FAQ
FAQ1: If I’m a private candidate re-taking the A-Levels, what is the minimum number of subjects I must take to get into a local university like NUS or NTU?
You only need to do GP and 3 H2 subjects. Total 4 subjects. You don’t need to redo your H1 content subject or PW or MT.
FAQ2: If I’m a private candidate doing the A-Levels for the first time, what is the minimum number of subjects I must take to get into a local university like NUS or NTU?
You’ll need to do 3 H2 subjects, 1 H1 content subject, GP and MT. Total 6 subjects.
FAQ3: If I’m a private candidate, what is the minimum number of subjects I must take to get into an overseas university like in the UK or Australia?
Most overseas universities accept just 3 H2 subjects. Even GP is not needed. However some universities may expect a fourth subject, which can be a H1 or H2 subject, but it is safer to take a H2 subject.
SCIENCE PRACTICAL TRAINING
We provide A-Level / H2 and O-Level Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Science (Physics/Chemistry/Biology) Practical Training for private / school candidates and homeschoolers, for both local (eg. H2, Singapore-Cambridge) and international exams (CIE, IGCSE). School candidates who need more FULL PRACTICAL PRACTICE are also welcome.
You may need science practical lessons if you are a private candidate who needs a science lab and apparatus as well as practical coaching, or you are a school candidate who needs more practical training or timed practice for a FULL PRACTICAL.
For details on Practical Courses, Mock Exams or Schedules, kindly click on any of the following links relevant to the exam and level you will be doing:
A-LEVEL H2 PRACTICALS
FEES PER SESSION
A-LEVEL: $320 (training/revision), $380 (mock exam)
(The full fee must be paid at least 3 days before the practical session to confirm your attendance as a lot of preparation is needed for practicals coupled with very limited class size)
ONE-TIME REGISTRATION FEE: $30
ONCE YOU HAVE REGISTERED, To book a Practical session (MUST be at least 3 days in advance),
(1) SMS or Whatsapp the following info to 87762711: (a) Name of student; (b) Date and Time; (c) Subject.
(2) Make payment via online transfer or Paylah or Paynow to 97860411.
Singapore Learner @ Bukit Batok
Blk 644, Bukit Batok Central, #01-68. S(650644).
Tel: +(65) 6569 4897, +(65) 87762711 (SMS)
Email: principal@singaporelearner.com
If you wish to visit us, kindly call or sms first. Thank you.
Retaking A-Levels
FAQ
FAQ1: If I’m a private candidate re-taking the A-Levels, what is the minimum number of subjects I must take to get into a local university like NUS or NTU?
You only need to do GP and 3 H2 subjects. Total 4 subjects. You don’t need to redo your H1 content subject or PW or MT.
FAQ2: If I’m a private candidate doing the A-Levels for the first time, what is the minimum number of subjects I must take to get into a local university like NUS or NTU?
You’ll need to do 3 H2 subjects, 1 H1 content subject, GP and MT. Total 6 subjects.
FAQ3: If I’m a private candidate, what is the minimum number of subjects I must take to get into an overseas university like in the UK or Australia?
Most overseas universities accept just 3 H2 subjects. Even GP is not needed. However some universities may expect a fourth subject, which can be a H1 or H2 subject, but it is safer to take a H2 subject.
SCIENCE PRACTICAL TRAINING
We provide A-Level / H2 and O-Level Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Science (Physics/Chemistry/Biology) Practical Training for private / school candidates and homeschoolers, for both local (eg. H2, Singapore-Cambridge) and international exams (CIE, IGCSE). School candidates who need more FULL PRACTICAL PRACTICE are also welcome.
You may need science practical lessons if you are a private candidate who needs a science lab and apparatus as well as practical coaching, or you are a school candidate who needs more practical training or timed practice for a FULL PRACTICAL.
For details on Practical Courses, Mock Exams or Schedules, kindly click on any of the following links relevant to the exam and level you will be doing:
A-LEVEL H2 PRACTICALS
FEES PER SESSION
A-LEVEL: $320 (training), $380 (mock exam)
(The full fee must be paid at least 5 days before the practical session to confirm your attendance as a lot of preparation is needed for practicals coupled with very limited class size)
ONE-TIME REGISTRATION FEE: $30
ONCE YOU HAVE REGISTERED, To book a Practical session (MUST be at least 5 days in advance),
(1) SMS or Whatsapp the following info to 87762711: (a) Name of student; (b) Date and Time; (c) Subject.
(2) Make payment via online transfer or Paylah or Paynow to 97860411.
Singapore Learner @ Bukit Batok
Blk 644, Bukit Batok Central, #01-68. S(650644).
Tel: +(65) 6569 4897, +(65) 87762711 (SMS)
Email: principal@singaporelearner.com
If you wish to visit us, kindly call or sms first. Thank you.
