These classes are designed for JC1 and JC2 students who are behind on their revision coming into their prelim exams, especially for JC2 students who have forgotten or did not do well in topics previously covered in JC1. Content mastery will be covered first before moving on to past year papers and timed exercises. Consultation after class is strongly encouraged during the entirety of the revision period. There is usually an additional 15-30 minutes of after class time for additional consultation, students are also encouraged to make use of online consultation whenever they are stumped in their revision. Below are some of the common revision topics based on our analysis of current trends in H1 and H2 Math.

H1: Indices and Surds, Graphing and Transformation, Differentiation, Integration, Permutations and Combinations, Probability, Hypothesis Testing

H2: APGP, Functions, Graphing and Transformation, Vectors, Complex Numbers, Differential Equations, Applications of Differentiation, Applications of Integration, Permutations and Combinations, Probability, Hypothesis Testing

Contact the tutor @90065997 to sign up or find out more

REMOVAL OF MYES IN INTEGRATED PROGRAMME MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE

The removal of mid-year exams will help nurture the joy of learning, and in place of these exams, schools have the freedom and time to design and provide a variety of learning experiences. Student’s understanding and mastery of content will be checked via assignments, quizzes, and classroom interactions. (Dep Director General of Education, MOE / link: https://www.moe.gov.sg/news/forum-letter-replies/20220317-removal-of-mid-year-exams-will-help-nurture-joy-for-learning)

So for Integrated Programme students, who are clearly university bound, how does this affect their learning and preparation for university admissions via assessment? How will the new assessment criteria look like? Are there any additional things in particular to look out for on this new educational journey? This post will serve to share with parents of IP students on the new changes made, and potential impacts, in an attempt to alleviate any insecurities or doubts.

*Disclaimer: While IP schools are expected to follow MOE’s lead in the removal of exam based learning at the first half of the year, they still have some level of freedom to implement written Worked Assessments as they see fit in the form of quizzes and various other assessment tools, so content mastery is still integral in doing well*

1.What has replaced the MYEs or standardized testing for the first half of the year?

In IP schools, projects have always been a big component since its inception. Upon the removal of MYEs, several schools have introduced a project based assessment style for Mathematics as well as Science. A brief overview of project based assessment:

-Science: For the sciences, projects are often based on building, either team building or a solo project. Some of the examples I have seen from my students are: building a trebuchet, building a soda-pop rocket, building a cardboard boat, building a circuit, building a protection system for an egg, or alternatively an investigation based project which is heavy on fieldwork, e.g. finding purity of water in certain areas, density of rocks, nutrition in daily household foods etc. There are resources online to assist with understanding these building projects, however the mode of assessment is in a highly localized context, and will be difficult to just replicate based on online guides.

Another aspect of assessment in Science would be practical assessment. For Y1-Y2 students, a watered down version of the O-level practical exam is presented as a worked assessment in place of a full content based written test, and usually very focused on chemistry (the study of observation of reactions, proper presentation of facts and figures, basic experimental skills) . These tests are often based on real O-lvl practical experiments, such as optical pins for refraction, potential divider circuit, titration, and transport system in plants.

-Mathematics: Similar to science, Math assessment will be modified to a project based assessment, with the exception of a practical exam since there is no practical component in the A-level. Most Math project based assessment involve the use of online tools such as Graphmatica in order to illustrate Math concepts in graphs and subsequently in a 3D form. Concepts tested are usually on vectors, coordinate geometry, simultaneous equations, quadratic equations, Trigonometry. Students can be expected to build a structure using online graphing tools, or to model a certain phenomenon using Mathematical equations covered during class time. There is usually one written test for Math at the first half of the year on top of their projects.

2. How will the assessment criteria look like?

Science: Projects are often assessed based on a simple set of rubrics, for innovativeness in design, application of content knowledge in observation/deduction/building, quality and structure of final report, as well as budgetary constraints and usage. For Practical exams, standard O/A level rubrics and keywords are applied. Students are expected to read up on their O-level textbook in preparation

Math: Similar to Science, there is a simple set of rubrics, but more focused on accuracy and precision of modelling, as well as constraints in real life, and how those constraints affect the project results. Formulating equations is a big part of the assessment, students are expected to be able to formulate equations based on their content knowledge and context of the project. Guides on this are harder to find, so light plagiarism from online sources or assistance from Artificial Intelligent like Chatgpt and Google Bard might not be very useful.

