Start Date: OCT 2024
Time: 4.15 pm-5.45 pm every Saturday.
Location: Blk 644, Bukit Batok Central, #01-68. S(650644).
Topics to be covered: Electricity and Electromagnetism
Focus: CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING & APPLICATION OF SKILLS
Format: Teaching + Worksheets + Discussions
Target Group: Current Y3 IP students who wish to learn introductory Physics topics so as to be better prepared for Y4 Physics.
Course Outline (dates subject to change):
24/11: Static Electricity (E-Field)
1/12: Current Electricity ( Charge and Current, application of Ohm’s law)
8/12: D.C Circuits I ( Finding effective resistance in complex circuits, p.d vs emf)
15/12: D.C Circuits II (Potential Divider Principle)
22/12: Magnetism V.S Electromagnetism (force, current and direction, Fleming’s left and right hand rule)
29/12: Electromagnetic Induction ( CRO and Transformers)
Background of Tutor:
NIE trained teacher, Mr Y.S Pang, NIE MED (C&T),NUS B.Eng (Hons), RVHS (IP) Class of 2011, IP Math and Science tutor for over 6 years
To register, message <Student Name><S4IP-PHY-BB> to 90065997.
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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.
SEC 3 IP MATH & PHYSICS TUITION
Sec 3 IP Physics: Wednesday | 6.00 pm – 7.45 pm | Code: S3IPP
Sec 3 IP Math: Saturday | 1.30 pm – 3.15 pm | Code: S3IPM
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S3 IP Physics scheme of work (NYGH): Measurement, Kinematics, Dynamics, Mass, Weight and Density (current topic).
S3 IP Math scheme of work (NYGH): Matrices, Circle Properties, Quadratic Inequalities, Remainder & Factor Theorem, Geometry, Indices, Surds and Logarithms, Linear Law, Functions, Graphs, Transformation, Trigonometry.
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Administrative Matters:
Location: Blk 644, Bukit Batok Central, #01-68. S(650644).
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 roads surrounding our location are numbers 157, 178, 66, 506, 173, 174, 176, 187, 985. Buses services which terminate at Bukit Batok Bus Interchange are 61, 77, 106, 173, 177, 189, 852, 941, 945, 947.
TO REGISTER, SMS <STUDENT NAME>, <CODE> TO 97860411
For enquiries, kindly call 65694897 or sms to 97860411.
_______________________________________
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.
S4 IP MATH HEADSTART OCT TO DEC 2015
Dear Parents and S3/Y3 IP students. We will be conducting a S4 IP Math Headstart class for this year’s S3 IP students due to requests from some parents and students for such a course during the end-of-year holidays. Details as follows:
Days: Every MONDAY and SATURDAY from 26 Oct to 12 Dec (Total 14 lessons) except for the first week of December (see Course Outline below)
Time: 3.30 pm – 5.30 pm.
Location: Blk 644, Bukit Batok Central, #01-68. S(650644).
(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 roads surrounding our location are numbers 157, 178, 66, 506, 173, 174, 176, 187, 985. Buses services which terminate at Bukit Batok Bus Interchange are 61, 77, 106, 173, 177, 189, 852, 941, 945, 947)
Topics to be covered: DIFFERENTIATION & INTEGRATION
Focus: CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING & APPLICATION OF SKILLS
Format: Teaching + Worksheets + Discussions
Target Group: S3/Y3 IP students (RVHS, NYGH, HCI, RI, RGS) who wish to learn Calculus so as to be better prepared for Y4 math.
Fee: $840 (inclusive of materials) for 14 lessons.
Course Outline:
26/10: Intro to Differentiation, Power Rule.
31/10: Product Rule, Quotient Rule.
2/11: Equations of Tangents & Normals, Increasing & Decreasing Functions.
7/11: Connected Rates of Change.
9/11: Nature of Stationary Points.
14/11: Maxima & Minima Problems.
16/11: Derivatives of Trigonometric Functions.
21/11: Derivatives of Exponential & Logarithmic Functions.
23/11: Indefinite & Definite Integrals.
28/11: Integration of Trigonometric, Exponential and 1/x functions.
30/11: Area of a region using Integration.
2/12 (WED): Area between a curve and an axis / line.
9/12 (WED): Displacement & Velocity using Integration.
12/12: Integration problems involving Acceleration.
Tutors:
Mr Muhammad Ilyasa has been coaching students in Primary, Secondary & JC 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> , <S4IPMATH> TO 97860411.
As places are limited, pre-payment is encouraged to confirm your attendance. You can make cash or cheque payment by visiting the centre at the address above.
Reflection on S1 IP Physics class
Today is the first day of our Sec 1 Physics class. I’ve been teaching JC and Sec 4 Physics for 10 years but have never thought of teaching S1 Physics until late last year. Last Nov I decided to have a Fast-Track Physics class in 2015 for interested S1 students especially those from IP schools, as their Physics in S1 normally includes concepts from S3.
