I have earlier written an article on Sec 2 to Sec 3: How To Prepare Yourself For Additional Math

For those who aren’t taking additional math, how can you prep yourself this holiday? (Note: I ain’t telling you to burn your holidays mugging. Nope! But I mean to say have some work time and play time!)

I remember I was given quite a bit of holiday assignments during Nov/Dec holidays. Read in Facebook comments, this is still the ongoing trend in schools. Finish those work fast (No motivation? Get friends to complete the work together )and you can play for the rest of the days! Do not be like majority of the folks who wait till the end of the holidays, only to realize school is starting in a few days time that they start knowing that homework is due.

What I personally suggest for prep for Sec 3 Elementary Math is to ensure that your Sec 1&2 foundation topics are built upon on solid ground (These topics are tested in ‘O’ levels and every often schools do not have the time to revise thoroughly during term time)

Some of the foundation topics are listed below:

• Making subject formula
• Algebraic expansion rules
• Algebraic factorization
• Properties of Angles
• Mensuration (New syllabus e-math has formula provided in exams)
• Similarity & Congruency
• Statistics (Mean, Median, Mode)
• Equation of lines

These topics involve some fundamental applications which will be revisited again in Upper Sec.

Some of the Major Sec 3 Topics you would be expecting include:

• Indices (*new)
• Quadratic Equations (*new+very important)
• Congruency and Similarity (*revision+application)
• Graphs (*new+add on from Sec 1/2)
• Properties of Circle(*new)
• Trigonometry (*new+very important+high weightage in E-Math & A-Math)
• Co-ordinate Geometry (requires basics from Equations of lines from Sec 2)
• Arc Length & Sector Areas (used to be A-Math topic but included in E-Math now)
• Quartiles & Percentiles (Statistics)
• Matrices (*new)

(Those highlighted ones are the topics which are heavily weighted and you must pay more attention in following through. They are also fundamentals you would need in A-Math as well)

You may want to familizarize yourself with the ‘O’ level E-Math formula provided but in school tests and exams, some schools choose not to provide.

(Click on image for larger view or you may even want to print out a copy and stick on your desk for easy reference)

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Posting results of the subject combination would be released next week for many schools. It is a transitional period of the Secondary 2 to Secondary 3 (Grade 8 to Grade 9), from juniors, they become seniors of the schools.

Today, I’m going to talk about how you can prep yourself (mentally & physically) for an “additional” math subject, assuming you have selected to take up Additional Math as one of your ‘O’ level subject. If you are thinking of the consequences of not taking A-Math, you may want to read about it here.

Myths of A-Math (My seniors said A-Math …)

A-Math is very tough, very difficult, very hard to understand, always fail, very different from Elementary Math (E-Math).., lots of formula to remember … don’t understand the concepts

Truths of A-Math

• Just like E-Math, you just need to know the right strategies and constantly apply them.
• It all boils down to linking up the basic concepts and sometimes cross topics (there are some topics which will require you to bring in the tools you have learnt previously)
• There would be new topics which you will see it 1st time in your life, pay more attention to them. After all,just like when we meet someone new, we need more time to warm up to them compared to old friends ;-)
• There are cross-over between E and A Math. So learning A-Math is advantageous to you as some of the basic concepts are already taught in E-Math

Topics You Must Prep Yourself (before school starts)

1. Simultaneous Equations
2. Similar Triangles
3. Algebraic Rules
4. Quadratic Graphs & Equations

By familiarizing yourself on these topics, you will have a smoother transition of having another Math subject.

I would love to hear from the Sec 4s (2009) on ‘What advice would you give your seniors on preparing for A-Math?’ Leave your comments in the section below. I’m sure your juniors would appreciate your opinions.

Update: Sec 2 to Sec 3: How To Prepare Yourself For Elementary Math

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(Click on image for larger view)

A poll on “What is your Biggest Challenging in Learning Math?” is created 6 months ago and I think it is time to review the poll results as shown in the pie chart (One of the E-Math topics syllabus) below:

Out of 142 votes, 41% cite their biggest challenge in learning math to be “No Time to Practice /Lazy to be consistent”

“Cannot see & cannot understand” , “too complicated & confusing concepts” received 21% of the votes respectively.

This poll results are very much inline with my experience as a Math Trainer. No time to practice / Lazy to be consistent is indeed a challenge faced by many students. In fact, Consistency (not said by me only, but also through the mouth of my students) is one of the keys to be successful in any subject or area of your life! The question now is how to be consistent, how to have time to practice.

