NUS High School Convocation 2013

NUS High School, Class of 2013. 204 Students.

Valedictorian. Brendan's inspiring valedictorian speech is here.

Tay Eng Soon Gold Medallist

Top Academic Award 2013

Lim Jeck receiving Diploma (Distinction) from Dr Hang

Receiving Tay Eng Soon Gold Medal from Ms Indranee Rajah, Senior Minister of State for Law and Education. Ms Indranee's speech is here

Receiving Excellence Award in Mathematics

Lim Jeck, Sean and Jonathan

Lim Jeck, Mrs Shahrin (Queenstown Primary P5 & P6 form/English/Math/Science teacher)

Hall of Fame in Graduating Yearbook 2013

M13606 Class Photo

Mentor's parting words for M13606

Farewell to NUS High School of Math and Science

M08103 & M09203, with Ms Lau (Mentor)

M12506 & M13606

With Ms Beji Dass (English Teacher) and Mr Wang Haibin (Mentor)

M13606 paying tribute to Mr Wang Haibin

 

NUS High School of Math and Science, Class of 2013

Year 6 Semester 2 Progress Report

Lim Jeck's Year 6 Semester 2 results are as follows:

CM6101 Experiments in Synthetic Chemistry A
CS6102 Computer Networking A+
DV5101 Advanced Research Project -Excellent-
EL6104 Language in Society IV B+
PC6102 Modern Physics A+

Semestral Grade Point Average (GPA): 4.7
Cumulative Average Point (CAP): 4.4
Year 5 & 6 CAP: 4.6

Year 2 Semester 2 Progress Report

Lim Li's Year 2 Semester 2 results are as follows:

BL2105 Basic Animal Physiology I A-
CL2102 Chinese 2B A
CM2104 Foundation Chemistry II A+
CM2301 Kitchen Chemistry -Distinction-
CS2202 Introduction to GUI Programming A+
DV2106 Junior Mathematics Research -Merit-
EL2107 Developing Language and Literary Skills IV B+
IH2103 Conflict, Cooperation & Globalisation B
MA2113 Foundation Mathematics IV A+
PC2110 Foundational Physics II A+

Semestral Grade Point Average (GPA): 4.7 (out of 5)
Cumulative Average Point (CAP): 4.6 (out of 5)



Mentor's Remarks: Lim Li has a strong sense of curiosity and an inquisitive mind. She is an intelligent girl who is able to learn well independently. She is encouraged to have more confidence in her abilities. She is proud to represent the school in an International Math competition, which is an achievement at this age. It would be good for her to see beyond what she is achieving now and move forward to develop her strengths to seek greater achievements.
Conduct: Very Good

NTU Exam Welfare Package Goodie Bags

NTU exams are around the corner. Exam welfare package goodie bags are prepared and distributed by the various NTU student groups to students in a symbolic show of care, concern and support for the upcoming examinations. Among the items distributed are food and stationery items essential to a student’s everyday life. Lim Min has received 3 such goodie bags :)

From School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (SPMS) 

From CN Yang Scholars Programme

From NTU Student Union. The goodie bag (not shown here) contains NTUSU lecture Pads, NTUSU Clear Folders, J.Co Donuts, Coffee, Notebooks, etc.

Applying to Cambridge University

Lim Jeck has recently submitted his application to Cambridge University. As he did most of the application by himself, I am not exactly very familiar with all the application procedures. Nonetheless, I am able to gather the relevant information from websites, and I will share them (in particular, the Cambridge application process) in this post.

Due to full-time National Service commitment, Singaporean & Permanent Resident male students have to be deferred for 2 years before entering university.  I understand that the typical period of allowance for University entry deferment is 2 years for US universities, and 1 year for UK universities. However, despite the 1-year only deferment norm, I guess it is okay for graduating (Year 6/JC2) male Singaporean/PR students to submit their applications to UK universities, which from what I have observed, is not uncommon. In Lim Jeck's words, he wanted to "get the university applications done by this year" (when he is still with NUS High and has the ready guidance from the College counsellors onsite), rather than do it during his National Service.

All applicants to the University of Cambridge must complete a Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) application as well as a Cambridge Online Preliminary Application (COPA). There is an overseas application fee of £12 and £30 associated with the UCAS and COPA, respectively.

