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Pri Math

P5 Math Coaching for Weak students

Posted on May 29, 2013March 2, 2016 by admin

For our latest timetable, click here =>

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ORIGINAL POST(OUTDATED):

To register, kindy sms to or call 94468012 or 97860411.

Level/Subject: Primary 5 Math

Day/Time:

(1) Every Friday, 4.00 pm to 5.30 pm, OR

(2) Every Saturday, 5.30 pm to 7.00 pm

Location: Blk 627 Bukit Batok Central #07-640

Focus: Conceptual Understanding, Drill, Familiarity, Exposure to difficult questions

Fees: $120 for every four sessions.

Class Size: 3 to 8 students.

Tutors:

Mr Jay Lim. A Master degree holder, Mr Lim is a very effective and experienced senior tutor who has been tutoring students in PSLE Math & Science for more than 5 years, both in private and in successful learning centres.

Mdm Anu. A Bachelor of Science degree (with Distinction) holder, Mdm Anu is a very caring and passionate tutor who is experienced in coaching P1 to P6 students.

To register, kindy sms to or call 94468012 or 97860411.

Pri Math

P5 Challenging Math Weekly Programme

Posted on May 29, 2013March 2, 2016 by admin

For our latest timetable, click here =>

===============================================================

ORIGINAL POST(OUTDATED):

To register, kindy sms to or call 94468012 or 97860411.

Level/Subject: Primary 5 Challenging Math

Day/Time:

(1) Every Thursday, 4.00 pm to 5.30 pm, OR

(2) Every Saturday, 7.00 pm to 8.30 pm

Location: Blk 627 Bukit Batok Central #07-640

Focus: Difficult Concepts, Strategies, Heuristics, Olympiad

Fees: $120 for every four sessions.

Class Size: 3 to 8 students.

Tutors:

Mdm Anu. A Bachelor of Science degree (with Distinction) holder, Mdm Anu is a very caring and passionate tutor who is experienced in coaching P1 to P6 students.

To register, kindy sms to or call 94468012 or 97860411.

What to do if you get bad SA1 results?

Posted on May 22, 2013May 21, 2019 by admin

Nope. The answer is not to immediately look for a private tutor. It actually depends on the level and subject for which you get the poor results, and how badly you had performed.

(1) If you are in Lower Primary (P1 to P3), chances are, it is because your foundation in English and Math is weak. Buy good assessment books and start practising right away, with coaching from family members.

(2) If you are in P4 or P5, it is quite a serious matter as it means you are not coping well with the introduction of more complex questions. You may need to get private tuition before it is too late.

(3) If you are in P6, chances are, it is because your school wants to ‘wake you up’ before the PSLE. So don’t panic (just continue doing your assessment books or exam papers), unless you have been doing badly since P4 (in which case you’d need individual tuition as it is quite late already).

(4) If you are in Lower Sec, it depends on the subject for which you did badly. If you need to improve your grades in the languages, do more reading and practise exam papers. If your bad grades are in History or Geography, read the textbook more often and make your own notes. If you had performed badly in Science, start reading Upper Sec Physics, Chemistry or Biology books as practically all the lower sec science books do not contain enough information. If you had done poorly in Math, focus on Algebra and Arithmetic (BODMAS) for the next few weeks.

(5) If you are in Sec 3, it means that you have not adjusted to the O-Level standard of answering questions and/or you underestimated the difficulty level of the Pure Sciences and Pure Math (A. Math). You have to spend the June holidays reading, understanding and practising answering questions and solving problems, else you’d perform worse in the SA2 exams as things don’t get easier.

(6) If you are in Sec 4, you had probably encountered ‘killer papers’ meant to ‘wake you up’ before the O-levels. Thus don’t be demoralised. Sec 4 students seldom do well in their SA1 exams because they don’t have enough time to revise BOTH their Sec 3 and Sec 4 work, yet teachers gleefully set very difficult questions in the name of “stretching” their students. However, you can still learn about some of your weak points from the exam papers and practise doing questions for those topics or writing essays for languages and the humanities subjects. Focus on doing well for your Prelim exams and have your own master revision timetable based on your own needs. Ignore your school’s revision schedule if it is not aligned to your needs. Write your own notes and read and understand solutions to difficult problems.

