This would be the review for the Combined Humanities Subject for year 2015 for Social Studies and Elective History.
For Social Studies,
General Comments
Social Studies, unlike English Language, was highly predictable and of a expected format. Social Studies unsurprisingly...
International and Regional Relations and Conflict (Theme 4) for the Source Based Case Study and
Understanding Governance (Theme 2)
Conflict in Multi-Ethnic Societies (Theme 3) and
Sustaining Economic Development in a Globalising World (Theme 5) for the Structured Essay Question.
For Section A (SBCS)
It was a doable case study that featured the significance of the killing of Osama bin Laden. No hybrid question were set for the case study and everything can be done easily based on templates and formulaic approaches that are thought in student. It is an important note, however, that us students should not fully rely on these formulas as this has been highlighted in the Examiner's Report as been a way of penalising students to differentiate between the good and the best students in the Case Study Answering Techniques.
All questions can be done based on pure inferential skills to allow candidates to see what are the hidden messages to the sources. An important note is that, there are numerous messages that one can infer from the source, but the best messages (main message) of the source should be one that answers the overarching issue. For example "What is the significance of the killing of Osama bin Laden?" for the 2015 O Level. Pure inferences on the source for each sub-question and the keyword would be enough to award students partial credit for every question. So, if you want to pass the Case Study and not spend too much time on the Case Study to spend for the Essay, then just infer the source and write the keyword of the sub-question in one paragraph that is logically written. This would be enough to help you pass the entire section of Case Study.
For Section B (SEQ)
It was a highly anticipated section with 60% of schools 'spotting' these exact same three themes to come out for this year of examinations. Many of the students in my schools were happy to see these theme come out and many wrote wonderful essays for the section.
Comments on Social Studies
I would like to question the effectiveness of assessment of Social Studies if the SEAB continues to follow this trend. Students now can score well for their essays, even just 'spotting' and studying one theme. This is highly unfair to those who want to play it safe and put in more effort to study even more of the syllabus, like for 3,4 or even 5 of the examinable themes. If it is so simple to identify the themes that will be tested, then this is not meritocracy, where hard work will be rewarded duly! Students who work harder would still be able to score the same mark as one that work lesser for the Humanities subject and makes it unfair. This would naturally make it redundant for assessment as it does not fully assess the abilities of students in the National Examination and the syllabus.
Source Based is mostly the same as the year, and that's the problem, it will get boring at times to do the same question again and again in the TYS. That's the only problem.
For Elective History,
General Comments
This paper tested the abilities of student in a Humanities subject and its objectives more effectively than the Social Studies paper. With a new hybrid question rising and the surprising setting of case study for Section A, it was a more meaningful and enjoyable paper for the subject.
For Section A (SBCS)
The Case Study was based on Stalin's Industralisation Policy on the USSR, which was very unexpected as more than 70% schools in Singapore set preliminary examination for Elective History that had case studies set on topics on the Cold War, such as the Korean War and especially the Cuban Missile Crisis. This made the paper interesting and meaningful for this year's candidature.
QUESTION 1(a)
This question cleared a misconception that the mark range for Elective History is between 5-8 marks only. This is only applicable for Social Studies SBCS, not for History Elective, based on 1(a) which had only 4 marks to be awarded.
QUESTION 1(d)
This question was a Hybrid Question that was of the "Right Wrong Discrimination" Genre. It would be excepted of many candidates to use the formulaic approach that schools have taught for such question, with practice from 2002 and 2003 O Level SS SBCS on "Both source differ in their view. Does this mean that one of them are wrong?" Candidates who did this would be heavily penalised and even would not even pass the question as they are not Answering the Question (0 Marks). Candidates should have stated that these two sources are based on different Five Years Plans and hence does not show. NO RELIABILITY statements are needed and may cause L1/1m to be awarded if candidate did so as the concept is wrong.
AGAIN...Pure inferences on the source for each sub-question and the keyword would be enough to award students partial credit for every question. So, if you want to pass the Case Study and not spend too much time on the Case Study to spend for the Essay, then just infer the source and write the keyword of the sub-question in one paragraph that is logically written. This would be enough to help you pass the entire section of Case Study. (An example of illogical Carving of answers is the usage of Formulaic Approach for Q 1(d) for History Elective)
For Section B (SEQ)
The New Essay Questioning Format acted as a deterrent for candidate to spot topics. This made SEQ of History Elective which only has two questions more meaningful than SS which has three questions. This is rather peculiar as History Essay has a much higher weightage than SS. It is very meaningful for the Essays to be set on the following topics:
Hitler's Germany
Cold War and its Manifestation (Start of War and Cuban Missile Crisis)
which is very different from what many schools thought would come out:
Impact of World War I
Stalin's Soviet Union
Such meaningful assessment makes History more effective in assessing Humanities than Social Studies.
