2016/17
Subject Choices for
the New Senior Secondary Curriculum
Chinese YMCA Secondary School
Forward
The New Senior Secondary (NSS) academic structure and curriculum have been implemented. The NSS is a more broad-based curriculum with more choices to suit individual aptitudes and interests. Chinese YMCA Secondary School has been in full swing preparing for the NSS. This booklet provides details of our NSS planning.
General Information
The Education Bureau (EDB) has completed the final versions of the NSS curriculum and assessment guides. The relevant committees have also finalized the assessment frameworks which give detailed information regarding the requirements of public assessment in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination.1 The HKDSE will use the standards-referenced reporting to report student performance. The standards-referencing reporting aims at reporting candidates' results against a set of prescribed levels of achievement reflecting the performance of typical candidates at those levels.
For each of the levels, a set of descriptors will describe what the typical candidate has achieved at the given level. Candidates’ results indicate the standards achieved in terms of knowledge and skills regardless of the performance of other candidates taking the same examination. This reporting system enables stakeholders to understand explicitly what the candidates know and can do when they have achieved a certain level of performance.
The results will be expressed in terms of five levels of performance, of which 5 is the highest and 1 the lowest. The Level 5 candidates with the best performance will be awarded a 5**, and the next top group awarded a 5*. Performance below Level 1 will be labeled as "Unclassified".
The Heads of Universities Committee have also announced the general entrance requirements and programme specific requirements for admission to undergraduate degree programmes of the eight universities in Hong Kong in the 2016/17 academic year.2 Most programmes will consider the results of 4 core subjects (Chinese Language, English Language, Mathematics & Liberal Studies), and 1 or 2 elective(s).
1 http://www.hkeaa.edu.hk/en/hkdse/assessment/assessment_framework/
2 Extracted from http://www.jupas.edu.hk/en/about-jupas-participating-institutions/
Our NSS Plan
We aim at providing a balanced NSS curriculum in accordance with our school’s vision and mission, students’ interests and aptitudes, and the entrance requirements of the universities.
In the NSS, all Hong Kong students are required to take 4 core subjects (Chinese Language, English Language, Liberal Studies and Mathematics) plus 1 to 3 elective subjects offered by their schools.
In order to cater for the different needs, interests and aptitudes of our students, we propose to provide a more flexible and diversified curriculum which includes 13 elective subjects with about 350 combinations. All S4 students are required to take 3 electives so that they can better explore their interests and develop their aptitudes in the first year of the NSS. In S5/S6, they can take 1 to 3 electives according to their abilities in order to achieve their best possible results to maximize their chances of acquiring a place in their desired universities. Below are the subjects offered in our NSS curriculum:
˙ 4 Core Subjects
Chinese Language (CL)
English Language (EL)
Liberal Studies (LS)
Mathematics3 (MA)
13 Elective Subjects4
No. Learning Area Subject Abbreviation 1
Science
Biology BI
2 Chemistry CM
3 Physics PH
4 Language Chinese Literature CT
5
Personal, Social
& Humanities
Chinese History CH
6 Economics EC
7 Geography GE
8 History HT
9 Tourism and Hospitality Studies THS
10
Technology
Business, Accounting & Financial Studies BAFS
11 Health Management and Social Care HMSC
12 Information & Communication Technology ICT
13 Arts Visual Arts VA
3 Extended Mathematics will be offered in the 2nd term of S4.
4 Subjects will be offered only if no less than 10 students take them.
Student Option Forms
To enable us to best match the subjects and your child’s need, please complete ALL boxes in Form A and fill in the appropriate boxes in Forms B and C.
Form A: Options according to the order of subject of preference
Please put the numbers from 1 to 19 to indicate your order of preference.
(1 = 1st choice)
Subject
Medium of Instruction Order
(Put 1 to 19) English Chinese
Biology
生物
Chemistry
Physics
物理
中國文學
中國歷史
Economics
經濟
Geography
地理
History
歷史
旅遊與款待
Business, Accounting & Financial Studies
健康管理與社會關懷
Information Communication & Technology
資訊及通訊科技
視覺藝術
SAMPLE
Form B: Preference for three science subjects
Please indicate whether you will like to take THREE science subjects or not by putting a in the appropriate box below:
I will take THREE science subjects. (Biology/Chemistry/Physics)
I will not take THREE science subjects. (Biology/Chemistry/Physics)Form C: Extended Mathematics
l will not take the module of extended mathematics.