3. Additional things in particular to look out for

As explained in our previous guides, for IP students, it is heavily hinted and recommended for them to read and do ahead using O-level text before the start of the content lecture. Our suggestion here at Singapore Learner would be using the Marshall Cavendish O-level pure Science textbooks for Science readings, and the New Syllabus Mathematics textbooks, for both E and A math. Many of the ideas for projects can be found in these books.

Another problem to look out for is that WAs, quizzes and small tests may not be a strong indicator of ability to take a full test. While the removal of MYEs and CTs in the first half of the year is a welcome change, the discipline, muscle memory, and pace of a full test with all topics tested requires a certain level of rigor and attention to detail. With many schools having a 60-70% weight on final year exam grading, students are still very much expected to keep pace with their theory skills despite the great focus on projects and practical during the first half of the year. Parents will have to watch out on how much time students are spending on their projects, whether its effective or not, and to keep pace with their theory content in lectures and tutorials.

The time of release of this post is June holiday 2023. From what we gather, based on our experience with IP students as well as our training in NIE, there is a big push for the theme of sustainability in schools. The context of project based or practical based assessment will be heavily leaning towards sustainability if possible. Students should have a strong exposure to understanding of sustainability, at least within a local context. Examples include, green energy such as electricity saving circuits, converting kinetic energy to other useful forms of energy, anti pollution in chemistry and biology, as well as nutritional science.

So after surviving through several long paragraphs of educational jargon, we finally reach the end of the post. I hope this alleviates some of the worries of parents and provide a clearer picture for assessment. As a tuition group that is heavily invested into the practical aspect of education, we aspire to be at the forefront of this new change in assessment and have begun establishing ourselves as a market leader in practical and project based education since the year 2018. As one of the pioneer specialists in the IP tuition market, we have been consulting for our curernt students in project based assessment for more than a decade, since the inception of the Integrated Programme. If you are a parent that is feeling particularly lost in this new scheme of work for your IP school going child, and would like for him/her to be trained by our professional team of tutors, do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Our contact: 6569 4897 or 8776 2711

From our IP team:

Mr Pang and Mr Ilyasa, NUS faculty of Engineering/Science, NIE(curriculum and teaching)

Start Date:  Oct 2024 | End Date: 15 Dec 2024

$360/month for Y1-Y4, 1.5h per lesson, 4 lessons a month

Start Date:  Oct 2024 End Date: 15 Dec 2024

$360/month for Y1-Y2, 1.5h per lesson, 4 lessons a month

IPY1/Sec 1 Math is heavy on algebraic manipulation and logic, as compared to the PSLE which uses models and units. The KEY to acing IPY1/Sec1 Math is to understand fully how to deal with NEGATIVE NUMBERS as well as ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS and INDICES (which is an O-level topic tested in lower secondary IP). This course will EQUIP students with the necessary skills to keep up or stay ahead of the Y1/S1 math syllabus.

Day and Time: Fridays, 10am – 12pm.

Dates: 29/11, 6/12, 13/12, 20/12, 27/12,

Location : Online via Zoom or Blk 644, Bukit Batok Central, #01-68, S(650644).

Target Group: For post-PSLE students who are highly interested to do well in Secondary Math.

Purpose: To give students a HEAD START in the TWO MOST IMPORTANT TOPICS of secondary Math – Algebra and Indices, as students who struggle with secondary math are usually those who are still stuck in PSLE style question solving.

Focus: CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING

Format: Teaching + Worksheets + Discussions

Course Fee: $300

Registration fee: $20

TO REGISTER, SMS <STUDENT NAME> , <S1AI> TO 97860411 and make payment of $20 to confirm your place in the course.

As places are limited, pre-payment is necessary to confirm your attendance. 

Background of Tutors:

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.

An NIE-trained Teacher, Mr Ilyas has been coaching students in O-Level & IP Chemistry, Physics and Math for more than 12 years. An alumnus of RI and RJC, he holds a Master of Education (Curriculum & Teaching) degree from the National Institute of Education, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree from the National University of Singapore.

UNDERSTANDING OUR INTEGRATED PROGRAM TUITION

TUITION CLASSES:

EDUCATIONAL SERVICES:

By EX-MOE TEACHERS & EXPERIENCED TUTORS

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

CALL 65694897 OR SMS 87762711.

The inner workings of English or language arts as they call it in certain IP schools are often shrouded in mystery to some parents. How does the syllabus work? What is the grading based upon? What are the recommended assessment books to purchase? Should our children be memorizing model essays and attempt to emulate them in exams? Should we attempt the O-level comprehension books? All these questions will be addressed in the FAQ below.

FAQ (MUST READ BEFORE CONTACTING TUTOR):

Q: With different IP schools sometimes having different syllabuses, how do you plan to address this issue?

