Singapore American School
April 3, 2016
Freshman Survey (Class of 2019)
Completed: 209 Students: 306 Percent response: 68%
1. In what grade did you join SAS?
Pre­K to 2 grades 3 to 5 grades 6 to 8 grade 9 25.3%
15.2%
(50)
(30)
34.3%
(68)
25.3%
(50)
100% (198)
TOTAL RESPONDED
2. Since the first grade, how many times have you transferred to a new school?
Always at SAS 1 other school 2 other schools 3 other schools 4 other schools 5 other schools 6 or more other schools TOTAL RESPONDED
21.2%
22.7%
(42)
(45)
24.7%
9.1%
11.1%
(49)
(18)
(22)
5.1%
6.1%
(10)
(12)
100% (198)
3. How would you rate the amount of work you are asked to do for the following classes (1 = minimal, 3 =
normal, 5 = excessive). Please only rate those classes you are taking:
Average Rank
1
2
3
4
5
English World History Algebra IA/B Algebra I Geometry Algebra II Algebra II/Trig FST (3.3)
(3.4)
(2.5)
(3.0)
(2.8)
(2.6)
(2.8)
(2.7)
(3.0)
(2.8)
Pre Calculus Biology Molecular Biology French Spanish Chinese Japanese Physical Education Art/Ceramics Music/Theater TEC (Computers/Tech/Robotics, etc) TOTAL RESPONDED: 210
(4.0)
(4.0)
(2.6)
(3.3)
(2.4)
(2.0)
(2.7)
(1.9)
(2.5)
4. If you indicated the work required for one or more classes to be excessive, please explain:
Total responses: 89 (0%)
5. How would you rate your overall course load?
Pretty light load A little easier than most Normal freshman load A little heavier than most Very demanding load TOTAL RESPONDED
1.9%
5.2%
59%
30%
3.8%
(4)
(11)
(124)
(63)
(8)
100% (210)
6. If I could do it over again, I would have chosen:
A lighter academic load The same level of courses A more challenging set of courses TOTAL RESPONDED
7.8%
78.5%
13.7%
(16)
(161)
(28)
100% (205)
7. During your typical free period, how much time do you usually spend working on your homework?
None of the time About 1/4 of the period About 1/2 of the period About 3/4 of the period 1.4%
11.1%
(3)
(23)
(67)
32.4%
40.1%
The entire period TOTAL RESPONDED
(83)
(31)
100% (207)
15%
8. On a typical weeknight, about how many hours do you spend doing homework?
Little or none 0.5%
1 hour or less About 90 minutes (1)
8.3%
17.5%
20.9%
Around 2 hours About 2 and 1/2 hours 17.5%
18.4%
Around 3 hours Between 3 1/2 and 4 hours More than 4 hours (17)
(36)
(43)
(36)
(38)
10.2%
(21)
6.8%
(14)
100% (206)
TOTAL RESPONDED
9. During the weekend (Friday night thru Sunday night) about how many hours do you spend doing
homework?
Average value: 4.8 Total responses: 204
10. On average, what time do you go to bed on Monday thru Thursday nights?
9:30 or earlier 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12 midnight 12:30 1:00 or later TOTAL RESPONDED
10.1%
(21)
15.5%
22.2%
23.2%
14%
9.2%
2.9%
2.9%
(32)
(46)
(48)
(29)
(19)
(6)
(6)
100% (207)
11. When working on your homework, which of the following are you typically doing at the same time? (1 =
never, 2 = a little, 3 = some, 4 = a lot, 5 = always)
Average Rank
1
2
3
4
Listening to music Facebooking on other social media Playing computer/video games Watching TV/YouTube 5
(2.9)
(2.0)
(1.2)
(2.0)
(1.9)
Sending text messages Talking on the phone/Skype (2.0)
TOTAL RESPONDED: 209
12. How helpful is your homework at reinforcing or helping you better understand what you are studying in
class?
Not helpful at all Slightly helpful Fairly helpful Very helpful TOTAL RESPONDED
3.4%
(7)
26.9%
56.7%
13%
(56)
(118)
(27)
100% (208)
13. Compared to 8th grade, how would you assess the amount of work you're asked to do?
I had more homework in 8th grade The work is about the same as it was last year I have a little more work than last year I have a lot more work than last year TOTAL RESPONDED
4.9%
6.8%
(10)
(14)
38.5%
49.8%
14. Compared to last year, my grades are:
Much lower A little lower About the same A little better Much better TOTAL RESPONDED
4.4%
16.1%
25.9%
32.2%
21.5%
(9)
(33)
(53)
(66)
(44)
100% (205)
(79)
(102)
100% (205)
15. Please answer the following questions about semester exams (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree)
Average Rank
1
2
3
4
5
My teachers gave me information on how to prepare for first
semester exams The exam accurately assessed my knowledge of the subject (3.8)
(3.6)
(3.7)
(3.4)
I felt prepared for my finals I was satisfied with my exam grades TOTAL RESPONDED: 208
16. In a typical week, how many hours do you spend outside of school involved in the following activities (1 = 1
hour, 5 = 5 or more hours)
Average Rank
1
2
3
4
5
SAS sports SAS music (2.9)
(1.4)
(1.4)
(1.6)
(1.6)
SAS drama SACAC sports Language lessons Private music lessons (1.6)
(2.0)
Receiving tutoring Gym/athletic training (2.8)
(3.3)
(1.7)
Online/Facebook/etc. Working on a job (babysitting, etc) TOTAL RESPONDED: 209
17. Please rate the following (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree)
Average Rank
1
2
3
I have had a successful freshman year It can be hard to find friends at SAS 5
(2.7)
(1.5)
I was a victim of bullying or hazing this year I am proud to be an SAS student (3.9)
Students at SAS are accepting of people who are different than they
are (3.4)
My counselor has been available when needed My counselor has been helpful (3.7)
(3.7)
TOTAL RESPONDED: 209
18. Overall, my level of academic stress this year has been:
Little or none Occassionally stressed Frequently stressed I'm stressed out most of the time I've been close to a complete break down TOTAL RESPONDED
4.3%
28.7%
39.2%
18.2%
9.6%
(9)
(60)
(82)
(38)
(20)
100% (209)
