Subjects

At Hwa Chong Institution, we pride ourselves on providing students with a dynamic and rigorous academic programme to prepare them for the A-Levels. Here, we believe in both quality and quantity. We offer a wide range of subject combinations to choose from, such that interests are not compromised when it comes to choosing which disciplines to study. In addition, each subject department is equipped with teachers who have a keen enthusiasm for their subjects, and are committed to providing the highest quality of teaching.

Arts Subjects

General Paper
General Paper

The goal of the English Language Programme at HCI is to develop independent thinkers who can see the connection between language study and its application to life. A holistic educational approach ensures that students are given the freedom to intellectually grasp these relationships and apply them to authentic tasks.

Adopting a multi-pronged approach, the Hwa Chong H1 General Paper curriculum comprises a broad variety of stimulating modules designed to develop all-round individuals. A theme-based reading and writing programme is offered at the College level, and the topics covered include the mass media, environment, science and technology, culture and tradition, politics and government, conflicts and violence, and citizenship in Singapore.

English Literature
English Literature

Literature in English aims to develop in students an informed appreciation of literature and a love of reading. Students who read the subject will be equipped with literary skills to understand the nature and methods of literary study and analysis. The Literature in English programme in HCI entails a rigorous study of the three main literary genres (Poetry, Prose, Drama), in-depth analysis of award-winning literary writers and their works, and an annual enrichment component.

Students are exposed to a wide variety of texts, genre exposition, and diverse methodologies. Adopting a differentiated approach to learning that goes beyond the classroom, the course provides students with opportunities to experience Literature through activities like symposiums, creative writing, project work and independent study. Such activities not only expand students' horizons, but also help them look at issues from a broader perspective, apply their knowledge, and contest the arbitrary divisions that separate subjects.

English Language and Linguistics
English Language and Linguistics

English Language and Linguistics (ELL) is a H2 subject that exposes students to a range of linguistic concepts and methods appropriate for the analysis and study of the English language, so as to understand the contexts in which the language operates, think about the issues and debates that surround its usage, and respond critically to them.

Independent reading and essay writing are characteristic of the subject. Through the study of the English language, students will develop their competence as users of English. The H2 ELL programme at HCI is seminar-styled and focuses on mastering fundamental linguistic concepts before moving on to using these concepts to explore language issues related to wider societal concerns.

Knowledge and Inquiry
Knowledge and Inquiry

Knowledge & Inquiry (KI) is a multi-disciplinary H2 subject that explores the different fields of knowledge and applies various modes of inquiry to a range of issues and ideas. The subject aims to develop students' ability to critically evaluate arguments and engage in independent research. Students can offer KI as a contrasting subject.

As the fourth H2 subject, KI will be offered by students who are academically able to cope with 4 H2 subjects on top of other H1 subjects. In Hwa Chong, we are looking for bright students who are linguistically competent and have an inquiring mind. KI students are expected to read widely and they must be highly proficient in written English as well as be independent learners.

Art
Art

At Hwa Chong, the philosophy of art education is to encourage students to develop their creative identity. The Art Elective Programme (AEP) is offered to selected students demonstrating a talent for the Visual Arts and prepares them in art appreciation, art in theory (Theory) and art in practice (Studio) over the span of two years. The course develops students not only in the practical aspects of art production but also in a theoretical and critical understanding of the context of its making. AEP Students will take H2 Art and H3 Art.

Project Work
Project Work

Project Work (PW) is a learning experience which aims to provide students with the opportunity to synthesise knowledge from various areas of learning, and critically and creatively apply it to real-life situations. This process, which enhances students' knowledge and enables them to acquire skills like collaboration, communication and independent learning, prepares them for lifelong learning and the future challenges ahead.

Economics
Economics

Economics at Hwa Chong is taught as a model of thinking about the world, rather than as a collection of facts. The subject is approached through a gamified flipped learning experience, where the objective is for students to take personal ownership of learning through self-directed pacing and choosing tasks to complete. As the theory of Economics is seen as an apparatus of the mind or a technique of thinking which helps us make rational decisions, this subject imparts both intellectual as well as citizenship training, promoting understanding of the very processes and issues that affect our lived experiences as citizens and individuals.

