Early this year (9 Feb), I started the JC H2 Math Learn Ahead programme for post-O Level students so that they could get an early introduction to JC Math, which is much harder than A. Math. It was quite successful, and a number of these students are doing relatively well in h2 math in their JCs, and many are still with us, to maintain their edge over their peers (I had a similar programme for H2 Physics).
Very recently, thanks to the parent of a Year 4 Integrated Programme student, I realized that quite a number of Y4 IP students are quite ‘academically free’ right now, as they have finished their “end-of-year” exams. So why not attend a H2 Math headstart programme? Actually, Y4 IP students have already learnt some JC1 H2 Math, so we can make this programme easy-going yet value-added, and call it “enrichment” instead. To me, anything good is worth trying, so I think I’ll start this H2 Math enrichment programme this Sep. The details are as follows:
Programme: Year 5 (2015) H2 Math Enrichment Programme for current Year 4 IP students.
Topics: Sequences & Series
Dates: 13/9, 20/9, 27/9, 4/10, 11/10, 18/10, 25/10 (7 sessions for 7 sub-topics)
Time: 11:00 am – 12.30 pm
Location: Blk 627, Bukit Batok Central. (It is just a 3-min walk from either the Bukit Batok MRT station or the Bukit Batok bus interchange. Buses that stop along the road in front of Blk 627 are numbers 157, 178, 66, 506, 173, 174, 176, 187, 941, 947, 985)
Total Fee: $350
Max. no. of students: 8
Synopsis: Students will be introduced to the following topics: (1) Binomial Series, (2) Arithmetic Progressions, (3) Geometric Progressions, (4) Summation of Series, (5) Method of Difference, (6) Mathematical Induction, (7) Recursive Formulas
Tutor: Mr Ilyasa (ex-teacher, M.Ed, PGDE, B.Sc).
A former MOE school teacher, Mr Ilyasa has been coaching students in ‘A’ Level & IB Physics and Mathematics for more than 6 years, as well as ‘O’ Level & IP Physics, Additional Math, E. Math and PSLE Math for more than 10 years. An alumnus of RI and RJC, Mr Ilyasa holds both a Master of Education degree and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education with Credit from the National Institute of Education, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree from the National University of Singapore.
To register, sms <Student Name><Y5MathEnrich> to 97860411.
For any queries, you may talk directly to Mr Ilyasa at 97860411.
Short-term ad hoc Math or Physics coaching for Aug to Oct 2014.
My experiment with ad hoc tuition in June was very successful, with many students of different levels, streams and abilities turning up in separate sessions to clarify their doubts in certain concepts or topics. Since exams are coming and some of you are too busy to attend weekly tuition, I will allocate a few slots a week for individual consultation and coaching in selected subjects. If you are still struggling with some subjects or topics, I would encourage you to set aside time these last few pre-exam weeks to consult a qualified and experienced tutor to improve your grades for your prelims and final exams.
If you need solid coaching in Pri, Sec or JC Math, or Sec or JC Physics, don’t hesitate to contact me at 97860411 and I’ll work out an arrangement for you. You may opt for individual tuition or in small groups of 2 to 4 students from the same class or school. Fees vary depending on the level and number of students, and whether it is on a weekday or a weekend. Students have to come to my centre.
My still available slots (as at 6 Aug 2014) for ad hoc tuition are as follows:
Mondays: 4.00 pm – 5.30 pm; Fridays: 4.30 pm – 6.00 pm; Mon to Thurs: 9.00 pm – 10.30 pm; Saturdays: 11.00 am – 12.30 pm; Sundays: 2.00 pm – 3.30 pm.
If you are a repeat or private student or a home schooler you may also come for consultations in the mornings.
If you need coaching in Sec or JC Chemistry, sessions can also be arranged with our Chemistry tutor.
If you have any queries, you may also call or sms to 97860411, or send an email to principal@singaporelearner.com.
If you are serious about improving your Math, Physics or Chemistry, hope to hear from you soon.
Rgds,
Ilyasa
A short summary of my background:
A former MOE school teacher, Mr Ilyasa has been coaching students in ‘A’ Level & IB Physics and Mathematics for more than 6 years, as well as ‘O’ Level & IP Physics, Additional Math, E. Math and PSLE Math for more than 10 years. An alumnus of RI and RJC, Mr Ilyasa holds both a Master of Education degree and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education with Credit from the National Institute of Education, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree from the National University of Singapore.