An important note is that there are misconception that Cold War topics is more harder than than of Crisis topics. This is brainwashed to students by teachers and convincing them not to study Cold War for the O Level. This SHOULD depend on the students and their choices and not forcing them to study the Crisis which is easier in the Cohort. Some advice:
Crisis topics are more flexible and can be set on anything and endpoint. The issue can change any time for Cambridge Exams. So, if you like, you can always study the description first where you can write in the paper, and then spend 10 minutes to plan and write the explanation after the description.
Cold War topics have a field more similar and close to Social Studies. The issues are more predictable and the links can be prepared and memorised and written in the exam more easily than Crisis topics. The links however are longer and complex than Crisis topics.
Both books have their boons and banes, so the decision of which one to study should depend on the student own free will and not forcing.
Hope that my comment for the History Paper syncs in effectively with the general comments...
Comments on this year's paper
I am rather disappointed by MOE for the Social Studies Paper. The Question was too predictable and meritocracy is not seen or reflected in the paper. Hard Work cannot be seen in Combined Humanities if one half of the weightage of its marks is based on 'spotting' and laziness. Singapore setters should learn from the Cambridge Setters and set paper that are meaningful as seen in the History Papers.
I was impressed by Cambridge Assessment for History Elective, the paper showcased their professionalism and experience in setting papers. The paper was much more meaningful and far better than the Social Studies paper in testing the skills in Humanities.
Tips for 2016 Cohort
I cannot provide much tips on what will come out for next year's examination. However, the GOLDEN RULE IS:
Whatever your SS teachers tell you to study for SS, study and will come out one.
Whatever your History teachers tell you to study for History Elective, study everything else.
Specifically for History Elective, spend at least 15 minutes for the Evaluation question that will definitely come out for the exam based on the syllabus. Evaluate all sources given for the statement of whether you support or not support and 8 marks is a giveaway to you. Your must evaluate ALL SOURCES SET.
All in All
Based on reliable sources (my teachers), the Combined Humanities is being revised of its syllabus and the pilot SBCS and SEQ are being phrased out as separate section for SS and a slight change for History. I hope that through the changes, 'spotting' and hence unfairness will not be seen in Humanities and make it more meaningful and less redundant.I hope that MOE would make the subject that it invented uniquely for Singapore meaningful and not be unfair of its candidates and uphold meritocracy, which is one of the learning objective of SS as well.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST
If you have any questions for the Combined Humanities paper this year or need your assignments for Combined Humanities or ANY OTHER SUBJECT to be marked, reply by commenting on this post or email me!!
THANKS
Sunday, 22 November 2015
Friday, 13 November 2015
Review on 2015 O Level English 1128 Papers
This year's O Level English proved to be an interesting one. The scope of assessment that candidates were exposed to was of high standards and demand. Based on the papers, especially Paper 3 (Listening), I would expect that SEAB would set a much higher standard paper for 2016.
Paper 1 (Writing)
This proved to be interesting and a disadvantage for much candidates. Many did not anticipate the Article to come out for Situational Writing. However, it should be noted that format has no significant impact in the scoring of the Writing itself. What is more significant is that an Article should have a tone and style of writing that is similar to a speech, humorous, engaging and one that makes the reader personally involved.
Therefore, candidates should not be stumbled by the format that one does not get into interaction with, but you should be able to manipulate to any quirky format that you have not given and give the tone and objective that is stated in the situation write-up explicitly by the Section itself. The questions that were set were similar to that of 2013. 1 Reflective-Descriptive Mixed Text, 3 Expository.
This proved to be a section that was highly anticipated by candidates and well enjoyed.
It was of disadvantage to centres which convinced students that One Word Topic will come out by setting it in the Preliminary Examination, even though it is stated clearly in the 1128 Syllabus that One Word Topic will not be set. Many thought that the Questions were straightforward and easily managed, writing lengthy essays. It is HIGHLY INAPPROPRIATE to do so as 1128 Syllabus focuses more on language rather than content. If one write a wonderful essay with fantastic content that is well received, this candidate will not fare much (maximum 20) if there are a lot of grammatical errors in the essay. In conclusion, despite the straightforwardness of the question, just 4 main points are needed for the essay. DON'T OVERWRITE.
