STTSS S2 08 EST General Info on EST

8/14/2019 STTSS S2 08 EST General Info on EST

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What is EST?

Elective paper at the upper secondaryschool level (form 4 / 5).The EST subjectlays the foundation in the use of English in

the fields of science and technology notonly for present but also for further studiestertiary level.The subject is designed to help studentsdevelop an ability to grasp basic conceptsand ideas in science and to all kinds of scientific and technical discourse.


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The areas covered:The areas covered:

General science, biology, chemistry,General science, biology, chemistry,physics, mathematics, environmentalphysics, mathematics, environmentalstudies, education and variousstudies, education and varioustechnologies.technologies.


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SOME HELPFUL TIPSSOME HELPFUL TIPS

Various topics have been prescribed in theVarious topics have been prescribed in thesyllabus and they are:syllabus and they are:Nature and EnvironmentNature and Environment

Technology and Communication Technology and CommunicationMan and Living OrganismsMan and Living Organisms

The Universe The UniverseNutrition/Food/HealthNutrition/Food/HealthMatter and MassMatter and MassNatural Resources and Industrial ProcessesNatural Resources and Industrial Processes


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Lear nin g Ou tcomesear nin g Ou tcomes

The syllabus is organised into 3 domains:The syllabus is organised into 3 domains:Obtaining informationObtaining informationProcessing informationProcessing informationPresenting informationPresenting information


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Obtaining InformationObtaining Information

Students will learn to understand andStudents will learn to understand andextract relevant information by readingextract relevant information by readingand listening to different types of texts.and listening to different types of texts.


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Processing InformationProcessing Information

Students must learn to extractStudents must learn to extractrelevant information from texts andrelevant information from texts andapply them accordingly by answeringapply them accordingly by answeringvarious types of questions.various types of questions.

To facilitate understanding and To facilitate understanding andprocessing information obtained, theprocessing information obtained, theapplication of study skills andapplication of study skills andthinking skills are emphasised.thinking skills are emphasised.


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Presenting Information

Tests students ability in presentinginformation in the written and spokenform. By the end of the year, studentsshould be able to write essays suchas reports, explainations andsummaries.


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GRAMMAR & VOCABULARY

Apart from the 3 domains, reinforcementof grammar, enrichment of vocabulary

and educational emphases are alsoincorporated into the syllabus.The grammar items and vocabulary arethose that aid in the understanding andapplication of scientific or semi-technicalEnglish.


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Grammar items emphasised are:

Compound nounsRoots of words and their formation usingprefixes and suffixesModalsPassive constructionImperativesConditional forms

Logical connectorsSequence connectorsRelative clauses


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EDUCATIONAL EMPHASESEDUCATIONAL EMPHASES

Thinking skills Thinking skillsLearning How to Learn skillsLearning How to Learn skillsICT skillsICT skillsValues Education and CitizenshipValues Education and Citizenship

Multiple IntelligencesMultiple IntelligencesKnowledge AquisitionKnowledge AquisitionPreparation for the Real WorldPreparation for the Real World


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THINKING SKILLS Enable students to solve problems,analyse information, make decisions

and express themselves accuratelyand creatively in simple language.


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LEARNING HOW TO LEARNLEARNING HOW TO LEARNSKILLSSKILLS

These skills include library skills, studyThese skills include library skills, studyskills, information gathering andskills, information gathering andprocessing skills to enable students toprocessing skills to enable students toaccess sources of information moreaccess sources of information moreefficiently and help them to becomeefficiently and help them to becomeindependent life-long learners.independent life-long learners.


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INFORMATION &INFORMATION &COMMUNICATIONCOMMUNICATION

TECHNOLOGY SKILLS (ICT) TECHNOLOGY SKILLS (ICT)Include the use of multimediaInclude the use of multimediaresources such as TV documentariesresources such as TV documentariesand the Internet as well as the use of and the Internet as well as the use of computer-related activities such as e-computer-related activities such as e-mail, networking and interacting withmail, networking and interacting with

electronic couseware.electronic couseware.


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VALUES EDUCATION &VALUES EDUCATION &CITIZENSHIPCITIZENSHIP

They enable the students to develop They enable the students to developpositive and informed values andpositive and informed values andattitudes towards themselves andattitudes towards themselves andothers.others.Seek to educate students onSeek to educate students onproviding accurate information andproviding accurate information andavoiding bias.avoiding bias.

Train students to be environmentally Train students to be environmentallyaware and to use scientificaware and to use scientificknowledge to serve the country.knowledge to serve the country.


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MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCESMULTIPLE INTELLIGENCESThese skills, such as the use of These skills, such as the use of logico-spatial intelligence in thelogico-spatial intelligence in theinterpretation of diagrams andinterpretation of diagrams andgraphs, enable students to be well-graphs, enable students to be well-rounded in science and technology.rounded in science and technology.


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KNOWLEDGE AQUISITIONKNOWLEDGE AQUISITION

Other disciplines such as geography,Other disciplines such as geography,mathematics, environment studies andmathematics, environment studies andconsumerism have been incorporated toconsumerism have been incorporated tohelp students gain more knowledge onhelp students gain more knowledge onmatters related to science and technology.matters related to science and technology.


