Briefing for Parents Subject Choices at Sec 3 level 29 June 2007

1. Briefing for ParentsSubject Choices at Sec 3 level 29 June 2007

2. Programme • Introduction • Subject Briefing • Q & A

3. Possible Routes • JC Education/ CI • Polytechnic Education

4. Admission Criteria for JCs & Polytechnics Junior Colleges L1R5 ≤ 20

5. Admission Criteria to JCs L1R5

6. Bonus Points • 2 bonus points for students who obtain grades of A1 to C6 for both their first languages (i.e. EL & Higher Mother Tongue) • 2 bonus points for students who obtain an ‘A’ grade in CCA • 1 bonus point for students who obtain a grade ‘B’ or ‘C’ in CCA • Students can enjoy up to a maximum of 4 bonus points

7. JC Curriculum Revised - Knowledge Skills – PW and either GP or KI - Languages – MTL - Humanities and the Arts - Mathematics and Sciences

8. JC Curriculum

9. JC Curriculum Key changes Students may select subjects at 3 different levels of study: Higher 1 (H1), Higher 2 (H2) and Higher 3 (H3) H1Equivalent to half of H2 in breadth but similar to H2 in depth. H2 Equivalent to rigour of old 'A' Level subjects. H3 Subjects with a variety of learning opportunities (e.g. advanced content, research paper, university module). Besides GP, PW, and MTL at H1 level, students are required to offer 3 H2 and 1 H1 content-based subjects, at least one of which is a subject from a contrasting discipline.

10. Maths and Science Enthusiasts H2 Phy H2 Chem H2 Maths H1 Econs (contrasting subject) H1 MTL GP PW Humanities and the Arts Enthusiasts H2 Econs H2 Geo H2 Maths (contrasting subject) H1 Art H1 MTL GP PW JC Subject Combinations

11. Take KI H2 KI (contrasting subject) H2 Maths H2 Bio H2 Chem H1 MTL PW MT Language and Lit H2 MT language and Lit H2 Lit in English H2 History H1 Maths (contrasting subject) GP PW JC Subject Combinations

12. L1R5 Aggregate 2006 JAE

13. L1R5 Aggregate 2006 JAE

14. L1R5 Aggregate 2006 JAE

15. Admission Criteria for JCs & Polytechnics Millennia Institute L1R4 ≤ 20

16. Admission Criteria to MI L1R4

17. Admission Criteria for JCs & Polytechnics Polytechnics L1R2B2

18. Admission criteria to Polytechnics: ELR2B2 • EL • English • Relevant Subject 1 • E Maths/A Maths • Relevant Subject 2 • Relevant subjects depend on the type of courses applied • Best Subject 3 & 4 • Best 2 other subjects excluding CCA

19. Bonus Points • 2 bonus points for students who obtain an ‘A’ grade in CCA • 1 bonus point for students who obtain a grade ‘B’ or ‘C’ in CCA

20. Guiding Principles • Abilityof Student andInterestAre Equally Important for Academic Success • Work with the end in mind • Every subject has its merit

21. Allocation • First by Merit, then Interest • End of Year Exam Results • Options

22. Secondary 3 Subject Combinations 2008

23. Sec 3 Normal Academic

24. Subject Briefing (those involving choices) • Elective in combination with Social Studies (Geog, Hist, Lit) • Add Math • Principles of Accounts • Design & Technology • Food & Nutrition • Art

25. COMBINED HUMANITIES (GEOGRAPHY ELECTIVE)

26. AIMS OF SYLLABUS To develop students in areas of Knowledge, Skills and Values AIMS: • Acquire KNOWLEDGE of characteristics and distribution of physical and human phenomena • Develop an understanding of processes affecting the physical and human relationships • Provide a holistic understanding of physical-human relationship • Develop SKILLS in acquiring, communicating and applying geographical knowledge • VALUES: Develop an informed concern about the quality of the environment and the future of the human habitat, and thereby, enhance students’ sense of responsibility for the care of the Earth and its people • Develop awareness of contrasting opportunities and constraints which people face in local, regional and global environment

27. GEOGRAPHY SYLLABUS FRAMEWORK Combined Humanities (Geography E) • Section A: Students study 2 Physical Geography Topics • Section B: Students study 2 Human Geography Topics • Duration of Exam: 1hr 30 min

28. Syllabus FrameworkPaper 1: Physical Geography [Section A: Geog E : Only Topics 3 & 4 ] • Topic 3 • Natural Vegetation* • Types of natural vegetation • Adaptation of natural vegetation • to the environment • Uses of forest • Case study of deforestation • *at ‘O” levels • Topic 4 • Rivers & Coast • River processes & related landforms • Coastal processes & related landforms • River & coastal management Topics 1 & 2 Plate Tectonics & Resulting Landforms Weather & Climate