My Comments and Hopes for 2016 O Level Candidates : I thought that this paper was straightforward and easy. Article was well received by me as I had studied the format accordingly. This was easy to handle and I wrote a splendid writing that linked and amplified all of the required points. For Writing, I hate Expository. So, I did Question 1, which is on the Possession that I cherish the most. Splendid essay I suppose, as It contained a hidden message that I hope the Cambridge Markers can notice in my essay.
I think that the following format of examination would come out for 2016 O Level 1128/01:
2 Expository 2 Narrative/Reflective Mixed
Email as Situational Writing.
Paper 2 (Comprehension)
This proved to be a highly straightforward and standard Comprehension paper. The Standard and Level of answering was similar to that of 2014. The amount of quote questions was highly not predicted and too much of a percentage. This is because of the need for question that can distinguish the good and the best students. Moreover, the Summary was too easy of a task and the only thing that can distinguish the students is the usage of Language Marks, which many not seem to prefer to do so.
Section A was a highly unanticipated section. More than half of the total marks were for quoting! That makes the section unpredictable and not reasonable for a meaningful assessment of students' English Abilities.
Section B was a straightforward section with several tricks and treats along the way. The fact that the answers can be stated/implied from the text makes the entire section bearable.
Section C was an easy section with many students in my school being able to score 9-10 marks. The Summary was easy to organise and condense to 80 words, with the hardest part being the Language (writing in own words), which is mainly 3 marks worth.
Hopes for 2016 Candidature : Visual Text for 2016 is predicted to have little/no quote questions. Narrative is predicted to have many OWN WORDS questions and INFERENTIAL QUESTION. Summary should be one that focuses mainly on two contrasting issues, like advantages and disadvantages, etc.
Paper 3 (Listening)
This proved to be a highly difficult paper for this year's candidature, mainly because for Note Taking. However, it should be noted that Cambridge has made attempts to slow down the speed of talking in the examination, in comparison to that of 2013 and 2014. Many said that it was hard because they had to copy large chunks of text. Many may have heard from their teacher in regards to the Examiner's Report or whatsoever, that Cambridge is VERY strict in the marking of Listening. This can be taken as a fact, but if you copy word from word from the audio player, there is a high possibility that you cannot copy the entire structure and make expression errors.
Advice for Listening : DO NOT COPY WORD FROM WORD. Rather, take notes as you listen to the recordings for Part 4 and 5. Do not attempt the question first. Take note of the important keywords from EVERY sentence and write it in pencil somewhere away from the blanks you needs to fill in. For Part 4, listen to the recording again and with eye on the notes, fill in the keywords that best suits the blank while strengthening the point with the replay of the recording. This is highly effective.
For Part 5, the Speaker will speak especially and obviously slowly for the answers to the six questions. Take notice of these decrease in speed and copy it word from word, which is extremely easy to do so due to the decrease in speed, at a place away from the blank. After the entire recording, since it is only heard once, write it using the 2 minutes that is provided to look through your answers.
GOLDEN RULE--> The 2 minutes is the golden 2 minutes. Use this to fill in the blank or strengthen the point in Part 4 and 5. Write your alphabets and ticks properly and adjust accordingly in the 2 minutes. You should be aiming for 30/30 for Listening.
Paper 1 (Writing)
This proved to be interesting and a disadvantage for much candidates. Many did not anticipate the Article to come out for Situational Writing. However, it should be noted that format has no significant impact in the scoring of the Writing itself. What is more significant is that an Article should have a tone and style of writing that is similar to a speech, humorous, engaging and one that makes the reader personally involved.
Therefore, candidates should not be stumbled by the format that one does not get into interaction with, but you should be able to manipulate to any quirky format that you have not given and give the tone and objective that is stated in the situation write-up explicitly by the Section itself. The questions that were set were similar to that of 2013. 1 Reflective-Descriptive Mixed Text, 3 Expository.
This proved to be a section that was highly anticipated by candidates and well enjoyed.
It was of disadvantage to centres which convinced students that One Word Topic will come out by setting it in the Preliminary Examination, even though it is stated clearly in the 1128 Syllabus that One Word Topic will not be set. Many thought that the Questions were straightforward and easily managed, writing lengthy essays. It is HIGHLY INAPPROPRIATE to do so as 1128 Syllabus focuses more on language rather than content. If one write a wonderful essay with fantastic content that is well received, this candidate will not fare much (maximum 20) if there are a lot of grammatical errors in the essay. In conclusion, despite the straightforwardness of the question, just 4 main points are needed for the essay. DON'T OVERWRITE.
