Should I drop Additional Mathematics?

tanpantheon1 SG

I'm secondary 3 this year and I'm taking the following subjects for my O-Levels next year :

English - 51

Additional Mathematics - 20

Mathematics - 53

Science (Phy/Chem) - 36

Combined Humanities (SS+Geog) - 52

Principles of Accounts - 63

(My SA2 results are above, I'm exempted from MT)

I kept getting F9 for A Maths and I'm in a dilemma if I should drop it or not. Somehow I tend to forget everything taught in class no matter how much explanation my teacher gives. My school HOD/Humanities says that those without MT can actually have 5 subjects for O-Levels, but I don't know if I can trust her or not. She says that A Maths is not required to pursue accountancy courses, but if I do well in it, it is a bonus to me. Is that true? I intend to pursue an Accountancy course in Poly though the Direct Poly Admission. Is A Maths going to do any help in accountancy courses? Can I still enter University after getting a diploma? What is the minimum should I get for my O-Levels to qualify for DPA?

Any help is much appreciated. Thank you.

eagle SG

The entry requirements for accountancy for NP is found here

http://www.np.edu.sg/ba/courses/acc/Pages/acc.aspx

It should be about the same for each poly I guess.

It does appear that A Maths isn't necessary for it, either E Maths or A Maths will do. So that's the bare minimum criteria. Theoretically you qualify, so your school HOD isn't wrong. It sure sounds very convincing to get you to drop the subject [to help the school grades. Brutal truth: They should be coming up with ideas to help you score better instead, my opinion. But it's way easier to just ask you to drop the subject.]

The actual scenario isn't as optimistic I believe. And I'm pretty sure you may be disappointed by the time you receive your O level results [think long term].

The question now isn't what subjects you take, but what you score for it. I don't know much about the poly side, but this is what I found out

http://www.tp.edu.sg/admissions/course-intake-and-last-aggregate-scores

http://www.nyp.edu.sg/nyp/slot/u179/future_students/pdf/2015Intake_2015ELR2B2.xlsx

If I interpret it correctly, you need a minimum L1R4 of 12 to 14 points to get into accountancy.

Look at it this way, your English (L1) is already 6 points. So is your E Maths. This already adds up to 12. Even if your remaining subjects get A1, that's still 16 points.

Thing is... why give up on A Maths so early without trying or fighting to be better for it? It will indirectly help you in your E Maths since you will be spending lots of time on two maths subjects.

There's really no secret to scoring well for Maths... or Physics
Step 1: Understand concepts
Step 2: Practice on different question patterns with proper presentation
Step 3: Drill

With your grades, I will say... you really need help on it for Step 1 and Step 2. Step 3, you have to do it yourself.

On entering university with diploma... I can say it's going to be a very very tough process. But that's not the issue yet. The key is, can you even qualify for the poly course of your choice.

Chemguide7 SG

Hello,

Accountancy has lots of math and figures and indirectly uses A Math. Also, if you go to poly then to NUS, NTU, accountancy needs some A Math in NUS, SMU, NTU. Business in the unis also has quite substantial A Math and JC math in it. So you need to reconsider accountancy. Also, accountancy is the one of the most competitive course in polys and the unis.

So, A Math is a very important subject. Almost all faculties in poly and NUS, NTU, SMU use a little or some or much A Math except for maybe art, literature, history.

So i advise you to continue taking A Math and to seek tuition.

Having 5 subjects for O levels is not advisable (and dangerous), as majority of the candidates have 6-9 subjects.

Best regards.

tanpantheon1 SG

Thanks I will try to get help as much as possible.

MapPwner SG

I'm secondary 3 this year and I'm taking the following subjects for my O-Levels next year :

English - 51

Additional Mathematics - 20

Mathematics - 53

Science (Phy/Chem) - 36

Combined Humanities (SS+Geog) - 52

Principles of Accounts - 63

(My SA2 results are above, I'm exempted from MT)

Any help is much appreciated. Thank you.

Well in the same predicament as you,except that i am a sec 4 student who have just finished O levels.

My A math results for each exam was a consistent f9,from sec 3 all the way up to prelims.Tend to sleep through every A math lesson in class as it is too boring,so barely learnt anything much.

It was until the 1 week September hols did i buck up and revised through a math tys like a no life retard for 5 days,without revising other subjects.

But by then....it was already too late.

After taking this year O level A math paper,i was definitely happy that i will be able to pass,but not able to get an A1(is always good to dream big).The highest grade i can score is only an A2,or minimum a B3.I have friends who were high flyers in a math exams(a2/b3),only to flunk the o level a maths paper and be pissed that their dreams of getting a distinction are dashed.

Well my point is...paying attention in lessons can be a rather important factor in helping u understand A math,but that may not be necessarily true.As long as you revise hard on your own,it is definitely possible you will see an improvement.

Golizd SG

With all due respect, this is just plain wrong. I'm currently in NTU accountancy and everything I have learnt in A maths are not applicable. You will definitely not see any concepts regarding differentiation or logarithms in any accounting courses.

The most you need would be basic algebra and simultanious equations. The rest are simple arithmetics

Chemguide7 SG

Hi Golizd,

I do agree with you about the NTU situation, and accounting requiring basic algebra. However, in overseas uni, some unis require accountancy students to take calculus as a module in accountancy, to act as a weeder.

Also, if a student decides in JC to switch to business finance or economics instead of accountancy, he really needs A Math and JC Math or poly math as there are some statistics involved in business course.

In postgraduate studies of accountancy, differential equations could be required for certain modules of accountancy in overseas uni.

I advocate taking A Math in O levels as it is considered a "hard" subject compared to "soft" subject eg. home economics. JC and poly may view A Math more favorably than "soft" subjects.

The analytical skills learned in A math could be transferrable to accountancy modules. NTU may change the syllabus and require students to take calculus next time.

This example requires calculus for business students and maybe accountancy students :

http://www.emathzone.com/tutorials/calculus/application-of-differential-equations-in-business.html