J2 H2 ECONOMICS HEAD START
Get a Head-Start in your J2 H2 Economics before the school term begins! Our Head-Start courses are planned and solely taught by MOE trained teachers with experience teaching in JC and running their own tuition centres, with their own unique set of notes, lecture materials, and coursework.
Each course comes with its own diagnostics to help you to identify the root cause of your issues, be it inadequacies in content, unable to tackle the question fully or always not using the right words for the answers. Your work will also be fully assessed, and a full review will be done with you by the end of the class.
Students will also be exposed to 2 to 3 case studies and several essays across various topics with quality and assessed answers written by students. We believe it is more authentic rather than school’s suggested answers since it was all done under timed conditions. After covering the fundaments learn in J1, we will also be touching on a few key topics in J2. This is especially useful for those who will be missing out first few months of studies in school due to orientation commitments or inter school competitions.
It will be content intensive and include the following:-
– 1 hour content delivery and application,
– 30 mins of application and
– 30 mins of understanding examiners through live marking and examiners’ reports.
Choose any of the 3 days:
4th, 5th, 6th, 27th, 28th, 29th Dec
Choose any of the topics you require:-
10am to 12 noon – price determination
1230pm to 230pm – market failure
3pm to 5 pm – cost and production/market structures
Sign up for our Head-Start courses now and begin on your path towards excellence in H2 Economics!
Fees: $120 for all each session of 2 hours
One time registration fee of $30 for new students.
Location:
Blk 644, Bukit Batok Central, #01-68. S(650644).
Our location is just a 3-min walk from either the Bukit Batok MRT station or the Bukit Batok Bus Interchange. Buses that stop along the roads surrounding our location are numbers 157, 178, 66, 506, 173, 174, 176, 187, 985. Buses services which terminate at Bukit Batok Bus Interchange are 61, 77, 106, 173, 177, 189, 852, 941, 945, 947.
Tel: +(65) 6569 4897, +(65) 87762711 (WHATAPPS ADMIN) https://wa.link/rey2dv
JC2 (2018) H2 PHYSICS HEAD START PROGRAM
Start Date: SUNDAY 19 NOV
Time: 11.00 am – 12.45 pm, every Sunday from 19 Nov to 10 Dec 2017 (4 sessions)
Location: Blk 644, Bukit Batok Central, #01-68. S(650644).
Topic to be covered: ELECTRIC FIELDS & CURRENT
Focus: CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING & APPLICATION OF SKILLS
Format: Teaching + Worksheets + Discussions
Fee: $320 per student for 4 lessons. (min of 2 students to start)
Note: For 1-1, it is $640.
Course Outline:
19/11: Electric Fields I
26/11: Electric Fields II
3/12: Current of Electricity I
10/12: Current of Electricity II
To register, sms <Student Name><J2H2PHYWHS> to 97860411 / 98530744
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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.
Re-taking A-levels
If you have read my posts (1) What to do if your A-level results are bad … and (2) A-Level Results: What to do if you get BAD or DEAD, i.e., the ‘middle class’, and you would like to re-take your A-Levels, then I suggest you don’t waste any more time as the next A-Levels is very near already, just a few months down the road.
Retaking A-Levels is not easy, depending on whether you are a full-time student, working, or doing NS.
The ideal situation is when you can choose to become a full-time student, as retaking A-Levels needs a high degree of commitment. If you wish to become our full-time student, then you can click on the following for details: A-LEVEL PREPARATION
If you are working part-time or full-time or doing NS, and you are serious about retaking your A-levels, then you’d need to meet up with me to work out a suitable arrangement.
Rgds,
Ilyasa (hp: 97860411)
RETAKING A-LEVELS
If you are retaking your A-levels, you will probably need academic support. We can assist you in two ways:
(1) If you still remember your A-level concepts quite well and you need help in answering questions and solving problems, you may join our regular weekly tuition classes. You can view these classes by clicking on any in the list below:
A-LEVEL | JC | GENERAL PAPER TUITION
A-LEVEL | JC | ECONOMICS TUITION
A-LEVEL | JC | PHYSICS TUITION
A-LEVEL | JC | CHEMISTRY TUITION
(2) If instead you need to learn your A-Level stuff all over again, you may join our A-Level Exam Prep programme:
Which one to choose? The IB or the A-levels?
SCIENCE PRACTICAL TRAINING
H2 PHYSICS PRACTICAL
H2 CHEMISTRY PRACTICAL
H2 BIOLOGY PRACTICAL
I’ve had the privilege of teaching and tutoring students Math and Physics in both the A-level and IB programmes, so here I’m sharing with you my sincere thoughts on the two programmes.
Whether you choose to do the IB progamme or the A-levels depends on several factors:
(1) Your method of studying.
If you are the lazy type and you prefer to just study VERY intensively for three months prior to a high-stakes exam, then do the A-levels. If you can continually work hard and can cope with the pressure of being constantly assessed, then do the IB Diploma programme. This is serious. I have a student who dropped out of IB to do the the A-levels, precisely because he was not able to cope with being continually FORMALLY assessed.
