Did not take Bio at O level - can I choose Bio H2 in JC?

lysine SG

Hi,

My L1R5 = 11 points, Minus 2 pts for CCA and 2 pts for Higher Chinese = 7 points

Maths A1, A Maths A2, Physics A2, Chemistry A2

Can I choose to study Bio H2 in JC? Will the JC allow me to take it if I am willing to do the background preparation and put in extra effort. And if the JC does allow me try Bio H2, do you think it will be difficult for me to do well?

Anyone knows of students who have done this before?

I do not want to study Physics in JC. So I am thinking of this combination: Chem H2, Bio H2, Maths H2 and Econs H2 (may be H1)

Please help. Thanks

SBS n SMRT SG

generally no.......... hard to cope

donkhead333 SG

Don't think so, since sciences in JC are usually built upon the foundation of secondary school science.

You might want to check with the school.

P.S. Why not take physics in JC since you've already had a foundation for physics? Did you take biology in secondary school? If not, you might not know what to expect..biology is quite tedious.

gohby SG

Certainly. Generally AFAIK, schools don't have any pre-requisites for studying Bio. If you don't like physics then you oughtn't choose it. I've personally known friends who didn't take O level Bio and eventually took H2 Bio and got A.. You need to see if you're the "Bio" or the "physics" kind of person. Some people just can't do physics but can do well with memorising phrases and lots of info. Be forewarned though, the content is heavy (no joke), but to me, it was gratifying as it was very interesting and applicable. Good luck and all the best! ;)

Mrruixiangz SG

You know yourself. if you think you can put in the hard work, then go for it. but it really will be very difficult though...you'll need to build up that o'level knowledge plus the a'level content in two years.

Wacky Sung SG

If your parents can afford,pls study aboard after your O level.Frankly speaking i do not like SG education system inspite some will oppose me and born to receive education here.

jonchao72 SG

can... my friend did it

and he got retained so its up to you

why do you want to take bio so badly?

lysine SG

i do not like Physics even thought I managed to get an A2 for it

I do not intend to be an engineer

I think i would like to be in the life sciences, biotech, or pharmacy, or dentistry, i know it will be near impossible to get into medicine

donkhead333 SG

Same here. Hate physics a lot, and I'm not exactly mathematically inclined, so I'm going with biology.

lysine SG

hi donkhead333,

did you take biology at o-level?

which jc did you apply for? do you think they will allow us to take bio H2 without o-level bio? If they allow me, i will work very hard for it - for all we know we may even beat those who have o-level bio, right?

gohby SG

You don't need O level Bio knowledge (A level tests different topics and things as compared to O levels), though of course its better to have studied O level Bio, because topics like enzymes/macromolecules which appears in O & A level Bio are essentially the same; A level just delves a level deeper and before they do that, they will "intro" the topic first, which is O level stuff. There may be times people already understood some fundamental concepts but you don't. It is not a big hindrance though. The hindrance comes in the subject itself - bio is a very content heavy subject.

lysine SG

hi gohby, you are such an encouragement!

right now, for every one person who tells me to go ahead with Bio H2, there are 9 persons telling me not to do it....

But i think i am going to be brave and do it if the jc allows me to do it. When i called a particular jc two days ago, and they said i could try it. But if i do not do well in the june common test, then at that time they might advise me to take it at H1 level which is fine with me. I still have my Econs at H2, Chem H2 and Maths H2

Have you done Bio H2 before? When you say it is content heavy, do you mean the amount of things to study is a lot more than for physics and chemistry?

deathmaster SG

yes. there is no prerequisite for O level bio in order to take H2 bio in JC.

deathmaster SG

lysine,

H2 bio is more of memorising and slightly less compared to physics in terms of level of understanding. slightly less. a hell lot more memorising of chunks and chunks of text though.

if you are those who can easily master concepts and is adept at calculations and theories, but hates memorising, physics might be better for you.

what you take in jc really depends on ur course of choice in uni. Do not condemn yourself to certain options because of certain bad decisions you made in JC.

For example, to do most engineering courses in uni, you must have at least 2 sciences(bio or chem + physics at H2 level). H2 Math is a must in ALL engineering courses.

Do not settle for any H1 science subjects. They are totally useless in uni admission criteria. Even if you managed to score an A in the end, uni will only consider H2 subjects for admission.

Taking only 1 science subject (chem or phy) will allow you entry to the faculty of science only. for physics, you have more options: common engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering.

Note: NTU allows Science stream students with only O level physics to apply for engineering courses, but these students will have to take a one yr physic bridging module.

if you are keen to be a dentist or doctor: though it is not specified that applicants have to study bio, applicants with H2 bio stands a much higher chance than physics students.

so, please do look through the uni courses prerequisite before making ur subject choices in JC.

Luodaxia1989 SG