In both the UCAS application and COPA, one should indicate the Cambridge College to which one wishes to apply. There are 29 undergraduate colleges in the Cambridge University. Lectures are centralised and run at the University level, but the colleges will provide most of the accommodation for their own undergraduates and graduates, and at the undergraduate level they have responsibility for admitting students to the University and organising their tutorials/supervisions. Lim Jeck has applied to Trinity College (Math course) as it is renowned to have the best Math and Science programme among the colleges in Cambridge.

Flow of application to Cambridge. SAQ is the Supplementary Application Questionaire which has to be submitted after Cambridge has received your UCAS

Applicants have to enter their academic results (or preliminary results if the 'A' levels/IB/NUSH results are not available at the time of application), key achievements and upload their high school transcript to UCAS and COPA. Cambridge's application deadline for October 2014 intake is 20 September 2013 for those who wish to have their interviews done in Singapore, and 15 October 2013 for interviews done in Cambridge. For those opting to have their interviews done in their own country (without the need to fly to Cambridge), there is an additional overseas interview fee of £120. For Singapore, the tests and interviews will be carried out sometime between 21 October and 3 November 2013. The interview will be done at one of the four venues: ACSI, HCI, RI and Traders Hotel, and the written test is centrally held at HCI. There are different written tests depending on which course is applied, such as essays, Thinking Skills Assessment, BMAT, Cambridge Law Test, etc. For Math course (which Lim Jeck has applied), candidates do not need to write essays (phew!) but instead, they will take a 2-hr written test with questions selected from a range covering many areas of Mathematics - there are 7 questions, candidates are expected to answer the first question plus 2 out of the remaining 6 questions. For the Cambridge interview, I heard that the questions posed by the interviewer (who is a professor from the applied course) will be very much academic based (i.e. it is unlikely you will be asked, what are your strengths and weaknesses, issues of current affairs, world views). It is more to assess the applicants' potential, not so much on A-level or equivalent Math knowledge. Some typical Math interview questions can be found here.

Lim Jeck took the written test on 26 October and his interview would be on 29 October. Both are held at HCI.

The outcome of the application to Cambridge would be known in January. If you are keen to find out how many applicants normally apply to a given College for a given subject, check the Application Statistics here. The Undergraduate Admission Statistics (2012) can be found here. The Applications, Offers and Acceptance by UCAS Apply Centre (2011) can be found there - it is interesting to note that in 2011, RI had 88 applicants and 30 offers; HCI had 103 applicants and 29 offers, NUSH had 20 applicants and 6 offers.

For latest admissions statistics, refer to: http://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/apply/statistics
Look under: Applications, Offers & Acceptances by UCAS Apply Centre

Australian Math Trust Prize Presentation 2013

Lim Li won a prize award (top 0.3% in Singapore) for Australian Math Competition (AMC) Junior

Lim Jeck won a medal (1st in Singapore) for AMC Senior. It is his 4th medal in AMC.

Buffet spread for prize winners and guests. Prize presentation is held at Hwa Chong Institution auditorium.

AMC 2013 Singapore Medalists

NUSH Graduation Academic Transcript

Lim Jeck's Graduation Academic Transcript. Major CAP and Honours CAP are for Year 5&6 only; Overall CAP is for all years. He got a perfect 5 for Math and Physics. :). It is apparent from his subjects' Overall CAP that his strengths lie in Math, Physics, Computing and Chemistry and his weaknesses are in languages, humanities and the arts.

Enlistment for Full-Time National Service

Lim Jeck has just received the enlistment letter from Mindef Singapore. He will be enlisted into the Singapore Police Force (SPF), starting 10 December 2013 (duration is about 2 years).

Some differences between enlistment into Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and SPF, which I have gathered from a forum discussing full-time national service in Singapore:

Infantry / SAF:
- Only firearm you use is the SAR21 assault rifle, though you also learn about the matador (anti-tank weapon) but there's no live firing for the matador.
- Get to throw hand grenade.
- Emphasis on both urban and jungle operations. Hence, there is outfield (staying in the jungle and learning jungle tactical combat and tactical jungle discipline).
- Route marches (4 klick, 6 klick, 8 klick, 12 klick, 16 klick and finally the 24 klick). Klick = kilometre.
- Full battle order and skeletal battle order
- Expect to wear heavy gear such as load bearing vests, kevlar helmet, field packs, etc.
- All BMT camps for infantry are on Pulau Tekong.
- IOC (Interim Obstacle Course)
- Confinement period is 2 weeks unless there's a public holiday.