(7) If you are in JC1, you probably have not adjusted to the pace of JC life. In a way you are in serious trouble because the academic pace in JC is very fast and the learning curve is steep. You have to spend the June hols revising all your weak topics and must be on your toes in the second semester as the Promotional exams are purposely set at a difficult level to ensure that you will be ready for JC2. Read recommended textbooks, and not just your own notes.

(8) If you are in JC2, focus on doing well for the A-levels as there is still time to revise EVERYTHING. Ignore your Prelims as it will come before you are ready and it is not important anyway, unless you need your prelim results to apply to overseas universities. Write your own notes, and read up on good solutions to tough questions. Concentrate on topical revision first of weak topics and then move on to do past year papers. For some really tough topics such as Complex Numbers in H2 Math you may need to consult a tutor if you still can’t grasp it after reading many times.

Good luck!

Ilyasa

(You may contact me at 9786 0411 if you have more queries)

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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.

Personal, Schools

Integrated Programme (IP) students have an unfair advantage

Posted on May 21, 2013February 13, 2016 by admin

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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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.

Exam Results, Personal

Something is wrong if your child cries during or after an exam.

Posted on May 17, 2013January 8, 2015 by admin

Today, both my P5 and P3 daughters told me that some of their classmates were in tears after their Math SA1 exams.

When children cry during or after an exam, it is not simply because the paper is too difficult. Personally I have encountered many difficult test and exam papers in my life, but I have not cried even once because of them. Nope, I don’t think it was because I was a boy; I can’t even imagine my daughters crying because of exams. If they do, then I know I’ve failed as a parent as far as their psychological development is concerned.

Yes, it’s about expectations, or setting them too high, and warning about consequences should the targets not be achieved. Looking back, my parents hardly ever asked me about my school work, and when I told them I would do badly in a paper, they would just comfort me and at worst joined me in my sadness! No scoldings, no cancellation of rewards, not a single kind of punishment or threat.

Yes, I do expect my daughters to do well in their studies, but I do not tie the outcome to rewards or punishment. I give them rewards because I love them, not necessarily because they deserve those rewards. I punish them for wrongdoings, not for performances in tests or exams.

Maybe those children cried because they have too high an expectation of themselves. Then it is their parents’ duty to help them manage their expectations (if the parents can manage their own expectations of course). Or maybe some children just cry easily at the slightest encounter with a difficulty or setback? Whatever the case, children are children and I wouldn’t hold THEM responsible for anything.

Rgds,

Ilyasa

Personal, Pri Science

My P5 daughter topped her class in a recent science test.

Posted on May 17, 2013March 2, 2016 by admin

She obtained 28 out of 30 marks. Of course immediately I asked her about the missing two marks (as though the 28 are not important, but hey, i’m Singaporean u know).

Rahmah has formal science tuition once a week, taught by Mr Lim at my home centre. But almost everyday, she gets to ask her elder sister, my wife and me about science. She’s not really interested in science, except for rocks and minerals which she buys and collects.

My technique is to teach my children science whenever and wherever I can, as my time with them is not much (when I’m free, they would be in school and when they are ‘free’, I would be giving tuition to other people’s children).

Of course it helps that I’m a physics tutor, with lots of knowledge about chemistry as well. I only get irritated when my children ask me about factual biology questions, such as the parts of a plant cell. For that, I normally ask them to use the internet. This is to develop them to be more resourceful and not to immediately rely on others for answers.

If you want your children to be good in science, ask them to read a lot about science and make them think about what they see around them. For eg, ask them why is it easier to cut chicken with a knife than with a metal ruler. In science, you can’t just say it is because the knife is sharper; the scientific answer has to do with force and surface area, or pressure.

Rgds,

Ilyasa

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For our latest timetable, click here =>

Recommended Books

Recommended Books for ‘A’ Level Physics & Math

Posted on May 12, 2013February 28, 2021 by admin

MOCK EXAMS FOR SCIENCE PRACTICAL

JC Math

For students to master each topic in JC Math, I would recommend the following series of books:

1. Power Maths H1 & H2

Publisher: Tavern learning Centre; Author: P K Lim

It comes in four Volumes. Volume 1 provides notes and examples for Sequences & Series, Functions & Graphs and Calculus. Volume 2 provides notes and examples for Vectors, Complex Numbers and Statistics. Volumes 3 and 4 provide a variety of difficult questions and worked solutions for all six topics.