My Comments and Hopes for 2016 O Level Candidates : I thought that this paper was straightforward and easy. Article was well received by me as I had studied the format accordingly. This was easy to handle and I wrote a splendid writing that linked and amplified all of the required points. For Writing, I hate Expository. So, I did Question 1, which is on the Possession that I cherish the most. Splendid essay I suppose, as It contained a hidden message that I hope the Cambridge Markers can notice in my essay.
I think that the following format of examination would come out for 2016 O Level 1128/01:
2 Expository 2 Narrative/Reflective Mixed
Email as Situational Writing.
Paper 2 (Comprehension)
This proved to be a highly straightforward and standard Comprehension paper. The Standard and Level of answering was similar to that of 2014. The amount of quote questions was highly not predicted and too much of a percentage. This is because of the need for question that can distinguish the good and the best students. Moreover, the Summary was too easy of a task and the only thing that can distinguish the students is the usage of Language Marks, which many not seem to prefer to do so.
Section A was a highly unanticipated section. More than half of the total marks were for quoting! That makes the section unpredictable and not reasonable for a meaningful assessment of students' English Abilities.
Section B was a straightforward section with several tricks and treats along the way. The fact that the answers can be stated/implied from the text makes the entire section bearable.
Section C was an easy section with many students in my school being able to score 9-10 marks. The Summary was easy to organise and condense to 80 words, with the hardest part being the Language (writing in own words), which is mainly 3 marks worth.
Hopes for 2016 Candidature : Visual Text for 2016 is predicted to have little/no quote questions. Narrative is predicted to have many OWN WORDS questions and INFERENTIAL QUESTION. Summary should be one that focuses mainly on two contrasting issues, like advantages and disadvantages, etc.
Paper 3 (Listening)
This proved to be a highly difficult paper for this year's candidature, mainly because for Note Taking. However, it should be noted that Cambridge has made attempts to slow down the speed of talking in the examination, in comparison to that of 2013 and 2014. Many said that it was hard because they had to copy large chunks of text. Many may have heard from their teacher in regards to the Examiner's Report or whatsoever, that Cambridge is VERY strict in the marking of Listening. This can be taken as a fact, but if you copy word from word from the audio player, there is a high possibility that you cannot copy the entire structure and make expression errors.
Advice for Listening : DO NOT COPY WORD FROM WORD. Rather, take notes as you listen to the recordings for Part 4 and 5. Do not attempt the question first. Take note of the important keywords from EVERY sentence and write it in pencil somewhere away from the blanks you needs to fill in. For Part 4, listen to the recording again and with eye on the notes, fill in the keywords that best suits the blank while strengthening the point with the replay of the recording. This is highly effective.
For Part 5, the Speaker will speak especially and obviously slowly for the answers to the six questions. Take notice of these decrease in speed and copy it word from word, which is extremely easy to do so due to the decrease in speed, at a place away from the blank. After the entire recording, since it is only heard once, write it using the 2 minutes that is provided to look through your answers.
GOLDEN RULE--> The 2 minutes is the golden 2 minutes. Use this to fill in the blank or strengthen the point in Part 4 and 5. Write your alphabets and ticks properly and adjust accordingly in the 2 minutes. You should be aiming for 30/30 for Listening.
Thursday, 12 November 2015
Answers to 2015 5158/01 Biology
1. D
2. C
3. B
4. B
5. B
6. B
7. D
8. B
9. D
10. C
11. B
12. C
13. C
14. B
15. B
16. A
17. D
18. C
19. C
20. C
21. B
22. D
23. B
24. A
25. D
26. A
27. C
28. B
29. A
30. D
31. B
32. B
33. B
34. A
35. A
36. D
37. A
38. A
39. A
40. B
Thursday, 5 November 2015
Answers to 2015 O Level Physics 5059/01
General Certificate of Education
Ordinary Level
Physics (SPA) 5059/01, Singapore
2015 Paper 1 Answers
|
Question
|
Answer
|
Remarks
|
|
1
|
C
|
Anticipated to be a wrongly answered question by the candidature.
These two objects are the smallest and biggest object in the universe.
Therefore, atom is nanometer.
Circumference of earth is Giga.
