AY2012/2013, Semester 1
EC1101E Introduction to Economic Analysis
This is very similar to the H2 Economics syllabus: Supply & demand, elasticities, market structures, Classical Models, AD-AS Models, unemployment, inflation, exchange rate and various policies. I would say it's easy as long as you don't do last minute work like I do.
Grading criteria: 10% Tutorial Participation, 20% Midterm Test(Micro in w7, Macro in w12), 20% Project, 50% Final Exam.
Grade: A-
MA1100 Fundamental Concept of Mathematics
My favourite module in NUS. Perhaps not the easiest(content & stiff competition), but definitely the most interesting module as it changes the way you see mathematics. "Mathematics is a language." sums it up pretty well. Minimal calculation is involved in this module, so recommend it as a breadth module for fellow arts students but prepare your S/U option beforehand. This module covered basic logic, statements, predicates and methods of proof before proceeding to elementary set theory: relations, functions, sets, equivalence, classes and congruence modulo. Took this module under Prof. Victor Tan, he is one of the best mathematics lecturer I have had up to date.
Grading criteria: 8% Lecture Quiz, 2% Tutorial Participation, 20% Midterm Test, 10% Assignments, 60% Final Exam.
Grade: B
MA1101R Linear Algebra I
This topic is my nightmare. I'm really bad in this subject, as with some of my fellow economics major that attempted this module. Failed my midterms with a pathetic 16/40. Finals was relatively easy but I was still rather unfamiliar with applications of all the theorems so I couldn't finish the paper in time. Abilities aside, this module is very relevant in both fields of algebra and computational mathematics and it helped me a lot with EC3314 later on. This module covered elemetary row operations, matrices, determinants and Euclidean n-spaces(subspace, rank, basis, eigenvalue and eigenvector, orthoganality). This module also has laboratory sessions that allow applications of linear algebra computations using mathematical programming software, MATLAB.
Grading criteria: 10% Lab Quiz, 20% Midterm Test, 70% Final Exam.
Grade: C (I know right -.-)
MA1102R Calculus
Personally I enjoyed this topic but it may be dry to many others. Prof. Goh was very entertaining with all his very lively and animated integration examples. Very useful module that covers differentiation and integration thoroughly and rigourously with enrichment on history of Newton and Leibniz. Did well for the CA but flunked my finals leaving half the paper blank. Prof. Goh spent quite some time on definition of limits before moving on to derive continuity, differentiation, integration and finally first order differential equations. This module only deals with single-variable functions.
Grading criteria: 20% Midterm Test, 20% Assignments, 60% Final Exam.
Grade: C+ (Sigh)
PL1101E Introduction to Psychology
One module that I regreted taking because I did not enjoy it at all(maybe except biopsychology). The way of studying this is the H2 Biology method: MEMORIZE. Did badly as well but couldn't S/U it as it's a FASS module, so like it or not, it's going to be classified under my faculty requirements.
Grading Criteria: 20% Midterm Test, 30% Term Paper, 50% Final Exam.
Grade: C+
Ending Note
CAP 3.00, below average results for my first semester, particularly disappointed with Calculus as I have hoped to get at least a B for it. Facing the familiar results or passion decision, I decided not to S/U my MA-modules so that I can continue to pursue my academic passion in financial mathematics. Other than that, I did my best for finals despite playing away the semester juggling dance, cheerleading, MANY late-night suppers and alcohol. Since I'm not smart enough to have a vibrant university life and get a good grade simultaneously, I chose the former for my first year and on the whole I don't regret because YOLO, and these wild & crazy memories will become your most precious memories in the decades to come.
This is very similar to the H2 Economics syllabus: Supply & demand, elasticities, market structures, Classical Models, AD-AS Models, unemployment, inflation, exchange rate and various policies. I would say it's easy as long as you don't do last minute work like I do.
Grading criteria: 10% Tutorial Participation, 20% Midterm Test(Micro in w7, Macro in w12), 20% Project, 50% Final Exam.
Grade: A-
MA1100 Fundamental Concept of Mathematics
My favourite module in NUS. Perhaps not the easiest(content & stiff competition), but definitely the most interesting module as it changes the way you see mathematics. "Mathematics is a language." sums it up pretty well. Minimal calculation is involved in this module, so recommend it as a breadth module for fellow arts students but prepare your S/U option beforehand. This module covered basic logic, statements, predicates and methods of proof before proceeding to elementary set theory: relations, functions, sets, equivalence, classes and congruence modulo. Took this module under Prof. Victor Tan, he is one of the best mathematics lecturer I have had up to date.
Grading criteria: 8% Lecture Quiz, 2% Tutorial Participation, 20% Midterm Test, 10% Assignments, 60% Final Exam.
Grade: B
MA1101R Linear Algebra I
This topic is my nightmare. I'm really bad in this subject, as with some of my fellow economics major that attempted this module. Failed my midterms with a pathetic 16/40. Finals was relatively easy but I was still rather unfamiliar with applications of all the theorems so I couldn't finish the paper in time. Abilities aside, this module is very relevant in both fields of algebra and computational mathematics and it helped me a lot with EC3314 later on. This module covered elemetary row operations, matrices, determinants and Euclidean n-spaces(subspace, rank, basis, eigenvalue and eigenvector, orthoganality). This module also has laboratory sessions that allow applications of linear algebra computations using mathematical programming software, MATLAB.
Grading criteria: 10% Lab Quiz, 20% Midterm Test, 70% Final Exam.
Grade: C (I know right -.-)
MA1102R Calculus
Personally I enjoyed this topic but it may be dry to many others. Prof. Goh was very entertaining with all his very lively and animated integration examples. Very useful module that covers differentiation and integration thoroughly and rigourously with enrichment on history of Newton and Leibniz. Did well for the CA but flunked my finals leaving half the paper blank. Prof. Goh spent quite some time on definition of limits before moving on to derive continuity, differentiation, integration and finally first order differential equations. This module only deals with single-variable functions.
Grading criteria: 20% Midterm Test, 20% Assignments, 60% Final Exam.
Grade: C+ (Sigh)
PL1101E Introduction to Psychology
One module that I regreted taking because I did not enjoy it at all(maybe except biopsychology). The way of studying this is the H2 Biology method: MEMORIZE. Did badly as well but couldn't S/U it as it's a FASS module, so like it or not, it's going to be classified under my faculty requirements.
Grading Criteria: 20% Midterm Test, 30% Term Paper, 50% Final Exam.
Grade: C+
Ending Note
CAP 3.00, below average results for my first semester, particularly disappointed with Calculus as I have hoped to get at least a B for it. Facing the familiar results or passion decision, I decided not to S/U my MA-modules so that I can continue to pursue my academic passion in financial mathematics. Other than that, I did my best for finals despite playing away the semester juggling dance, cheerleading, MANY late-night suppers and alcohol. Since I'm not smart enough to have a vibrant university life and get a good grade simultaneously, I chose the former for my first year and on the whole I don't regret because YOLO, and these wild & crazy memories will become your most precious memories in the decades to come.