Sec 3 Subject Combinations and Streaming Exercise

How we came up with the proposed subject combinations Wide range of subject combinations to cater to students’ interests, strengths and career goals. Able to pursue post-secondary courses. Sufficient curriculum time for deeper learning, mastery and learning for life. Resource considerations.

Sec 3 Express Subject Combinations 2020 (proposed) Subject Area Subject 3E1 3E2 3E3 Compulsory Subjects 1 English Language 2 Mother Tongue Language 3 Mathematics 4 Science (Physics, Chemistry) Chemistry 5 Social Studies / Geography Social Studies / History Social Studies / Literature Elective Subject 1 6 Principles of Accounts ( up to 3 groups) Biology / Physics (1 group) *Core Geography (1 group) *Core History (1 group) *Core Literature (1 group) Elective Subject 2 7 Design and Technology (1 group) Art (1 group) Additional Mathematics (up to 2 groups) Food and Nutrition (1 group) Additional. Mathematics Elective Subject 3 8 Biology / Physics

Combination A (proposed) Subject Area Subject Combination A Compulsory Subjects 1 English Language 2 Mother Tongue Language 3 Mathematics 4 Science (Physics, Chemistry) 5 Social Studies + choice of electives: Geography History Literature Elective Subject 1 6 Choose 1 from: Principles of Accounts (up to 3 groups) Biology / Physics (1 group) Core Geography (1 group) Core History (1 group) Core Literature (1 group) Elective Subject 2 7 Design and Technology (1 group) Art (1 group) Food and Nutrition (1 group) Additional Mathematics (up to 2 groups) A balanced spread of 7 subjects. Students inclined towards math and sciences can study Add Math, Bio or Physics and POA. Students interested in the Humanities may opt for Core Geography, History or Literature. Students may offer coursework subjects in place of Add Math. The number of groups offered reflects resource considerations and students’ interest in the subject based on past trends.

Combinations B & C (proposed) Subject Area Subject Combination B & C Compulsory Subjects 1 English Language 2 Mother Tongue Language 3 Mathematics 4 Chemistry 5 Social Studies + choice of electives: Geography History Literature Elective Subject 1 6 Choose 1 from: Principles of Accounts (up to 3 groups) Biology / Physics (1 group) Core Geography (1 group) Core History (1 group) Core Literature (1 group) Elective Subject 2 7 Additional Mathematics Elective Subject 3 8 Biology / Physics Non-coursework combination to prepare students for science-based pre-university courses. Students interested in the Humanities may opt for Core Geography, History or Literature. Students who wish to take up the 8th subject (either Biology or Physics) will have extended curriculum hours 2 days per week. The number of groups offered reflects resource considerations and students’ interest in the subject based on past trends.

Criteria for offering each subject To enable students to better assess their strengths. To help students select a combination that they would be able to cope with and have to potential to do well in. To help students to identify their gaps and strengthen their foundation so that they may opt for the combination they desire.

Criteria for offering each subject Criteria (Sec 2 Overall Average) 1. Biology Science ≥ 75% 2. Chemistry Science ≥ 70% 3. Physics 4. Additional Mathematics Math ≥ 70% 5. Core History History ≥ 60% 6. Core Literature English Language ≥ 65% Literature ≥ 65% 7. D&T D&T ≥ 65% 8. F&N F&N ≥ 65% 9. Art Art ≥ 65%

Criteria for offering the 8-subject combination The average of Sec 2 overall marks of English Language, Mathematics, Science and relevant Humanities subjects must be at least 65%.

Streaming Exercise 2019

Streaming Exercise 2019 Merit Choice Vacancy Allocates students to the Sec 3 subject combinations in a fair and objective way. Based on the principles of Merit, Choice and Vacancy, in that order. Merit How well the student performed academically. Overall result. Choice Student’s interests. Choice of subject combination (1st – 6th). Vacancy The number of places in each combination or subject group.

Computation of Sec 2 Overall Result Term 1 WA1 Term 2 SA1 1st Combined Result Term 3 WA2 Term 4 SA2 2nd Combined Result Overall Result 10% 25% 35% 15% 50% 65% 100%

Process Students are ranked based on their Overall Average marks in descending order i.e. the highest on top. Students’ 1st choice will be filled, from top to bottom of the ranked list, provided that they meet the criteria, until the places are all filled. The process is repeated for students’ 2nd - 6th choices. Students whose choices were not filled will be allocated a subject combination based on their Sec 2 results and remaining vacancies. Every student will be allocated a subject combination.

Procedure The streaming exercise will be conducted online. Students will be given a letter which will contain their username and password. Students will need to log on to a website to make their choice, view the outcome and make an appeal.

Timeline The streaming exercise will begin on the day of release of the overall results. This coincides with the PTC. The exercise will span over 4-5 days. The actual timeline of the exercise will be communicated to parents in Term 4.

Timeline (tentative) Date (tentative) Activity 25 – 30 October 2019 Enter choice of subject combinations online and print confirmation slip. 1 November 2019 Submit confirmation slip to General Office. 6 November 2019 Release of allocation of Sec 3 subject combination online. 7 – 9 November 2019 Submission of appeals online, if any. 15 November 2019 Release of outcome of appeal.

Important messages for students Study consistently. We are looking at the Overall results and not on the End-of-Year Examination results. Students must produce consistently good results throughout the year if they wish to get their top choice of subject combination. Streaming is based on the results achieved in Sec 2 and not on future results that they may be able to or promise to achieve if they were to work harder the following year.

Important messages for students 2. Aim to do their best. Being eligible (i.e. just meeting the criteria) does not guarantee that the student will be offered the subject. It will also depend on merit and vacancy that a particular subject may have. 3. Be responsible and mindful of deadlines. Students must submit their choices before the deadline. If they fail to do so, they will only be considered after all the other students who have submitted their choices have been allocated their subject combinations.