1. A race to your desired future: Pacing
yourself to peak performance
20.03.2012

2. What kind of future
do I want for
myself?
Am I ready for it?
How do I work
towards it?
The GCE O/N-Level Examinations 2012
- A life-changing event for you?

3. Our brand of education

4. The exams are an
investment for the future
Exam fees for Singapore citizens
Basic fee $52
Fees for each written subject $30 - $51
Fees for coursework subject
(e.g. D&T, Art, F & N)
$48 - $53
$300 - $400
Estimated total ($425 for triple Science
students)
The actual fees may vary as these are only estimates

5. Your aspirations
JC Poly ITE Others
(%) (%) (%) (%)
4 Exp 20.7 76.6 0 2.7
4 N(A) 5.3 85.3 4.0 5.3
4 N(T) 0.0 10.0 85.0 5.0
5 N(A) 3.4 94.9 0.0 1.7

6. The post-secondary
education landscape
University Degree
Junior College (2 yrs) or Polytechnic Institute of Technical
Centralised Institute (3 yrs) Education (1 - 2 yrs)
(3 yrs) GCE A-Levels Diploma Nitec/Higher Nitec
(DSA) (DPA)
GCE O-Level Examination
Sec 5N
GCE N-Level Examination
Special/Express Normal (Academic) / Normal (Technical)
Course (Sec 1 – 4) Course (Sec 1 – 4)

7. Flexibility for N(A) students
New pathways to
polytechnic

8. 10 weeks
1 year

9. ITE Direct Entry to Higher Nitec
A high % of graduates obtained employment within 3 months
from graduation or completion of full-time NS, with mean salary
of $1,400 (ITE 2009 Graduate Employment Survey)
Higher Nitec Course Employment Mean Gross
Rate Salary
Biotechnology 81% $1,490
Paramedic & Emergency Care 94% $1,870
Business Studies (Sport Managemt) 100% $1,510
Electronics Engineering 89% $1,500
Information Technology 89% $1,430
Electrical Engineering 91% $1,460
Mechanical Engineering 87% $1,480

10. Employment Prospects:
Poly graduates
Graduate Employment Survey 2010 (http://www.tp.edu.sg/ges10.pdf )
2010 Poly Graduate Fresh Post-NS
Employment Survey Graduates Graduates
Results Basic* Gross+ Basic* Gross+
Accountancy, Business,
$1,714 $1,821 $2,056 $2,362
Finance & Law
Maritime $1,808 $1,996 $2,043 $2,305
Chemical & Life Sciences $1,750 $1,840 $2,037 $2,221
Information Technology $1,729 $1,810 $2,013 $2,190
Built Environment $1,737 $1,833 $2,063 $2,163
Media & Design $1,689 $1,731 $2,029 $2,138
Engineering (Electrical &
$1,778 $1,918 $1,992 $2,134
Electronic)
Engineering (Mechanical &
$1,809 $1,971 $2,011 $2,105
Manufacturing)
Health Sciences $1,812 $1,935 $1,973 $2,043
Average $1,759 $1,871 $2,016 $2,183

11. Employment Prospects:
University graduates
Extracts from Graduate Employment Survey 2010
(http://www.salary.sg/2011/graduate-employment-survey-2010-published-2011/)
• NUS Laws – 100.0% ($5,000)
• NUS Medicine and Surgery – 100.0% ($3,700)
• NUS Computer Science – 92.9% ($3,000)
• NTU Mechanical Engineering – 88.6% ($3,000) Engineering:
• NTU Bioengineering – 80.0% ($3,000) ~ $3,000
• NTU Electrical & Electronic Engineering – 84.7% ($3,000)
• NTU Environmental Engineering – 76.4% ($3,000)
• NTU Biomedical Sciences – 100.0% ($2,800)
• NTU Communication Studies – 81.7% ($2,750)
• SMU Social Sciences (4-yr programme) – 90.5% ($2,675)
• SMU Accountancy (4-yr programme) – 97.9% ($2,650)
• NUS Business Administration (3-yr programme) – 80.9% ($2,650)
• NTU Art, Design & Media – 60.4% ($2,600)
• NUS Arts – 73.7% ($2,550) Arts, Business, Social
• NUS Science – 71.4% ($2,500) Science: ~ $2,600

12. Entering a JC/MI
Entry criteria:
L1-R5 (JC) L1-R4 (MI)
First 5 Relevant 4 Relevant
Language subjects subjects
EL/MTL 3 subjects: 2 subjects:
Humanities/ Humanities/
Mathematics/ Mathematics/
Science Science
2 other subjects 2 other subjects
(except CCA) (except CCA)

13. Entering a JC/MI
2011 Cut-off Points for some JCs
JC Arts Science
Anderson 10 8
Innova 20 20
Jurong 14 15
Pioneer 16 16
 Average subject grade: A2 to B3

14. Entering a polytechnic
Entry criteria:
EL-R2-B2
English Group 1 of relevant Group 2
Language subjects (R1) (R2)
Compulsory Humanities / Media (A): (A) & (B): Art,
2 Best Art, Combined D&T, F&N,
Humanities Maths, CH,
subjects Business/ Science / POA
2 other Engineering courses (B/C/D):
subjects (C) & (D): D&T,
E Maths or A Maths Science, F&N
(except CCA)

16. Entering a polytechnic
• 2011 Cut-off Points for some courses
– NP: Biomedical Science – 9
– NP: Accountancy – 11
– NP: Aerospace Technology – 12
– NP: Child Psychology & Early Childhood – 11
– SP: Biotechnology – 10
– SP: Business Admin – 12
– SP: Media & Communication – 12
• Average subject grade: A2 to B3