How to use these books?

Use Volumes 1 and 2 to learn the theories of each topic and analyse the examples to understand and remember how different types of problems are solved.

Use Volumes 3 and 4 to either learn new techniques (if you don’t have much time left to study for exams) or to do self-practice. For the latter, cover the solutions when you attempt to answer the questions and after that mark your own solutions by comparing them with the model answers. If your answers are incorrect, seek to understand where, how and why you got them wrong.

If you often find yourself not understanding some parts of the model answers, then, yes, you’d probably need to consult a tutor. But you can first try asking your school teachers or friends first.

JC Physics

For students to master each topic in JC Physics, I would recommend the following series of books:

1. Sears & Zemansky’s College Physics

Publisher: Pearson International Edition; Authors: Hugh D. Young, Robert M. Geller

This is a comprehensive reference book for A-level Physics. It is very informative but some of the worked examples are difficult to understand. But it is a must-have book for those of you who are very passionate about physics.

2. College Physics

Publisher: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning; Author: Vuille, Serway

This book has worked examples that are easier to understand. It is also written in a simpler style which makes learning easier. A good reference book for JC Physics students to have.

3. Physics A Level Complete Yearly Solutions

Publisher: Themis Publishing; Authors: Thomas Bond, Chris Hughes

This book is good because of the examiners’ reports included in it. Students should read the examiners’ comments to know what is expected of them in answering A-Level Physics questions.

4. GCE ‘A’ Level Physics (Worked Solutions)(Classified Topic by Topic)

Publisher: Dyna Publisher Pte Ltd; Author: Phang Yu Hon

The answers to past A-Level questions provided in this book is generally better than those in other books; more comprehensive and more accurate. It is also excellent for providing answers to selected H3 Physics questions.

5. Physics A Level Challenging Drill Questions for H1. H2 (questions from top JCs)

Publisher: Cosmic Services; Authors: Thomas Bond, Chris Hughes

If students complete most of the questions in this book and mark their answers using the separate answer book, they will almost certainly get an ‘A’ for their A-level Physics.

6. Longman Advanced Level Physics

Publisher: Pearson Longman South Asia Pte Ltd; Author: Loo Kwok Wai

This book is actually a collection of A-Level Physics notes. It is good for beginning to intermediate level physics students as its many worked examples are gradual and easy to understand. Ideal for quick revision. Not comprehensive enough to be used as a reference text.

TUITION CLASSES:

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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.

Recommended Books

Recommended Books for PSLE Math & Science

Posted on May 12, 2013February 13, 2016 by admin

PSLE Math

For students to master each topic in PSLE Math, I would recommend the following series of books, categorised into different difficulty levels:

High Achievers

1. Challenging Maths Made Easy: A step-by-step guide to the non-routine

Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Education; Author: Ammiel Wan Chee Hong

This is an old book first published in 2006 and as far as I know, it was the first attempt to give some kind of learning structure to PSLE Math problem sums. Instead of introducing problems by topics such as Fractions or Ratio, it divides PSLE Math problems into mathematical concepts such as Remainder Concept, Equal Concept etc. It has fully worked out solutions often showing both the Models method and Units method of solving a particular problem. However, it’s only for P6 students and the need for the same kind of guidance for the lower primary levels probably led to the creation of the Onsponge series below.

2. Conquer Problem Sums (Thinking Math@Onsponge)

Publisher: onSponge Pte Ltd; Authors: Ammiel Wan, Corine Quek, Chris Rogers.

The Onsponge set of books also teaches mathematical concepts such as the Remainder Concept, but organises its chapters by topics such as Whole Numbers, Fractions etc, in line with the primary math syllabus so that it would be easier for teachers and parents to use. The advantage is that it is more comprehensive than (1) as it covers all the math topics as well as all the primary levels. However, it has fully worked out solutions for some questions only, and if you want to focus on mastering only problem sums, then (1) would be better for you to complete.

