Posted in A-Level, EDUCATIONAL ADVICE, Exam Results, Integrated Programme (IP), IP Chemistry, IP Physics, Junior College, Pure Biology, Pure Chemistry, Pure Physics, Universities

Tips on how to Excel in Integrated Programme

The challenges of the Integrated Programme may be overwhelming for many of us, especially for those of us who are not well informed about the expectations that the school has for the students. This is a guideline on the mindset you must have, and steps you can take to excel in the IP system.

  1. Humble yourself

For many students who have entered the IP system, you would have scored at least 250 cut off points and above, making you the top 10% of the P6 cohort. Most students of your calibre would also have been top students in your individual primary schools, enjoying years of praise and accolades bestowed upon you by teachers and parents alike. In IP schools however, you are a dime a dozen, and the “miracle” that you pulled off in PSLE may not work as well as you think it will from Y1 onwards. Secondary school education is about discipline and practice, unlike PSLE questions. Humble yourself and be open to learning new things, as well as consulting your teachers and even your peers. You are in a new world now, with many people who may be more academically gifted than you. Seek help whenever necessary and keep an open mind.

  1. Be proactive

Learning never ends in the IP system. Unlike Express stream, some IP schools may not have an official textbook or guideline to follow, and teachers use their personal notes and base their syllabus off their own judgment. Being proactive allows you to anticipate such challenges and prepare for them before it becomes disastrous. Consult your seniors, and read deeply into topics that are taught. You will not find a guide in the O-level texts, but you can use them for practice before you are taught that certain topic. The school expects you to learn ahead, and you might be surprised to find that many of your peers are doing so during the holidays. Be proactive and don’t idle away your time.

  1. Learn smart

I have lost count of the amount of students I have seen struggle with the IP system because they hold on to the idea of rote learning and memorization. Unless you have a photographic memory, memorization will not serve you well. On the contrary, it will sabotage your grades. The IP system is about critical thinking, and often poses open ended questions. However, you can spot certain trends, and work more on such problems in anticipation of them coming out in exams. Learn what’s on your formula sheet, and only remember equations that are not on it. Take note of what teachers emphasize on during lessons and tutorials. Don’t blindly memorize, instead, link the information to each other and understand how they interact. Make efficient cheat sheets and short notes on your own. Another pro tip, the IP syllabus typically likes to omit or test less of what is not in the A-levels, so you might want to proceed with that in mind.

  1. Plan ahead

Plan your time well, and do not procrastinate. Attend to your assignments, homework and project work immediately as you might not get the chance to do so. This is because there can be events such as SYF, bringing about extra CCA sessions, leaving you drained and tired. Teachers can suddenly assign new projects or heavy workloads without coordinating with one another. Surprise quizzes may be conducted. There is a reason for this, and it is to prepare you to be a leader in a volatile working world. Plan ahead, do not procrastinate, and put in a consistent effort every single day. Remember, your score is determined over the year, not on one single exam.

 

Lastly, try to have fun in school. There are many great opportunities for you to take part in and show your leadership skills, but at the same time, you can make many great lifelong friends. Even as a working adult, I still keep in close contact with most of my friends from IP, and we are still inspiring each other to improve and grow together.

Y.S Pang, B.Eng (Hons), IP tutor at Singapore Learner and former IP student


OUR IP TUTORS:

Mr Pang:  Mr Pang graduated with a B.Eng(Honors) from NUS, and has been coaching students in O-level/IP and A-level Mathematics and Science for more than 5 years. An alumnus of RVHS(IP) and an experienced tutor in IP/A-level education, Mr Pang is a results oriented tutor whose students do very well in exams through efficient learning methods and exam preparation skills. Mr Pang employs a variety of teaching methods to cater to every type of learner, as well as teaching them the skill of self diagnostics, giving them the ability to constantly spot and rectify their own errors. He takes pride in inspiring his students to become confident learners and critical thinkers.

Mr Ilyasa:  An NIE-trained Teacher, Mr Ilyasa has been coaching students in O-Level & IP ChemistryPhysics and Math for more than 12 years. An alumnus of Raffles Institution, Mr Ilyasa holds a a Bachelor of Science degree from the NUS as well as a Master of Education (Curriculum & Teaching) degree from the National Institute of EducationMr Ilyasa’s thinking and metacognitive approaches to problem solving has helped many students of varying abilities to excel in Math and the Sciences. He has coached students from many different schools and streams, including IP, SAP, and IB.

For INDIVIDUAL (1-1) TUITION, you may contact Mr Ilyasa at 97860411.