17. Entering Higher Nitec (ITE)
Entry criteria:
EL-B4 or EL-R1-B3 or EL-R2-B2
EL R1 R2
Compulsory E Maths, A R1: E Maths or A Maths
Maths or POA R2: Science or D&T
B4 B3 B2
Any subject Any subject Any subject (except CCA)
(except CCA) (except CCA)

18. Progressing to 5N(A)
Entry criteria:
EL-Maths-B3
EL Best 3 subjects
Compulsory
Any N-level subject
Maths
(CCA excluded)
Compulsory
Same criteria for Higher Nitec Direct Entry
Scheme

19. ITE Direct Entry to
Higher Nitec
 Higher Nitec Cut-off Points 2010 (N-level EMB3)
– Hospitality: 14
– Leisure/Travel: 15
– Business Studies: 15
– Mechatronics/ IT: 18
– Electrical Engineering: 19

20. N(A) Entry to Nitec
• Criteria: 3 N-level passes, including EL and Maths
• Cut-off points 2010
– Aerospace: 4
– Baking/Food Studies: 6 – 7
– Fitness/Service: 9
– Digital animation: 10
– ICT: 12

21. Current performance
Class Strongest subjects Subjects for improvement
(EL, Maths, Science, CH: core subjects)
4A MTL, Maths EL, CH, Phy, Bio
4B ML/TL, Maths, D&T EL, CL, CH, A Maths, Bio
4C MTL EL, CH, Maths, Science, POA
4D MTL, Art EL, CH, Maths, Science, POA
4E MTL, D&T, F&N EL, CH, Maths, Science
4F MTL, POA EL, Maths, A Maths, Art
4G MTL, D&T, F&N EL, Maths, Science
4H BMTL, CPA, D&T, EL, Maths, Science
EBS
5A ML, TL, Science EL, CL, Maths, CH, POA
5B MTL, POA, D&T, F&N EL, Maths, CH, Science

22. Time is running out
Term 1 & 2
Term 3 Sep hols: N-level
Lessons Intensive
Motivation& June holidays Term 4
Revision
Study Skills O-level MTL 4E/5N Prelim
workshops O/N-level Oral Exams cont’d
Exams
/ Listening
Common & Class Complete Compre Intensive Coaching
Tests Art/D&T/ F&N
Evening Evening Revision
Evening Coursework
Revision Prog O/N-level Practical
Revision Prog
Prelim Exams & Written Exams
Mid-year Exams
At most 7 months to complete syllabus!

23. How you can plan your way
to your desired future
• Answer these questions
– Where would you like to go after secondary
school? (JC/MI/Poly/ITE, which course)
•Check out poly websites or MOE website
(http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/admissions/jae/)
– What you need to get there? (entry criteria)
•Tip: EL & Maths are critical!
– What to work on this year?
•Tip: Clear MTL by June (4E5N)
•Tip: Excel in Art/D&T/F&N by working on coursework
component early and consistently

24. How you can plan your way
to your desired future
• For (NA) students, make the right choice between
Sec 5N and Higher Nitec:
– Identify your strong and weak subjects,
especially EL, mathematics, science, humanities
– Determine your preferred learning style that
helps you excel: Hands-on vs exam-oriented
– Chart your preferred educational & career path:
university vs polytechnic

25. Special support for
Sec 4 & 5 students
• New timetable structure
• Motivation & study skills workshops (Jan)
• Academic Support Programme (ASP)
– Afternoon Remedial (term time)
– Evening Self-Study (prior to exams)
– Mar, June & Sep extended programme

26. Ideal performance trend
% Passes Mean Subject Grade (MSG)
Sec 3 SA2 Mid-year exams
O/N-level
exams
Prelim exams
O/N-level exams
Prelim
exams
Mid-year
Sec 3 exams
SA2

27. Your habits
• For students working part-time, approach
the General Office for financial assistance
• Develop good sleeping habits and get at
least 6 hours of sleep
• Cultivate study habits to revise your work
regularly and consistently to avoid last-
minute preparation

28. How to work your way to
your desired future
• Pay attention to the 3As
– Attendance: Be present and punctual
– Attention: Get enough sleep & nutrition so that he/she
can focus on learning
– Attitude: Foster habits of self-discipline and consistent
work, e.g. completing homework, constant practice
Name PSLE JAE L1R4 Attendance
Student A 169 7 189
Student B 135 10 189
Student C 174 34 180
Student D 181 33 174

29. TWSS: Empowering Lives, Transforming our Future

30. We can make a difference!
TWSS: Empowering Lives, Transforming our Future

31. Syasya Rifqah
The New Paper School Sports Star 2011 Award Winner
Character-building at Teck “It is the little things and
Whye Secondary School
Simple and basic habits like
habits of punctuality, paying
being punctual, paying attention and being
attention in lessons, revising respectful that matters when
my work, respecting teachers it comes to being successful.”
and following their advice
made all the difference to me.

32. Syasya Rifqah
The New Paper School Sports Star 2011 Award Winner
On giving back and helping her juniors
I return to Teck Whye
Secondary every Friday, when I
can, to train with my juniors. I
want to share with them my
experiences and in the process,
pass on the values and skills to
help them succeed as well.
Her advice to her juniors:
“Whatever your background and circumstances, do not give in
to negativity. Believe in yourself and work towards your dream.
There is no short-cut to success; hard work and perseverance
are critical. Failure is only temporary, but if you give up and do
nothing, then failure becomes permanent.”

33. A race to your desired future: Pacing
yourself to peak performance
20.03.2012