It is normal for parents to be concerned about their children’s academic journey. Their children’s academic performance in Pure Sciences has not been satisfactory, and the school has advised them on many occasions that their children should switch to Combined Sciences (or it could be a sudden bombshell by the school, as experienced by some parents). It will also be an additional cost if you need to enrol your child in a combined science tuition in Singapore if they are struggling.
As is the case with many of the other questions, the answer varies entirely on the kid. What are their long-term goals? How conscientious and diligent are they? Are they interested in getting a high score?
But before we get into it, let’s first go through the distinctions between the short-term and the long-term effects outlined in the syllabus.
Curriculum Differences
Around 75% of the material covered in combined Physics classes is pure physics. Similarly, coupled chemistry accounts for around 75% of pure chemistry. So, students who change their major from Pure Science to Combined Science take around 25% fewer science classes. Therefore, it could appear to be less stressful.
Consider, however, that this same student has gone from taking two subjects leading up to the O Level to taking only one of those subjects.
This means that the same student does not study each Pure Science topic to the extent of 100% but rather studies Combined Science to the extent of 150%. This indicates that the student must study more material to achieve the same grade.
Implications for the Short Term
Most pupils will, very immediately after the drop, experience a sensation of relief. Students that go from Pure Science to Combined Science will often get better grades due to the simpler combined science papers. Apart from that, the bell curve may also be more beneficial since kids who studied combined science early on are often students who are poorer in science. This is why the bell curve may be more helpful.
However, is it truly in your child’s best interest to switch them to the combined science class?
One thing to consider is that if your child just studies one topic instead of two, they will be placing all of their eggs in one basket. Now, just one scientific topic may count towards their L1R5 grade (if your child does not take a 3rd science). Your kid must focus on attaining an A grade for a Combined Science topic containing 150% of the material of a single Pure Science subject. This might mean that your child will have to put in significantly more effort to achieve the same level of success.
Implications for the Long Term
Courses in junior colleges and polytechnics are the most immediate longer-term impact. Because your kid will be enrolled in integrated science instead of separate science classes, the number of possible course and topic combinations will be reduced. To continue, this may result in your child being unable to meet the requirements for the university programme they may choose to enrol in at some point in the future. Your child’s future options are, in a sense, being constrained very early on in their life while they are in grade four.
Suppose you switch your child from Pure Science to Mixed Science without conducting a more in-depth examination of your child’s strengths and weaknesses, aspirations, and hobbies. In that case, you are training your child to give up quickly whenever they face adversity.