19. How often do you use PowerSchool to check your grades?
Never 0%
Rarely 5.3%
Sometimes 24.5%
Often TOTAL RESPONDED
70.2%
(0)
(11)
(51)
(146)
100% (208)
20. How often do you think your parents use PowerSchool to check your grades?
Never Rarely Occassionally Often Don\'t know TOTAL RESPONDED
17%
22.8%
34.5%
16.5%
9.2%
(35)
(47)
(71)
(34)
(19)
100% (206)
21. Do you have any comments about your freshman experience?
4
(3.8)
(3.6)
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Although it has been stressful at times, it's been a good experience. Amazing. :) Can we please not have assemblies during flex period? There have been numerous times where I planned to study or do Homework but didn't get the chance to. Don't take World Studies. Even though teachers do give us preparation methods, I would prefer if we were given even more information and means to prepare for summatives. Extremely hard to adjust to 9th grade, including the weighted grades, importance of formative assessments and style of non-­‐subjective classes. First coming into freshman year the workload and amount of quizzes and test overwhelmed me, but I've gotten use to it over the 2 semesters. Freshman year has been educational and really fun too. However I do feel that sometimes there is a lot of stress pressed on students because of the workload and the number of tests per week. Great Hard work but a lot of fun Harder than last year, more formative than last year Homework doesn't take too much of my time, but I often have assessments that stress me out. I am kind of unorganized and irresponsible, esp. with time management. I believe that this freshman class is a great experience than what it would have been staying at my old school in the US. I did not like how the counselors and 8th grade teachers encouraged us to take world studies instead of taking separate courses and made it look so interesting, but I really regret taking it. I did not try as hard as I should have in my first semester I felt kind of unprepared since middle school. I felt very unprepared for freshman year after SAS 8th grade. I have come into this school during the beginning of the second semester of grade 9 I know it's going to get much harder. I loved freshmen year, however I really wish I had been advised to take classes that I am interested in. I decided to take MoBio, even though I'm really not interested in science. I really think that freshmen year helped create my character and it let me get a feel of what high school is like, and it's all a learning experience I needed. I started seeing significantly positive changes during 2nd semester because I actually started going my work with effort I think my freshman year has been somewhat successful and I am trying to strive towards my personal best and potential to raise my overall grades. I am focusing on improving my skills in my courses. I think that I really enjoy High School, but the stress levels have definitely gotten somewhat extreme, and I've had to learn how to manage it a lot more. I think that teachers made us stressed by not preparing us properly or not giving us a complete guide. I thought it was a great introduction to high school and it prepares me for the years to come. I wish I had planned it out better I'm honestly having the time of my life :) I've enjoyed the way SAS has eased its students into High School (I'm very appreciative) although I think freshmen could still have a bit more schedule choices. I’d say SAS does a great job at teaching, however the workload can be stressful when so many others do better than you. Then again, who has a fantastic high school experience? High school is high school It has been a little tough mainly because I was new this year It has been a really good experience, and I'm really proud of everything I've accomplished this year. It has been great; the transition from eighth grade to freshman year has been very easy. •
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It was a much better experience than eighth grade year because of the new activities we have been able to join. I think the increase in stress is all right because I am doing many other things. It was a rush. It was a successful year It was okay It was what I expected, not that big of a deal. It's a huge improvement from my old school It's been a lot of studying. Skipping lunch, cramming before and after practice. Waking up early some days. Just overall, a lot of studying. It's been nice. It's good It's Great It's Great! It's just another step in life Looking forward to more interesting courses next year. Many students at SAS have lack of sleep, which is why in class our brain doesn't work, so during class the learning is unproductive. Many students in the freshman year are over concerned about their GPA and college. The sports program also assumes that the families have one working father and a stay home mother. My classes were easier than my middle school classes and I wish I took more rigorous courses My freshmen year in SAS, as a new student, was pretty demanding, yet, it was an enriching experience, which allowed me to improve and enhance in many different ways. Need to find balance. I think that the reason why I struggled so much this year is my limited time, stress and my personal things going on Overall, I think the classes are challenging, but helpful later in life. Besides the academic classes, SAS and high school is really fun and it was a great experience Overall, it was a great experience and I've learned a lot from my first year in high school! Pretty good experience if you work hard. SAS actively encourages discrimination of the younger grades, and although people are welcoming enough, the size of SAS means relationships are difficult to maintain. Sleeping the entire bus ride has now become commonplace Split courses and World studies are way too different to be equal, split courses have bigger work load and learn way more Tell us about the requirement for AP's before two months before 10th grade. The added flexibility compared to 8th grade really helped me. The kids at this school are horrible at accepting new kids, and the people who are there to "help" new students are the worst of all. I have never been to a school where kids ignored new students The people are great! Aside from their personalities, they strive to excel, to be more than they are. This drives you, but leads to you being stressed, thinking anything less than A is appalling. The year has changed me a lot. It was tough, but I got my study habit down I think. There are too many irritating and unnecessary freshman seminars There is a prominent expectation gap between World Studies and World History/ English that we were not made aware of as 8th graders. This year has been a great year academically, socially, and because of sports, but it's definitely been the most stressful year of my life so far Very good and a great introduction to the rest of high school.