School-specific Programmes: HCI

Hwa Chong Science and Math Talent Programme (SMTP)

The HCI SMTP is a programme for students gifted in STEM. It allocates you to a special class specifically for SMTP students, with your own teachers and resources (essentially, they’re “elite” classes) You also get your own bonding activities (e.g. laser tag) with the other SMTP / GATE (more on GATE below) classes.

From those whom I have met, it seems like the SMPT culture is a community of like-minded individuals who are passionate about the sciences. While they may be competitive, most are genuinely nice people, so don't be too intimidated!

How do I apply and prepare for the SMTP/GATE selection test?

Applications start at the beginning of J1 during Orientation. There’s a written entrance test, but it seems like whether you are offered SMTP/GATE depends quite heavily on your O level score / secondary 4 IP results, rather than your performance in the written test (though you should just try your best for the written test anyway).

I'm not sure how other students did it but I found the HCI memepage, @tkk.jc, very helpful for preparing (yes, really). This is because many other fellow students will also often ask how to prepare for the test on their Tellonym and 90% of the time, helpful seniors will answer those questions about the contents of the test questions as well as give tips on it. It is also helpful to ask your seniors who have previously sat for the test about the nature of the questions asked, so that you know what to expect. From what I remember for my year, the style of the questions were mostly open-ended, similar to Olympiad-style questions (especially for math). The teachers are looking out for your thought process in solving the questions, so it is helpful to explicitly write everything you understand down neatly and presentably (because the teachers need to see your working).

Note also that the programme only allows you to take common subject combinations (e.g. PCME, BCME - I appealed to take BCMG but they rejected the appeal). However, it is possible to take subjects like KI, computing, and third language.

Gifted and Talented Education Programme (GATE)

GATE is similar to SMTP, but students in the programme specialise only in one science subject (e.g. biology, chemistry, physics) instead of all the science subjects like what SMTP does. From what I understand, it is generally equal in prestige ranking and academic rigour compared to SMTP, though traditionally SMTP seems more established and well-known.

Also, note that the SMPT/GATE test is the same one, and you can't actually choose which programme to join unless you appeal. The teachers will allocate you a programme based on what they think is best suited for you according to your performance in the test.

Humanities Scholarship and Programme (HSP)

HSP is basically a MOE programme for those with a passion and flair for the humanities. To enter the programme, you need to start applying for it as early as secondary 4 (for IP students, it is from mid-October to mid-November of Year 4, while for non-IP students, it is from mid-January to mid-February of J1). Do check the MOE website as both authors here are not that familiar with this programme.

If you are a Humanities Scholar in HCI (i.e. you are in the HP), you get a classroom to yourselves (whereas most other classes don't have homerooms). In HCI, the HP classes tend to be quite bonded to one another, more so than the average mainstream class. Of course, this still depends heavily on the batch itself and whether the class dynamics matches your personality.

For more detailed information, do approach your seniors in the programme for their personal experiences. The information we have provide here may not be the most updated or accurate since we have not been in the programme ourselves.

Grassroots Attachment Programme (GAP)

GAP is typically offered sometime at the beginning of J2 (look out for it being publicised on iEMB). It attaches you to a grassroots advisor (typically an MP) and the grassroots organisation he/she is in charge of. This programme gives students interested in working in the public sector or for the government a good hands-on exposure to the roles that grassroots workers play in the community.

The criteria to apply is as follows:

• Time commitment of 1-2 evenings per week for 1-2 months

• Good J1 Promo grades

• Excellent conduct

• Strong leadership

• Singaporean Citizen or PR (so foreigners can’t apply)

Singapore Chemistry Olympiad (SChO)

SChO covers both JC and university-level chemistry concepts. You will be studying university textbooks as well as practicing advanced questions. Like any other Olympiad, SChO is unsurprisingly academically vigorous, but doing well in the competition will of course boost your portfolio.

In HCI, you have to first pass a selection test to be able to represent the school in SChO. For the entrance test, I would recommend studying topics like Hybridization, Molecular Orbital Theory, and Organic Chemistry Reaction Mechanisms. In my year there was a syllabus document sent out, so do try to get a hold of it to prepare yourselves. Previous awards and experience in SJChO also help in getting admitted into the programme.

In my year, Organic Chemistry is covered very early into the training programme, even though A-Level Organic Chemistry is only taught in J2, so if possible, start studying for it early to keep up with the lessons. Recommended readings include Organic Chemistry by Jonathan Clayden.

Singapore Biology Olympiad (SBO)

Unlike for SChO, there is no selection test needed to join the SBO training sessions. Students just indicate their interest and sign up for the programme immediately. Theoretically, this also means that people who don’t even take H2 Biology can actually represent the school in SBO (as long as they spend time studying for it themselves).

From my experience, SBO focuses more on topics like Biodiversity, Ecology, and the Classification of Organisms (especially during the first half), as compared to H2 Biology. The broad nature of the content covered in SBO would appeal to students who feel like the H2 Biology syllabus is insufficiently academically stimulating.

The school also provides you with access to past SBO competition papers for practice, as well as lab sessions that may be conducted by external trainers. These lab sessions can be quite interesting as you get access to organisms that have undergone taxidermy (i.e. preserved via "stuffing") along with other experiences most H2 Biology students won't have.

Singapore Physics Olympiad (SPhO)

SPhO seems to be quite similar in nature to SChO (i.e. a selection test is required, and you are more likely to get into the programme if you took part in SJPhO in secondary school). Compared to SBO and SChO, SPhO seems to appeal to a more niche group of students: a large majority of students taking part in SPhO are in SMTP/GATE classes, but there are some students who take H2 Biology instead of H2 Physics and still compete in SPhO. Compared to H2 Physics, the syllabus for SPhO is much broader and the training questions are also much more challenging.

Both the authors of this article do not have experience in SPhO, so do approach your seniors for more information if you are interested. However, we have compiled a list of potentially helpful books recommended by friends from the programme:

• For Classical Mechanics (with good practice questions): Introduction to Classical Mechanics by David Morin

• For Electromagnetism (note that not all chapters are needed): Introduction to Electrodynamics by Griffiths

• For a broad understanding of topics in SPhO, without the complexities of calculus: College Physics by Young

Hwa Chong ​Asia-Pacific Young Leaders Summit (HC APYLS)

This summit, spearheaded by HCI, allows participating students to meet delegates from countries around the world and engage in intellectual discourse. It is considered a prestigious event to take part in, so selection for the HC APYLS is vigorous and most participating students have strong leadership backgrounds before they can participate. However, the summit gives you unique and valuable experiences of meeting other individuals from diverse backgrounds and nationalities, which would otherwise be a rare opportunity for most students.

Note that in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, there may be disruptions to the HC APYLS - for instance, in 2020, the summit was shifted to an online medium (Hwa Chong Global Digital Young Leaders’ Convention i.e. HC GDYLC).

Closing Remarks

Beyond these opportunities, there are multiple other programmes made available to HCI students, such as Students' Council, Faculty Committee (equivalent to a House system), and CCA leadership roles, amongst many others. Do periodically check the iEMB portal for information about them.

At the same time, remember not to overcommit yourself. It is far wiser to focus on several key opportunities than to be nominally involved in many. Not only will you be burnt out and gain little meaningful experiences, the people around you may be affected by the lack of commitment that you are able to provide. Remember that the plethora of opportunities are there for you to find one that matches your interests; they are not made for you to participate in every single one of them.

Contributed by:

Ho Song Yee (Chemistry Olympiad, GAP)

Judith Ko (Biology Olympiad, received SMTP offer but did not accept it)