A: We will take this question as an opportunity to clear the air. There will not be an official syllabus or fixed syllabus in IP English ever. As a parent, you must understand that the end goal for IP English is not the O-level English exam, it is the A-level general paper exam. As such, the IP English syllabus can be vastly different from the Express streams, with less of an emphasis on drilling and practice, but more of an emphasis on soft skills such as general knowledge, debate, and well as forming discussions around current affairs. The aim of the class is to instill within the student an inquisitiveness for current affairs, debate, as well as knowledge of the Singaporean and global society. This is done by having open discussions instead of the tutor simply lecturing, with specifically chosen readings to suit your child’s readiness and interest, curated homework assignments that are structured to both interest as well as to challenge them, and of course, by having an expert tutor with more than 20 years in the teaching service as a guide and mentor.

Be transparent  on your child’s syllabus in school. Send his/her syllabus list to the tutor. Parents do not need to be involved when it comes to classroom management and topics covered in class. Frequent updates will be provided to you if need be.

Q: So what is your lesson plan if the syllabus is so open ended?

A: Our classes are designed with very small groups in mind to facilitate discussion and consultation. Furthermore, the tutor in charge will be bringing in case studies compiled on a monthly basis, on various current affairs and historical events. Mindmaps, summary notes in bullet points, and various other tools of presentation will be employed for your child’s learning. Students are highly encouraged to be participative in these discussions, and the tutor will also engage them on a regular basis. After which, there is a guided essay component based on the topic of discussion during the lesson.

Q: What happens when you have a diverse pool of students of different speeds?

A: The whole point of a discussion group is to allow students to leverage on the knowledge of their peers and gain new perspectives for the sake of forming new points for arguments in their essays, as essays always require having at least one contrasting point. A diverse group can be turned into a strength easily. For e.g, a weaker student will present a weak argument, the stronger student can then use that content to reinforce the argument in their essay, and the weaker student can benefit by learning from the stronger student how to construct a better argument.

Q: We live far from the centre and it would be too troublesome to come down. Is there an alternative?

A: I would suggest online classroom. We have students from RGS, DHS, Temasek and various schools which are located further from Bukit Batok Central, and they all do very well using online classroom. If you have doubts, for the first lesson, we will get you and your child to sit in physically, and address all your needs and concerns, show you how things are done in class, and go through the lesson plan, as well as establish a method of sharing information and communication. Students are required to submit their work to me via CamScanner and WhatApp for marking and grading of their working and answers. Subsequently, your child will be equipped to handle remote learning.

Q: We prefer online classes, can you walk us through what a typical online class will be like?

A: For online class, we use Zoom or Google Meet as a platform. A link to the online classroom will be sent to either you or your child’s Whatsapp account a few minutes before the start of the class. Materials used for the class will be sent to you in a PDF or word format by email at least a day before the class itself. Parents are welcome to come down physically and collect printed materials if they wish. Online class has the same class size limit as physical class, capped at 4-5pax. Once attendance is taken and the tutor is sure that all students are accounted for, the class begins just like any regular class. Lesson materials are projected onto the screen in the online classroom, and there is a whiteboard function which the tutors will use to write down their steps and to discuss more complex questions with diagrams. We use a stylus pad for online whiteboard so the handwriting will be neat and fast, just like in our physical lessons. For students who are more shy in nature, they may choose to private message the tutor to address their concerns during class. The experience will be the same as a physical class but in the comfort of your home.

Q: What is your policy on homework?
A: The tutor will issue assigned readings for your child to complete and give bullet points to summarize the readings, as well as any potential topics of discussion. Comprehension worksheets of a higher order of difficulty will also be issued periodically, it is important to alternate between their essays and comprehensions so they get a good spread of practice.

Q: We have had experiences where the tuition centre mixes IP students with other streams, are your classes PURE IP classes?

A: The O-level students are separate from the IP students. Makeup classes will also be PURE IP CLASSES. There will not be a situation of a bait and switch where it is a mixed class instead of a PURE IP class. The tutors advertised will be the tutors teaching the class, in the event the tutor is unavailable for class that day, makeup lessons will be arranged with the tutor instead of a substitute.

Q: Why charge a material fee for both online and physical classes?
A: The unique selling point of our classes is that the tutor has his own complete set of notes and work, which he updates very often to suit the current socioeconomic and well as political climate in the world and in Singapore. Such an intensive and constantly updated syllabus and notes puts tremendous strain on the tutor, and it would be fair for him to be paid for all the extra preparatory work that he is doing outside of class.

Q: What is your makeup policy?

