A levels and Diploma together

Divi SG

Is it possible to take both A level privately and take a diploma in Poly? Ive gotten a business course in poly but i wanna try to take A levels as a private candidate. Is it possible?

UltimaOnline SG

Of course, that's precisely what I have been recommending poly students to do, all this time. Especially poly Science students (where taking H2 Sciences as a private candidate would be very valuable in many ways).

I've tutored A level H2 Chemistry to Chemical Engineering polytechnic students, who have found that taking A level H2 Chemistry helps them achieve excellent GPA scores for their chemistry-based poly courses.

You can register as soon as the A level results are released on 1st of March.

Divi SG

But wouldnt that be tough? I really wanna go NUS Med and for that i have to take A lvls!

UltimaOnline SG

But wouldnt that be tough? I really wanna go NUS Med and for that i have to take A lvls!

If you do succeed in getting straight As for H2 Phys + H2 Chem + H2 Bio + H2 Maths (you get to screw the ridiculous 'contrasting subject' requirement) as a private candidate, it might actually work in your favour during the application process, precisely because it's tough to achieve straight As on your own as a private candidate (though great tuition always helps).

Divi SG

But in Sec sch i took combined sc and no amaths! my combined sc i gt A! And if i wanna take A lvl privately how do i start studying?

Divi SG

Is it possible to take H2 Bio and chem, H1 English, H2 maths and H1 Literature for a private candicate taking A lvls?

UltimaOnline SG

But in Sec sch i took combined sc and no amaths! my combined sc i gt A! And if i wanna take A lvl privately how do i start studying?

Is it possible to take H2 Bio and chem, H1 English, H2 maths and H1 Literature for a private candicate taking A lvls?

It doesn't matter what your O level subject combination was. A level begins afresh, at much higher difficulty levels.

If you're determined to do Medicine, the only helpful subject combination is Triple H2 Science and H2 Maths. H1 GP will be necessary, if you intend to formally use your A level certificate. H1 Literature is utterly useless for Medicine (Medical literature is scientific, not artistic).

You should start by obtaining for yourself relevant study materials, and do consider tuition for your H2 Sciences (solo if you can afford it, group/class if you're on a budget). Also, don't forget to register your A levels next month. You probably want to retake your A levels 3 times, 2013, 2014, 2015 until you get all Distinction A grades.

Recommended H2 Chem materials are listed on my website here (a pre-Med student should obtain all the Uni level Chem textbooks that I've listed therein) :
http://infinity.usanethosting.com/Tuition/#Books_for_H2_Chemistry

Divi SG

But what abt GP How do i start studying? is it possible to upload the syllabus for all here or gimme links for the syllabuses?

UltimaOnline SG

But what abt GP How do i start studying? is it possible to upload the syllabus for all here or gimme links for the syllabuses?

Syllabuses
http://www.seab.gov.sg/aLevel/syllabusPrivate.html

For GP there are plenty of GP publications out there (eg. at Popular). You can visit JC bookshops to buy that particular JC's GP publication, or get friends to buy them for you, or buy them online on various 'marketplace' forums.

If you feel you need additional help, there are plenty of GP tuition centers in Singapore, such as the (arguably the single most) popular School of Thought.

Try going it alone without tuition for the 1st year, and see your 1st year's A level results. If you decide you need additional help, you can always seek tuition in Year 2 and Year 3 (since Poly courses are 3 years, you have 3 years to retake your A levels 3 times).

Chemguide7 SG

My poly student says he is so busy with his projects and homework, and he is only in his first year in poly. It will be very tough to cope with both poly and A level studies, as both are very demanding.

You have to maintain a poly GPA of at least 3.6 – 3.9 to get into some courses in the uni. You need to think about CCA records too.

Usually, it is the top JC students with 6-8 distinctions and excellent leadership CCA records who get into Medicine, with some exceptions of some neighbourhood JC students getting in.

Those who become doctors have no life; they are practically sold to the job and encounter many strains of bacteria and viruses and maybe infectious diseases everyday. Burnout rate is very high amongst doctors.

UltimaOnline SG

Yes, Chemguide has pointed out a prudent caution for the TS.

Ideally the poly student who wants to take private A levels should also be doing a closely related course. For instance, I have tutored H2 Chemistry to Chemical Engineering Poly students, who have found that the A levels complements and supports their poly course studies, helping them achieve excellent GPA scores.

So ideally, the TS should be taking either a closely related poly course (eg. biomedical, chemical, etc) to his A level subjects, instead of something largely unrelated, eg. business. Or the TS may find it a struggle to cope with two unrelated, and similarly demanding studies (particularly if he wants to get a perfect GPA and perfect A level grades).

Divi SG

Since I have quite a few mths of hols in Poly i can use then to study for my A lvls! Smile And im sure i can do well but i will need a little help. If u all have notes pls help me by uploading it here. I really dunno anything abt A lvls and i needa know how it works. I also wanna noe if im allowed to take both A lvls and Diploma. Is it allowed?

UltimaOnline SG

You allow yourself can liao. Be the Captain of thy own Destiny. MOE / PAP doesn't care whether you do diploma or A levels, or neither or both, as long as you vote for them.

You cannot expect to get A, A, A grades by only studying triple H2 Sciences on the internet websites. You will have to spend some $$$ on tuition and/or at least buy H2 study materials.

Again, recommended H2 Chem materials that all H2 Chem students should buy :
http://infinity.usanethosting.com/Tuition/#Books_for_H2_Chemistry

Tachiban SG

Omg! I seriously want to take up A levels as private and diploma together sia!

I tried for an appeal to a jc but failed, now posted to a polytechnic studying the Accounting and Finance course which is my 8th choice and I don't really know what its all about ._.

Then what about the subject "Project works" students in the junior colleges are studying? Will we as private candidates be disadvantaged when applying to a university? I am really determined but theres too much uncertainty

UltimaOnline SG

Omg! I seriously want to take up A levels as private and diploma together sia!

I tried for an appeal to a jc but failed, now posted to a polytechnic studying the Accounting and Finance course which is my 8th choice and I don't really know what its all about ._.

You may be disadvantaged, depending on which course in which Uni you're applying for. Some admissions offices for some Uni courses, upon learning that you did private A levels and hence do not have PW, will not penalize you for it. But some admissions offices for some Uni courses may not be as understanding.

I suggest you contact (eg. email, or call, or visit in person) the admissions office of the Uni courses you're interested in, and ask them about this.

Also, clarify with them which subjects you need to take (including GP, 2nd language, etc) to be eligible to apply for the course you're interested in.

As a guide, these are the subject prerequisites for NUS courses :

http://www.nus.edu.sg/oam/apply/local/prerequisites/BYA-prerequisites.html

Tachiban SG

Ahh I see... lmao cannot call nus alr today saturday ><

Do you think there is any subjects relevant to my course Accounting and Finance in the polytechnic?

Do you think it is enough if I just buy books from popular and study myself without any help from tuition?

Chemguide7 SG

Math and Economics relevant to Accounting and Finance in poly?

i heard from one past student that in place of Project Work, he/she had to take an extra H1 subject.

You have to enquire at MOE hotline or e-mail them.