I’m quite happy that to date, 6 and 5 students have signed up for my june hols psle math and science intensive revision workshops respectively. My intention was to prepare my own daughter comprehensively for psle math and science, and the classes will continue even if she is the only student.
Each 3h lesson will consist of mini-lectures to highlight the important concepts to be tested at the PSLE, short worksheets with must-know questions that the students must do, and discussions at the end to reinforce the salient points of the topic. For math, I will display different ways to solve the same problem sum so that students can select their natural method of solving math questions. For Science, I will highlight common errors in answering the structured questions.
As it is a REVISION workshop, each worksheet will have easy to hard questions, and the faster students can do more questions while the slower students will be given guidance along the way.
There will be another PSLE intensive revision in the Sep hols, but I’ve not yet decided whether it will be a repeat or a continuation of the June one.
As with the previous year, participants will be invited to attend my post-PSLE Algebra workshops sometime in Nov or Dec, for which I already have one student signed up. : )
I believe in what I do, as I’ve successfully guided my eldest daughter (and most of my students) to make the transition from lower to upper pri, from upper pri to lower sec, and from lower to upper sec, without much academic pain.
I look forward to meeting the PSLE workshop participants this June.
Rgds,
Ilyasa
PSLE MATH & SCIENCE INTENSIVE REVISION JUNE 2014
PSLE MATH & SCIENCE INTENSIVE REVISION JUNE HOLIDAYS
This popular course is back!
Dates: 16 June to 19 June, 4 days.
Time: Math is 9.30 am to 12.30 pm and Science is 1.30 pm to 4.30 pm. (Light refreshment and rest breaks provided)
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: $240 (one subject) or $450 (both subjects).
Max. no. of students: 8.
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><PSLE><subject> to 97860411.
———————————————————————————————————
Due to extra demand, the PSLE Math course above is repeated in the following week, from 23 June to 26 June, 1.30 pm – 4.30 pm.
To register, sms <student name><PSLE><Math2> to 97860411.
Direct School Admissions (Secondary) Exercise (DSA) 2014 – 2015
My P6 daughter is also applying to some schools via DSA and since it’s quite a hassle to visit and explore every desired school’s website to look for DSA deadlines and such, I shall do interested parents here a favour by putting up the necessary info and links on a single page.
If you wish to view the Flowchart of Stages in 2014 DSA-Sec Exercise, click here.
If you wish to view the List of Secondary Schools Participating in 2014 DSA-Sec Exercise — for Admission to Secondary One in 2015, click here.
DSA for Integrated Programme (IP) and Specialised Independent schools:
(click on the school name to visit its DSA web page)
1. ACS (Independent). Deadline: 20/06/2014.
2. Catholic High School. Deadline: 01/07/2014.
3. Cedar Girls’. Deadline: 04/07/2014
4. CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ . Deadline: 01/07/2014
5. Dunman High. Deadline: 01/07/2014
6. Hwa Chong Institution. Deadline: 02/06/2014
7. Methodist Girls’ Sch (Sec). Deadline: 20/06/2014 and 01/07/2014.
8. National Junior College. Deadline: Not stated but should be 01/07/2014.
9. Nanyang Girls’ High Sch: Deadline: 04/07/2014
10. NUS High School: Deadline: 20/06/2014.
11. Raffles Girls’ Sch (Sec). Deadline: 01/07/2014
12. Raffles Institution. Deadline: 01/07/2014
13. River Valley High Sch. Deadline: 30/06/2014 with GAT taken.
14. School of Science and Technology, Singapore (SST). Deadline: 07/07/2014
15. School of the Arts, Singapore (SOTA). Deadline: Not stated but should be 30/06/2014.
16. Singapore Chinese Girls’ Sch. Deadline: 01/07/2014
17. St Joseph’s Institution. Deadline: 01/07/2014
18. Temasek Junior College. Deadline: 30/06/2014
19. Victoria Sch. Deadline: 01/07/2014
Regards,
Ilyasa
Note:
(1) Starting from 2013, Catholic High School, CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School and Singapore Chinese Girls’ School will be offering both the GCE ‘O’ Level Programme and the Joint Integrated Programme. The Joint IP will lead up to the GCE ‘A’ Level Programme offered at a new government Junior College.
_______________________________________
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.
JC2 H2 Biology tuition is every Saturday, 3.15pm – 5.00 pm
JC2 H2 Biology: Every Saturday, 3.15 pm – 5.00 pm; Code: J2B1.
———————————————————————————————————–
The Tutor:
Mr Lee K.S.: A First Class Honours B.Sc. graduate from the University of Melbourne, Mr Lee is an NIE-trained teacher who has taught Biology and Science in a top secondary school for five years, and is also very familiar with the A-Level Biology syllabus. He will be focusing on Biology and Chemistry in Singapore Learner. A scholar and an ex-researcher, Mr Lee also holds a Master of Science degree in Medical Neurosciences from Germany’s Humboldt University.
———————————————————————————————————-
Administrative Matters:
Location: Blk 627, Bukit Batok Central. (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 road in front of Blk 627 are numbers 157, 178, 66, 506, 173, 174, 176, 187, 941, 947, 985)
Max Class Size: 6
TO REGISTER, SMS <FULL STUDENT NAME>, <CODE> TO 97860411.
For enquiries, kindly call or sms to 9786 0411 .
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
PSLE MATH INTENSIVE REVISION STAGE 1 (MAR HOLS)
Conducted by our Principal Tutor, Mr Ilyasa (M.Ed, PGDE, B.Sc) who has been successfully coaching students in PSLE Math Problem-Solving & Heuristics since 2005.
Days/Times (Total 3 days, 6 hrs):
Monday 17 Mar, 2pm – 4pm.
Tuesday 18 Mar, 2pm – 4pm.
Wednesday 19 Mar, 2pm – 4pm.
Location: Blk 627, Bukit Batok Central, #07-640. Singapore 650627.
(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 road in front of Blk 627 are numbers 157, 178, 66, 506, 173, 174, 176, 187, 941, 947, 985)
Total Fee: $150
To register, SMS <STUDENT NAME><PSLE> to 97860411 or email to ilyasa@conceptlearning.sg
For enquiries, call Mr Ilyasa directly at 97860411.
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.
Yay, my student passed his A. Math!
I’m so happy that Sheng Ze, one of my tutees in 2013, obtained a C6 in his A. Math in the recent ‘O’ Level exams, after getting F9s almost all the time from Sec 3 to Sec 4. He was even asked many times, directly and indirectly, to drop this subject but each time I advised his mum and him to continue doing the subject because he himself felt he was improving and did not want to drop it.
I’ve said it elsewhere and I will say it again: Schools generally do not care about their students or their students’ future; they are only interested in their own academic reputation such as percentage passes.
Schools can improve their percentage passes in certain subjects by simply disallowing their weaker students to study or take the exam for these tough subjects, such as A. Math and the Pure Sciences. But by doing this, they are adversely affecting the future of their students who will be denied many future courses and future jobs.
A. Math is an important subject for both Science and Business courses at higher levels. DO NOT DROP A. MATH SO LONG AS YOU ARE STILL INTERESTED TO DO WELL IN IT. Schools have no power to force you to drop any subject. The teachers will try their best to coax you to drop it, but ignore them please.
One of my existing tutees, Syakir, was also “offered” to drop A. Math at the end of last year due to his poor performance throughout Sec 3. But I offered to tutor him intensively instead in Nov and Dec and now he is in the top one-third of his class based on his latest post-holiday test.
Where there is a will there is a way. You can do well in any subject, in fact in anything, if you keep your focus on it and persevere. Do not feel disheartened or lose hope just because someone says you are not good enough. Prove them wrong instead.
Rgds,
Ilyasa
‘O’ Level Results 2013-2014
ALL THE BEST to those of you who will be receiving your ‘O’ Level results tomorrow, especially my 35 Sec4 tutees in 2013.
I will update their results here as and when they update me.
Please remember that if for some reason your results are not very good, you’d still need to get over it and move on; plan your next steps, re-strategise and take action. And if instead your results are very good, you have only become Ordinary; the battle for the ‘A’ levels or Diploma is still waiting to start. : )
Rgds,
Ilyasa
——————————————————————————————————-
Amirah (CTSS): A. Math A1, E.Math A1 (from D7-F9);
Valerie (BPGH): A. Math B3 (from F9);
Johnson (BPGH): Physics A1 (from D7);
Ronald (BPGH): Physics A1 (from C6-D7) ;
Darren (BPGH): Physics A1 (from C6-D7);
Nirupa (SMSS): Physics B3, Chemistry B3, A. Math B4 (all from D7-F9);
Yang Ming (Montfort): A. Math B3, Physics B3 (from E8-F9);
Hashfi (SCSS): Physics B3, A. Math B4 (from E8-F9);
Grace (NHH): Physics A2 (from prelim A2);
Jia Feng (NHH): Physics A2 (from C6-D7);
Sheng Ze (BVSS): A. Math C6 (from F9);
Ryan (BPGH): Physics A2 (from C6);
Regine (NHH): Physics B3 (from C6);
Rachel (Deyi): A. Math A2 (from D7);
———————————————————————————————————
Although some of the above results are not spectacular, I know my own students and how much they have worked and how much they have improved and thus I’m very proud of them.
List of Junior Colleges (JC) (2013) in Singapore by Cut-Off L1R5 aggregate score (including bonus points)
SCIENCE PRACTICAL TRAINING
H2 PHYSICS PRACTICAL
H2 CHEMISTRY PRACTICAL
H2 BIOLOGY PRACTICAL
Below is the latest ranking of JCs that I have compiled based on their 2013 cut-off points. As expected, RI and HCI have remained at the top. Compared to 2012, NJC has outranked VJC, ACJC has outranked TJC, and NYJC has outranked AJC (remember I suspected this last year as I had one student who couldn’t get into NYJC science but could get into AJC science). But AJC now has a new principal (whom my ex-students say is good), so AJC’s fortunes may be reversed in the next few years. Lastly, Yishun JC has outranked Innova JC. Please note that this list is based on cut-off points, not A-Level results. Personally, I feel DHS and RVHS should allow O-Level leavers to apply to their schools to enrich their school environment.
| S/No | Junior College | Arts | Science/IB |
| 1 | Hwa Chong Institution | 3 | 3 |
| 2 | Raffles Institution | 3 | 3 |
| 3 | National JC | 5 | 5 |
| 4 | Victoria JC | 6 | 5 |
| 5 | Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) | – | 5 |
| 6 | Anglo-Chinese JC | 7 | 6 |
| 7 | Temasek JC | 7 | 7 |
| 8 | St. Joseph’s Institution | – | 7 |
| 9 | Nanyang JC | 8 | 8 |
| 10 | Anderson JC | 9 | 8 |
| 11 | Meridian JC | 9 | 9 |
| 12 | St. Andrew’s JC | 9 | 9 |
| 13 | Catholic JC | 10 | 10 |
| 14 | Serangoon JC | 12 | 12 |
| 15 | Tampines JC | 13 | 13 |
| 16 | Jurong JC | 12 | 15 |
| 17 | Pioneer JC | 14 | 15 |
| 18 | Yishun JC | 19 | 19 |
| 19 | Innova JC | 20 | 20 |
SCIENCE PRACTICAL TRAINING
H2 PHYSICS PRACTICAL
H2 CHEMISTRY PRACTICAL
H2 BIOLOGY PRACTICAL