JC: Arts or Science for me?

Min.chelle SG

Hi! I'm kinda confused whether I should aim to go for Arts or Science stream in JC.

I'm from the N(A) stream and I'm in sec 4 this year. I'm not taking N levels (Direct O Level, a spot in Sec 5 has been secured) so this year is a more or less free year for me. My subject combi is:

EL
CL(B)
Combined Sci (B,C)
Combined Humans (SS,G)
Pure Literature
Emath
Amath

I am keen on taking up Marine Biology/Geology in Uni. In NUS I saw that Geology is under Arts & stuff, so I'm wondering if Marine Biology is too, since they are almost related.

I excel in Geography, Biology and English Literature so I'm not sure if I should be going for Science or Arts. Help me? ):

UltimaOnline SG

Hi! I'm kinda confused whether I should aim to go for Arts or Science stream in JC.

I'm from the N(A) stream and I'm in sec 4 this year. I'm not taking N levels (Direct O Level, a spot in Sec 5 has been secured) so this year is a more or less free year for me. My subject combi is:

EL
CL(B)
Combined Sci (B,C)
Combined Humans (SS,G)
Pure Literature
Emath
Amath

I am keen on taking up Marine Biology/Geology in Uni. In NUS I saw that Geology is under Arts & stuff, so I'm wondering if Marine Biology is too, since they are almost related.

I excel in Geography, Biology and English Literature so I'm not sure if I should be going for Science or Arts. Help me? ):

Although it is possible to double major in both Marine Biology and Geology, it is more feasible to focus on getting into one, and plan your route accordingly.

If you decide that intend to do Science in the Uni, you must study the relevant sciences (eg. Biology) in JC at H2 level, which means you must score an A1, nothing less, for your 'O' level combined science.

So in a way, if you so choose, you can let your results determine your path for you : if you manage to score an A1 for combined science, go for Marine Biology. If not, go for Geology.

And if you go for Marine Biology, you're advised to take both H2 Biology and H2 Chemistry in the JC. Without H2 Chemistry (in JC), you'll be disadvantaged when doing biological sciences in the Uni.

Final Tip : to prepare for combined science 'O' levels, practice the Pure Science TYS (instead of combined science TYS). Perhaps moreso for Chemistry than for Biology.

Min.chelle SG

Thank you for the reply, it's really helpful.

So to clarify, Marine Biology is technically under Sciences and Geology is under Arts? If I were to aim for either one of these in University, technically are their requirements in two different streams in JC?

"Final Tip : to prepare for combined science 'O' levels, practice the Pure Science TYS (instead of combined science TYS). Perhaps moreso for Chemistry than for Biology." — I see.. so Chemistry is, in a way, more crucial than Biology.?

Thank you for the reply still. :D

UltimaOnline SG

Thank you for the reply, it's really helpful.

Thank you for the reply still. :D

You're welcome, MinChelle.

H2 Chemistry (at JC level) is a prerequisite for most Uni biological science courses, while H2 Biology is a prerequisite for only a couple of Uni biological science courses. For instance, to study Medicine, you need H2 Chemistry, and either H2 Physics or H2 Biology.

(If you're looking at any Engineering course, then H2 Physics and H2 Mathematics are the most important prerequisites.)

For Geology, it seems likely (though you should email NUS yourself to confirm) that you do not need any prerequisite subject, eg. Geography, at JC level. You just need good grades for whatever subjects you study in JC.

Geology :
http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/geog/programmes/minor_phygeo.htm
http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/geog/programmes/minor_geosc.htm

For Marine Biology, which comes under the Department of Biological Sciences in NUS, you need good grades for two H2 Sciences (recommended : H2 Chemistry and H2 Biology) as prerequisites.

Marine Biology :
http://www.dbs.nus.edu.sg/lab/MBL/

For a list of JC subjects that are prerequisites for various University courses, see :
http://www.nus.edu.sg/oam/apply/local/prerequisites/BYA-prerequisites.html

Lokey SG

Hi! I'm kinda confused whether I should aim to go for Arts or Science stream in JC.

I'm from the N(A) stream and I'm in sec 4 this year. I'm not taking N levels (Direct O Level, a spot in Sec 5 has been secured) so this year is a more or less free year for me. My subject combi is:

EL
CL(B)
Combined Sci (B,C)
Combined Humans (SS,G)
Pure Literature
Emath
Amath

I am keen on taking up Marine Biology/Geology in Uni. In NUS I saw that Geology is under Arts & stuff, so I'm wondering if Marine Biology is too, since they are almost related.

I excel in Geography, Biology and English Literature so I'm not sure if I should be going for Science or Arts. Help me? ):

Dont waste your time, both degree are useless in Singapore. Hard to find work. The only work you can do is to become a teacher.

UltimaOnline SG

Update :

Requirement for admission into Department of Biological Sciences (including Marine Biology).

Good H2 'A' Level grades in Biology, Chemistry AND either Mathematics or Physics.

http://www.lifesciences.nus.edu.sg/joinus/

So you definitely need H2 Chem and H2 Bio, plus either H2 Math or H2 Physics (you need A maths and Physics background at O levels before JCs will let you take H2 Math and H2 Phys).

If you're sure you wanna take this path, (it's a good thing you have A Math!) then you must make sure you score A1 for your combined science and also A1 for A Math, so that JCs will allow you to take H2 Chem, H2 Bio and H2 Math, for which you must score A grade in all 3 subjects (at H2 level, not H1 level) to secure a place in Marine Biology.

Min.chelle SG

@Lokey I know it's a field that isn't really a big thing in Singapore. I guess I gotta find work outside of Singapore if I'm lucky to complete it all first. Tks anyway :>

@UltimaOnline Woah, thanks a bunch for the huge range of info.

I guess I'll be sure to try and grasp that A1 for AMath! That table is really a big help, thank you! These informations will be a lot of help for me to decide by end of next year. I never knew the requirements to take up H2 Math in JCs but now I do :D

Well, now that I'm seeing it all clearer, I'll be sure to get my nose back into those books and start mugging for that A1. ( CLB is still my biggest challenge though ): )

Thank you for the replies, helped me a lot. ^^

UltimaOnline SG

You're totally welcome, MinChelle. Persevere on, because your dreams are worth it!

And feel free to ask your Maths and Science qns here in this forum, anytime.

Once you get into JC, be sure to take H2 Chem, coz that's the most fun JC subject, ever! (unabashedly biased but justified perspective!)

SBS n SMRT SG

not true leh , chem where got fun, 15 organic families, some super irritating ligands, some physical chemistry where got so much difficult biased questions can be set.

However, the only fun part is , I think, proteins and when you get the correct structures in 20m structural elucidation.

Btw, H2 chem is almost complusory in science stream, :(