Personal Tuition Blog | Singapore Maths Tuition

Seven Important Traits of Highly Effective Tutors

October 31, 2020 by Maths Statistics Science Tutor

(1) Intelligent

The most successful tutors have an excellent command of the subject matter, which allows them to very rapidly integrate and synthesize skills and techniques from various topics and apply them flawlessly to any question.

(2) Nurturant

The best tutors always establish good rapport with tutees and are able to empathize with their tutees’ struggles in tackling challenging problems or in having to manage a large volume of classroom work.

(3) Socratic

The good tutors do not simply give out the solution to math problems, but also engage their students with continual prompting and probing, trying to elicit from the student possible approaches to the given problem.

(4) Progressive

The best math tutors are able to quickly assess their student’s level of understanding at the start and are able to structure the lessons in a way that leads the student from simpler problems to more challenging questions in a progressive manner.

(5) Indirect

The best tutors never criticize tutees directly or overtly, but instead draw attention to mathematical errors by implication and questioning, so that the tutees themselves are led to rethink their approach to the problem or recognize the flaws in their own working.

(6) Reflective

Effective tutors often ask students to describe or articulate what they are doing, what formulas they are trying to use, or what method they are employing.

(7) Encouraging

Effective tutors regularly motivate and encourage their tutees by creating an inquisitive atmosphere, piquing their curiosity with mathematical problems relevant to their daily lives, and providing frequent, positive feedback.

Singapore’s students top global rankings in OECD’s Global Competence test

October 26, 2020 by Maths Statistics Science Tutor

26 October 2020

In a test conducted as part of the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) which measured the ability of students to understand and act on intercultural and global issues, Singapore’s 15-year-olds were ranked the highest globally.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which conducted the Global Competence test in 2018, revealed that Singapore students scored an average of 576 marks, followed by their peers from Canada who on average scored 554.

About 46 per cent of the Singapore students who took the test achieved the highest global competency proficiency levels – four and five. To achieve proficiency levels four and five, Singapore students had to demonstrate a strong ability to identify and analyse different perspectives, evaluate information to differentiate between biased and unbiased sources, assess situations and make connections across multiple activities within a problem.

Ministry of Education deputy director-general of education (curriculum) Sng Chern Wei, said schools and the ministry were heartened by the results of the global competency test. Mr Sng added that the MOE will continue to focus on these areas outside of the academics.

Separately, the Pisa results on maths, science and reading competency were released in December last year by OECD, with Singapore coming in second place after China.

Why you might want to choose to take additional mathematics at ‘O’ levels

October 21, 2020 by Maths Statistics Science Tutor

Here are some reasons why you might want to choose to take additional mathematics at ‘O’ levels:

(i) A pass in additional mathematics is a prerequisite for studying H2 math or H2 further math at JC. If you are keen on pursuing higher education in medicine, science, or engineering, then it is highly advisable to take additional mathematics as most institutes of higher learning, including universities such NUS or NTU, always list a pass in H2 math as one of the entry criteria to these courses. You would therefore need to take additional mathematics at ‘O’ level in order to qualify for H2 math at JC, so that you can later do go for those courses in your post-secondary or post-JC education.

(ii) Knowledge and skills gained in additional mathematics would be of great help to you in tackling ‘O’ level Mathematics (Syllabus 4048). In additional mathematics, you are exposed to harder problems and acquire a deeper skill set that is highly transferable to ‘O’ level Mathematics.

Do not be daunted simply because additional mathematics sounds like it will be a lot harder than ‘O’ level Mathematics. You have two years to train yourself in the subject and in the hands of good teachers and math tutors, there is no reason why you won’t do well.

Ministry of Education will be conducting its annual principal reshuffle

October 21, 2020 by Maths Statistics Science Tutor

21 October 2020

The Ministry of Education will be conducting its annual principal reshuffle.

43 schools in Singapore will be getting new principals next year, including nine from the Ministry of Education (MOE) headquarters.

Among the officers from MOE headquarters making the move is Mr Tham Kine Thong, the director of MOE’s school operations policy in its schools division. He will be heading St Andrew’s Junior College.

