NTU YEAR 1 SEM 1

Nanyang Technological University 2015. 

Biological Sciences Year 1, Semester 1. 

Hello guys, I hope this post helps those who are thinking of what electives to take in the next semester and for those SBS(School of Biological Sciences) freshies a rough idea of the modules that you guys will be taking. So here it goes.. 

1.) BS1001 INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY (exempted) 

2.) BS1005 BIOCHEMISTRY 1 (exempted) 

Modules that I took for Semester 1:

3.) BS1002 BIOPHYSICAL CHEMISTRY (core)

The notes are not really sufficient to study and it's quite hard for me to understand the concepts. However, the professors are very helpful and they provided extra examples to aid understanding. There will be formulas provided during the exams. For me, I suck in all these physics stuff, so I didn't really score well for this.

4.) BS1003 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY (core) 

In Temasek Polytechnic (TP), I took Organic Chemistry (OC) before, so the content is somewhat similar. If you still have all your previous notes during poly, you can refer back to those notes. All the reactions you will have to memorise as there will be no cheat sheet that you can use during exams, unlike BS1002. Eg, you will need to visualize the turning of (R)/(S)-configuration... I don't get the trick in studying this module.. so I had a hard time studying for this as well.

5.) BS2001 PHYSIOLOGY (core) 

This is a year 2 module which I brought forward to clear. It is basically memorizing work. Just memorise as per normal and you'll do just fine (: For the final exam, it is all MCQ, so it may be easy for most. However, I think that you still have to memorise all the content as per normal, so... not much difference for me. The final exam was kind of tricky, with similar answers, just take extra caution in answering and  you will be able to score. I think that this module was the easiest among all the modules for semester 1.

6.) ML0001 ABSOLUTE BASICS FOR CAREER (core) 

This is an online module, you can just complete it at home. It is a pass/fail module.Basically you just have to follow according to the instructions and watch the videos.. I usually skip the videos if possible (it was a bit waste of time to go through everything). You will have to create a LinkedIn Profile, and record a video of yourself answering the interview questions and upload it to youtube (but don't worry! they will tell you to set it to private so that only the people who have the link could watch it). It's damn awkward but you will still have to do it :/

7.) MS800M AN EXPLORATION OF SYMMETRY 

This is also an online module, which is formerly known as "Beauty, Form, and Function: An Exploration of Symmetry". It is also a pass/fail module. This module is not that easy if you're doing it alone, unless you''re really strong in that area. It requires you to watch the videos as per normal and you will have to complete the quizzes and work by the given dateline. You have to score at least an overall of 60% (if I'm not wrong), in order to pass this module. This module requires you to understand and apply the concepts in real life. For example, you will have to take picture of an object and a selfie together with the object (to prove that you did not take it from the internet), upload it to computer and apply the lines and patterns on the object to show symmetry and rotation all.. It will be further elaborated in the module and together with examples. 

There will be a final coursework which consist of 30% of the overall module (if I'm not wrong). It requires you to download some software and write an essay regarding an article. I did not attempt the final assignment as I seriously catch nothing throughout this module and the I feel that is too time consuming. For those who just want to clear this module (basically to pass this), here are some tips: 

1.) For MCQ, get some 'help' from those smart students, try to score full marks for all MCQ. 2.) For the assignments/homework, follow the examples and if you can do it with friends, it will be more fun. However, I did it alone, with much difficulty because I don't get the content at all, but I still managed to get a decent score for the assignments (btw, all the assignments are all peer-marked but the final scores will be finalized by the professors). 

3.) Try to calculate your total percentage that you will roughly get, if you think that you're able to pass this module without doing the final assignment, I would advise you to skip it and use the time to study for your other core subjects. (that's what I did) 

After you submit your homework online, there will be another dateline for peer-marking. You will have to mark the homework of other 5 students and give them marks accordingly. (I would normally just give full marks for everybody to save time, rather than to look through all work one by one. Comments are not necessary but it feels good to receive good comments for your work (:) If you fail to complete the peer-marking component, I think there will be penalties for your assignment, so please take note of the datelines! 

8.) HP8002 WORKING IN THE 21ST CENTURY (GER-PE - LA (Liberal Arts)) 

I think this module is relatively less taxing as compared to other modules. For this module, only lectures will be conducted, no tutorials. However, all the lectures are not recorded but the lecturer, Mr. Kamal, will provide hints during the lectures; especially during the end of the lectures.The hints will be given either verbally or shown as slides at the end of the lectures (these slides will not be given in the lecture slides uploaded in blackboard!). There will also be a final lecture where he will give a summary and a quick review of all the hints that he had shown during all of the past lectures (so you better have your camera ready to snap pictures of all the slides that appear on the screen!). 

During the semester, there is also an essay that you will have to write. It is an individual assignment. It requires you to interview a person with more than 20 years of working experience. It will be beneficial for you when you're writing your essay if you have the textbook to refer to. For the final exam, other than studying the hints that he had provided, you will also need to know how to apply those concepts to yourself. There will be past year papers to refer to, and the content will be somewhat similar.

Tips: You should start early on your essay, you got to interview the person, compile and write into an essay (applying all the concepts learned into the content as well). 

GER-PE: General Education Requirements- Prescribed Elective 

Hope all these helps! If you spot any error in my grammar and structuring, please kindly ignore it. HAHAHA