Understanding, not memorising
Every subject at Orbis is taught the same way, built on three ideas. Memorising can be enough for a pass, sometimes even a decent grade, but rarely for the top grades: school tests and national exams no longer reward rote learning. So we teach for understanding, we prepare for every type of question, and we find the reason behind every mistake.
Sec 1–2 Mathematics and Sec 1–2 Science, and Sec 3–4 Mathematics & Additional Mathematics, Pure Chemistry, Pure Physics, Combined Chemistry and Combined Physics, at G3 and G2. For Integrated Programme (IP) students: Sec 1–2 Mathematics and Science, and Sec 3–4 Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics.
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Understand the concept, never just memorise it
Most students memorise. That can carry them to a pass, sometimes even a decent grade, but rarely to the top grades, because exam questions are written to test whether a student truly understands. We teach every topic through analogies and plain explanations first, then build up to the exam standard. Our test of real understanding: if a concept can be explained in a few words that even a young child could follow, it has been mastered. It is the heart of how we teach.
- 2
Know every type of question before the exam
Exam questions change their numbers, contexts and wording, but the types of question do not. From every O-Level past paper, the new SEC specimen papers and IP schools’ past exam papers, we know the kinds of questions that can appear. Students are drilled on both: the concepts each question type needs, and a clear step-by-step framework to solve it. The aim is simple: no surprises in the exam.
- 3
Find the reason behind every mistake
We don’t simply hand students the answer. There is a reason behind every mistake, and understanding that reason is worth far more than knowing the answer. The type of question will come again, but never the exact same question, so memorising answers is pointless. We find each child’s specific gaps. When a student understands a mistake right down to its root, they don’t make it again.
Pedagogy by subject
The same three ideas, applied to each subject: the analogies we use, the question types we prepare for, and the mistakes we look out for.
See it in a real lesson
The best way to judge the teaching is a trial lesson with Ming Jun, free if you don't continue.