<p>^ Here, there’re standard assessments done across the school for each subject, and they’re very rigid. There’s no bargaining for marks, no extra credit, no retakes, no correction for extra marks or anything. These assessments are announced beginning of the year and each one is worth at least 10%, and take quite some preparation. They will be marked by a teacher who does not teach you, and there’s benchmarking between the different markers. We get our grades for each assessment by a certain deadline, and final grades come end of each semester. I’m quite surprised by how much leeway there is for high school teachers in the US (and other countries?) when it comes to assessments - those are very, very formal here. </p>
<p>Then again, the system’s very different in a gazillion aspects. We take something like 12 subjects at any one time, it’s not modular - you take a subject for like 2 years at a time. You’re also supposed to specialize early, plus we take the A levels. Quite a few local schools are doing the IB though, but apparently they’re also as academically rigid, and they also churn out tons of perfect scorers every year - well I guess this IS Asia.</p>
<p>^ We all stress out over here, just to varying degrees. It’s really hard not to stress out! Next year I’ll be taking: English Language, English Literature, Higher Chinese, Mathematics, Mathematics (Advanced), Physics, Chemistry, Chemistry (Advanced), History, Social Studies, Philosophy, Research Studies (year-long research project needing a 10+ page paper - I’m doing a university attachment), PE. Because there’re so many subjects, we have a bunch of tests, projects, homework, whatever. But I guess I’m quite used to it, so it just becomes a part of life. </p>
<p>How much homework do you guys get every night? What time do you sleep? </p>
<p>Oh, and what do you do during Summer holidays? We’re in our 2-month December holidays now, and so far I’m just volunteering ~15 hours / week, signed up for 2 Coursera courses, hanged out with friends many many times, surfed the net for hours and hours like an anti-social hermit, read a bit, watched TV, and I think maybe towards the end I could do a bit of studying for next year (hope, but probably won’t happen). I feel so unaccomplished lol</p>
<p>My school can be relaxing and stressful haha I get only about 30 minutes - 2 hours. Most of my homework though is done in my study. </p>
<p>During summer holidays I’ll usually hang out with friends, do some volunteer work, read or spend time on the internet. haha I always say i’m going to study but I never end up doing it lol</p>
<p>I normally get 2-3 hours of homework a night. I usually finish my homework at 6 tops, if I start it the moment I get home from school. </p>
<p>This past summer, I honestly feel like I did nothing. I volunteered 3 hrs/week, studied Campbell’s biology (totally useless since I’ve forgotten most if not all of what I learned), practiced my instruments, and went to band camp.</p>
<p>We’re having an Asian Thanksgiving this year. Thanksgiving is a day where I don’t have to feel guilty about overeating.</p>
<p>Every year, we basically eat leftovers until the New Year, not that I’m complaining or anything. Thanksgiving leftovers are the best kinds of leftovers :)</p>
<p>Ew. Homework. I usually stay up til late doing it, but that’s probably because I procrastinate on Facebook. </p>
<p><33 Happy Thanksgiving errybody! lol, yeah I had the same situation as @EveningSwan. Minus the volunteering of course, because I’m a poor loser who cares about nothing but AP Classes… sniff.</p>
<p>I’m such a procrastinator with Facebook, which is why I’ve blocked it until after semester finals are over haha. If I’m not on it, I can actually get to bed by eleven on most nights, but if I don’t block it or otherwise forget about it, then my situation becomes pretty much hopeless…</p>
<p>^Haha yeah, some of my friends have questioned me, like, “Did you get my Facebook message?”, or “Where were you last night?!?!?!”, but there’s no nuclear warfare or anything of that sort :D</p>
<p>@elf4EVA: Yep, sounds about right xD Haha, I would SO add you as a facebook friend. But I’m a weird person :P</p>
<p>@EveningSwan: I seriously regret having a Facebook now. I don’t usually have creep people stalking me (I’m usually the creepy one, although I don’t stalk)</p>
<p>@MathGuy Me toooo!!! I don’t even know why I made a Facebook. I think it was just an impulsive thing, even though I told myself I wouldn’t get one until after high school graduation… obviously didn’t happen… and yeah, I should add you, even though I’m kind of a creeper also hahahaha. And don’t worry, I’m soooo weird:D</p>
<p>I have around 3 hours of homework each night. I heard it gets worse when you’re a junior though (6 hours of homework??!!!) Lol, no, but I usually get all my homework done during class, for example sneaking my Algers 2 textbook during my Health class because I sit in the back and create a barricade of books and my laptop so my Health teacher doesn’t see/thinks I’m taking notes with my laptop. Oh, and I do my math homework during math class too. Because 75% of our time is correcting homework, and while the teacher is going over that I finish tomorrow night’s homework :D</p>
<p>UGH I have that same feeling with Facebook… I made it in 6th grade because it was considered “cool”. </p>
<p>Today my mom is making Asian hotpot (yayyy) This morning I volunteered at this local place teaching ESL to Chinese exchange kids. I’m also going to study for a history exam, Chemistry exam (this time I can’t BS my exam by using dimensional analysis for every problem, it’s conceptual (quantum mechanics)), and do some more research for my science fair project!!!</p>
<p>@Catsby We had hot pot for Thanksgiving dinner this year instead of turkey! Oh, and how did you find a place to teach ESL? Everywhere I’ve looked so far says you have to be 18. :(</p>
<p>I am actually really surprised that this year has gone by so fast. I can’t believe semester exams are coming up soon! I almost want this year to go by slower…</p>
