hello.
i need some real serious advice here.
i took my o levels when i was 17 years old back in 2007,and failed. with only 2 passes (?) C5 in english and chinese..
at 18,i decided to go NS first,and served my 2 years
at 20,i ord. went out to work .. now i am 22..
my income is quite low,when i am working because i have no cert and i can only work as odd job,and i dont come from a good family,and try my best not to burden them with finance issues..
being 22 now,i hope to work 1 more year to save money of course,and study again when i reach 23,so that i can get a better job,with a better future.
but i dont know how to go about it,do i retake O level or go ITE?
i have not pick up a pen for about 5 years already,if i retake O level,what kind of subject do i need to go for a course in poly? and if i go ITE,it takes 1 extra year compare to pte o level..
also , being so old now, is there a age gap between me and those teens.. and those full time courses,does it mean that i have to be in school for a long period of time,before i can be free,and hopefully find a part time job to cope?
yeah its tough and hardcore,but i really need a cert cause,i dont want to be like this forever with no breakthrough..
:( its mental and emotional turmoil everynight i worry for my future.
Retaking 'O' levels as a private candidate (if possible, self-study while working part-time, if full time work doesn't allow you time to study) and then moving onto a diploma in one of the polys, is your best forseeable path now.
If you wish to have as many poly course available to you, take triple pure science and double mathematics, and do well (minimum 'B' grade) for every subject. However, this certainly won't be easy, especially since as you've mentioned, you don't have the finances for tuition and have to rely on self-study.
But when there's a will, there's a way. And you're certainly professing the will now, so (even if no one else makes a way for you), promise yourself you'll persevere no matter what and you make a way for yourself.
yeah thats why i will work for another year and go study next year,that way i have enough money to pay for tution fee.. but having not studied for about half a decade. i totally forgot what i learnt in sec school. now,i can only do simple equation such as 1+1 = 2 , pri 6 standard (i am serious).
and will my C5 chinese and english affect me in anyway from entering poly?
i am considering retaking O level maths,combined science (phy/bio).. is this enough for me to enter an engineering course? and what grades should i get to guarantee a sure admission
go ite. O is not for u trust me
or maybe a private diploma
Originally posted by syrax:hello.
i need some real serious advice here.
i took my o levels when i was 17 years old back in 2007,and failed. with only 2 passes (?) C5 in english and chinese..
at 18,i decided to go NS first,and served my 2 years
at 20,i ord. went out to work .. now i am 22..
my income is quite low,when i am working because i have no cert and i can only work as odd job,and i dont come from a good family,and try my best not to burden them with finance issues..
being 22 now,i hope to work 1 more year to save money of course,and study again when i reach 23,so that i can get a better job,with a better future.
but i dont know how to go about it,do i retake O level or go ITE?
i have not pick up a pen for about 5 years already,if i retake O level,what kind of subject do i need to go for a course in poly? and if i go ITE,it takes 1 extra year compare to pte o level..
also , being so old now, is there a age gap between me and those teens.. and those full time courses,does it mean that i have to be in school for a long period of time,before i can be free,and hopefully find a part time job to cope?
yeah its tough and hardcore,but i really need a cert cause,i dont want to be like this forever with no breakthrough..
dear syrax,you should retake your O level.its very impt to for the employer to see u have a full certificate with the credit passes .take a poly course in engineering .you can earn part-time in singapore .
Originally posted by syrax:yeah thats why i will work for another year and go study next year,that way i have enough money to pay for tution fee.. but having not studied for about half a decade. i totally forgot what i learnt in sec school. now,i can only do simple equation such as 1+1 = 2 , pri 6 standard (i am serious).
and will my C5 chinese and english affect me in anyway from entering poly?
i am considering retaking O level maths,combined science (phy/bio).. is this enough for me to enter an engineering course? and what grades should i get to guarantee a sure admission
Sounds like you definitely need tuition to even pass 'O' levels.
And to take engineering in the poly, you may need (you'll have to check this out yourself by visiting the poly websites) pure Physics and 'A' math (in addition to 'E' math). You should also want to take pure Chemistry if you want to be eligible for poly Chemistry based courses, eg. Chemical Engineering.
If the polys accept combined science grade for engineering courses, most likely they'll only accept it if it's an A1 or A2 grade. Even in terms of risks of eligibility, there are pros and cons with taking Pure vs Combined Science.
As for minimum 'O' level grades required for individual courses, the info should be on the poly websites as well. But there is no such thing as 'guarantee', especially for the more popular courses. If you're asking what grade you should aim for, the answer is obvious : distinction 'A' grade for every subject you sit for.
Originally posted by 91:Go ite, trust me, taking private olevel you will be wasting your one year taking private olvl. At least you go ite u learn a skills even though it is two years. While taking ite courses you can retake olvl at same time, if your olvl result good enough for poly, you can quit ite and go poly using olvl result, if olvl result cant get you a place in poly, at least u still got ite, strive for your ite result and you can use ite result to go poly.
