Consolidation workshops are for students who have performed poorly in their SA2 exams or in certain topics in their exams. These classes are intended for students to “consolidate” what they have learnt and re-learn if necessary. Such students are encouraged to attend these lessons before attending Headstart lessons.
Sec 1 Algebra: Tuesday, 5 Nov, 3.00 pm – 6.00 pm; Code: S1MC1.
Sec 1 Algebra: Wednesday, 6 Nov, 9.30 am – 12.30 pm; Code: S1MC2.
Sec 2 Algebra: Thursday, 7 Nov, 9.30 am – 12.30 pm; Code: S2MC1.
Sec 2 Algebra: Friday, 8 Nov, 9.00 am – 12.00 pm; Code: S2MC2.
Consolidation classes for Sec 3 A. Math and Physics will be held from 11 Nov to 15 Nov. Details will be published on Tuesday, 5 Nov. Look out for it!
Administrative Matters:
Location: Blk 627, Bukit Batok Central (if you wish to visit or have a chat with the principal tutor, pls sms 97860411 first)
Max Class Size: 6
Fee: $60 for each 3 hr session.
Tutor: Mr Ilyasa (M.Ed., PGDE, B.Sc, Ex-MOE Teacher)
TO REGISTER, SMS <FULL STUDENT NAME>, <CODE> TO 97860411.
For enquiries, kindly call or sms to 9786 0411.
Change in Start Date of Lower Secondary Headstart Programmes to 18 Nov onwards
Dear interested Parents / Students,
I have to postpone the start date of the Secondary Headstart classes to 18 Nov onwards as there is a surge in demand for O-Level, A-Level and IB Math and Physics classes for the next two weeks and we need to free up more lesson slots.
However, from 5 Nov to 15 Nov I have planned a series of Secondary Consolidation classes for students who have performed poorly in this year’s SA2 exams. Students who are weak in Math and Physics should attend these Consolidation classes before attending my Headstart classes. Consolidation classes will focus on THIS YEAR’s topics while Headstart classes are meant for NEXT YEAR’s topics.
Rgds,
Ilyasa
Principal Tutor & CEO, Singapore Learner
JC / A-LEVEL HEADSTART Classes for 2014 that will start in December 2013
For our latest timetable, click here => 
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Note: The JC levels shown below are 2014 levels. For example, JC2 H2 Math is for students who will be in JC2 in 2014.
JC1 H2 Math: Every Wednesday, 8.00 pm – 9.45 pm (Start Dec 4); Code: J1M1.
JC1 H2 Math: Every Friday, 8.00 pm – 9.45 pm (Start Dec 6); Code: J1M2.
JC1 H2 Math: Every Sunday, 2.00 pm – 3.45 pm (Start Dec 8); Code: J1M3.
JC1 H2 Math: Every Sunday, 4.00 pm – 5.45 pm (Start Dec 8); Code: J1M4.
JC2 H2 Math: Every Wednesday, 6.00 pm – 7.45 pm (Start Dec 4); Code: J2M1.
JC2 H2 Math: Every Friday, 6.00 pm – 7.45 pm (Start Dec 6); Code: J2M2.
JC2 H2 Math: Every Sunday, 4.00 pm – 5.45 pm (Start Dec 8); Code: J2M3.
JC1 H2 Physics: Every Sunday, 2.00 pm – 3.45 pm (Start Dec 8); Code: J1P1.
JC2 H2 Physics: Every Sunday, 6.00 pm – 7.45 pm (Start Dec 8); Code: J2P1.
JC2 H2 Management of Business: Every Monday, 8.00 pm – 9.45 pm (Start Dec 2); Code: J2B1.
JC2 H2 Economics: Every Thursday, 8.00 pm – 9.45 pm (Start Dec 5); Code: J2E1.
JC2 H2 Economics: Every Saturday, 8.00 pm – 9.45 pm (Start Dec 8); Code: J2E2.