Before I answer these questions, it is important that you got to understand the reason(s) for being consistent and scheduling time for practice. ( I’m not asking you to practice for hours to face those numbers questions, a mere 15 minutes daily is sufficiently recommended on top of your homework time that is)

Why is there a need to be consistent? I have been doing my school work already.

Give yourself a pat on your shoulder if you have been doing your school work diligently! You should be on your way to achieving what you deserve. But to further build up your confidence on Math, especially new concepts that you have been learning, a little extra effort goes a long way. As mentioned, it is not the quantity of time or questions that really matter. It is the quality. Schedule 15 minutes daily to work on and review on current topics or even previous topics will not only expose yourself to more questions but also build up your skill set. More importantly, you are cultivating a habit of consistency. Just like scoring is a habit, it can be and must be built up. It will not happen overnight.

“Extraordinary people are ordinary people who do extra more than the majority”

Advantages for being consistent

• You can have time to do what you like during exam period and yet feel prepared for exams while the rest of the world is doing last minute work. Isn’t it a good feeling? After all, you have been preparing bit by bit daily.
• Consistent review and actions pay off handsomely for you when you do not allow doubts to pile up.
• You feel good daily and great sense of achievement!

How to be consistent (even if you do not like Math) ?

• Bit by bit daily; start small but keep up the momentum
• Start now! Have a reminder system to remind yourself about your 15 minutes daily (Handphone alarm perhaps)
• Reward yourself when you keep up with the habit
• Have a chart to mark your consistency habit, something you can see daily.

Take actions now! And see for yourself how your consistency habit pays off!

Let me hear from you on how you tackle your challenge in learning Math. Leave your recommendations in the comment section below.

PS: My future post will be discussing about what should be done when you cannot see and understand Math. There is a really simple way which starts with A.

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For the new syllabus:

• Calculators are allowed for both Paper 1 and 2
• There is formulae sheet provided for the new syllabus as well.
• There isn’t anymore Transformations, Loci, part of vectors is also streamlined.
• There is added new component like in Statistics the Box-Whisker diagram, stem and leaf plot, dot diagrams, calculation of Standard deviation, Matrices, Arc length of circle, area of sector

Advantages of new syllabus:

• You can easily get hold of the latest textbooks as almost every school is adopting the new syllabus.
• Calculators and formula sheet are provided so rote memorization is minisized.
• You do not have to deal with visual topics like transformations, loci, part of vectors.
• If you do not do well in the retake, you can still continue with the new syllbus.

Advantages of old syllabus:

• Those are the things which you have learnt it previously and might have a little recollection so relearning is easier and faster.
• You can refer to the TYS for reference questions, after all the old syllabus has been around for quite long.
• No calculator for Paper 1 so the questions are testing on basic understanding of concepts

Important Points:

• Registration for private candidates start early in the year (Feb-Mar)
• Start preparation early and be consistent
• Preparation for E-Math involves Sec 1 – 4 syllabus.

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I was just being informed of this latest announcement: MOE is going to set clearer rules to curb false, misleading ads by private schools.

Since this blog has a high number of students enrolling in private education, either retaking ‘O’ levels as a private candidate or studying private courses. I think it is important that students are careful with their selection of private schools and courses.

Here are some ways I think a private student can make a wiser decision on selection of private schools and courses.

• Personally visit the private schools to find out more. Hear from both the principals,teachers as well as the students (talk to at least a few of them) who are already in the schools. Understanding from a student perspective could be more real, afterall they are already in the schools for sometime. They can give you more insight into the schools track record.
• Never believe totally what the private schools say to be true until you have verified the information by checking the credibility of the schools through online research like CASE or even through MOE. It is always safer to trust that you are committing yourself financially and mentally to a reputable school.
• Clear all your doubts before signing on any programmes.
• Never give in to peer pressure. Instead of following your friends blindly, allow yourself sufficient time to gather relevant information from different sources or programmes before making your final decision.
• When things are too good to be true, very often, they are too good to be true!
• Please note that when schools state that their teachers are school teachers, it does not necessarily mean that they are ex-school teachers. It could be a marketing gimmick, widely misunderstood by public. If you are looking specifically for MOE school teachers, look out for NIE-Trained teachers. If you still do not believe, ask for the credentials of the teachers.

I hope this post has been useful for students and parents finding a suitable private school for continued education.

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