91 has made valid points. It might be safer to go ITE rather than 'O' levels, but the 'O' level route is faster to a diploma. In other words, risk versus reward.
Ultimately, you (syrax) have to decide what's best for yourself, and take self-responsibility for your own choices.
i dont know man.. but one thing for sure, the long school hours is going to kill.. btw is it hard to achieve GPA 3.5 in ITE? O level or ITE its a very tough choice
TS ppl like us that doest study hard last time suffer at the later stage. but do believe in oneself that hard wwork will paid off 1 day.
im also same as u, i dont have a 'O" level as well, but we prove ourself by working hard and smart as well.
take a course that is link to yr job might be a good soulation as well. i dont have a "O" level even right, but i study wat is necessary for the job scope that im currently in and im earning a healthy amount that i like right now. its not more than others but im happy with myself.
there 1 friends of my that is not even N level but now he earning a healthy of 10k per month through luck and hardwork + correct decision. he use to be a small clark earning 1000 a month.
so as long as u dont gave up, there always hope.
Originally posted by Hwaimeng:TS ppl like us that doest study hard last time suffer at the later stage. but do believe in oneself that hard wwork will paid off 1 day.
im also same as u, i dont have a 'O" level as well, but we prove ourself by working hard and smart as well.
take a course that is link to yr job might be a good soulation as well. i dont have a "O" level even right, but i study wat is necessary for the job scope that im currently in and im earning a healthy amount that i like right now. its not more than others but im happy with myself.
there 1 friends of my that is not even N level but now he earning a healthy of 10k per month through luck and hardwork + correct decision. he use to be a small clark earning 1000 a month.
so as long as u dont gave up, there always hope.
True, there are many real-life examples of people around without an 'O' level cert, but earn well above 10k, 20k, 50k etc, being a successful insurance agent, property agent, entrepreneur, etc.
Certificates and paper qualifications only prepare you to be a salaried employee. Often, the most successful people are the ones whom are their own bosses, and when you're your own boss, you certainly don't care about your own paper qualifications, but you might care about the paper qualifications of your employees.
There is no right or wrong choice in life. You have to decide which path you wish to walk, and take self-responsibility for walking it.
being own boss,need to have capital.. often i think most people will work for others first before venturing out themselves.. right now i no skill no cert,no background.. and dont have that luck or talent.. sometimes,one person will work very hard,for a company,helping a company to profit,the one that gain the most advantage is the boss,then when the company is making losses,those people,such as me,will be the first one facing the cut.. i want an iron rice bowl :(
so dont think so far first.. at least i have a cert and have a safety net to catch me if i fall.. but i dont know how to do it.. i think now,if i go ITE,come out,24-25 yrs old,go poly,come out,28 years old (that makes me very very old and sad,cant compete with those 17 year old teen)
that time,i dont have a choice,i cannot study for O level,due to family prob,need come out and work.. its really really f*** up.. so people please give me some good advice,i need to steer myself back on the right path again :(
Go ITE without doubt. First thing you should think of is not about a poly, for you, a gpa of 3.5 is as hard as getting a full O level cert. Do you best there, if you can get a 3.5, congratz and move to poly; if not, at least you have an ITE diploma which allows you earn at least 1.5K per month.
Age in those insititutions are not an issue, in ITE and Poly, there are always adults learners like you, though minority.
In fact, the pain you are suffering now is the consequence of your choice 8 or 9 years ago, isn't it. Singapore is a relatively fair society, the harder you work as a student, the easier your life will be as an adult.
like this i duno how liao,ite dip,only 1.5k take away cpf all that.. duno left how much..
now my job although irregular pay,i get 700,800 or 900 dollar cash every 2 week.. (but this job no progression opportunities,and duno can last how long)
so,ITE GPA 3.5 is as hard as getting a o level cert eh? :(
i thought ITE is an easy path..
argh..
Those working harder to get into a poly after Os, can only start with a 1.6K-2K after graduation, what makes you think you should earn more than them.
The better the qualification you are holding, the brighter your furture is. Some poly graduates starts from 1.6K but can hit 4K in 5 or 6 years time. When they start to have some spare money, they may choose to upgrade their qualification so that they can advance further. You may perfer your monthly 1.5K cash for your whole life, it is your life, so the choice is yours.
CPF is not a bad thing, every $400 you pay, the employer are to deposit another $300 for you. If you do not have CPF at all, you cannot even feed yourself in your later stage of life (perhaps 20 years or even longer).
if i take the ITE path,does it mean the chances of going to uni will be low compared to the retake O level path?!
I have a friend in NTU currently who went the super long ITE-Poly-Uni route and it all depends on your discipline. I admire him even though his results aren't fantastic because of the effort he had and is still pouring in, despite being pressured by his ability to cope and also, his age concious.
from what i know according to the uni website,20% from O level and 80% from diploma results are the requirements to get into uni. so , does that mean without O level,admission to uni is hard?