Therefore, diameter is Mega since A=πr2
|
|
2
|
D
|
Draw out the vector diagram. That would make it easier to get the
answers.
|
|
3
|
D
|
|
|
4
|
D
|
TYS Question
|
|
5
|
B
|
This asks on Newton’s Third Law of Motion
|
|
6
|
C
|
|
|
7
|
D
|
|
|
8
|
C
|
Inertia resists the change. Since inertia is affected directly by
mass, mass is the answer.
|
|
9
|
C
|
|
|
10
|
D
|
|
|
11
|
D
|
|
|
12
|
B
|
|
|
13
|
A
|
Principle of Conservation of Energy is tested here.
|
|
14
|
B
|
|
|
15
|
A
|
|
|
16
|
B
|
|
|
17
|
A
|
Some may be careless and pick D. The question wants students to
identify which is the best heat radiator, not the best heat retainer.
|
|
18
|
A
|
|
|
19
|
B
|
|
|
20
|
A
|
|
|
21
|
C
|
|
|
22
|
A
|
1 minuteà12
1sà0.2
Therefore, number of complete wave per second =0.2
|
|
23
|
C
|
|
|
24
|
C
|
|
|
25
|
A
|
TYS Question
|
|
26
|
B
|
|
|
27
|
B
|
|
|
28
|
A
|
Some may get C, if no regarding the prefixes carefully.
|
|
29
|
A
|
|
|
30
|
A
|
|
|
31
|
C
|
|
|
32
|
B
|
|
|
33
|
C
|
|
|
34
|
C
|
When light intensity increase, resistance decreases.
Therefore, current increases since R=V/I
Overall V decreases, hence voltmeter reading decreases.
|
|
35
|
B
|
|
|
36
|
D
|
|
|
37
|
C
|
 |
|
38
|
D
|
|
|
39
|
A
|
Careless mistake made when current is multiplied by 20 instead of
divided by 20.
|
|
40
|
D
|
Period is taken from the start to the end of the wave.
|
Monday, 2 November 2015
Virtual Marker
Hi All
Have you even dreamt of having a virtual marker? Did you ever wanted to have a person which can mark script accurately for All Subjects?
Look no further, if you are
->Studying the Singapore Education System
-> Need Specific Comments for your essays and answers
-> A Primary OR Secondary School Student
As a Secondary School student graduating next Friday from O Level, I am a very reliable markers of PSLE, N Level and O Level scripts.
Look no further! Just email me your essays or solutions to a question so that I can award you an accurate mark for it!
My email is littlebunniehellokitty@gmail.com.
👎 I will NOT help you do your homework, just mark it only.
Limited from now to 31 December 2015, 11.59pm
Sunday, 1 November 2015
Answers to GCE O Level
Oh BTW I would be posting the answers of what I think are the answers for thi year O Level, for those subject that is very undermined, like Chinese and Social Studies.
Do edit my answers if your answer is more appropriate.
Wait for 13 November.
Do edit my answers if your answer is more appropriate.
Wait for 13 November.
GCE O Level 2015
The 2015 GCE O Level is coming to an end, with all of the other but still miscellaneous thing like MCQ still not yet attempted.
I shall be reviving this blog at the end of the Biology Paper on 13 November. Then I will post some very important information for the O Level candidate for 2016.
Instead of just talking about the things that about examinations and its shortcoming, I shall be talking about things of a lighter heart, like schooling life and the ups and down all Singaporean student WILL CONFIRM PLUS CHOP experience at least ONCE.
For all those O Level or even A Level students still fighting, don't give up!!!! Don't procrastinate or be complacent. Study till you are satisfied for this last lap of the national examination!
If you require any of the writing paper or answer booklet (like for Mother Tongue or foalscape that is used for this year's examination) that are of the same format of the national examinations, an example of any examination materials that you are going to use for the national examination or any advice on the prediction of your grade for your examination, feel free to request below or write to me via email: littlebunniehellokitty@gmail.com and I will send it to you ASAP. I quite free now....
BYE!!!
The Online Student
I shall be reviving this blog at the end of the Biology Paper on 13 November. Then I will post some very important information for the O Level candidate for 2016.
Instead of just talking about the things that about examinations and its shortcoming, I shall be talking about things of a lighter heart, like schooling life and the ups and down all Singaporean student WILL CONFIRM PLUS CHOP experience at least ONCE.
For all those O Level or even A Level students still fighting, don't give up!!!! Don't procrastinate or be complacent. Study till you are satisfied for this last lap of the national examination!
If you require any of the writing paper or answer booklet (like for Mother Tongue or foalscape that is used for this year's examination) that are of the same format of the national examinations, an example of any examination materials that you are going to use for the national examination or any advice on the prediction of your grade for your examination, feel free to request below or write to me via email: littlebunniehellokitty@gmail.com and I will send it to you ASAP. I quite free now....
BYE!!!
The Online Student
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