To find out more about our teaching methods for IP and IP Tuition:

INTEGRATED PROGRAMME (IP)

 

Posted in A-Level, Universities

Announcement of Release (2013) of A-Level (2012) Results

I think it should be out next week (probably Friday 1 Mar) (It is now confirmed to be on Fri 1 Mar). For those of you who receive good news, you may want to click on one of the links below before you end up in the ‘wrong’ university:

1. List of recognised Universities and Post-secondary Institutes with campuses in Singapore

2. List of Approved Universities for Admission to the Singapore Bar

3. List of Registrable Basic Medical Qualifications for practice in Singapore

For those who receive bad news, you may want to click on the following link for some consolation and advice:

 4. What to do if your A Level results are bad.

Wish you all the best!

Rgds,

Ilyasa

Related pages:

(1) General Paper Tuition

(2) JC Math Tuition

(3) JC Economics Tuition

Related articles:

(a) Between JC and Poly.

(b) What subject combination to choose in JC.

A former MOE school teacher, Mr Ilyasa has been coaching students in ‘A’ Level (H2/H1) Physics, (H2/H1) Mathematics and (H2/H1) Economics for more than 6 years, as well as ‘O’ Level Physics, Additional Math, Math and PSLE Math for more than 10 years. An alumnus of RI and RJC, Mr Ilyasa holds a Bachelor of Science degree with Merit from the National University of Singapore, a Postgraduate Diploma in Education with Credit from the National Institute of Education, Singapore, and a Master of Education (Curriculum & Teaching) degree also from the NIE, Singapore.

Posted in Educational Advice, Universities

Finance degree from SIM is still recognised …

Recently, I went to open a business account with a local established bank. I was served by a Business Banking Manager, a fresh graduate, who had worked for the bank for just 4 months! He had a finance degree from SIM.

Ok, this bank, as far as I know, is not owned even partially by the Spore govt, although its leaders have ties with the ruling elite. I’m also not sure which finance degree he obtained, as in which was the awarding university (SIM is not a university; pls don’t confuse SIM with UniSIM).

Thus the finance degree he obtained is most likely an external degree. My point is, you may still get employed by an established company if you have not graduated from any of the local universities, such as NUS, NTU, SMU or SUTD. It could well be that the finance or banking industry has its own list of recognised university degrees, such as the nursing or hospitality industries, and these degrees may even be external or distance-learning degrees.

Thus if you are interested in a particular industry, you’d need to find out which are the universities recognised by the big names in that industry.

Posted in A-Level, Universities

Why SIM grads get a lower starting pay than those from NUS, NTU, SMU or SUTD …

In the ST article dated June 8 2012, “SIM grads find jobs easily, but earn less”, it was reported that SIM grads typically received a starting salary of between $2400 to $2600 while those from the public universities normally received more than $3000.

This should not come as a surprise to Singaporeans. Please remember that SIM does NOT have university status in Singapore, so the degrees it awards are not considered equal to those from NUS, NTU, SMU or SUTD, as far as the government of Singapore is concerned. SIM is not the same as UniSIM, which is a recognised private university. To see the list of universities in Singapore recognised by the government as universities, click here.

If you have poor A-level results and have been rejected by the local public universities and you want to explore other options, click here.

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TUITION CLASSES:

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EDUCATIONAL SERVICES:

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By EX-MOE TEACHERS & EXPERIENCED TUTORS

@ BLK 644, BUKIT BATOK CENTRAL, #01-68. S(650644).

CALL 65694897 OR SMS 98530744 OR 97860411.

Posted in Administrative, Educational Advice, Universities

List of recognised or approved universities and educational institutes in Singapore

It’s heartbreaking to enrol in a degree or diploma course and to find out later that your degree or diploma is not recognised or cannot be used to be registered as a practicising professional in Singapore. So use the following links before you decide to apply to a particular university, college or institute:

1. List of recognised Universities and Post-secondary Institutes with campuses in Singapore

2. List of Approved Universities for Admission to the Singapore Bar

3. List of Registrable Basic Medical Qualifications for practice in Singapore

Fyi, if you spend at least 3 years studying in the campus of an overseas university that is recognised by the government of that country, the degree is also valid in Singapore for the purpose of recognising you as a degree holder. For example, if you had spent 3 or 4 years doing a degree in the University of Malaya (which is recognised by the Malaysian government), you are also considered a degree-holder if you apply to work in the Singapore Civil Service. However, restrictions apply to professional courses such as Law, Medicine and Accountancy.

 

Related articles:

(a) Between JC and Poly.

(b) What subject combination to choose in JC.

(c) What to do if your A Level results are bad.

_______________________________________

TUITION CLASSES:

jcbutton          secbutton

ipbutton                    pributton

_______________________________________________________________

EDUCATIONAL SERVICES:

hwsupervbutton                   intensivebutton

alevelprepbutton                   olevelprepbutton

______________________________________________________________

By EX-MOE TEACHERS & EXPERIENCED TUTORS

@ BLK 644, BUKIT BATOK CENTRAL, #01-68. S(650644).

CALL 65694897 OR SMS 98530744 OR 97860411.