JC H2 PHYSICS (MECHANICS) CRASH COURSE SEP 2014
Dates: 8/9 to 11/9, 4 days.
Time: 9.00 am – 12.00 pm (Total 12 hrs)
Location: Blk 627, Bukit Batok Central. (It is just a 3-min walk from either the Bukit Batok MRT station or the Bukit Batok bus interchange. Buses that stop along the road in front of Blk 627 are numbers 157, 178, 66, 506, 173, 174, 176, 187, 941, 947, 985)
Fee: $480
Max. no. of students: 8.
Topics: Kinematics; Dynamics; Forces; Work, Energy & Power; Circular Motion; Gravitation
Who should attend: JC1s revising for Promos and JC2s revising for Prelims or A-Levels.
Tutor: Mr Ilyasa (ex-sch teacher, M.Ed, PGDE, B.Sc).
A former MOE school teacher, Mr Ilyasa has been coaching students in ‘A’ Level & IB Physics and Mathematics for more than 6 years, as well as ‘O’ Level & IP Physics, Additional Math, E. Math and PSLE Math for more than 10 years. An alumnus of RI and RJC, Mr Ilyasa holds both a Master of Education degree and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education with Credit from the National Institute of Education, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree from the National University of Singapore.
To register, sms <Student Name><H2-PHYSICS> to 97860411.
For any queries, you may talk directly to Mr Ilyasa at 97860411
Short-term ad hoc Math or Physics tuition during June Holidays 2014.
By all means, go for your holidays, even short ones (I’m going on 10, 11 and 12 June). However, if you had done badly in your SA1 or mid-year exams, do not let the June hols pass without reviewing your first semester work. For things will only get harder in the second semester, and some topics or concepts learnt in the first semester need to be used to understand some topics later in the year.
If you are too busy to attend weekly tuition, you might want to take the opportunity this June to consult a qualified and experienced tutor, for just a few hours and for a few difficult topics. Since it is the school holidays, the lessons can be in the mornings or early afternoons.
If you need solid tutoring in Pri, Sec or JC Math, or Sec or JC Physics, don’t hesitate to contact me at 97860411 and I’ll work out an arrangement for you. You may opt for individual tuition or in small groups of 2 to 4 students from the same class or school. Fees vary depending on the level and number of students.
If you have any queries, you may also call or sms to 97860411, or send an email to principal@singaporelearner.com.
If you are serious about improving your Math or Physics, hope to hear from you soon.
Rgds,
Ilyasa
Yay, my jc1 h2 physics student scored 35/40 for his first test
Getting 35/40 for a physics test at sec 4 level is already very good, but getting this score for a h2 physics test is really an achievement. He said the test was easy, yet some of his classmates failed the test, on measurement and kinematics. These two topics may sound very familiar to those who have done O-level physics, but if you are an a-level physics student you would know that these two topics are much harder than their o-level counterparts. But his success doesn’t come as a big surprise to me, as he started his jc1 physics tuition on 9 Feb this year, soon after getting his jc posting. But why so early?
I guess he and his dad (who came to speak to me) understood that the content for jc subjects is very heavy and rigorous, and doing well in jc is all about preparation and consistency. The a-level cert is a passport to a university education, and thus getting good a-level grades is very important, much more important than getting good grades at the PSLE. Yet, if you’ve been in the tuition industry long enough, you’d have noticed that parents and students are more concerned about performance at the PSLE than at other levels.
Tuition for any examination for most kids has never been necessary. But if the examination that you’d be taking is just one step away from a university education and for some reason you are not confident of making it on your own, then I think it makes sense to get help early.
Rgds,
Ilyasa
A-Level (2013) Results out on 3 Mar 2014?
I’m not sure. I’m just guessing. Anyway, please remember that while your A-level results are important, the course you select at university is just as important.
Rgds,
Ilyasa
Some news about jc postings and cut-off points 2014
I’m happy that most of my ex-S4s have obtained places in the courses they want. One even got a scholarship to do a poly course, upon my advice, instead of going to a JC. Of those who opt to go to JCs, most are in either PJC, AJC, JJC, ACJC, NJC, AJC, YJC or HCI.