I will take the module of extended mathematics.Please indicate which module of extended mathematics that you would like to take by putting a in the appropriate box below.
Module 1: Calculus and Statistics
Module 2: Algebra and CalculusS4 Subject Combinations (2016/17)
All S4 students are expected to take 4 core subjects plus 3 elective subjects.
We will finalize the subject combinations (2016/17) based on the results of the students’ choices.
Allocation of Elective Subjects to Students
We will generate a ranking order of the S3 students according to their overall academic performance in S3. As recommended by the EDB, the weights for the subjects of Chinese Language, English Language and Mathematics are 3 and all other subjects are 1. The order of allocation of elective subjects to students will be based on this ranking order.
SAMPLE
Tips for Students
It is important to choose the subjects carefully as your decisions can have a major effect on what you do in the future. Although there are many factors to consider, choosing your course of study can be made easier if you go about the task calmly and logically following a set of planned steps. A right decision is an informed decision.
Overall plan
As an overall plan, it is suggested that you choose subjects:
• you enjoy;
• in which you have achieved good results;
• which reflect your interests and abilities;
• which help you reach your career goals.
Steps to make an informed decision
1. Check out your career implications - will you keep your options open?
Ensure you select the prerequisite subjects required for your preferred university’s courses. Whatever you want to do now, you will probably end up changing your mind loads of times before you find the right job. That is why it is important to keep the range of subjects balanced so that you will have more options when you come to choose courses and jobs in the future.
2. Choose a combination of subjects that suit your abilities and interests.
Think about your abilities – can you do well in these subjects?
Think about your interest levels – will you have the motivation?
It is important to think about your favourite subjects and best subjects. It is also important to think about your skills and interests. Everyone has different skills and interests. Some people have good communication skills and are good at writing and speaking. Other people have good numerical skills and are good at problem solving.
3. Weigh up any differences between interests, abilities and career ideas.
4. Talk it over with parents, teachers and people who know you well.
Consider others’ opinions of the subjects but do not follow them indiscriminately. Do not select subjects simply because you want to sit next to your friends.
Parents’ Help
Parents can help, even though it may seem that education and what it has to offer have changed a lot!
Things parents can do to help:
Encourage your child to take responsibility for their choice; to think things through carefully and to ask for help if they need it.
Encourage a choice based on ability and interest rather than gender or what their friends are planning.
Encourage discussion; listen to their views and how they see their future.
Research shows that children look to their parents for advice on career choices more than you might think!
Encourage an open mind about future careers. While having a career idea can help motivate study, many young people take time to develop their ideas. Choosing a group of subjects which keeps options open allows the freedom to change.
General Entrance Requirements of the Universities in Hong Kong5
The entrance requirements of faculties and universities have to be taken into serious consideration when making a wise choice. A comparison of the general entrance requirements of the universities in Hong Kong are tabled as follows:
Institutions General Entrance Requirements6
Faculty/Programme Entrance Requirements
The University of Hong Kong
English Language: Level 3 Chinese Language: Level 3 Mathematics: Level 2 Liberal Studies: Level 2
Elective Subject : Level 3 in two subjects
2 specified or unspecified subjects
The Hong Kong
University of Science&
Technology English Language: Level 3 Chinese Language: Level 3 Mathematics: Level 2 Liberal Studies: Level 2 Elective Subject : Either
(i) Level 3 in two subjects, or
(ii) Level 3 in one subject plus Level 3 in one Extended Mathematics
2 specified or unspecified subjects
The Chinese University of
Hong Kong
City University of Hong Kong
The HK Polytechnic University
English Language: Level 3 Chinese Language: Level 3 Mathematics: Level 2 Liberal Studies: Level 2
Elective Subject : Level 3 in two subjects
Remarks:
One of the elective subjects not meeting the level requirement can be substituted by M1 or M2.