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PREPARATION FOR THE

REAL WORLD Equips students to face life better

when they leave school by exposing

them to real-life situations in theclassroom. Prepare students to meet the

challenges of academia and theworld of work or to keep up with thedevelopments in the field of scienceand technology.


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THE SIGNIFICANCE? THE SIGNIFICANCE?

The EST programme does not set out The EST programme does not set outto teach science per se, but toto teach science per se, but to makemakecontent about science in Englishcontent about science in E nglish familiar to studentsfamiliar to students . Passages are. Passages aregenerally based on the application of generally based on the application of science in a wide range of fields asscience in a wide range of fields as

these help to sustain the interest of these help to sustain the interest of the reader. Stiff science textbook isthe reader. Stiff science textbook isbest dealt with in the sciencebest dealt with in the science

classroom.classroom.


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In this respect: Students are encourage to read more, sothat, they learn to recognise and pick upwords and phrases that are common in

science texts. A lot of science texts are written for thelayman and the local newspapers are a goodsource of these materials.

Many of these texts simplify the languageand use less jargon.


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FOR TESTING PURPOSES:FOR TESTING PURPOSES:

The best method to test reading The best method to test readingcomprehension is to usecomprehension is to use short texts ..With short texts, the skills to be tested canWith short texts, the skills to be tested can

be manipulated, i.e. examiners can decidebe manipulated, i.e. examiners can decideif they want to test the ability toif they want to test the ability to extractdefinitions oror main ideas oror generalprinciples , or, or supporting argumentsarguments ..

For the purposes of finding out candidatesFor the purposes of finding out candidatesability to organise information, longerability to organise information, longertexts are necessary.texts are necessary.


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SO?

Armed with this knowledge,students can train themselves byreading and understanding longertexts (about 300 or more words)before getting into the test mode.


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THE TEST FORMAT

The test comprises two papers andcandidates have to sit for both papers.


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Examination formatExamination format

Suggested time: 45minutes

30Non- linear tolinear. Writing taskof 200-250 words1 question

Section B (openresponse)

Suggested time: 30minutes

10

10

Part 1 1 question:linear to non- linear Part 2 1 question:linear to non- linear

Section A (guidedresponse)

1 hour 15 minute50Subjective andObjective type

Paper 1

TimeMarksDescriptionComponents /Papers


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Examination formatExamination formatTimeMarksDescriptionComponents /

Papers

Suggested time:20 minutes

5Rational cloze 5questions

Section B

Suggested time:40 minutes

2525 questions short text andgraphic type

Section A

1 hour 30Objective:multiple- choices

Paper 2


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Paper 1: 1 hour 15 mins

Section A Part 1 text information transfer linear

to non-linear Question to complete a table Tips:

Read the text carefullyUnderstand the overall contentRead the questions determine what thequestions want you to doIdentify the points to answer the questions


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Paper 1

Part 2 info transfer from text to flow chartTips:Read text carefullyUnderstand the overall contentIdentify main ideaIdentify supporting details

Look out for key words in the text tocomplete the graphic organizer


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Paper 1: part 1 &2

For both parts, candidates are requiredto master the skill of inferring the

information given and present them ingraphic organiser The answer must be short and precise.

Students tend to write long sentencessuch as copying straight from the text(lifting). (refer SPM2007 sample)


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Section B: 1 Question 30 marksSection B: 1 Question 30 marks(Open Response)(Open Response)

Writing task of 200 - 250 words.Writing task of 200 - 250 words.Covers the areas in the syllabusCovers the areas in the syllabuswhich is presenting informationwhich is presenting informationReport, article, summary,Report, article, summary,explaination.explaination.

Suggested time 45 minutes.Suggested time 45 minutes.


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EXAM TIPS: P 1, Section BEXAM TIPS: P 1, Section B

(i) Read the(i) Read the situationsituation given carefully.given carefully.(ii) Read the(ii) Read the contentcontent pointspoints given.given.(iii) Understand the(iii) Understand the taskstasks at hand, i.e.at hand, i.e.whether you are required to write anwhether you are required to write an

articlearticle , a, a reportreport or give aor give a speechs peech ..(iv) When you are asked to(iv) When you are asked to promotepromote oror

choosechoose one out of two or more optionsone out of two or more optionsgiven,given, emphasise mphasis must be given for themust be given for thereasonsreasons of your choice.of your choice.(v) Determine the correct format for your(v) Determine the correct format for youressay.essay.


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Examples of question for EST Paper 1Examples of question for EST Paper 1(6355/1)(6355/1)Please refer handouts givenPlease refer handouts givenSPM 2007SPM 2007


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Smart TipsSmart Tips

The trick is dont be hasty in The trick is dont be hasty inchoosing your answer. Make surechoosing your answer. Make sureyour answer is according to what theyour answer is according to what the

question wants you to do.question wants you to do.Being test savvy and test wise is aBeing test savvy and test wise is agood strategy.good strategy.

Attempting past-year questions andAttempting past-year questions andmodel test papers is an idealmodel test papers is an idealmethod.method.

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STTSS S2 08 EST General Info on EST