Today we covered Physical Quantities, SI units, base quantities, prefixes, standard form and conversion of units. Terms taught included magnitude, direction, scalars and vectors.
Of the above, students found conversion of units and standard form to be the most difficult. This is because fractions, decimals and indices are involved. This is why I insist on teaching indices in my post-PSLE S1 Math Headstart classes. Many Physics students in S3 and S4 still find conversion of units difficult even though it is taught in S1 as well as in math.
Nevertheless, the S1 students enjoyed the class as they could see how math was applied to solve science problems. Next week we will be learning about how to measure lengths more accurately using vernier calipers.
Ilyasa
Our IP / Fast-Track Sec 1 ENGLISH, MATH & PHYSICS classes start tomorrow
Sec 1 Math (IP / Fast-Track): Monday | 6.00 pm – 7.45 pm | Code: S1MIP
Sec 1-2 Physics (IP / Fast-Track): Thursday | 6.00 pm – 7.45 pm | Code: S12PIP
Sec 1-2 English (IP / Fast-Track): Tuesday | 6.00 pm – 7.45 pm | Code: S12EIP
TO REGISTER, SMS <STUDENT NAME>, <CODE> TO 97860411.
Administrative Matters:
Location: Blk 644, Bukit Batok Central, #01-68. S(650644).
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 roads surrounding our location are numbers 157, 178, 66, 506, 173, 174, 176, 187, 985. Buses services which terminate at Bukit Batok Bus Interchange are 61, 77, 106, 173, 177, 189, 852, 941, 945, 947.
TO REGISTER, SMS <STUDENT NAME>, <CODE> TO 97860411.
For enquiries, kindly call 65694897 or sms to 9786 0411.
Sec 1 (2015) Arithmetic & Algebra Math Holiday Enrichment for Post-PSLE students
This is the third re-run this year of our very successful annual S1 Math Headstart programme for post-psle students (see tutor’s comments at end of page). It reflects the recognition of parents and students of the importance of Algebra in preparing for Secondary Math.
TO REGISTER, SMS <STUDENT NAME> , <S1AA> TO 97860411.
Level/Subject: Sec 1 Arithmetic & Algebra (S1AA)
Dates: Mon 29/12, Tue 30/12, and Wed 31/12 (three 3 hr sessions)
Time: 2.00 pm – 5.00 pm
Location: Blk 644, Bukit Batok Central, #01-68. S(650644).
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 roads surrounding our location are numbers 157, 178, 66, 506, 173, 174, 176, 187, 985. Buses services which terminate at Bukit Batok Bus Interchange are 61, 77, 106, 173, 177, 189, 852, 941, 945, 947.
Target Group: Suitable for post-PSLE students who wish to learn more about Negative Numbers & Algebra, as well as basic Indices.
Purpose: To give post-PSLE students a HEADSTART in the THREE MOST IMPORTANT TOPICS of secondary Math – Arithmetic, Algebra and Indices, as students who do badly in Math in secondary school are usually those who have a poor FOUNDATION in these three topics.
Topics: (1) Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of Negative Numbers; (2) Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of Algebraic expressions; (3) Simplifying Algebraic fractions; (4) Basic Indices.
Focus: CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING
Format: Teaching + Worksheets + Discussions
Fee: Only $270 for all 3 sessions (inclusive of materials & refreshments)
Tutor: Mr Ilyasa (M.Ed., PGDE, B.Sc, Ex-MOE Teacher, Full-Time Tutor of PSLE, ‘O’ and ‘A’ Level Math and Physics since 2004).
Mr Ilyasa has been coaching students in ‘A’ Level & IB Physics and Mathematics for more than 7 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> , <S1AA> TO 97860411.
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Tutor’s comments:
The students took quite some time to understand the concept of negative numbers as it is not covered at all in the primary math syllabus. They were intrigued by the techniques of adding, subtracting, multiplying and adding negative numbers, and using BODMAS (Order of Operations) to evaluate an expression that is a mixture of these. Things became more difficult when fractions came in, but simplifying algebraic expressions become much easier when students have mastered arithmetic involving negative numbers and brackets as well as powers or indices.
Rgds,
Ilyasa
Choosing a secondary school …
The following are some of the factors (not in order of importance) you may want to consider in wisely selecting a secondary school:
(1) Location / Distance of school from home: Secondary school students have a lot of work to do (academic and CCA), so please factor this in and not just think of how prestigious the school is. When I studied in RI from 1985 to 1988, I was staying at Chai Chee Road, and had to travel about 1hr 15 mins to Grange Rd almost every day. RJC was then, at Mt Sinai Rd, even further and the travelling time became 1.5 hrs. Thus I was sleepy most of the time and did badly in school tests and I did well only at the major national exams as we were allowed home study time. Today, we are staying at Bukit Batok and my daughter’s school is just a 5 min drive away, and she’s doing very well in school.
(2) Type of school (Integrated Programme; O-Level, IB etc): I had posted another article on the pros and cons of going to a school where students skip the O-level exams. This is something you have to consider carefully – the significance of not having an O-Level certificate. Remember that not all IP school students make it to Year 6, and of those who do, some are ill-prepared to take a high-stakes national exam and end up with poor A-Level grades. I’ve also posted another article on IB vs A-Levels.