Administrative Matters:
Location: Blk 627, Bukit Batok Central (if you wish to visit or have a chat with the principal tutor, pls sms 97860411 first)
Max Class Size: 6
Monthly fee for each JC subject or slot is $240, inclusive of materials fee. Discounts apply for multiple subjects or slots.
All of the above courses will end by 15 Dec 2013 and will resume in the week starting 6 Jan 2014.
TO REGISTER, SMS <FULL STUDENT NAME>, <CODE> TO 97860411.
For enquiries, kindly call or sms to 9786 0411.
SECONDARY MATH & SCIENCE HEADSTART Classes for 2014 that will start in November 2013
For our latest timetable, click here=> 
=============================================================== ORIGINAL POST(OUTDATED):
Note: The secondary levels shown below are 2014 levels. For example, S4 Math is for students who will be in Secondary 4 in 2014.
Sec 3 A. Math: Every Sunday, 11.00 am – 12.30 pm (Start Nov 10); Code: S3M1.
Sec 3 Physics: Every Sunday, 9.30 am – 11.00 am (Start Nov 10); Code: S3P1.
Sec 3 Chemistry: Every Sunday, 9.30 am – 11.00 am (Start Nov 10); Code: S3C1.
Sec 4 Math (NA): Every Monday, 6.00 pm – 7.30 pm (Start Nov 4); Code: S4MN.
Sec 4 Math: Every Monday, 8.00 pm – 9.45 pm (Start Nov 4); Code: S4M1.
Sec 4 A. Math: Every Tuesday, 8.00 pm – 9.45 pm (Start Nov 5); Code: S4M2.
Sec 4 A. Math: Every Thursday, 8.00 pm – 9.45 pm (Start Nov 7); Code: S4M3.
Sec 4 A. Math: Every Saturday, 4.00 pm – 5.45 pm (Start Nov 16); Code: S4M4.
Sec 4 Physics: Every Friday, 8.00 pm – 9.45 pm (Start Nov 8); Code: S4P1.
Sec 4 Physics: Every Saturday, 2.00 pm – 3.45 pm (Start Nov 16); Code: S4P2.
Sec 4/5 Exp Science (Physics): Every Thursday, 6.00 pm – 7.30 pm (Start Nov 7); Code: S4P3.
Sec 4 NA Science (Physics): Every Thursday, 6.00 pm – 7.30 pm (Start Nov 7); Code: S4P4.
Sec 4 Chemistry: Every Tuesday, 8.00 pm – 9.45 pm (Start Nov 10); Code: S4C1.
Sec 4 Chemistry: Every Sunday, 11.00 am – 12.30 pm (Start Nov 10); Code: S4C2.
Administrative Matters:
Location: Blk 627, Bukit Batok Central (if you wish to visit or have a chat with the principal tutor, pls sms 97860411 first)
Max Class Size: 8
Monthly fee for each subject or slot for S1/S2/S3/S4 is $150/150/180/180 respectively, inclusive of materials fee. Discounts apply for multiple subjects or slots.
All of the above courses will end by 15 Dec 2013 and will resume in the week starting 6 Jan 2014.
TO REGISTER, SMS <FULL STUDENT NAME>, <CODE> TO 97860411.
For enquiries, kindly call or sms to 9786 0411.
Re-Learn & Refresh Classes for Sec 1 to Sec 3 students (2013) for Math, Science, A. Math and Physics Starting 22 Oct 2013
For our latest timetable, click here=> =============================================================== ORIGINAL POST(OUTDATED):
We understand that some Sec 1 to Sec 3 students have performed poorly in their recent SA2 exams for Math, Science, A. Math or Physics. Thus we will be conducting Refresher (Re-learn & Refresh) classes for these levels and subjects from 22 Oct onwards which will run until Dec 15:
S1 MATH: Every Tues, 4.30-6pm. (Start: 22 Oct)
S1 SCIENCE: Every Thurs, 4.30-6pm (Start: 24 Oct)
S2 MATH: Every Tu…es, 6.00-7.30pm. (Start: 22 Oct)
S2 SCIENCE: Every Thurs, 6.00-7.30pm (Start: 24 Oct)
S3 A. MATH: Every Tues, 8.00-9.30pm. (Start: 22 Oct)
S3 PHYSICS: Every Wed, 8.00-9.30pm. (Start: 23 Oct)
Class size: 3-8 students
Tutor: Qualified ex-MOE Teacher with 10 years’ experience; M.Ed (NIE), B.Sc (NUS), PGDE (NIE).
Individual, one-to-one tuition is also available upon request.
For registration or enquiries, call or sms to 97860411.
“Models (drawing of) destroyed my life.” – Sec 3 Math student
I laughed when he said it. But it’s a significant statement by my Sec 3 Math student made two days ago. It’s something I’ve been warning parents and students about, in my earlier article Beware the Critical Years in Math.
This Sec 3 Math tutee is from a top government secondary school in the west. Being mathematically intelligent, he had found it easy to use models-drawing to solve PSLE Math problems. But he had a hard time coping with Algebra in Sec 1 and Sec 2, and it’s affecting both his Math and A. Math performance now. This situation is not unique to him.
The best years of learning by your brain is probably from the time you were born to just before your teenagehood. Singaporeans around my age or older were taught to use algebraic equations to solve math problems at the PSLE back then. I remember using simultaneous equations in 1984 to solve today’s “guess & check” problems in the PSLE. Thus our algebraic skills were good and it helped us, even those who didn’t do well at the PSLE, in doing O-Level and A-Level Math.
Algebra is SO important for Math at O-level and A-level, yet our dear MOE chooses not to introduce it for problem-solving in today’s PSLE. I still don’t understand why.
It is true that some young students may not be able to understand Algebra, due to it being very abstract. But it is also true that some young students are not visually or spatially intelligent enough to draw, cut and move rectangles to solve problems. For eg, what has rectangles got to do with mass or age? (you know, those problems involving age relationships between persons or mass relationships between objects). Using rectangles or boxes to represent age or mass is just as ridiculous or abstract as using letters such as ‘x’ and ‘y’ as in algebra.
The least the MOE should do is to allow the teaching of BOTH methods to solve problems. Since those boxes start appearing in P2 or P3, algebraic expressions should also be introduced at P2 or P3, algebraic expansion in P4, algebraic factorisation in P5, and algebraic equations in P6. Sec 1 students can straightaway start on algebraic fractions etc. Do we lose anything by introducing algebra earlier in our math curriculum?
I’m glad I started my Sec 1 Algebra course for post-PSLE students in Nov and Dec last year (see Sec 1 Algebra Headstart Holiday Enrichment Programme for post-PSLE students). I think students still don’t realise how ill-prepared they are for math in sec school and JC. I dare say that if you are weak in your S1 and S2 algebra, you don’t have to take Math anymore.
Good Luck.
Rgds,
Ilyasa
(M.Ed., PGDE, B.Sc, ex-teacher, full-time tutor: 97860411)
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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.
Sec 1 Algebra Headstart Holiday Enrichment Programme for post-PSLE students
For our latest timetable, click here =>
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ORIGINAL POST (OUTDATED):
From my 8 years’ experience coaching secondary students in Math, I found that even students who scored A-star in PSLE Math can end up doing badly in secondary Math. The main reason can be attributed to a poor grasp of Algebraic fundamentals in Sec 1 and Sec 2. Thus I see the need to provide post-PSLE students with a Math programme that introduces them to concepts in Algebra.