The Economics curriculum at HCI also seeks to expose students to a range of enriching experiences such as participation in nationwide competitions and overseas trips. The greatest reward of this course is a better understanding of how the world works.

Geography
Geography

Geography is taught in Hwa Chong as an applied discipline with the view that practising geographers can make direct contributions to society. It introduces the processes operative in physical and human geography, and the links between them are synthesised through the pursuit of sustainable development. Taking an investigative approach, students will delve into the differing social, economic, political and environmental contexts at a range of scales in class as well as during local and overseas field study trips.

All students will embark on detailed studies of both physical and human phenomena such as climate change and sustainable urban development. The study of geography in HCI will nurture students to contribute responsibly to a culturally diverse world, to care for delicate ecosystems and to understand the importance of environmentally sustainable lifestyles.

History
History

History at Hwa Chong is focused on developing lifelong learners of the world, through understanding the historical forces that shaped the past and present. It is a journey through 20th century geopolitical, economic, and institutional history and its continued influence in the 21st century. By the end of the course, students will be able to rationalise conflicting perspectives, make meaning from fragments of information, and appreciate the ongoing tapestry of time.

Beyond the rigours of historical investigations in seminar-styled lessons, history students will be invited to participate in a diverse range of activities to apply their mastery of the discipline: visiting and external academic workshops, quiz and research competitions, and local and overseas historical investigation.

华文 Chinese Language
华文 Chinese Language

中国的改革开放带动了神州大地各行各业的蓬勃发展,市场经济的欣欣向荣,也带动了全球多个国家对中华语言文化的探讨与学习。在全球化的时代背景下,学习中华语言文化已不再仅仅是炎黄子孙的自家事,而是让我们“睁眼看世界”的一把钥匙。江水滔滔,势不可当,我们惟有奋起直追,才能免于落后。

在华中,我们一向注重栽培精通中英双语文双文化的人才。近年来,我们的毕业生也凭借着自身双语文双文化的优势,在公共服务、教育、文化、传播、商业、企业等领域表现杰出,为国家的长远发展做出贡献。高中母语部就以此为目的,开设了语文特选课程、双文化课程、H2/H3华文与文学、H2中国通识、H2翻译、H1华文等以中文为媒介语的特别课程与学科。其中,我们的语文特选课程和双文化课程的目标就是为我国培养精通双语而且学贯中西的人才,进一步巩固与加强我国作为东西方文化枢纽的地位,并奠定国家长远的发展基础。

Science Subjects

Biology
Biology

Biology is the study of life. This subject offers students opportunities to learn how life works at the cellular and molecular level, while understanding the implications on macro levels. It address the broader questions of what life is and how life is sustained, allowing students to make connections to how micro-systems interact at the physiological and organismal levels. Students will recognize the evolving nature of biological knowledge, and through this, stimulate their interest and care for the local and global environment. Many new and important fields of biology have emerged through recent advancements in life sciences. Vast areas of knowledge in Biology have been generated, as evident from the sprouting of scientific journals catering to niche areas of research. Students can keep themselves up to date with knowledge that is relevant for their participation in a technology-driven economy.

The Hwa Chong Biology Unit adopts team-based learning (TBL) as an overarching approach. In the teaching and learning of Higher 2 and Higher 3 Biology, the Unit emphasizes largely on collaborative learning, differentiated instruction and assessment for learning. TBL sessions are designed to provide ample class time for team assignments with focus on collaborative problem-solving. Students are held accountable for individual and group work, with timely feedback provided to help them reflect on their learning. Students engage in scientifically-oriented questions, collect and/or use evidence in response to questions and formulate explanations from evidence. In addition, students connect explanations to scientific understanding and communicate and justify their proposed explanations. Thus, the aspects of Practices of Science and inquiry-based learning continue to be infused into the TBL sessions and laboratory investigations.