SPF
- Emphasis on laws, hence there are lessons on laws (80% of your time is studying law, 15% physical training and 5% other stuff).
- Only weapon you use during SPF BMT is a revolver.
- Equal amount of physical training but don't have to wear heavy gear.
- Emphasis on how fast you can draw your gun, shoot, and re-holster.
- No need to go Pulau Tekong, your training camp's here on the mainland.
- No outfield.
- SPF SOC (Standard Obstacle Course)
- Confinement period is 9 days.

SJPO 2008 - 2013 Gold Medalists by Schools

Schools producing Singapore Junior Physics Olympiad (SJPO) Gold medalists (main category), 2008 to 2013, at a glance.

2013 Intl Math and Science Olympiads Spore Reps Tea Reception

Letter of Invitation from NUS Faculty of Science.

Albert Einstein Memorial Lectures book presented to Lim Jeck during this year's tea reception.

Fields Medallists Lectures book given to IMO medalists in the previous 4 years.  Luckily, this same book was not presented to Lim Jeck again this year.

Primary School Students in SMO (Junior) Top 30

In recent years, the Singapore Mathematical Olympiad (SMO) Junior competition, which is suitable for Sec/Year 1 & 2 students, has attracted quite a number of primary school students to take part. In 2013 SMO (Junior), out of the 14 primary school students who had made it into the special round, 12 were existing P6 students and 2 were current P5 students. Some of these primary school students had even made it into top 30 of the SMO (Junior), which is no mean feat, considering the competitiveness of the competition!

Last updated: 1/9/18

Primary school students who had secured top 30 positions in SMO (Junior):

2018:
10th - Drew Michael Terren Ramirez, St Hilda’s Primary (P6)
11th - Yu Qinxi, Nan Hua Primary (P6)


2017:
13th - Su Zixuan, Nan Hua Primary (P6) [joined RI]
24th - Wu Xinyue, Qihua Primary (P6) [joined NYGH]

2016:
23th - Hu Xinghui, Raffles Girls' Primary (P6) [joined RGS]

2015:
5th - Lucas Boo Tse Yang, Nanyang Primary (P6) [joined RI]
21st - Low Choo Ray, Nanyang Primary (P6) [joined RI]

2014:
21st - Timothy Ho Li Xiong, ACS Primary (P6) [joined NUS High]
30th - Lucas Boo Tse Yang, Nanyang Primary (P5)

2013:
6th - Joel Tan Junyao, Catholic High Primary (P6) [joined NUS High]
29th - Cheng Puhua, Nan Hua Primary (P6) [joined RI]

2012:
18th - Dylan Toh Shan Hong, Nanyang Primary (P6) [joined NUS High]

2011:
28th - Clarence Chew Xuan Da, Tao Nan Primary (P6) [joined NUS High]

2010:
21st - Jeremy Tan Jie Rui, Rosyth Primary (P6) [joined NUS High]
22nd - Liu Yijia, Nan Hua Primary (P6) [joined RI]
24th - Sheldon Kieren Tan, Rosyth Primary (P6) [joined RI]

2007:
8th - Lim Jeck, Queenstown Primary (P6) [joined NUS High]

Most of these students continue to perform well in the Math Olympiad arena, after they moved on to secondary school. The following are some notable achievements of these young students:

Joel Tan - 2017 IMO Gold, 2016 IMO Silver, 2015 CWMI Gold

Dylan Toh - 2017 IMO Silver, 2016 IMO Gold, 2014-2015 IMO Silver, 2013 CWMI Gold

Clarence Chew - 2017 IMO Bronze, 2016 CMO Silver, 2015 CMO Gold, 2014 CWMI Gold, 2013 CWMI Silver, 2012 CWMI Gold

Liu Yijia - 2015 IMO Bronze, 2014 IMO Gold, 2013 IMO Silver, 2012 CWMI Gold

Sheldon Tan - 2014-2016 IMO Gold

Lim Jeck - 2011-2013 IMO Gold

I am confident that in the years to come, these young students will help Singapore to secure more IMO Gold medals. :))

Singapore's performance at the IMO from 1988 - 2016
Gold medals: 17. Silver medals: 48. Bronze medals: 68. Honourable mentions: 21.