Mid Achievers

1. Primary Six Mathematics Tutor

Publisher: Casco Publications Pte Ltd; Author: Lee-Ann Goh

Typical of the Mathematics Tutor series of books, this book has concise notes and many worked examples, and provides questions for all levels, from very easy to very difficult. It also has fully worked out solutions which students and parents can use for checking, marking and even learning.

2. Problem-Solving Processes in Mathematics (New Syllabus)

Publisher: Educational Publishing House Pte Ltd; Author: Fabian Ng

I use this book for my own children as a basic, comprehensive training ground for problem-solving. It provides a lot of questions in increasing difficulty. However, some of the methods used in its worked examples are either inefficient or hard to understand, and another downside of this book is that most of the answers provided at the back of the book are not full solutions.

Gradual Achievers

1. Diagnostic Practice in Maths

Publisher: Educational Publishing House Pte Ltd; Author: Peter Lim

2. PSLE Maths Drills

Publisher: Educational Publishing House Pte Ltd; Author: Sng Wei Hao

PSLE SCIENCE

For students to master each topic in PSLE Science, I would recommend the following series of books:

1. Science Practice (Primary 5 &6)

Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Education; Author: Winnie Peh

2.PSLE Ultimate Science Guide

Publisher: Educational Publishing House Pte Ltd; Authors: Low Wai Cheng, Leong May Kuen

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TUITION CLASSES:

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EDUCATIONAL SERVICES:

______________________________________________________________

By EX-MOE TEACHERS & EXPERIENCED TUTORS

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

CALL 65694897 OR SMS 98530744 OR 97860411.

Recommended Books

Recommended Books for ‘O’ Level Math, Physics & Chemistry

Posted on May 12, 2013January 11, 2025 by admin

NEW!

O-LEVEL PURE CHEMISTRY HANDS-ON PRACTICAL CRASH COURSE

O-LEVEL PURE PHYSICS HANDS-ON PRACTICAL CRASH COURSE

O-LEVEL PURE BIOLOGY HANDS-ON PRACTICAL CRASH COURSE

MOCK EXAMS FOR SCIENCE PRACTICAL (Sep & Oct)

SCIENCE (CHEMISTRY) HANDS-ON PRACTICAL CRASH COURSE

SCIENCE (PHYSICS) HANDS-ON PRACTICAL CRASH COURSE

SCIENCE (BIOLOGY) HANDS-ON PRACTICAL CRASH COURSE

MOCK EXAMS FOR SCIENCE PRACTICAL (Sep & Oct)

Singapore Learner @ Bukit Batok

Blk 644, Bukit Batok Central, #01-68. S(650644).

Tel: +(65) 6569 4897, +(65) 88765498 (WHATAPPS) http://wa.link/w0xxk2

Email: principal@singaporelearner.com

If you wish to visit us, kindly call or sms first. Thank you.

‘O’-Level Elementary Math

For students to master each topic in ‘O’-Level Elementary Math, I would recommend the following series of books:

1. ‘O’ Level Elementary Mathematics Companion

Publisher: Casco Publications Pte Ltd; Author: Lee-Ann Goh

It comes in two volumes. Book 1 provides notes, examples and practice questions for Arithmetic, Algebra, Coordinate Geometry and Graphs. Book 2 provides notes, examples and practice questions for Geometry, Trigonometry, Sets, Matrices, Vectors and Statistics. Each book comes with fully worked-out solutions to all the practice questions.

How to use these books?

Use the two books to learn or revise the theories of each topic and analyse the examples to understand and remember how different types of problems are solved.

Then attempt to answer as many questions as you can in the Revision Exercises provided and after that, mark your own solutions by comparing them with the worked solutions. If your answers are incorrect, seek to understand where, how and why you got them wrong.

If you often find yourself not understanding some parts of the worked solutions, then, yes, you’d probably need to consult a tutor. But you can first try asking your school teachers or friends first.

