admin, Author at SINGAPORE LEARNER

What subject combination to choose for Sec 3 or O-levels …

Posted on September 27, 2012November 17, 2025 by admin

Enjoy up to 37.9% discount off the usual fee if you sign up in Nov or Dec!

We have been successfully tutoring secondary students in Math, Physics and Chemistry since 2007.

If your child is currently struggling in his/her math or science studies, we recommend 1-1 tuition as the best way for him/her to get back on track.

STANDARD WEEKLY TUITION (NOV-OCT)

SCIENCE PRACTICAL TRAINING

For enquiries, CALL 65694897 [office] or Whatsapp to 88765498 [Admin].

Based on my experience as a secondary school teacher, if you are now in Sec 2, here are the subjects I think you should choose for Sec 3 which will ultimately become your all-important O-Level subjects:

Other than (1) English, (2) Mother Tongue and (3) Mathematics, your other subjects should be:

(4) Additional Mathematics (A. Math is important for all higher level courses in Business and Science, including Engineering, and it will help you tremendously in JC Math (H1 or H2), as well as in math modules in the Polytechnics or ITE. Even a fail in A. Math is given some recognition for the purpose of application to some poly courses. Many university courses which do not require a pass in A-Level Math still require a pass in O-Level Additional Math. And NEVER, EVER drop A. Math even if your school asks you to; schools only care about their overall percentage passes and image, not about you. A school cannot force you to drop A. Math)

(5) Pure Chemistry or Combined Science with Chemistry (Chemistry is the central science. Without any O-level Chemistry, most likely you will not be allowed to do Chemistry in JC which in turn will bar you from taking any unversity courses related to the life sciences, such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy etc.)

(6) Whether you take Geography, History or Literature depends on your inclinations. If you are unsure, take History if you intend to go to a JC for it will train you in argumentative or discursive essay writing skills necessary for the General Paper (I took history last time, got an A1 for it and my GP grades were always B3 and above. If you intend to do Law, getting good grades in History and GP helps)

(7) If you want to be in Engineering or Aviation, you must take Physics. If you intend to work in the life or ecological sciences field, you should do Biology.

(8)(added on 21/10/2016) You may also need to consider your overall workload. By taking “triple science”, you may end up taking 8 or 9 subjects when you only need 6 to go to a JC and only 5 to go to a polytechnic. Bear in mind that you may also be more involved in CCA as Sec 3 students will soon become CCA leaders. For example, even though my daughter can do “triple science”, but because she is in the Art Elective Programme and also actively involved in the school band, she has decided to opt for double science instead and I’m happy for her.

Please be very serious in choosing the above subjects because they may actually determine your career in Singapore.

If you need academic help, kindly click on any of the following programs:

HEAD START (NOV-DEC)

STANDARD WEEKLY TUITION (NOV-OCT)

INDIVIDUAL TUITION

SCIENCE PRACTICAL TRAINING

For enquiries on the above, you may contact the tutor directly at 97860411.

SCIENCE PRACTICAL TRAINING:

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

Click on any related post below:

Beware the critical years in math education in Singapore.

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For enquiries, CALL 65694897 [office] or Whatsapp to 88765498 [Admin].

PSLE (2013) / P6 Science Headstart Holiday Enrichment Programme

Posted on September 11, 2012February 13, 2016 by admin

For our latest timetable, click here =>

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ORIGINAL POST (OUTDATED):

We are providing 2-day, 6-hr programmes in November and December to prepare P5 students to excel in PSLE / P6 Science.

The details are as follows:

Date/Time (choose one session only):

P6 Science Headstart:

(1) Sat 17 Nov (2 pm to 5 pm) and Sun 18 Nov (2 pm to 5 pm) @ Bukit Batok;

(2) Sat 1 Dec (10 am to 1 pm) and Sun 2 Dec (10 am to 1 pm) @ Bukit Batok;

(3) Tue 11 Dec (4.30 pm to 7.30 pm) and Wed 12 Dec (4.30 pm to 7.30 pm) @ Bukit Batok;

(4) Sat 15 Dec (10 am to 1 pm) and Sun 16 Dec (10 am to 1 pm) @ Bukit Batok;

(5) Sat 29 Dec (2 pm to 5 pm) and Sun 30 Dec (2 pm to 5 pm) @ Serangoon North;

P6 Science Process Skills:

(1) Mon 31 Dec (10 am to 1 pm) and Tue 1 Jan (10 am to 1 pm) @ Serangoon North;

(2) Mon 31 Dec (3 pm to 6 pm) and Tue 1 Jan (3 pm to 6 pm) @ Bukit Batok;

Location: Blk 627, Bukit Batok Central, 07-640, or, Blk 510, Serangoon North Ave 4, 01-346.