From them and some JC teachers, it seems that the Science stream cut-off point (COP) for some JCs is as follows:
PJC: 14, AJC: 8, JJC: 14/15/16 (nobody seems to be sure), ACJC: 5 (really?), NJC: 5 or 6, HCI: should still be 3, YJC: 18.
PJC and JJC are always trying to outrank each other, and I believe this time PJC emerges the winner. The problem about PJC is I think it’s name. “Pioneer” is not associated with anything prestigious in Spore. I think if it had been named Sheares Junior College or even Bukit Panjang JC it would stand a better chance of tightening its COP.
Similarly, I think ACJC, CJC, SAJC and AJC are popular choices partly because of their fanciful names. Imagine ACJC is renamed Dover JC or AJC is renamed AMK JC; I think they will lose a lot of potential applicants. So even if every JC is a good JC, not every JC has a good name.
Please remember that even if you have been posted to a less popular JC, you still stand a good chance to get four or three H2 grade As at the A-levels. So quickly settle down and start studying for your Promo exams. Yes, I’m serious; you may ignore my advice at your own risk.
Rgds,
Ilyasa
LATEST: I think PJC has outranked JJC this year, because I have a new J1 tutee who scored 14 points but could not get into PJC and instead was given JJC. Also heard from a new J1 tutee that quite a number of her schoolmates in AJC are appealing to enter NYJC. This may mean that in terms of COP, NYJC has outranked AJC again.
Our JC1 H2 MATH and PHYSICS Learn Ahead tuition classes will commence on Sun, 9 Feb.
JC1 H2 Math: Every Sunday, 2.00pm – 3.45 pm; Code: J1M3.
JC1 H2 Physics: Every Sunday, 4.00pm – 5.45pm; Code J1P1.
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Administrative Matters:
Location: Blk 627, Bukit Batok Central. It is just a 3-min walk from the Bukit Batok MRT station as well as the Bukit Batok Bus Interchange.
Max Class Size: 8
Monthly fee for each JC subject or slot is $240, inclusive of materials fee. Discounts apply for multiple subjects or slots.
TO REGISTER, SMS <FULL STUDENT NAME>, <CODE> TO 97860411.
For enquiries, kindly call or sms to 9786 0411.
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Why Learn Ahead?
As you know (you can find out from your seniors), JC Math and Physics are much tougher than their O-level counterparts. Not only are their contents deeper and scope wider, the JC lecturers and class tutors also teach at a very fast pace. From our years of tutoring experience, students who learn ahead are able to cope with their school work and eventually perform better at the A-levels than those who don’t have a headstart.
If you obtained anything less than an A1 at the O-level in Math and/or Physics, we strongly encourage you to join our Learn Ahead Programme as it means your foundation in these subjects are still weak. If you wait till you fail your first common test, it might be too late for you to catch up. Imagine trying to relearn past concepts when new concepts are being introduced to you at a fast pace.
Which subject combination to choose in JC?
SCIENCE PRACTICAL TRAINING
H2 PHYSICS PRACTICAL
H2 CHEMISTRY PRACTICAL
H2 BIOLOGY PRACTICAL
This is another important question and how you decide may affect your career.
My informed opinion is as follows:
(a) If you are passionate about or highly interested in something, say, History, then include it as one of your H2 subjects.
(b) Include Economics as one of your subjects, whether at H1 or H2 level. It will give you a macro and micro view of the financial workings of society. Economics is also a first-year module in almost all professional courses in universities. However, it is not easy to score in Econs because like GP, it is a subject meant for mature minds and students who can express themselves clearly and logically in essays.
(c) Include Math as one of your subjects, whether at H1 or H2 level. It trains you to be precise and accurate while thinking logically. A pass or a good grade in Math is also included in the admission criteria of many courses in universities.
(d) If you are still unsure, then take the following combination if you meet the minimum criteria and your JC provides it: H2: Physics, Chemistry, Math; H1: Econs. It is the most versatile combination, allowing you to enter any course in the local universities, including Medicine, Law, Engineering and Accountancy. If you don’t intend to be an Engineer, then drop Physics and make Econs your H2 subject.