29. Syllabus FrameworkPaper 2:Human Geography Section B: Geog E : Only Topics 1 & 4 • Topic 1 • Geography of Food • Trends in food production & distribution • Factors affecting intensity of food prodn • Development in food production Topics 2 & 3 The Industrial World Tourism • Topic 4 • Development • Variations in Development in the World • Reasons for Variations in Development • Strategies to Alleviate Uneven Developmt

30. Assessment:GCE ‘O’ Levels Exam Format for Geography Elective Total Marks for Combined Humanities: Social Studies (50%) + GeographyElective (50%)= 100%

31. Assessment Objectives: • Objective 1: Knowledge • Demonstrate relevant factual knowledge – geographical facts, concepts, processes, interactions and trends. • Objective 2: Construct Explanation • Select, organise and apply concepts, terms and facts learnt • Make judgments, recommendations and decisions • Objective 3: Interpret and Evaluate Geographical data • Comprehend and extract relevant information from geographical data (numerical, diagrammatic, pictorial and graphical forms) • Use and apply geographical knowledge and understanding to interpret geographical data • Recognize patterns & deduce relationships • Compare & contrast different views • Draw conclusions on a reasoned consideration of evidence

32. SKILLS TAUGHT TO INTERPRET:

33. Assessment modes used by department • Common Test • Short Quizzes • Comic / cartoons • Songs • Video clips • Role-play and Skits • Debates • Projects • Fieldtrips

34. Who will do well for this subject? Students who possess the following: • Analytical thinking • Eye for details • Read widely • Ability to write • Good memory skills • Conscientious

35. Summary of Content Differentiation:

36. Comparison Between ‘O’ & ‘N’ Level:

37. COMBINED HUMANITIES (HISTORY ELECTIVE)

38. AIMS OF SYLLABUS To develop students in areas of Content, Skills and Values CONTENT • Grasp broad fundamental concepts common to all historical explanations • Understand international affairs and the forces that shaped 20th Century World history SKILLS • Understand History in its setting • Understand points of view in History • Process historical information • Develop critical and creative thinking

39. VALUES • Develop an interest in the past and an appreciation for history, and of human achievements and aspirations • Understand the significance of the past to their own lives, community and society • Develop an empathy for and sensitivity towards different political experiences • Appreciate that different societies hold different beliefs, values and attitudes at different times • Instill a sense of respect for evidence and tolerance of a range of opinions.

40. HISTORY SYLLABUS FRAMEWORK Combined Humanities (History Elective) • Paper 2: 20th Century World History, 1910s-1991 Theme 1: Impact of WW1 • The world at war and the Immediate Aftermath Theme 2: Hope for Better world • Establishing peace • Rise of Authoritarian Regimes Theme 3: Breakdown of World Order • War in Europe

41. Syllabus FrameworkPaper 2:20th Century World History, 1910s-1991 • Theme 1 • Impact of World War 1 • Did the World War 1 • change the world? • Theme 2 • Hope for a Better World? • In what ways were the years • between WWI & WW2 a time of • both new hopes and • great troubles? • Theme 3 • The Breakdown of the • World Order • Why had international peace • collapse by 1939?

42. AssessmentGCE ‘N’Levels Exam Format for Elective History Total Marks for Combined Humanities: Social Studies (50%) + Elective History (50%)= 100%

43. Assessment Objectives: • Objective 1: Testing Knowledge • Objective 2: Constructing Explanations • Select, organise and apply concepts, terms and facts learnt • Make judgments, recommendations and decisions • Objective 3: Interpret and Evaluate Sources / Given Information • Comprehend and extract relevant information • Draw references from given information • Analyze and evaluate evidence • Compare and contrast different views • Distinguish between fact, opinion and judgments • Recognize values and detect bias • Draw conclusions based on reasoned consideration of evidence and argument

44. SKILLS TAUGHT: Structured Essay Skills Exposition writing skills Constructing Explanations Source Based Skills Inferring from Sources Comparing Evaluating Usefulness/Utility Checking Reliability Drawing Conclusion

45. Assessment modes used by department • Common Test [ Structured Essay Questions & Source Based Questions] • Short Quizzes • Comic / cartoons • Songs • Video clips • Role-play and Skits • Debates • Projects • Fieldtrips

46. Who will do well for this subject? Students who possess the following: • Analytical thinking • Eye for details • Read widely • Ability to write • Good memory skills • Conscientious

47. COMBINED HUMANITIES (LITERATURE IN ENGLISH ELECTIVE)

48. ‘N’ Level candidates should be able to: • Demonstrate knowledge • Demonstrate understanding of the ways in which writers’ choices of form, structure and language shape meanings; • Sensitive and informed personalresponse • Express responses clearly and coherently The Assessment Objectives are inter-related and it will not normally be either possible or desirable to assess them in isolation.

49. AIMS • Enjoyment • Explore the elements of different genres • Perceptive & logical thinking • Evidence to support their case • Understanding information of text • Personal engagement

50. AREAS OF STUDY