A: Under official Singapore Learner policy, there is no makeup classes issued to students who are absent from class. However, the tutor may arrange at his discretion as long as enough prior notice is given.

Examples of mind maps, essay planning and recommended texts/compiled case studies from the tutor (S.W.O.T analysis for language arts, his personalized R.A.S and Prince James method:

Background of the tutor:

The tutor is an experienced teacher, an ex-HOD teaching in MOE for many years. He has a B.A (hons) in History from the National University of Singapore. As a former RI/RJC boy, he understands the academic rigor of the Integrated Programme schools, as well as how to engage these students in class to maximize their participation and potential. He is known to be a jovial teacher with his students, inspiring them to make tremendous progress in the English language and the humanities in their own time. A pioneer of his own R.A.S method and Prince James analysis, he offers a structured learning system for English and language arts, teaching students how to analyze and break down complex texts into simple points. An avid reader of current affairs and global news, he always brings something new to the table each class, and fresh content to keep the students engaged, and prepared for the exams to come.

Fee Structure(new and amended in AY 2022):

Y1-Y6 SUBJECTS: $360 PER MONTH (4 LESSONS)

(NEW AND AMMENDED)Trial Class:

Costs of a one-off trial class is $120. Trial class timings will be arranged based on my discretion and assessment of your child’s needs. Subsequently, should you decide to sign up, the remainder of the monthly fee will be charged, i.e. you sign up for Y3 in Jan, trial is $120, if after the trial you continue, pay the balance of $360-$120=$240.

MISC CHARGES: $30 ONE TIME OFF REGISTRATION FEE AND YEARLY MATERIAL FEE OF $80

STUDENTS WHO JOIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH, FIRST MONTLHY FEE WILL BE PRO RATED BASED ON NUMBER OF LESSONS LEFT IN THE MONTH, FOR EXAMPLE IF YOU JOIN IN JUNE WITH 2 LESSONS LEFT FOR Y4 CLASS, YOUR MONTHLY FEE WILL BE 360/4 X 2 = 180, MISC FEES STILL APPLY

NOTE: MATERIAL FEE IS CHARGED FOR ONLINE CLASSES, MATERIALS WILL BE EMAILED TO YOU BY SCANNED PDF, PARENTS CAN ARRANGE TO SELF COLLECT THE PHYSICAL MATERIALS IF NEEDED

NOTE: ONLINE CLASSES ARE SAME PRICING AS PHYSICAL CLASSES, WE PROVIDE THE SAME QUALITY EDUCATION IN SMALL SIZED CLASSROOMS BE IT ONLINE OR PHYSICAL

IP English SCHEDULE (2024):

Y1 IP English: This will be a special program that is designed to assist the student in transitioning from a narrative based writing style to a more discursive or argumentative type of essay. Even high scorers in PSLE English often struggle with this transition. Students are encouraged to take a clinical interview with the tutor to find out more about their needs before being allocated a class.

Y1 IP English: Monday | 4.30pm-6.00pm| Code: Y1EL1

Y1 IP English: Thursday | 4.30pm-6.00pm| Code: Y1EL2

Y1 IP English: Saturday | 9.00am-10.30am| Code: Y1EL3

Y1 IP English: Sunday | 9.00pm-10.30pm| Code: Y1EL4

Y2 IP English: Monday | 6.00pm-7.30pm| Code: Y2EL1

Y2 IP English: Thursday | 6.00pm-7.30pm| Code: Y2EL2

Y2 IP English: Saturday | 9.00am-10.30am| Code: Y2EL3

Y2 IP English: Sunday | 9.00pm-10.30pm| Code: Y2EL4

Y3 IP English: Monday | 7.45pm-9.15pm| Code: Y3EL1

Y3 IP English: Saturday | 10.30am-12.15pm| Code: Y3EL2

Y3 IP English: Sunday | 10.30am-12.15pm| Code: Y3EL3

Y4 IP English: Thursday | 7.45pm-9.15pm| Code: Y4EL1

Y4 IP English: Saturday | 12.45pm-2.15pm| Code: Y4EL2

Y4 IP English: Sunday| 3.00pm-4.30pm| Code: Y4EL3

Registration:

We use online registration, click here to fill in the registration form after confirming the details with the tutor

Payment method:

Online payment is preferred, you can make payment Paynow/PayLah! to the Singapore Learner account. Paynow/Paylah! to 9786 0411, do take a screenshot of the payment and forward it to the tutor in charge

Singapore Learner @ Bukit Batok

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

For signups:

Tel: +(65) 6569 4897 (office), 8776 2711 (admin number)