If you have mastered most of the topics in ‘O’-Level and you need practice papers, then I would recommend that you complete the papers in the following book:

2. G.C.E. ‘O’ Level Mathematics Paper 1 and Paper 2

Publisher: Casco Publications Pte Ltd; Author: Lee-Ann Goh

It has 10 ‘Trial Exam’ papers, with fully worked-out solutions for each paper. You should attempt each paper in the time allocated (2hrs for Paper 1 and 2.5hrs for Paper 2). Then mark your own solutions and reflect on your errors and learn from them.

3. Pass With Distinction, Elementary Mathematics (By Topic) with Solutions

Publisher: Shinglee Publishers Pte Ltd; Author: Teh Keng Seng, Loh Cheng Yee

‘O’-Level Additional Mathematics

For students to master each topic in A. Math, I would recommend the following series of books:

Pass With Distinction, Additional Mathematics (By Topic) with Solutions

Publisher: Shinglee Publishers Pte Ltd; Author: L. K. Lee

O–Level Additional Mathematics Revision Guide 3 and 4

Publisher: Pearson Longman; Author: Aven Choo

How to use these books?

Use the two books to learn or revise the theories of each topic and analyse the examples to understand and remember how different types of problems are solved.

Then attempt to answer as many questions as you can in the Practice Exercises provided and after that, mark your own answers. If your answers are incorrect, seek to understand where, how and why you got them wrong.

If you have mastered most of the topics and you need practice papers, then I would recommend that you complete the papers in the following book:

‘O’ Level Additional Mathematics Revision Guide Paper 1 and 2

Publisher: Dolphin Publications

It has 14 challenging ’Revision Exam’ papers, with fully worked-out solutions for each paper. You should attempt each paper in the time allocated (2hrs for Paper 1 and 2.5hrs for Paper 2). Then mark your own solutions and reflect on your errors and learn from them.

‘O’ Level Chemistry

For students to master each topic in ‘O’-Level Chemistry, I would recommend the following series of books:

Understanding Chemistry ‘O’ Level

Publisher: GLM Pte Ltd; Author: Li Geok Jin

Pass With Distinction: Chemistry (By Topic)

Publisher: Shinglee Publications; Author: Sean Chua

‘O’ Level Chemistry Workout (Structured and Free-Response Questions)

Publisher: Pearson Longman; Author: Lim Eng Wah, JGR Briggs

Effective Guide to ‘O’ ‘Level Chemistry (2nd Edition)

Publisher: Pearson Longman; Author: Lim Eng Wah

‘O’ Level Physics

For students to master each topic in ‘O’-Level Physics, I would recommend the following series of books:

‘O’ Level Challenging Drill Questions Physics

Publisher: Cosmic Services; Authors/Compilers: Thomas Bond, Chris Hughes

Pass With Distinction: Physics (By Topic)

Publisher: Shinglee Publications; Author: Tan Kim Seng

‘O’ Level Physics Workout (Structured and Free-Response Questions)

Publisher: Pearson Longman; Author: Gabriel Lionel Morris

1001 Physics MCQs for ‘O’ Level

Publisher: Pearson Longman; Author: Tan Peng Yeon

O-LEVEL PHYSICS PRACTICAL

O-LEVEL CHEMISTRY PRACTICAL

O-LEVEL BIOLOGY PRACTICAL

O-LEVEL SCIENCE (PHYSICS) PRACTICAL

O-LEVEL SCIENCE (CHEMISTRY) PRACTICAL

O-LEVEL SCIENCE (BIOLOGY) PRACTICAL

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Personal

The real cause of stress in our education system …

Posted on May 10, 2013July 30, 2013 by admin

The cause of stress in our education system is not from within the education system itself. It is not the amount of homework, tests, exams or tuition. It is also not the level of difficulty of our exam papers.

The real cause of stress in our education system, if you have not already realized, is found in the following paragraph (taken from yahoo s’pore): “Overall, the top 10% of Singapore households had incomes of $10,543 per member. The bottom 10% had earnings of $422 per member. Note that the top 10% earns almost 25 times the bottom 10%. The disparity seems mostly related work QUALIFICATIONS.”

That’s why parents here push their children very hard to excel in exams, and not in the children’s area of interest. In many developed countries, it’s ok not to go to college. Here, doing that means choosing to suffer financially in life.

Ilyasa