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The surprising utility of attempting drill or repetitive questions when learning Mathematics

January 18, 2023 by Maths Statistics Science Tutor

From the Editor’s Desk
18th Jan 2023

When studying Mathematics, it is not enough to do practice questions from the textbook or understand the concepts in theory. It is imperative that a student drills with past questions before their examinations, as this will help them identify the pattern which is prevalent in these questions to score well for the subject.

Students should perform these practice exam papers and time themselves so that they are sure that they can finish answering the questions in time. It is important that students simulate the actual examination as much as possible, as they will be used to exam conditions. Students who are more used to examination conditions will be less likely to panic when they sit for their actual exams.

Alternatively, if students want to revise a particular topic, they could obtain a book which sorts the past examination questions by topic. If a student is weak in a certain topic, they should focus on revising that topic and understanding the relevant concepts for the topic. For example, if the student needs help with translating graphs, they could do all the past year questions for the topic and check with their teacher or tutor if they are unsure about their work.

Aside from doing the questions as practice, students should mark the questions according to the answer scheme. It is not enough to merely do the questions; students must find out why the answers they have given are right or wrong. Students must take the initiative to find out the reason for their mistakes and how they can improve themselves. At times, the mistakes made by students are due to their carelessness, and at other times, the mistakes made are due to the student’s lack of understanding. By knowing the cause of the mistake, students will be able to improve themselves.

Singapore University of Social Sciences launches new common core curriculum to better prepare graduates for working life

December 23, 2022 by Maths Statistics Science Tutor

23rd December 2022

The Singapore University of Social Sciences has revamped its curriculum to better prepare students for the evolving world of work and give them more flexibility in their studies.

A new set of 12 common modules has been introduced. These modules, which cover topics like interdisciplinary processes, learning skills, digital and data literacy, creativity and wellness, are similar to other common courses that educational institutions like the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University have introduced in recent years.

Under the new common curriculum, full-time undergraduates will also take part in compulsory community engagement and overseas attachments, which were already in place previously. Part-time students not on the honours track will be required to take four core modules while those on the honours track will take six such modules.

What is the difference between IB and A Levels?

December 23, 2022 by Maths Statistics Science Tutor

From the Editorial Team
23rd December 2022

When deciding on a Junior College, students and their parents alike must contemplate the difference between A Levels and the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculums. This article will hopefully shed some light on the key components of the IB curriculum which are not present in A Levels, so parents can make a meaningful comparison.

In the IB curriculum, students can take subjects at either Higher Level (HL) or Standard Level (SL). In Singapore schools which offer the IB diploma, students typically take 3 HL and 3 SL subjects, so as to not overburden them.

The maximum number of points obtained for each subject is 7 points. Students taking 6 subjects will be able to obtain 42 points from their subjects, with another 3 points obtained from the combination of the grades attained for Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay. The highest amount of points obtained is 45, which is considered a perfect score.

There is a greater emphasis on independent research and assignment writing, along with preparing for the major exams at the end of 2 years spent studying the content. Students will undertake their various assignments and essays, all the while studying for the exams, which allows them to have a more holistic perspective of education.

Below are 4 components of the IB diploma which students must consider before choosing to undertake it:

Individual Assessments for Higher and Standard Level Subjects

Both HL and SL subjects have Individual Assessments (IAs) which comprise at least 20% of the subject grade. These Individual Assessments can be externally or internally assessed by the school itself. For example, the Mathematics subject for both HL and SL has a Math Exploration IA where students must choose a topic of interest and write about it, demonstrating how their thesis statement has been proven.

Compulsory Theory of Knowledge Component

The Theory of Knowledge (TOK) component is a quasi-philosophy subject which deals with epistemology. In short, it is about how we think about the way we think. There are 2 graded aspects of this subject which count towards the final IB score – a presentation and a 1600-word essay. The presentation can either be done individually or in pairs, and the essay must be written individually. Students will be allowed to choose their own “Knowledge Question” for their presentation. Every year, the questions are released for the essay and students may choose from the options available.

Extended Essay

The Extended Essay is a 4000-word essay written by the student independently with the guidance of an Extended Essay mentor. This essay must be from one of the student’s Higher Level subjects and it must be independently researched. For example, if the student’s chosen subject is Biology, he/she must undertake the relevant experimentation on his own, designing his methodology. There will be opportunities for the student to check in with the Extended Essay mentor and submit reflections about the process so that the student knows he is going on the right track.

Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS)

Although the CAS component is not graded, it is compulsory for students to submit a portfolio of the other activities they have undertaken during the IB diploma, showing that they have taken part in a holistic educational experience. Co-curricular Activities (CCA) can be included in this portfolio. Creativity is fulfilled by undertaking artistic endeavours such as dancing, music, art, or photography; Activity is fulfilled by taking part in sporting events, and Service is fulfilled by performing community service for others.

To conclude, students must decide for themselves whether they are willing to undertake these additional components instead of devoting their full time and energy to prepare for a major exam at the end of two years. Students more suited for the IB diploma are creative, unafraid to think outside the box, and good at time management.