(e) If you want a Singapore government scholarship, remember to take all four subjects at H2 level. To get a scholarship, you have to be consistent in your work and performance.
(f) If you intent to study Medicine overseas, it may be necessary to do Biology as some universities still insist on it.
(g) Before you select a combination, it is important that you know what course you wish to do at the university that you want. Visit the website of the university, read the course prospectus and identify the minimum criteria for admission. Refer to my “Uni Links” to check out the subject requirements for the different universities. For SUTD, they do not have specific course pre-requisites, but students are encouraged to have a Mathematics and a Science subject at the H2 or equivalent level.
(h) If you intent to do undergrad studies in the US, you also need to prepare for and do well in the SAT test.
(i) If you intend to do Medicine or Law in Singapore, please immerse
yourself in medicine or law-related volunteer work during your holidays and be sincere about service. Entry into Medicine and Law requires passing an interview. You need to have knowledge beyond your A-Level subjects to convince the interviewers that you are a worthy candidate.
Students who are unaware of many of the above points often end up in a university doing a course they do not want. Good luck.
Rgds,
Ilyasa
A-LEVEL H2 PRACTICALS
TUITION CLASSES:
Singapore Learner provides Group Tuition, Individual Tuition, Intensive Revision, Enrichment Workshops, Headstart Classes, Holiday Classes and Crash Courses at the Primary, Secondary and Junior College levels in the areas of Math, Pure Physics, Pure Chemistry, Science, Economics, and General Paper for the Singapore A-Levels, O-Levels and PSLE.
Between JC and Poly …
Should a O-Level grad choose to go to a JC or a Polytechnic?
Since many students and parents ask me this question every year, here is my opinion on the matter.
The answer is: It depends on several factors:
(a) Your method of learning;
(b) How sure you are about what you want to do as a career;
(c) Your strength in English and Mother Tongue;
(d) Which university you want to go to;
(e) Your level of self-discipline.
Let’s examine each one in detail:
(a) Your method of learning:
In general, if you learn more by reading, go to JC. If you learn more through hands-on activities and projects, go to Poly. If you learn well via both methods equally, go to part (b).
(b) How sure you are about what you want to do as a career:
In general, if you are undecided, go to JC. If you know what you want, go to
the Poly offering your course. For example, if you are sure you want to be a
physiotherapist, go to Nanyang Poly.
(c) Your strength in English and Mother Tongue:
In JC, you must take General Paper and Mother Tongue. If you are weak in English especially, you will suffer terribly in JC. In general, if you are not confident of vastly improving your English in a short time, go to Poly. Of course the Poly also expects you to write English well, but not at the level GP demands.
(d) Which university you want to go to:
If you insist on going to NUS, NTU, SMU, SUTD or SUSS, please go to JC and work hard. If you go to Poly, you have to work extra hard to be the top 5 or 10% of your cohort or course, then you can be admitted to a local public university. However, SIT is a university that takes in lots of Poly grads. More than 70% of JC students make it to the local universities every year, so the chances of getting into the local universities are higher through JC than through Poly. If you go to Poly and don’t do well enough, be prepared to go to an overseas university (which is not a bad idea; don’t worry, money can be borrowed).
(e) Your level of self-discipline:
In JC, you are more supervised. Poly environment is like that of a university; you have to be more independent and responsible. I have ex-students from both sides regretting their choice, because they didn’t think about this issue.
There’s one more route that people often overlook: doing a three-year pre-university course at the Millenia Institute (MI). Bear in mind that only MI offers Management of Business and Principles of Accounting as A-level courses.
Lastly, please bear in mind that the above are just guidelines. Central to all forms of academic success is pure hard work and a thinking disposition.
I wish all O-Level graduates great success in their future endeavours.
Best Rgds,
Ilyasa
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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.
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Singapore Learner provides Group Tuition, Individual Tuition, Intensive Revision, Enrichment Workshops, Headstart Classes, Holiday Classes and Crash Courses at the Primary, Secondary and Junior College levels in the areas of Math, Pure Physics, Pure Chemistry, Science, Economics, and General Paper for the Singapore A-Levels, O-Levels and PSLE.