#5: WHAT YOUR SUBJECT COMBINATION ACTUALLY SAYS ABOUT YOU

Woe to you, you naive young Year 2s and Year 5s, who innocently approach the innocent

little detail that is your choice of subjects. In fact, this is the defining moment. The

crossroads. The point of no return. And naturally, the path one chooses to take tells us much

about the person treading it...

SECONDARY

Triple Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), double Humanities: Everyone says the

sciences open more doors, so you might call yourself a "wise pragmatist" but deep down you

know that's just a dressed-up term for "undecided and ambivalent." Did you seriously sign up

to sit for hours and hours while attempting to comprehend terms that sound better as Italian

ice creams? Or was it because you drew a blank when it came to what you actually wanted

to study at university - and all your friends were taking the same thing?

Triple Humanities (one of three - Literature, History, Geography, IS), double Science: If

you are an IP student, perhaps you can get off slightly easier. If you are an Express student

without the option of IS, you are, quite honestly, off your rocker. Who takes the two heaviest

subjects, Geography and History, together? As you desperately try to download every last

fact into your exhausted brain, remember that you got yourself into this.

Third Language: You aren't much saner than the triple humanities students, probably just

too bored with the sciences and too daunted by the humanities. Perhaps your

impressionable 13 year-old mind believed you would use French or Japanese in the future.

However, unless you're doing Malay, possibly under the Regional Studies Programme (you

lucky sod), I advise you to think again. The day the O Level paper ends will be the day you

murder every last memory of this foreign monstrosity.

IB

BCM/PCM/BCE/PCE (Biology/Physics, Chemistry, Math): We come back to those of you

who like to follow the crowd and take the safe option. Everybody wants to do either medicine

or law now, and isn't this just the most obvious choice if you still haven't decided where to

go?

BCL/BCL&L/PCL/PCL&L (Biology/Physics, Chemistry, Literature/Language and

Literature): You are slightly more of a risk-taker than the students mentioned before, after

all, Economics seems to be the humanities subject everybody goes for if they are more

science-inclined, and well, after science, HL Math gives you the most options. You have a

fairly balanced appreciation for both the fluidity of the arts and the logic of the sciences, but

having Literature still won't save you from staying back for extra practical sessions. Have

fun.

CME (Chemistry, Mathematics, Economics): You are pragmatic, but unlike the students in

the BCM/PCM/BCE/PCE category, you are pragmatic in terms of planning your workload.

You are wise enough not to take any subject that requires heavy memorisation at Higher

Level, but if having a lighter workload is all you considered when planning your combination

then shame on you!

HEE (History, Economics, English Literature/Language and Literature): As I mentioned

before, anyone who takes triple humanities is probably insane. What practical person would

strike off so many other options available to them? In abbreviating this combination as HEE,

they probably added "English" before “(Language and) Literature" to conceal the reality from

you - that it's HEL(L).

HME (History, Mathematics, Economics): You are slightly more sensible and practical

than the HEE students, but for now, they will laugh at you as you attempt to comprehend

imaginary numbers while they redo "secondary school math." Don't worry though, you'll still

have the last laugh.

Anything with B&M (Business and Management): You probably laugh at the Economics

students and swear that B&M is the superior subject, when in fact you struggle to

understand everything as desperately as they do. Everyone is equal when they drown in a

sea of new information.

Anything with Geography: Oh, dear. You fell for the endless puns during the subject

briefing, didn't you?

Anything with Computer Science: ...I take my hat off to you for your bravery and novelty.

BOTH

Anything with Art/Music: You are a rare, talented, creative breed, and we need more

people like you. Even in an ambiguously graded subject such as this, I wish you an A or a 7.

*Disclaimer: These remarks only reflect my personal opinion, and have been made for the sake of comedy. I offer

my humble and sincere apologies should they give anyone cause for offence.

#GabrielleCheong