1

Welcome to

Sec 1 Parents’ day 2019

Sec 1 ExpressSec 1 Normal

Academic

Sec 1 Normal

Technical

Are you at the correct venue?

Academic Talks @ 10 am

Objectives of Academic Talks

Overview of the curriculum structure in

secondary school

Introduction to the new subjects and their

assessment modes

Strategies on how you can help your son

to excel in the new subjects

Mother Tongue Languages in secondary

school

Curriculum Structure in Secondary School

Primary School Secondary School

English English

Mother Tongue Mother Tongue

Mathematics Mathematics

Science Science – Physics, Chemistry, Biology

Geography

History

Literature

Food and Consumer Education (FCE)

Design and Technology (D&T)

Visual Arts

Every subject count towards the overall percentage!

Curriculum Structure in Secondary School

Sec 1 (Sem 1) Sec 1 (Sem 2) Sec 2 (Sem 1) Sec 2 (Sem 2)

English English English English

Mother

Tongue

Mother

Tongue

Mother

Tongue

Mother

Tongue

Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics

Science Science Science Science

Geography Geography Geography Geography

Literature Literature Literature Literature

History History History History

D&T FCE FCE D&T

Visual Arts Visual Arts Visual Arts Visual Arts

Academic Talks

History

Geography

Literature

Food & Consumer Ed

Design & Technology

Visual Arts

Mother Tongue Policy

History

Mrs Geraldine Koh

• Inquiry-based Approach to learning of

the Humanities

– student centred pedagogy via

Historical Inquiry and Geographical

Inquiry

– to increase intellectual engagement

and foster deeper understanding

– opportunity to appreciate real-world

application of knowledge and skills

Pedagogy for Humanities

What is it about?

• Sec 1 and 2 History of Singapore: The

Making of a Nation-State, 1300 - 1975

– Tracing Singapore’s Origins (pre-1819)

– Life in Colonial Singapore 1819-1942

– Towards Independence, 1942-1965

– Singapore’s First Decade, 1965-1975

What is the assessment mode?

• Assessment format for Sec 1 History

Assessment Weightage Duration

Weighted

Assessment

(WA)

Common Test 1 10% WA 1

HI (Historical Investigation) 15%WA 2 (During and

Outside Class Time)

Common Test 2 15% WA 3

Semestral

Assessment

(SA) / End of

Year Exam

Fill-in-the blanks (FIB)

60% 1H 30M

Short Answer Questions (SAQ)

Source Based Questions

(SBQ)

Structured Essay Question

(SEQ)

What is done to help your son?

o more in-depth coverage of familiar themes

found in primary school Social Studies as

Singapore History is taught over 2 years

o the syllabus is arranged into a meta-

narrative so that students can make better

sense of what they are learning

Geography

Mr Ng Eu Khim

• Geography Secondary 1 Syllabus – Theme I: Tropical Rainforest

– Theme II: Water Supply

– Theme III: Energy Resources

• Geography Secondary 2 Syllabus– Theme IV: Housing

– Theme V: Transport

– Theme VI: Floods

What is it about?

What is the assessment mode?

• Assessment format for Sec 1 Geography

Assessment Weightage Duration

Weighted

Assessment

(WA)

Common Test 1 10% WA 1

GI (Geographical

Investigation)15%

WA 2 (During and

Outside Class Time)

Common Test 2 15% WA 3

Semestral

Assessment

(SA) / End of

Year Exam

Map Reading

60% 1H 30M

Skill-Based Questions

Short Answer Questions

Structured Essay Question

o Linking Social Studies with Geography

through various news articles

o Authentic learning experiences through

Geographical Investigations

o Placing Geography in the real world context

What is done to help your son?

Literature

Ms Bernice Xu

Students develop:

- a respect for the importance of reading widely and

deeply;

- an ability to appreciate subtle nuances within key

elements of texts, and their purpose;

- sensitive and informed responses to texts that widen

their worldview and foster positive values.

