Sec 3 Academic Sharing on English, Mathematics, Science and CCAs & LEAPS 2 System

Academic Support

1

How would the Mathematics teachers identify and provide support in the topics that the students struggle with?

Based on the formative and summative assessments of students’ learning (e.g. readiness checks, assignments, homework, quizzes, termly weighted assessments, examinations), the Mathematics teachers will identify the concepts/topics that students struggle with and provide support by addressing them during lessons, conducting consultations and Mastery Learning Programme (MLP), commonly known as remedials, for students who require additional support.

2

How would the students who are weak in a particular subject, e.g. Mathematics, receive additional support during the Home-Based Learning days?

During Home-based Learning days, teachers will provide additional support for students who are weak in the subject by contacting them and conducting online consultations to address their learning gaps. Customised plans and tasks will be given to guide students in their revision. Upon their return to school, these students can also be given additional consultations where necessary.

3

What topics in Physics and Chemistry are considered challenging? How can I support my child in the learning of these topics?

The challenging topics in Physics are Forces and Kinematics. Some possible ways are:

• Help your child to understand how the formulae in each topic are related so that they can see the      interconnectedness.
•  Encourage your child to solve some problems showing clearly the steps and to explain the steps       to you.
•  Encourage your child to solve problems in the real world context e.g. calculating forces acting on a     parachutist dropping off a plane and the parachutist velocity and acceleration upon descent as           these would help make solving problems more interesting.

For Chemistry, Chemical Reactions can be challenging. For your child to understand this topic, you can get your child to access PhET Interactive Simulations from the University of Colorado Boulder’s website or other similar websites, which will be helpful in understanding this topic in an interactive way.

4

How can parents weave current affairs and happenings to help our child understand/appreciate Mathematics and Science? Could a list of some helpful suggestions be given? E.g. blood moon, some climate change issues etc.

Understand/appreciate Mathematics

Parents could guide their children to read and discuss the use of Mathematics in local and global issues related to everyday life, personal and household finance and interpreting, and analysing data from tables/graphs. Applications of Mathematics include the following:

• Mathematics in everyday life includes travel/excursion plans, transport schedules, sports and games, recipes, floor plans, navigation, etc.
  
• Mathematics in household finance includes interest rates, taxation, instalments, utilities bills, money exchange, etc.
  
• Mathematics in interpreting and analysing data from tables/graphs includes population trends, COVID-19 issues, etc. 

Understand/appreciate Science

This can take place in various ways:

• Science, in everyday life, can be gleaned from sources such as newspaper articles (e.g. from a regular feature in Straits Times, ‘Science’ appearing every Monday), observations in kitchen, and studying how gadgets and toys work.
• Understanding natural and man-made phenomena and how man’s actions can affect nature.
• Science in the natural world that can include bringing children to parks and zoos so as to understand habitats and interactions of flora and fauna.

5

Does the practice of past years’ examination papers help to prepare my child for the national examinations? Will the school provide the materials?

For the practice of past years' examination papers (school-based and national examinations) to be meaningful and effective for students, it is introduced in stages from Sec 3 to Sec 4 and in a timely manner taking into account the topic or skills being covered as well as students' readiness. For content-based subjects, students will attempt relevant topical questions while for skills-based subjects, students will attempt identified sections or questions of such papers. Eventually, all students will go on to attempt full exam paper practices for the different subjects, especially in their graduating year.

If any purchase of materials is needed, this will be reflected in the booklist.

CCAs and LEAPS 2.0 System

6

In view of the COVID-19 situation, there are fewer platforms for students to participate in community service and/or national events. How does the school then determine the level of attainment for CCAs?

Schools will continue to recognise students for their involvement in Values-In-Action (VIA) projects. Adjustments have been made to ensure that meaningful VIA activities and projects could still be carried out at class level, adhering to SMM guidelines. This includes using technology to connect our students with the beneficiaries, where feasible and meaningful. Thus, opportunities for students to contribute to the community through service-learning were not compromised.

The suspension or reconfiguration of competitions, events and activities, such as National School Games and Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation, have impacted students’ CCA experience and opportunities. MOE has put in place mitigating guidelines for schools to ensure that students are not unduly penalised in the level of attainment, in particular the Achievement domain. Students who would have been selected to represent school across all competitions or performances will be recognised and able to record their involvement under ‘Represented School at Local Event under Special Provision’.

Admission Criteria for Post-Secondary Education Institutions

7

What is the admission criteria for the Institute of Technical Education, Junior Colleges, Millennia Institute and Polytechnics?

Students can pursue different educational pathways after completing their GCE O-level or N-level examinations.

For students taking the O-level examinations, they have the options to join the Junior Colleges, Millennia Institute, Arts Institutions, Polytechnics or the Institute of Technical Education. For the general admission criteria to the respective institutions, please refer to https://serangoonsec.moe.edu.sg/parents-n-students/post-secondary-educational-pathways/for-gce-o-level-students.

For students taking the N-level examinations, they have the options to further their studies in Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), Polytechnics, the Institute of Technical Education or continue in secondary five. For the general admission criteria, please refer to https://serangoonsec.moe.edu.sg/parents-n-students/post-secondary-educational-pathways/for-gce-n-level-students