Class size: Max 6 students.

Investment amt: $120 total for both days (6 hrs).

Tutors:

(1) Mr Iskandar; M.Sc (NUS), BBA (NUS), PGDE (NIE), A-Level (NJC); formerly a HOD for ICT and an upper primary Math and Science teacher in a SAP school.

(2) Mr Ilyasa; M.Ed (NIE), PGDE (NIE), BSc (NUS), A-Level (RJC); ex-sch teacher, full-time tutor of PSLE, O and A Level Math and Physics (8 years).

To book a place in the programme, sms to or call Mr Iskandar at 97249422 or Mr Ilyasa at 97860411.

Pri Math

PSLE (2013) / P6 Math Headstart Holiday Enrichment Programme

Posted on September 10, 2012February 13, 2016 by admin

For our latest timetable, click here =>

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ORIGINAL POST (OUTDATED):

As you know, Problem Solving in P6 can be quite tough for the average student. Thus we are providing 2-day, 6-hr programmes in November and December to prepare P5 students to excel in P6 Problem Solving.

The details are as follows:

Date/Time (choose one session only):

(1) Sat 10 Nov (2 pm to 5 pm) and Sun 11 Nov (2 pm to 5 pm) @ Bukit Batok;

(2) Sat 17 Nov (10 am to 1 pm) and Sun 18 Nov (10 am to 1 pm) @ Bukit Batok;

(3) Tue 20 Nov (4.30 pm to 7.30 pm) and Wed 21 Nov (4.30 to 7.30 pm) @ Bukit Batok.

(4) Sat 24 Nov (2 pm to 5 pm) and Sun 25 Nov (2 pm to 5 pm) @ Serangoon North;

(5) Thur 27 Nov (4.30 pm to 7.30 pm) and Fri 28 Nov (4.30 to 7.30 pm) @ Bukit Batok.

(6) Tue 4 Dec (4.30 pm to 7.30 pm) and Wed 5 Dec (4.30 to 7.30 pm) @ Bukit Batok.

(7) Thur 13 Dec (4.30 pm to 7.30 pm) and Fri 14 Dec (4.30 to 7.30 pm) @ Bukit Batok.

Location: Blk 627, Bukit Batok Central, 07-640, or, Blk 510, Serangoon North Ave 4, 01-346.

Class size: Max 6 students.

Investment amt: $120 total for both days (6 hrs).

Tutors:

(1) Mr Iskandar; M.Sc (NUS), BBA (NUS), PGDE (NIE), A-Level (NJC); formerly a HOD for ICT and an upper primary Math and Science teacher in a SAP school.

(2) Mr Ilyasa; M.Ed (NIE), PGDE (NIE), BSc (NUS), A-Level (RJC); ex-sch teacher, full-time tutor of PSLE, O and A Level Math and Physics (8 years).

To book a place in the programme, sms to or call Mr Iskandar at 97249422 or Mr Ilyasa at 97860411.

Personal

A Tribute To My Teachers …

Posted on September 1, 2012January 10, 2013 by admin

I suppose there’s no better day than today to pay a tribute to a great group of teachers – my ex-lecturers and tutors at the NIE who patiently guided me through my two-and-half-year Master of Education course. Because of them, I actually changed the way I look at my own students and the way I impart knowledge and skills to them. These inspiring teachers are (not in order of awesomeness):

(1) Dr Theresa Alviar-Martin (Curriculum Theory);

(2) Assoc Prof Deng Zongyi (Critical Perspectives);

(3) Ms Mardiana Abu Bakar (Critical Perspectives);

(4) Ms Betsy Lim (Crafting The Curriculum);

(5) Ms Fong Lay Lean (Crafting The Curriculum);

(6) Dr Christina Lim-Ratnam (Curriculum Implementation);

(7) Dr Fang Yanping (Teacher Knowledge and Teacher Learning);

(8) Mr John Yeo (Teacher Knowledge and Teacher Learning);

(9) Dr Koh Kim Hong (Mastering The Art of Authentic Assessments);

(10) Prof Lam Chi Chung (Programme and Curriculum Evaluation);

(11) Assoc Prof Katerine Bielaczyc (Critical Inquiry).

In my line, I don’t need a Ph.D. But if there’s a good reason to do one, then it has to be the chance to work with them again.

Happy Teachers’ Day.

Sincerely from,

Ilyasa

Curriculum & Teaching, Personal

Happy Teachers’ Day!