Three important skills for all students of all levels

December 21, 2022 by Maths Statistics Science Tutor

From the Editorial Team
18th Jan 2023

In the Singaporean education system, there is a high emphasis on academic excellence. However, in the real world, there are more factors than mere academic prowess which a student requires to succeed.

Clear Communication

The ability to write concisely is important to communicate messages to others. Often, learning how to write proper emails and reports is something that students are not taught in schools. The techniques used to write essays will not always be relevant in preparing documents in the working world. Students should learn the appropriate language, cadence, and tone to use when preparing documents and presentations during their employment.

Critical Thinking

The Singaporean education system often does not train students to question things, emphasising rote memorisation and a systematic application of taught concepts to answer difficult problems. Often, the student who will do best is one with a large memory and the ability to perform complex tasks according to specific directions.

However, students should learn how to question information and reason whether they are true or not. There is a lot of false information swirling around in the media and the truth is not often straightforward. It would be unwise to blindly accept everything a figure of authority says and critical thinking would serve a student well in navigating complex areas of life.

Constructive Collaboration

There is a marked difference between school and real life in group projects. In school, there is sometimes the option of selecting who to work with. However, we are unable to choose the people we work with and the people we answer to when we are employed. An important skill is therefore constructive collaboration.

Students should seek to develop a tolerance for others and a task-focused approach. An awareness of team dynamics and strengths and weaknesses of others is important in working in any organisation or team. Students should be aware that everyone can contribute something in a team, albeit in different ways. Not everyone has the same views and skills, but they are still able to contribute something to achieving a common goal.

National University of Singapore to have self-funded Master’s degree courses, and increase usage of blended learning

December 17, 2022 by Maths Statistics Science Tutor

17th December 2022

Some master’s degrees at the National University of Singapore will be fully self-funded. This means that they will no longer qualify for government subsidies of any kind. Thus for these courses, the university will charge tuition fees comparable to those billed by overseas institutions.

In response to queries, an NUS spokesman said: “The majority of master’s degree (coursework) programmes at NUS are currently on a self-funded model. The move towards a self-funded model began in 2020, and will be completed by 2024.”

In the next three years, NUS will also be converting face-to-face lectures for large courses with 100 or more students into online lectures. An NUS spokesman said that the university’s process of rolling out blended learning started in 2021 for undergraduate teaching, with the aim of improving learning outcomes for students.

As part of this exercise, which will involve about 800 courses, students will watch online videos that could be 15 minutes long, interspersed with online assessments. Physical tutorials will remain in groups of not more than 25 students.

National University of Singapore places 19th in the Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings

December 3, 2022 by Maths Statistics Science Tutor

3rd December 2022

The National University of Singapore has taken the 19th spot in the Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings.

The World Reputation Rankings compiled by the Britain-based higher education consultancy ranks the world’s top 200 universities judged by academics to have the best reputation for research and teaching.

A total of 211 universities from 32 countries were included in the list. Nanyang Technological University was ranked 40th.

The 2022 rankings are based on an academic opinion survey carried out between November 2021 and February 2022 in 12 languages.

Singapore workers can benefit from a new lifelong learning system

November 14, 2022 by Maths Statistics Science Tutor

14th November 2022

Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who is also Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, has said that Singapore workers can benefit from a new lifelong learning system designed to ensure progress for everyone.

He placed special emphasis of three groups of workers, including blue-collar and non-professional white-collar workers, mid-career workers, and those working in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

In outlining his vision of the system, Mr Tharman identified three key planks for the framework. First, it needs to pull together and even anticipate the demand for skills across the whole economy. The system must also recognise and serve the differing motivations of individuals and companies Second, the new system must avoid fragmentation, in that the system must find a way to aggregate or bring together these platforms and the information on them. Third, the new system must evolve to embrace a wider view of credentials or qualifications,

Number of primary school pupils applying to secondary schools through direct admissions has been rising

November 14, 2022 by Maths Statistics Science Tutor

14th November 2022

According to the Ministry of Education, the number of primary school pupils applying to secondary schools through direct admissions has been rising.

Mrs Tan, who is also a deputy director-general at MOE, said that this is a result of encouraging schools to offer direct school admissions across the education landscape.

Direct School Admission is a programme that allows primary school pupils to apply to secondary schools before the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) on the merit of their unique abilities in areas such as sports and creative writing, as well as academic subjects like science and the humanities.

At a webinar aimed at explaining to parents the new PSLE scoring system, which came into effect in 2021, various school principals discussed school choices and took questions on topics such as how to tell if a child is suitable for the Integrated Programme, a six-year through-train programme some schools offer where students skip the O-level exams.

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I am a private tutor specializing in Mathematics tuition and Statistics tuition for Junior College and Undergraduate levels.  
 
I also tutor Physics and Chemistry for Junior College and Secondary School levels.
 
 
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This site was last updated: 18th January 2023

 
 

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