The details of the 2-day, 6-hr programme are as follows:
Date/Time (choose one pair of sessions only):
(1) Thurs 15 Nov (4.30 pm to 7.30 pm) and Fri 16 Nov (4.30 pm to 7.30 pm);
(2) Thurs 29 Nov (4.30 pm to 7.30 pm) and Fri 30 Nov (4.30 pm to 7.30 pm);
Location: Blk 627, Bukit Batok Central, 07-640.
Class size: Max 6 students.
Investment amt: $120 total for both days (6 hrs).
Tutor: Mr Ilyasa; M.Ed (NIE), PGDE (NIE), BSc (NUS), A-Level (RI); ex-sch teacher, full-time tutor (8 years) of PSLE, O and A Level Math and Physics.
To book a place in the programme, sms to or call Mr Ilyasa at 97860411.
Related post: Beware the critical years in math education in Singapore …
Sec 4 A. Math Headstart Programme – Differentiation
For our latest timetable, click here =>
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ORIGINAL POST (OUTDATED):
The details of the 2-day, 6-hr programme are as follows:
Date/Time (choose one pair of sessions only):
(1) Sat 10 Nov (10 am to 1 pm) and Sun 11 Nov (10 am to 1 pm);
(2) Thurs 22 Nov (4.30 pm to 7.30 pm) and Fri 23 Nov (4.30 pm to 7.30 pm);
(3) Thurs 6 Dec (4.30 pm to 7.30 pm) and Fri 7 Dec (4.30 pm to 7.30 pm);
Location: Blk 627, Bukit Batok Central, 07-640.
Class size: Max 6 students.
Investment amt: $150 total for both days (6 hrs).
Topics: Calculus – Differentiation & Its Applications
Tutor: Mr Ilyasa; M.Ed (NIE), PGDE (NIE), BSc (NUS), A-Level (RJC); ex-sch teacher, full-time tutor (8 years) of PSLE, O and A Level Math and Physics.
To book a place in the programme, sms to or call Mr Ilyasa at 97860411.
Sec 4 Physics Nov/Dec 2012 Headstart Programme – Electricity
For our latest timetable, click here =>
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ORIGINAL POST(OUTDATED):
The details of the 2-day, 6-hr programme are as follows:
Date/Time (choose one pair of sessions only):
(1) Sat 24 Nov (10 am to 1 pm) and Sun 25 Nov (10 am to 1 pm);
(2) Sat 8 Dec (10 am to 1 pm) and Sun 9 Dec (10 am to 1 pm);
Location: Blk 627, Bukit Batok Central, 07-640.
Class size: Max 6 students.
Investment amt: $150 total for both days (6 hrs).
Topics: Electrostatics, Current Electricity
Tutor: Mr Ilyasa; M.Ed (NIE), PGDE (NIE), BSc (NUS), A-Level (RJC); ex-sch teacher, full-time tutor (8 years) of PSLE, O and A Level Math and Physics.
To book a place in the programme, sms to or call Mr Ilyasa at 97860411.
Integrated Programme (IP) Math
IP students always give me headaches because they come from different schools and have their own syllabi, to the point I’ve kind of decided not to take in any IP students anymore. I’ve taught students from RV, ACS(I), NJC, RI, RGS, HCI and NYGS.
But now I’m in a dilemma, because my existing IP students are asking me to continue guiding them. Two YR4 RI boys and a YR4 RGS girl (plus her friend) are asking me to have a headstart programme in Nov/Dec to intro them to H2 Math. A YR2 NYGH student is asking me to do the same for her YR3 Math. The problem is, they may not all fit into the same session because of differences in availability and level.
If I were to proceed, it would be 2-hr sessions, lecture cum discussion style, and if they are spread out across several sessions in the same week, I would need a few more students to join us to avoid boring and expensive one-to-one tuition. So if you are an IP student and in the same level (preferably even same school) as them in 2013 (YR5 or YR3) and you need a headstart in Math, please consider joining us. You may contact me at 97860411. Thank you.
My resume: Mr Ilyasa
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For our latest timetable, click here =>