(2) The university you want to go to:
If you are Singaporean and you intend to go to a local university such as NUS or NTU, it’s better for you to do the A-Levels. This is because you will be compared only with local students performing the same exam in your country, as far as I have been informed. At the moment, a lot of local students doing the IB are from ACS (I), who only take in students who obtained a minimum score of 247 at the PSLE or those who obtained an L1R5 of 5 (incl. bonus points) at the O-Levels. So not surprisingly, the average score at ACS (I) for the IB exams last year was a whopping 41.65! Do you know that a score of 36 and above in the IB diploma exams is considered excellent by educators?
Imagine that you have obtained a score of 40 in the IB exam. In the world, you will be considered a top student. But at ACS (I), you are below average! Thus you may find yourself rejected by NUS but accepted by Oxford or Cambridge University! This weird situation was first highlighted to me by a parent of my tutee a few years ago. She regretted sending her daughter to ACS (I) because although the latter obtained a score of 38 and thus a top student for the rest of the world, she was rejected by a local university (reason being she was below average for her IB cohort) and finally applied to do teaching at the NIE as she did not want to go overseas.
Thus if you are a local student and you intend to study overseas for your degree, then by all means do the IB programme.
(3) The breadth or depth of the subjects you want to learn:
Generally, the IB programme is broader in academic scope while the A-Levels is deeper. For example, when I was covering an IB Physics class, I was surprised to discover that they also learn Astrophysics and the Carnot Cycle, topics not covered in Singapore’s A-Level H2 Physics. Thus I feel that if you want a more holistic programme, do the IB diploma as you’ll be exposed to the Theory of Knowledge as well as doing a community service project.
The above are just my personal albeit informed views. What is clear and certain is that if you DON’T have a thinking disposition, you’ll do badly in either course. Good luck. : )
Rgds,
Ilyasa, M.Ed, PGDE, ex-MOE Teacher.
TUITION CLASSES:
Please click on one of the following:
TUITION FOR INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB) MATH OR PHYSICS
Integrated Programme (IP) students have an unfair advantage
The pre-2007 A.Math syllabus had topics such as Functions and Permutations and Combinations (P&C). These topics were removed (and moved up to JC level) as part of the MOE’s content reduction exercise, in order to allocate more curriculum time to Project Work (PW), National Education (NE) and Thinking Skills (TS) for all government schools.
However, the IP schools need not follow the O-Level syllabus and I have found out from my IP tutees that Sec 3 students in some IP schools are already learning Functions, P&C as well as Graphical Transformations. Thus some IP students have a 2-year headstart over their non-IP counterparts in certain topics of some subjects.
Apparently, the IP schools are able to incorporate JC topics into their syllabus because they have freed up curriculum time in two ways: (1) by not having to set aside time for O-Level preparations such as prelim and mock exams, and (2) by not teaching O-Level topics that have no consequence for the A-Level exams (such as Geometrical Proof in A. Math). Thus IP schools are in effect taking between 3 to 4 years to prepare their already bright students for the A-Level exams when non-IP students have less than 2 years to prepare for it! Some IP schools even introduce the use of the graphical calculator to their Sec 1 students.
The above is not supposed to happen. It doesn’t make sense to allow brighter students more time to prepare for the same exam (thus, in the final analysis, are IP students really smarter? And imagine how academically bright the non-IP students who obtain straight As for the A-levels are. And what to make of the IP students who don’t get As for the A-levels?)
I don’t think the intention behind the IP concept is to allow IP students more time to prepare for the A-levels. If I’m not mistaken, the time that IP schools ‘save’ in NOT having to prepare for the O-levels is meant to be used for the students to enrich their learning or pursue their passion in certain areas or to acquire soft skills, and not to learn ahead A-Level topics! That is why IP students are not allowed to sit for the O-Level exams, even privately, as it defeats the purpose of having the additional free time meant to develop them more holistically. However, it seems to me there is nothing to prevent an IP school from using SIX YEARS to train it’s students entirely for the A-Levels, by focusing on just the A-level topics and not teaching at all anything that is not tested in the A-levels. Of course this is an extreme example, but there is already concrete evidence that IP schools are teaching JC topics at their secondary levels and omitting secondary level topics that are not tested at the A-levels (yes, I was initially surprised to find out that my IP tutees are not aware of certain concepts tested at the O-levels).
Needless to say, there would be many parents who support giving their children four instead of two years to prepare for our difficult A-level exams. But what about the thousands of students who have to take the O-level route? If ‘brighter’ students need more time to learn, how about the ‘less bright’ ones? And what about the original purpose behind the idea of the Integrated Programme? And when we say every school is a good school, what do we mean? I like what one of my non-IP tutees has said – “Every school is a good school, but some are better than others.”
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