENTIAL 29

SUGGESTIONS TO SUPPORT YOUR CHILD’S LEARNING

Take an interest in your child’s learning, in both

academic and non-academic areas.

Share current affairs and discuss them with your

child

Encourage good sleeping habits and appropriate

use of hand phone

How to distress

Attend school punctually

30

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Question Suggested recommendations

1 Is Additional Mathematics a

compulsory subject for admission into

JC or polytechnic?

No

If you are keen on Science stream in JC, A Math is

recommended, as foundation for H2 Math

If you are keen on Poly, depending on the course, A

Math might be recommended.

2 Is it better that my child take triple

sciences, to have more options in JC

or poly?

Yes and No. It depends on how well you do.

Triple Science combination is no longer offered in

JC. H2 Chemistry is usually compulsory for

students in the Science stream.

For example, In order to be accepted into Medicine,

you need a GOOD PASS in H2 Chemistry and a

PASS in either H2 Physics or H2 Biology.

3 My child did not do that well in terms of

meeting the subject criteria for certain

subjects that he intended to apply. Will

the school consider lowering the

criteria?

The setting of qualifying criteria is to safeguard your

child from offering subjects that are beyond his

ability to cope. In view of this year’s COVID-19

situation, the subject teacher’s feedback on

your child will be an important factor to

consider in appeals.

31

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSQuestion Suggested recommendations

4 What are the chances that my child will

be allocated the combination that he

wants to study in upper secondary?

The school uses the overall percentage and

student’s ranked choices to allocate the subject

combination. It is important that your child makes

his choice based on his results and interest.

Especially for coursework subjects, students need

to put in consistent work and attend school

regularly.

5 If my child is not allocated the

combination of his choice, can we

appeal?

Yes. You can obtain the appeal form from the

General Office. Please take note that you need to

submit the appeal form to the school by the

stipulated date. We regret to inform you that late

submissions will not be considered.

6 What is the success rate of appeal? The success of appeal cases is dependent on

several factors and considerations. We will also

work closely with the child’s subject teachers to get

feedback to ensure that it is the best option for your

child.

7 What happens if my child does not meet

the criteria for the 7th subject? Your child will be given a 6-subject combination,

very likely based on the best performing 6th subject,

so that your child can focus on his subjects and do

well.

S/No Event Tentative Dates

1Mock Subject Combination Exercise based on WA1 and

WA2Term 3 Week 9

2 Mock Subject Combination Exercise Results Term 3 Week 10

3Briefing to students on actual Subject Combination

exercise

Term 3

(during YH Talk, if possible)

4 Actual Subject Combination Exercise - online submission 26 Oct - 31 Oct (2pm)

5 Results of Subject Combination Exercise 9 November

6 Appeal period 12 - 14 November

7 Results of Appeal 16 November

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Parents are advised to take note of the key dates listed.

ZOOM SESSION

School Leaders will be conducting Zoom Session to help all parents and students to better

understand the subject combination exercise. Do join us on these dates.

Attendance is compulsory for students.

33

Date/Time Session Group

1 26 June (7pm to 830pm)

Friday

Zoom Session 1 (Exp) 2A,2B and 2C reg

no. 21 to 39)

2 3 July (7pm to 830pm)

Friday

Zoom Session 2 (Exp) 2C reg no. 1 to 20.

2D and 2E

More information about participating in the zoom session will be shared with students.

For queries on the Subject Combination Exercise and Subject Combinations,

please fill in the google form below. We will address your questions during the

zoom sessions.

Google Form

34

THANK YOU!