Posted on August 30, 2012December 20, 2012 by admin

I would like to wish all Teachers (including myself), a Happy Teachers’ Day. May we continue to facilitate wonderment and awe in our students about their experiences so that they will be ready to think for themselves when the time comes.

Here I would like to print a quote (from Maxine Greene) that I learnt in my Master of Education course at the NIE:

“We who are teachers would have to accommodate ourselves to lives as clerks or functionaries if we did not have in mind a quest for a better state of things for those we teach and for the world we all share. It is simply not enough for us to reproduce the way things are.” (Greene, 1995, p.1)

Rgds,

Ilyasa

References:

Greene, M. (1995). Releasing the Imagination: Essays on Education, the Arts, and Social Change. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers.

Personal

Grades & Improvement: more reasons to be happy …

Posted on August 30, 2012December 20, 2012 by admin

Just got my daughters’ CA2 results. My Sec 1 girl obtained 4 A1s, 2 A2s and 2 B3s. My P4 girl got 3 A-stars and one A. It’s quite a relief because having both parents as teachers, a lot is expected from them and from us! I’m also mindful of the fact that many parents, even teacher parents, are not able to teach their own children. Fortunately, we take steps to ensure that THAT does NOT happen in our family, because I don’t see how parents can have confidence in my tutoring ability if I can’t even tutor my own children. I’m a firm believer in hardwork and discipline, because intelligence and creativity alone cannot ensure academic success Singapore-style.

Ilyasa

Educational Advice

Accountancy in UniSim is now a recognised accounting degree …

Posted on August 16, 2012February 13, 2016 by admin

I read an article in My Paper today that the Accounting degree awarded by UniSim is now recognised by ACRA, the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority of Singapore, for the purpose of eventual registration as a certified public accountant. This opens another pathway for students who aspire to be CPAs but have not been accepted into the accountancy courses of NUS, NTU or SMU.

If you have poor A-Level results and you are still not sure how to move on, then click here.

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TUITION CLASSES:

_______________________________________________________________

EDUCATIONAL SERVICES:

______________________________________________________________

By EX-MOE TEACHERS & EXPERIENCED TUTORS

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

CALL 65694897 OR SMS 98530744 OR 97860411.

Personal

Many reasons to be happy …

Posted on August 12, 2012February 13, 2016 by admin

I’m so happy this week. A few of my tutees, who have been failing math all the time this year, have managed to pass their latest school tests; they even surprised their teachers. And a few minutes ago, i received a personal message in FB from an ex-tutee, who informed me that he had won the MOE Teaching Award. I tutored him when he was in sec 3 and 4 and in JC2. He was always struggling with his Math and Physics, but I knew he would succeed some day in his chosen field as he was very hardworking.

Many of my ex-tutees have obtained places in JCs and in universities, with at least two obtaining 4 A’s in their A-level H2 subjects. A few of them have even become tutors at my centre. Sometimes I ask myself, why is it that I do not put up testimonials from them on my website? I guess because the reason is that, and you should know it by now, testimonials displayed anywhere can actually be faked. It is easy for any tutor or tuition centre to just come up with names and write their own testimonals and assign grades to these names. A centre can also pay top students to sing praises about its programs. Being a parent myself, I’m skeptical about the testimonials, supposedly from students, that I have read all over the place.

Maybe I’m new to the world of advertising, but it doesn’t matter. My tuition service has run for 8 years already, and there are hundreds of students and parents out there who will do the advertising for me, without me asking them to. : )

Rgds,

Ilyasa

_______________________________________

TUITION CLASSES:

_______________________________________________________________

EDUCATIONAL SERVICES:

______________________________________________________________

By EX-MOE TEACHERS & EXPERIENCED TUTORS

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

CALL 65694897 OR SMS 98530744 OR 97860411.

Pure Physics

Sec 4 Pure Physics Intensive Revision for O-Level @ Bt Batok by qualified and exp. tutor

Posted on August 6, 2012February 13, 2016 by admin

For our latest timetable, click here =>

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ORIGINAL POST (OUTDATED):

If you need Topical Intensive Revision for Pure Physics for the coming O-Levels, the following programme is suitable for you:

Day/Time: Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 6 pm to 7.30 pm (each slot is a different topic according to the Physics syllabus)

Start Date: Monday, 27 August.

Location: Blk 627, Bukit Batok Central.

Class size: 2 to 5 students.

Investment amt: $50 per session.

Tutor: Mr Ilyasa; M.Ed (NIE), PGDE (NIE), BSc (NUS), A-Level (RJC); ex-sec teacher (3 years); full-time tutor of O and A Level Math and Physics (8 years). To see his detailed resume, click here.

To book a tuition slot, sms to or call Mr Ilyasa at 97860411.