Pure Science (taking Biology, Chemistry, and Physics as three separate sciences) is seen as the ultimate subject combination. Everyone wishes they were “as smart” as people who take Pure Science. Many students will attempt to force themselves to take Pure Science, whether they are interested in it or not, because their friends are taking it, or because they think that this subject combination offers them the most options. However, there are many roads to a university degree in STEM – Pure Science is not the only way. Even though Pure Science seems like a prestigious subject combination, students should think about whether they are truly interested in learning all the Sciences in depth and whether they are good at Science.
There is the perception that some subjects are better than others. Science subjects are valued more than the Humanities because ostensibly, they are academically more rigorous. We should not look at subjects in such a binary fashion – each subject has its role in society. For instance, lawyers do not use Science in any way during their daily course of work – however, it is important that a country upholds a good rule of law and has a robust legal and judicial system. A lawyer is not worth any less than a scientist is – they just perform different functions. In fact, many lawyers are Humanities students. Does this mean that the Humanities are worth less than Science subjects are? Nowadays, there are many potential career paths.
There are some prerequisites to doing certain paths, such as Pure Science. Some schools will only allow students who have attained 80% and above for Secondary 2 Science to be eligible for Pure Science. These prerequisites exist for a reason – students should take subjects at the level they are comfortable with. In fact, the full subject-based banding system allows students to take subjects at the level they are most suitable for. Even with prerequisites for certain subjects, students should not think that it is the end of the world if they are in a double Science or Combined Science class. In fact, it is possible for students taking Combined Science to still take H2 Science at A Levels. Students should focus on determining which subjects they have been consistently doing well at in lower secondary and their interests.
Parents should keep an open mind and discuss with their child about what they really want. They should advise their child not to succumb under peer pressure. Additionally, parents should avoid imposing their personal wishes upon their child but instead first seek to understand what motivates their child and work with them towards achieving their goals. WRITERS AT WORK seeks to make students better learners through organisation skills, reflection, and understanding of how we process information. Join us at our tuition centres to be a part of the best English enrichment courses for primary and secondary school students in Singapore.
English is a compulsory subject which all students must undertake. However, mastering the English language is not something which happens overnight – it takes consistent practice and effort to learn the nuances of the language. Students must read more and practice writing to gradually improve. Cramming for a language subject nearer to the exams is an impossible feat. After all, Rome was not built in a day! Attaining such a skill will have positive implications for not only your child’s education in school, but also employment prospects in future.
Creative writing is good for children as it teaches them how to use their imagination. Children have a vivid imagination and will enjoy coming up with different storylines and characters. Through the use of creative writing, children can express themselves using the English language, which is also good for their emotional development and maturity.
A good start is to write about what you know. Students can start by writing about things that are familiar to them, such as school or family. Then, students can move on to more complex topics, requiring them to use their imagination about events which would be unlikely to happen in real life, such as a fairytale or an adventure story. Older students can write descriptive essays about being in a situation or about more abstract concepts, such as regret.
A good story should have just the right amount of exposition to illuminate the setting and the characters for the reader without giving away the entire plot. The story should begin where it is relevant, and the general gist of the situation should be outlined. The writer should know how to move the plot along from where they start easily, and the story should flow logically.
A good first step would be to plan out the story – it is important that the story follows a Plot Curve which has a logical sequence of events and a clear conclusion. The main and supporting characters should be clear – there should not be a whole village of characters – just enough to further the plot. Moreover, the central conflict of the story should be clear.
