private students

Differences between O-Level Additional Maths new and old syllabus

For Secondary 4 or 5 school candidates (in Singapore) taking the O-Level Additional Maths this year, many are likely to have registered for the new syllabus 4047.

In this post, I would like to highlight the main differences between the new (4047) and old (4038) syllabus:

Matrices, Factor formula are excluded from the new syllabus
Intercept, Intersecting chord and Tangent-secant theorem are excluded from the new syllabus
Sum and differences of cubes in Polynomials are included in the new syllabus

In conclusion, since there are more exclusions than inclusions. We should be expecting more application questions which can be linked to everyday life applications in the fields of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering etc.

The keys to achieve distinction in O-Level Additional Maths are still:

a solid foundation in basic concepts,
well-equipped with application strategies,
wide exposure to carefully selected application questions,
good management of time for doing and checking
exam-smart strategies

GCE O Level 2011 Examinations (Registration Details and Timetable)

Details for GCE N(T), N(A), O and A Levels registration are available as shown in the poster taken at MRT station.

I've also enclosed the 2011 O Level Examination Timetable below, downloaded from SEAB.

For more info, please contact SEAB at http://www.seab.gov.sg/

Direct link to 2011 GCE O-Level Examinations Timetable

2010 Private Candidate Registration for GCE 'N', 'O', 'A' Levels

For more details, please go to seab website or call MOE Customer Service Centre at 6872 2220

Official: Release of 2009 GCE O-Level Examination Results on 11 January 2010

School candidates may collect their results from their schools at 2.00 pm on 11 January 2010. Private candidates will be informed of their results by post. They may also access their results through the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board website from 2.00 pm on 11 January 2010.

More details here: http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/press/2010/01/o-level-results-jae-jpsae-2010.php

All the best!

Private Candidate: Which Math Syllabus To Retake?

I'm considering retaking my Os for 2009 and had searched through SEAB website for the syllabus. For Math D, there is a revised version and a version which will be examined for the last time in 2009. Hmm.. as im 23 this yr and its like donkey years since ive taken my Os, would appreciate if you could advise on which is the appropriate version so that i could purchase the textbooks. Also, how are your fees like if i were to have you as my tutor? Vanessa

Hi Vanessa,

A quick update on the 2 different syllabus of Elementary Mathematics 4016 (New) and 4017(Old)

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.