Madam Yvonne Teo, deputy director of assessment policy and practice in MOE’s curriculum policy office, will move on to lead Bedok View Secondary School.

In its release, the MOE said: “For the 20 current principals and headquarter officers who will be assuming new principalship appointments, it is an affirmation of MOE’s confidence in their abilities to continue leading and guiding our teachers, staff and students in schools.”

The 43 new principals will receive their letters of appointment from MOE director-general of education Wong Siew Hoong at a ceremony in December.

Strides made by National University of Singapore in embracing multidisciplinary learning

October 15, 2020 by Maths Statistics Science Tutor

15 October 2020

The National University of Singapore plans to merge its Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and Faculty of Science to form a new College of Humanities and Sciences.

Students enrolled in the new college will take modules in different disciplines across the humanities, social sciences, science and mathematics. They will be provided with greater flexibility in taking up modules offered by both faculties.

Separately, NUS will offer 10 cross-disciplinary degree programmes from August next year to leverage synergies between complementary disciplines. Some possible pairings of complementary disciplines include economics and data science, computing and project management, as well as engineering and business.

To graduate, a student will need to complete 160 modular credits, the same requirement as that for a four-year Bachelor with Honours degree programme. This comprises 40 credits covering the fundamentals for each of the two majors, 20 credits on integrative projects involving both majors, 20 credits on general education, and 40 credits on unrestricted electives in any discipline.

Currently valued skill sets will not be sufficient to see Singaporeans through the coming years

October 9, 2020 by Maths Statistics Science Tutor

09 October 2020

Economic Development Board managing director Chng Kai Fong has said that currently valued skill sets will not be sufficient to see Singaporeans through the coming years.

Digital and technical skills will not be enough. In addition, Singaporeans need to pay attention to opportunities outside the country.

Mr Chng said that soft skills – the ability to tell a story, to have empathy, and create connections with others – will help people to stand out and differentiate themselves. He also said that it will be important to disabuse people, including the future generation, of the notion that “Singapore is enough”.

There are opportunities around the world and in Asia, which is growing, he noted, and Singaporeans will have to make sure they stay relevant.

Mr Chng said that many people here also pride themselves on long-term planning. However, the ability to react and plan in the short term will be very important. He encouraged students to pursue their “obsessions and side hustles”, which will help them to build confidence and find meaning.

National University of Singapore to establish a new College of Humanities and Sciences

October 7, 2020 by Maths Statistics Science Tutor

07 October 2020

The National University of Singapore has announced preliminary plans to set up a new college for students admitted to the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Science.

Students admitted to the proposed new College of Humanities and Sciences would belong to both faculties and could take up any major and minor programmes offered in the two faculties.

They will have to enrol in 13 modules of common curriculum classes in the initial semesters, making up a third of their four-year education. These include new modules in artificial intelligence, design thinking as well as interdisciplinary modules on integrated social sciences and scientific inquiry to be developed by the college.

The university plans to admit its first cohort of 2,500 students into the college by as early as the next academic year. These students will be able to choose from a four-year honours degree programme in either the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Social Sciences or Bachelor of Science.

It is hoped that over time, the curriculum offered by NUS will become more broad-based and flexible, allowing students to take up classes from different disciplines.

Singapore’s universities embrace multidisciplinary curricula

October 7, 2020 by Maths Statistics Science Tutor

07 October 2020

Singapore’s universities are gradually developing curricula that are multidisciplinary in nature, in order to offer undergraduates a broad-based education.

For example, in spite of its focus on technology, Singapore University of Technology and Design requires students to take courses in the humanities and social sciences.

Nanyang Technological University, on the other hand, offers courses that allow students to combine subjects from different specialised fields, such as engineering and business.

The National University of Singapore has also developed plans to bring together its Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and Faculty of Science to form a College of Humanities and Sciences. If these plans are approved by the authorities, the college could begin accepting students next August, for the next academic year.

Recruitment experts said having both specialised and soft skills is necessary in today’s job market. They added that an interdisciplinary education can help graduates be more flexible and open-minded as they solve real-world problems.