Have you encountered this situation before? You go on a search for the most suitable private tutor in Singapore for your child, and you think you have found THE ONE. But right before signing your child up, the tutor admits that they are not familiar with the syllabus in your child’s school.
While majority of schools in Singapore have quite a standardised curriculum, many of the independent schools (many of which also run the Integrated Programme) have the flexibility to design their own curriculum – which may be more difficult, more varied, or structured in a different way from the mainstream O Level curriculum.
Some of our students’ parents have especially encountered this when looking for Lower Sec Science Tuition for ACS (Independent) boys. Why? Unlike practically all other schools in Singapore which splits lower secondary combined Science into the three sciences – Chemistry, Physics, and Biology – ACS (I) organises the Science subject into two – Life Sciences and Physical Sciences.
How is Lower Sec Science taught in ACS(I)?
Secondary 1 and 2 students in both the Express and IP streams in ACS(I) will take both Physical Sciences and Life Sciences. This is the equivalent of Combined Sciences in lower secondary school in most other schools.
Physical Sciences falls under the Physics department, but also integrates Chemistry topics into its syllabus.
Life Sciences is mainly Biology, but also includes some elements of Chemistry in explaining concepts like Photosynthesis, Respiration, Nutrition, and Cellular Transport.
While the topics are quite similar to O Level topics (at an introductory level), the way the topics are organised and taught are quite different. Hence, ACS(I) students will find it difficult to attend any group tuition classes with students from other schools.
From Sec 3 onwards, however, the Sciences in ACS(I) will be split into the classic combo of Chemistry, Physics, and Biology. Students can choose at least 2 Sciences to study at O Level or IP in upper Secondary.
How do we conduct tuition for ACS(I) Lower Sec Science?
Exclusive classes
As we have established, the differences in the lower sec Science curriculum in ACS(I) makes it challenging for ACS students to join a group class with students from other schools. To address this, we organise exclusive classes for only ACS(I) boys so that our tutors can adhere closely to the ACS(I) Science curriculum.
Our ACS(I) science tuition classes follow the topics sequence conducted in school, and sets aside sessions for reviewing previous topics according to any upcoming tests and assessments. This results in a much more tailored experience rather than a disjointed one when learning with students from other schools.
Experienced tutors
To ensure our tutors can provide the best possible teaching, we have tutors in our team who are well-versed with the ACS(I) curriculum. These include tutors with many years of experience teaching ACS(I) boys either as a private tutor or school teacher.
Our experience goes beyond understanding the syllabus and standards of difficulty expected by the school. These experienced tutors are also able to build good rapport with tween and teen boys who may be lacking motivation or still finding their footing in the new school system.
Excellence
As a tuition centre focusing on holistic excellence, we emphasise good grades as much as we emphasise on appreciating the learning process. We take an individualised approach to learning, offering personalised advice and resources catered to each student’s learning stage. We also keep in close contact with our students’ parents, regularly providing updates on their child’s progress.
It is our mission to conduct lively and interactive lessons which students are likely to enjoy and remember, and we also motivate students through in-class friendly competitions, encouragement by our tutors, and rewards for good progress and achievements.
Conclusion
Being a student in ACS(I) may pose some challenges for selecting a suitable tutor, but we are here to make things easier for you! With our exclusive ACS(I) classes, experienced tutors, and focus on all-rounded excellence, we ensure that ACS(I) students receive the best level of attention and guidance they can get at Future Academy.
We are here to end your frustrations with tuition-hunting and poor tuition experiences. Get in touch with us today to arrange your IP Science tuition class with us!