Chemistry
Chemistry

Chemistry is the study of the structure, properties and transformation of matter at the atomic/molecular level. Hence, chemistry is often seen to play a central role in science. It is built on an understanding of the laws of physics that govern the nature of particles such as atoms, protons and electrons, and at the same time provides a basis for studying and understanding the molecules and reactions in biological systems.

A key feature in the study of H2 Chemistry is the development of students’ ability to navigate the macroscopic phenomena, submicroscopic interactions, and symbolic representations to attain a deep conceptual understanding of the behaviours of chemical systems.

The Hwa Chong Chemistry curriculum aims to nurture self-regulated learners who inquire like scientists. For lectures, a guided inquiry approach is used to lead students to build on their prior knowledge and engage in scientific thinking in the process of concept acquisition. Through interaction with online content and resources, students are also given flexibility in the method and pace of learning within each topic to promote self-regulated learning. In tutorial and practical lessons, students are challenged to apply concepts and skills in unfamiliar tasks and contexts, individually or in groups. We hope to develop in each student knowledge, skills and attitudes relevant to the Practices of Science, and prepare them to navigate the future and contribute meaningfully to society.

Physics
Physics

The study of Physics is to understand how things work from first principles. Physics is a fundamental science concerned with basic principles of the universe to study matter, energy and their interactions. Through hands-on inquiry and investigation, we hope to strengthen students’ conceptual understanding, quantitative reasoning and problem solving skills that are valuable in areas beyond physics.

Our Physics curriculum aims to:

  1. provide students with an experience that develops their interest in Physics and builds the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for further studies in related fields.
  2. enable students to become scientifically literate citizens who are well-prepared for the challenges of the 21st century.
  3. develop in students the understanding, skills, ethics and attitudes relevant to the Practices of Science.
  4. develop in students an understanding that a small number of basic principles and core ideas can be applied to explain, analyse and solve problems in a variety of systems in the physical world.
Mathematics
Mathematics

Mathematics is an important discipline that contributes to the development and understanding of the sciences and other disciplines. The A-Level H2 Mathematics programme is designed to prepare students for a range of university courses, including mathematics, sciences, engineering and related courses, where a good foundation in mathematics is required. It develops mathematical thinking and reasoning skills that are essential for further learning of mathematics. Through applications of mathematics, students also develop an appreciation for mathematics and its connections to other disciplines and to the real world.

In view of the growing need for online education and blended learning, the HCI College Mathematics Department is able to provide synchronous and asynchronous learning for all students taking Mathematics. As the College has moved away from physical lectures since 2016, short video lectures for each topic are created for students to learn comfortably anywhere and at their own pace before going for physical tutorial classes.

An official Mathematics Google website is created for each cohort of students to enhance the support of such asynchronous learning. Through this website, students have easy access to the learning schedule, video lectures and various useful resources. Video conferencing platforms such as Google Meet and Zoom are also frequently used to provide synchronous teaching and learning between tutors and students in real-time when required. Equipped with many more online education tools, the HCI College Mathematics Department is able to provide an enriching blended learning experience for all Mathematics students.

Computing
Computing

H2 Computing is designed with a focus on the discipline of the subject that largely revolves around problem-solving and computational thinking. It serves to provide a foundation for further study in computing-related disciplines and fields involving computer technologies and applications.

As a subject in the curriculum, H2 Computing also creates opportunities for students to develop 21st Century competencies through the way students learn. These include focusing on computational thinking, problem-solving, and an understanding of the ethical issues associated with the use of information communications technology.

Miscellaneous

Physical Education
Physical Education

The PE & CCA Department aims to empower our young adults for the challenges ahead by providing a holistic education that encompasses health, social and mental wellbeing, engagement in lifelong learning, aesthetic appreciation, civic-mindedness and leadership development through its programs.

Through a variety of physical education lessons ranging from playing sports to health education, and co-curricular activities like inter-school competitions, Singapore Youth Festival presentations, leadership development and enrichment activities, PE & CCA programmes instill lifelong lessons, inculcate moral values and foster personal well-being.

Subject Curriculum & Combinations