Another Moving Thai Video Clip

I like this too.

QS World University Ranking 2013/2014 (NUS vs NTU, World Top 3)

QS World University Rankings	2013 / 2014
(compared to 2012/2013 rankings, in brackets)
Top 50 at a Glance	(Full Listing)
	NUS	NTU	World #1	World #2	World #3
Overall	# 24 (+1)	# 41 (+6)	MIT	Harvard	Cambridge
Medicine	# 20 (+1)		Harvard	Oxford	Cambridge
Biological Sciences	# 17 (+14)		Harvard	MIT	Cambridge
Psychology	# 28 (-13)	# 38 (+4)	Harvard	Oxford	Cambridge
Pharmacy/Pharmacology	# 7 (-4)		Harvard	Oxford	Cambridge
Physics & Astronomy	# 32 (-3)		MIT	Cambridge	Harvard
Mathematics	# 9 (+2)	# 46 (-)	Cambridge	MIT	Harvard
Environmental Sciences	# 19 (-8)	- (# 45)	UCB	Stanford	MIT
Earth & Marine Sciences			Harvard	UCB	MIT
Chemistry	# 13 (=)	# 49 (-)	MIT	Cambridge	UCB
Materials Sciences	# 6 (+1)	# 14 (+17)	MIT	UCB	Stanford
Comp Science & Info Sys	# 8 (+1)	# 22 (+4)	MIT	Stanford	Oxford
Chemical Engineering	# 6 (+1)	# 34 (-4)	MIT	UCB	Imperial
Civil Engineering	# 11 (-6)	# 8 (+5)	Imperial	UCB	Tokyo U
Electrical Engineering	# 10 (+1)	# 14 (+17)	MIT	Stanford	UCB
Mechanical Engineering	# 6 (-1)	# 11 (+5)	MIT	Stanford	Cambridge
Philosophy	- (# 43)		Oxford	Cambridge	Princeton
Modern Languages	# 9 (+1)		Oxford	Cambridge	Harvard
Geography	# 8 (-3)		Oxford	Cambridge	LSE
History	# 40 (-)		Cambridge	Oxford	Princeton
Linguistics	# 21 (+17)		Cambridge	MIT	UCLA
English Lang & Literature	# 14 (+8)		Oxford	Cambridge	Harvard
Statistics & Ops Research	# 5 (=)	# 23 (-5)	UCB	MIT	Stanford
Sociology	# 14 (-1)		UCB	Harvard	UCLA
Politics & Intl Studies	# 10 (+2)		Harvard	LSE	Yale
Law	# 22 (-12)		Harvard	Cambridge	Oxford
Economics & Econometrics	# 14 (+2)		Harvard	MIT	LSE
Accounting & Finance	# 11 (-3)	# 29 (+3)	Harvard	LSE	Oxford
Comms & Media Studies	# 4 (-1)	# 11 (+12)	UCB	Texas Austin	Columbia
Education		# 13 (+7)	Harvard	Cambridge	UMelbourne

NUS - National University of Singapore
NTU - Nanyang Technological University of Singapore

SMO 2013 Prize Presentation Ceremony

Singapore Mathematical Olympiad (SMO) 2013 Results

Lim Jeck receiving SMO Open Individual 1st prize (with S$600 cash) from Prof Chong Chi Tat, the guest of honour. This is the 3rd time (the other two times were in 2011 and 2012) he wins the SMO Open Individual champion.

NUS High Team (Lim Jeck, Clarence and Pin Lin) emerged champion in SMO Open team category (with S$1000 cash)

RI Team (Yijia, David, Sheldon and Jiun Harn) won SMO Open team 2nd.

Prof Chong with IMO 2013 Team - Lim Jeck, Siah Yong, Yijia, Yan Hao, David and Eugene.  

Five of the boys from IMO 2013 Singapore Team went for a table tennis game after the prize presentation. The video is taken by Eugene's parents. Thanks!