Key Elements

1. Annotation of texts

2. Literary Devices

(e.g. tone, word choice)

3. Essay Writing

Sem 1:

POETRY

Sem 2:

PROSE

What is it about?

• Strategy: an awareness of literary devices /

essay skills taught in class- encourage your son to pay attention +

complete regularly assigned homework

• Knowledge and understanding of the text

- read with your son, discuss mutual ideas and

feelings! You can help him with his work.

• An open mind & willingness to contribute

- encourage your son to ask questions and share his ideas: Literature is about discussion!

How can I support his learning?

Students’ learning will be consolidated,

showcased and assessed via a variety of modes, mainly:

oCreative task (Individual) - parents can help!

oProject work (Collaborative)

oWeighted Assessment 1: 10%

oWeighted Assessment 2: 15%

oWeighted Assessment 3: 15%

oYear End Exam: 60%

How will he be assessed?

Mini-essay

Questions (structuring

responses into

coherent

paragraphs: format taught in class)

Aesthetics &

Design

Visual Arts, D&T, FCE

Mrs Malini Raja

Visual Arts

The visual arts curriculum aims to cultivate an

appreciation of art and design. It also aims to

train every child to become visually literate,

discerning and sensible to images in his daily

life.

What is it about?

The following are the content knowledge and skills that your child will acquire:

• Colour Theory

• Elements of Art

• Principles of Design

• Tones and blending with pencil and colour pencil

• Acrylic painting and blending

• Basic Photography

• Study of Visual Arts (SOVA)

What is it about?

CA and SA marks are based on:

• Weekly Assignments

• Projects and exams

Assessment

• Ensure that your son is able

to draw and paint (and

clean up!) independently.

• Help him understand that

Art requires effective effort.

It is not based on talent

alone!

• Encourage him to show you

his art work and praise him

for his effort.

What can you do to help your son?

Design &

Technology

(Semester 1)

Design & Technology

D&T trains students to think and act creatively through

designing and making functional products.

Students are taught the following skills:

• Sketching and drawing skills

• Practical skills related to working with plastics, wood

and metals

• Modelling and mock-up skills

• Concepts and applications of mechanisms,

structures and electronics

What is it about?

CA and SA marks are largely project-based assignments

Design & TechnologyAssessment

• Find opportunities to do hands-on activities together

to train his visualisation skills (e.g. Assemble furniture,

create models)

• Ensure that he brings all the relevant materials to

class according to the odd/even week timetable

(D&T File and Apron for practical) in Sem 1

What can you do to help your son?

Food and

Consumer

Education

(Semester 2)

FCE aims to enrich students’ experience in

equipping them with the basic skills for

independent living through the principles of

nutrition, food management and consumer

education.

What is it about?

The following are the knowledge and skills that students will acquire through this subject:

o Preparing healthy meals for people of all ages

o Knowledge about diet and health

o Consumer Education

o Food safety

o Kitchen maintenance

o Basic Money Management

What is it about?

CA and SA marks are based on

- Cooking practical assessments

- Group Project

- Apron Designing

Assessment

• Stress the importance of healthy eating

habits

• Highlight the importance of safe food

handling

• Allow him to practise cooking at home

• Ensure that he brings all the relevant

materials to class according to the

odd/even week timetable (Textbook,

Workbook, Apron for practical) in Sem 2

What can you do to help your son?

