What it can help is that It will aid students aiming for SAP Schools with an addition of up to 3 points (3 if Distinction, 2 if merit and.1 for pass).
The Special Assistance Plan (Abbreviation: SAP; Chinese: 特别辅助计划) is a programme in Singapore established in 1979, which caters to academically strong students who excel in both their mother tongue as well as English. Here is the list of SAP schools:
- Anglican High School
- Catholic High School
- CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School
- Chung Cheng High School (Main)
- Dunman High School
- Hwa Chong Institution (High School Section)
- Maris Stella High School
- Nanyang Girls’ High School
- River Valley High School
- Nan Hua High School
SAP Primary school typically offers Higher Chinese Language from Primary 1 to 4 while mainstream school only provide Higher Chinese Language from Primary 5 onwards. Here is a list of SAP Primary schools:-
- Ai Tong School 爱同学校
- Catholic High School(Primary) 公教中学(附小)
- CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls' School (Primary) 圣尼各拉女校(小学部)
- Maha Bodhi School 菩提学校
- Maris Stella High School (Primary) 海星中学(附小)
- Nan Hua Primary School 南华小学
- Nanyang Primary School 南洋小学
- Pei Chun Public School 公立培群学校
- Red Swastika School 卍慈学校
- Tao Nan School 道南学校
- Holy Innocents’ Primary School 圣婴小学
- Hong Wen School 宏文学校
- Kong Hwa School 光华学校
- Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School 培华长老会小学
- Poi Ching School 培青学校
- Henry Park Primary School 恒力小学
From Primary 5 onwards, Higher Chinese are offered to those who can achieve at least a 75 in Chinese Language in Primary 4 and Parents can optin if their child did not meet the grades.
However if student still cannot attain 50 points for Higher Chinese language by end of Primary 5, they would have to drop Higher Chinese.
The content of Higher Chinese is simliar to Chinese, except for the few differences, First students are exposed to 50% more vocabulary and are expected to attempt level 4-5 higher order thinking questions.
Level 4 is all about Analysis and Level 5 is about Evaluating the Text. Higher Chinese Test papers have a large chuck of points in Comprehension (about 70 out of 90 marks are scored from Comprehensions questions.) and due to the amount of points in each questions, Higher Chinese Comprehension questions carries 3-5 marks per question.
Higher Chinese Composition does not involved pictures anymore, its themed composition and Completing the composition with an opening. Both requires students to verbally illustrate their stories with beautiful yet complex words and phrases.
Higher Chinese can help one cope with requirements of Secondary School Chinese which is similar to Higher Chinese Format.And Higher Chinese may help one get a better understanding of the Chinese Culture and Language.
In PSLE, Higher Chinese does taking 2 papers in HCL, paper 1 and paper 2. And it involves a lot of work to score in this subject.
In conclusion, taking Higher Chinese is good for your child but that is if your child is willing to put in the hard work to handle the higher workload of the extra subject.