2 specified or unspecified subjects
Hong Kong Baptist
University English Language: Level 3 Chinese Language: Level 3 Mathematics: Level 2 Liberal Studies: Level 2
Elective Subject : Level 2 in one subject
Most programmes require 1 specified or unspecified subject. Some
programmes require 2 specified or unspecified subjects
Lingnan University
1 specified or unspecified subject
The HK Institute of Education
5 Extracted from http://www.jupas.edu.hk/en/about-jupas-participating-institutions/
Information posted on the websites of the respective universities prevails.
6 Individual programmes may have additional requirement(s)
When it comes to details, your child may have to know which subject is actually counted as relevant in enrolling for a specific faculty. Take the Faculty of Engineering as an example7:
Program No. of Electives
Specific Subject Requirements
Preferred elective
subjects Remarks The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Engineering 2
Level 2 from 1 of the following electives:
Bio, Chem, Phy, Combined Science, M1, M2
Bio, Chem, Phy, Combined Science, ICT, Design and Applied Technology
Mathematics in Level 3
The University of Hong Kong
Engineering 2
One of the electives with Level 3 from Phy or Combined Science with Phy component
Level 3 in Extended Mathematics (Module 1 or Module 2)
Mathematics in Level 3
Extended Mathematics (Modules 1 or 2) is usually required for engineering programmes.
General faculty / programme entrance requirements
Faculty / Program Subject (necessary subject) Medicine / Pharmacy 1 science subject (Chem)
Chinese Medicine 1 science subject (Chem) Engineering 1 science subjects (Phy)
+ Mathematics (Extended Module 1 or 2)
Nursing 1 science subject (Chem / Bio)
Actuarial Science Mathematics (Extended Module 1 or 2)
Natural Science 1 science subject (Bio / Chem / Phy / M1 / M2)
Social Science --
Law -- English- Level 5; Chinese Language-Level 4
Arts subjects --
7 Extracted from http://www.jupas.edu.hk/en/about-jupas-participating-institutions/
Schedule of the NSS Plan for S3 Parents/Students
09/12/2015 (Wed) S3 Students meeting: NSS subject introduction 11/12/2015 (Fri) S3 Parents meeting: NSS subject introduction (Distribution of the subject’s preference)
29/04/2016 (Fri) Deadline for collection of the reply of the preference 05/07/2016 (Tue) Announcement of the allocation of Options
(After the final examination)
Schedule of Careers Talks on NSS Elective Subject Choices
Parents are welcome to attend for better understanding of individual subjects.
(Venue : Room 2010, 2/F, CYMCASS)
日 期 時 間 科 目
07/03/2016 (一)
下午 4:00-4:30 生物
+
Biology下午 4:30-5:00 健康管理與社會關懷
08/03/2016 (二)
下午 4:00-4:30 中國文學
下午 4:30-5:00 地理
+
Geography09/03/2016 (三)
下午 4:00-4:30 Business, Accounting & Financial Studies 下午 4:30-5:00 經濟
+
Economics10/03/2016 (四)
下午 4:00-4:30 物理
+
Physics下午 4:30-5:00 Chemistry
14/03/2016 (一)
下午 4:00-4:30 歷史
+
History+
中國歷史下午 4:30-5:00 旅遊與款待
15/03/2016 (二)
下午 4:00-4:30 視覺藝術
下午 4:30-5:00 資訊及通訊科技
+
ICTStudent Option Forms
Name: Class: ( ) Please indicate if you will continue to study in Chinese YMCA Secondary School in September 2016.
I will continue to study in CYMCASS in September 2016.
I will not be studying in CYMCASS in September 2016 as I will study in__________________________________________________________
I have not decided if I will be studying in CYMCASS in September 2016.To enable us to best match the subjects and your child’s need, please complete ALL boxes in Form A and fill in the appropriate boxes in Forms B and C.
Forms A , B and C, please refer to pages 3 and 4.
Form A: Options according to the order of subject of preference
Form B: Preference for three science subjects
Form C: Extended Mathematics
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