Mother Tongue

Language Policies

Mr Terrence Ong

HOD / MTL

Who can qualify?• Ranked 10% in PSLE

• Top 11% - 30% with A* in MTL or Merit

in HMTL

• Students who qualify are given a Letter

of Offer by MOE

How to apply?• Submit Letter of Offer by MOE to GO

• Students not offered may take an internal

diagnostic test (HCL & HTL only) in Term

3, with basis on Mid-Year results and

teacher’s recommendation

Higher MTL

Higher MTL

Things to note• Students seeking admission to JC/MI

courses and with grades of A1 to C6 in

both English and Higher Mother

Tongue will enjoy 2 bonus points. This is

provided that these choices come before

any Poly/ITE Choices

• E8 HMTL = D7 MTL (minimum

requirement for JC/MI admission)

• Students will sit for GCE ‘O’ level MTL at

Sec 3 in Nov

MTLB Syllabus Who can apply?• PSLE C grade and below (for Sec 1

students)

• Students with learning disabilities

(dyslexia, ADHD, autism, etc)

How to apply?• Term 1 & 3, by end of Week 2

• Students to get the application forms from

GO

• Students hand in completed forms to

respective MTL teachers

• MOE/School will consider on a case by

case basis

MTLB Syllabus

Things to note• JC/MI admission requires a pass grade for

MTLB

• MTLB is an O level subject but cannot be

used in L1R5 / L1R4 calculations

Other considerations?• Foundation CL in primary school

• Student’s aptitude & past grades

• Teachers’ recommendation

Asian Lang / Foreign Lang

in-lieu of MTLWho can apply?• AL: Arabic / Burmese / Thai

• FL: French / German / Japanese

• Not a 3rd Language

• Based on student’s parentage and

nationality

• Students from overseas with formal

learning in AL/FL overseas

• A parent who is foreign born and of non

CL/ML/TL ethnicity

• Application to change language from AL/FL

to CL/ML/TL/NTIL is NOT allowed in

secondary level

Asian Lang / Foreign Lang

in-lieu of MTLHow to apply?• Look for Mdm Alifa or Mr Muthu for further

clarifications

• Collect application forms from GO and

complete submission

• MOE will consider on a case by case basis

• Students who have obtained approval for

AL/FL in Primary school need not re-apply

Things to note• D7 and above for GCE O level for JC/MI

admission

• S grade and above for GCE A level H1 for

local publicly-funded universities

Non-Tamil Indian Lang

in-lieu of MTLWho can apply?• NTIL: Bengali / Gujarati / Hindi / Punjabi /

Urdu

• Indian students who are non-Tamil

speakers

How to apply?• Look for Mdm Alifa or Mr Muthu for further

clarifications

• Collect application forms from GO and

complete submission

• MOE will consider on a case by case basis

• Students who have obtained approval for

NTIL in Primary school need not re-apply

Non-Tamil Indian Lang

in-lieu of MTL

Things to note• Attend lessons with NTIL communities

• Sit for examinations under Board for Teaching

and Testing of South Asian Languages

(BTTSAL)

• D7 and above for GCE O level for JC/MI

admission

• S grade and above for GCE A level H1 for

local publicly-funded universities

MTL Exemptions

Who can apply?• Join or re-join the school system mid-

stream without prior learning of MTL

• Certified medical condition / learning

disabilities affecting the ability to cope

with MTL (ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia etc.)

• Away from Singapore’s school system

for some years and have not kept up

with the study of their MTL [May apply

for exemption from studying their official

MTL or to study a non-official language

in lieu of MOE official MTL]

MTL Exemptions

How to apply?• Look for Mdm Alifa or Mr Muthu for further

clarifications

• Collect application forms from GO and

complete submission

• MOE will consider on a case by case basis

Implications• Exemption at GCE ‘O’ level continues till GCE

‘A’ level

• Deemed to have met the Mother Tongue

requirements for local publicly-funded

University admission

Importance of MTLBilingualism• Cultural Identity

• International Competitiveness

• Ability to utilise the strengths of knowing

one more language

Learning MTL in SASS• Most of our students come from English

speaking families

• Teachers in St Andrew’s are committed to

help your child achieve the best results

possible

• Approachable and firm, we are always

looking out to help your child in the

learning of the subject

Academic Talks

History

Geography

Literature

Visual Arts

Design & Technology

Food & Consumer Ed

Mother Tongue Policy

Thank you!