(3) CCA available: I know of a student who goes to a particular school because that school provides Lion Dance as a CCA. Not all schools provide Rugby, Soccer or Fencing etc. So if your child has a strong interest in a particular CCA, it is important that you check out whether that CCA is available in the desired school.
(4) Subject Combination for O-levels: Some schools do not provide Economics and some schools don’t even have Tamil Language. In some schools, it is compulsory for all its Sec 3 students to take up A. Math and Chemistry. And some schools do not provide O-Level Literature or Art. And how many triple pure science classes does the school normally provide?
(5) Niche area: Some schools are better equipped for Sports, some for Science and others for the Arts.
(6) Co-Ed or Single-Gender: It is still a debate whether single-gender schools are better for teenagers than dual-gender ones. Some prefer daughters to be in an all-girls school. Bear in mind that all JCs and polytechnics are dual-gender institutions.
(7) The Principal: Sad to say, some school principals don’t know how to motivate their staff or their students. Some care about their overall school results more than the willingness of their individual students to explore and learn. But principals come and go, and the school culture may change when there is a change of headmaster.
(8) Affiliation: You may want to choose a secondary school that is affiliated to a junior college.
(9) School Culture: Some schools have a very pressurizing and competitive environment, and these schools are not necessarily the top ten schools. I think the environment in schools which are TRYING to create an image of being a top school is more pressurizing than that in a really top-performing school. Thus you might find that the exam papers in some top schools are actually easier than those found in less prestigious schools.
(10) It’s Cut-off PSLE Aggregate: This number will give you an estimate of your chances of entering a particular school. But I don’t think it’s a good idea to be the amongst the last few to obtain a place in a certain school, even if it is a prestigious school. Would you rather be a small fish in a big pond or a big fish in a small pond? Some parents say that being in a top school would motivate their child, but they forget that being in such a school can also destroy their child’s confidence in his or her abilities (this actually originally happened to some of my tutees from hci, nygs, crescent, nan hua, rvhs and njc).
(11) It’s Median PSLE Aggregate: Parents often forget to look at this one. If your child’s PSLE score is such that he or she is in the bottom half of the school’s cohort, chances are, he or she will not be in the top classes and will not get the full support or resources from the school. Some schools even assign their best teachers to the top classes only, and the lower-end classes may often get relief teachers.
Anyway, I wish all post-PSLE students and their parents all the best in their choosing of secondary schools. Please bear in mind that your performance at the PSLE is a poor predictor of your performance in secondary school, because the assessment style and aims have changed.
Lastly, is every secondary school a good secondary school? You decide. : )
Rgds,
Ilyasa
About myself:
I was a secondary school teacher for 3 years before becoming a tutor in 2004. I also taught in a private school and in an international school. I’ve taught Math, Science, Physics and Chemistry to all kinds of students from Pri to JC and from all streams: Express, NA, NT, IP and IB. From my students and their parents I’ve learnt a lot about the various schools in Singapore, their problems, their strengths and so on. I also come from a family of teachers, and many of my friends are also teachers, HODs, VPs and Ps. I tutor my own children and they all have become proficient in Math and the Sciences. My youngest daughter just got her PSLE (2016) results and this will be the 3rd time I’m going through this school selection process. If you have any questions regarding schools, education or about tuition, feel free to contact me at 97860411. I will help answer your questions as best as I can. All the best!
Related pages:
FREE SEC 1 MATH TUITION AT SINGAPORE LEARNER!
Beware the critical years in math education in Singapore …
Choosing a sec school: Is it more important to be in a ‘Top’ school or the Top class?
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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.
Year 5 (2015) H2 Math Enrichment Programme for current Year 4 IP students
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.
Ad hoc tuition seems quite popular
I’ve been quite surprised by the response to my offer of ad hoc tuition for math and physics. This is the first year I’m allowing it and I had expected, the bulk of the calls were from parents of students in the integrated programme.
There may be a few reasons for this. First, IP students may be too busy to commit to regular weekly tuition. Second, they can’t fit in anywhere else as most learning centres only cater to mainstream students. Finally, IP students are generally academically bright and only need coaching in certain topics.
The IP students so far who have made multiple bookings to consult me are from NJC, HCI, NYGH and RGS. I did ask them or their parents on what they look out for when choosing a tutor: (1) travelling distance, (2) experience in teaching IP students, (3) ability to teach at JC level, (4) reasonable fees.
The non-IP students who have booked multiple slots tend to be those who did very badly in their recent MYEs and their parents wish them to revise all their fundamentals. That, I must say, is a wise decision, especially for sec 1 or sec 2 students who have done badly in their math exams.
If you need to consult me about IP tuition for Math, Physics or Chemistry, pls contact me @ 97860411. Alternatively, you can contact Mr Pang @ 90065997.
Ilyasa
To find more about IP Tuition, please click on the following: