A-levels

Edexcel

International Advanced Levels

edition december 2014

Cambridge

International Examinations

Contents

Message from the Dean

3. Introduction to A-Levels
5. Edexcel International Advanced
Level and Cambridge International
Examinations
7. Malaysian Toray Science Foundation and

Speech, Drama and Writing

8. Mathematics and Multimedia Workshop

10. HELPs Centre for A-Levels
11.

Profiles of Achievers

Our proven record of achievements speaks for itself.

With a total of 70 World Top Awards to date, including this years record 13, the Malaysian Toray
Science Foundation (MTSF) winners for seven years running, and not surprisingly declared the Best
and Biggest Edexcel A-Levels Centre in the World in 2011 (World Conference, Hong Kong), HELP
is indeed more than a centre of excellence. The long list of top achievers continues to expand, with
an increasing number of annual graduates gaining both admission as well as scholarships to top
universities worldwide.
So the big question to many who are interested to learn, how do we do it every time? Is it our
dedicated A Team, the quality of our students, the facilities, or something else besides the specially
built-in GTE (Getting the Edge) program? Perhaps, but the answers are much simpler to understand.
Firstly, it is all about ambition. A-Level students are very, very ambitious. They want to gain
admission to the best universities, not just any university, to find the most rewarding careers for their
future. Secondly, it is all about beliefs. These students believe nothing can stop them from exploring
for the best options. Whether they walk in after school with their 10 As, 7 As, 5 As or even much less,
the A-Levels will always be one more opportunity to achieve, a one-stop preparation.
Finally, they have to make their choice, between best campus, best location, or best academic
results. I congratulate all who have joined us and contributed to such an impressive record of
excellence, and many more to come who will likely surpass their own expectations with a little help
from us.
Cheers, all welcome to HELP - always a level above the rest.

Jahn Cheah
Dean, Faculty of University Foundation Studies, HELP Academy
Director, Department of A-Levels
Senior Lecturer in Mathematics

www.facebook.com/alevels.ha
2

A-Levels @ HELP

HELP has coached A-Level students
to enter the worlds top universities:
Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial College
London, Harvard, Yale, Princeton,
Stanford, Chicago, Melbourne and the
Australian National University, with
many gaining both admission and
scholarships either from prestigious
scholarship boards or directly from the
universities

Centre of Excellence: the Department
of A-Levels was the first centre to be
awarded the Centre of Excellence by
Edexcel International UK for
exceptional delivery of the London
GCE A-Levels in recognition of its
superior facilities, outstanding quality
of teaching, excellent pastoral support
and, above all, academic results
(holder of the highest record 70 World
Top Awards together with another 37
National Awards)

State-of-the-art facilities, especially
the Curie Science Labs, which are
equipped with top quality apparatus
and safety features. These labs are
acclaimed to be among the best in the
world by the Edexcel A-Levels Chief
Examiner from the UK. In addition, the
unique Students Lounge bears
testimony to HELPs total
commitment to providing for the
essential needs of students, in and out
of the classroom

Getting The Edge (GTE) program to
cultivate leadership and organisational
skills among students who work
closely with our most experienced
lecturers on award-winning science

projects; participate in creative writing,

drama and challenging yet fun
mathematics workshops; and develop
technological skills through
multimedia workshops

Unique Pastoral Care: each student is
assigned to a mentor who monitors
and guides him on academic performance and advises on application
for university admission. Counsellors
from the Department of Psychology
also provide a range of mental health
and leadership programs and personal
counselling services

Student Placement Centre: dedicated

staff from this centre assist A-Level
students in their application for
admission to universities worldwide
and in their bid to secure scholarships
Recognised by the Qualifications and
Curriculum Authority (QCA), UK and
fully accredited by the Malaysian
Qualifications Agency (MQA)

HELP now offers the dual option
advantage, the first centre in the
country to conduct both the Edexcel
International Advanced Level and the
Cambridge International A-Levels
(from the 'A Team' to the 'A* Team')

Successful
University
Placement

Edexcel International Advanced Level (IAL) and

Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) :
Worldwide Recognition

(partial list)

I AL and CIE are top ranked examination boards

University of Cambridge

B
 oth operate under guidelines for quality, standards and
consistency specified by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ)
of the United Kingdom

University of Oxford

There is no difference in the level or degree of difficulty between

the examinations of Edexcel and CIE

Imperial College London

The specifications of syllabuses may differ but both of them are

recognised by top universities, colleges and employers all around
the world

University of Edinburgh

London School of Economics

University College London
Kings College London
Royal College of Surgeons
Ireland
University of Hong Kong
National University of
Singapore

Main difference between IAL and CIE

I AL modular system allows student to retake any module to

improve subject grade without having to repeat an entire level.
Only the highest mark scored in any attempt will be taken into
account.

University of Melbourne

C
 IEs linear system requires students to take the exam in 2 phases
AS level and A2 level to make up a full A-Level pass. Each level
accounts for 50% of the total marks. Students dissatisfied with
any units must re-sit the entire level. Only the last score will be
taken into account. Although universities often require a number
of full A-Level passes for admission, AS grades also attract UCAS
points and are counted for university entrance.

Princeton University

Australian National University

Harvard University
Stanford University
University of Chicago
University of California
Massachusetts Institute of
Technology
Trinity College Dublin
and many more

Edexcel

Cambridge

Intake

January, March, July

January, March, July

Entry Requirement

5 SPM/O-Level credits (with pass in Bahasa

Melayu & Sejarah for SPM students), or
equivalent qualification

5 SPM/O-Level credits (with pass in Bahasa

Melayu & Sejarah for SPM students), or equivalent
qualification

Subjects Offered

Minimum 3 or maximum 4 from different rows:

Mathematics Chemistry or Law Physics or
Accounting Biology or Economics Further
Maths or English Literature or Applied ICT

Minimum 3 or maximum 4 from different rows:

Mathematics Chemistry or Law Physics or
Accounting Biology or Economics Further Maths
or English Literature or Applied ICT

Assessment/Exams

Modular examination: January and June

External examination in 2 phases: Advanced

Subsidiary Level (AS Level) and A2 Level:
May/June and October/November

Duration

All intakes: 1 years

All intakes: 1 years

JPT/BPP (K) 1000-600/WP111

KPT(JPS)600-03/1359(19)

Getting The Edge With

Malaysian Toray
Science Foundation

Speech, Drama
and Writing

TORAY is a Japanese Foundation collaborating with the

Malaysian Ministry of Education to promote science and
technology education through research and competition at
both secondary and tertiary levels. The prestigious, lucrative
MTSF awards are given each year to the most innovative,
original projects submitted and judged by a leading team of
professors from our top universities.

Many students apply with grade A

predictions, so how do Admissions Officers
choose the best applicants? What makes
YOU stand out?

HELPs A-Levels lecturers, together with their students,

have won a record number of awards:
Winning Projects
Cost-effective Design for an Interesting Spectroscope
(2005)
Easy-to-build, Low-cost, High-functioning Van De Graaf
Generator (2006)
Simple Light-sensitive Robot (2007)
Three-in-one Generator (2009)
Easy-to-build, Low-cost Electromagnet-powered
Speakers (2010)
Contactless Electromagnetic Braking System (2011)
A simple saponification device for recycling cooking oil
A
 Visual Auditory Kinesthetic (VAK) Approach to
Understanding Light-independent Reactions of
Photosynthesis
Dancing Parallel Wires - Integration of Demonstration &
Teaching Model (2012)
Wireless Power Transmission (2013)
GTE students are entitled to this 2 hours per week option
added to their normal academic time table, where they will
work with lecturers assigned to each specific project based
on the standards of the annual MTSF competition.

The most successful students, and the ones

who are accepted to the most prestigious
universities, are students who are able to think
critically, form their own opinions, and present
their arguments effectively and convincingly.
This program will develop speech and writing
skills through writing and drama workshops.
Students will be encouraged to do their own
research on topics that interest them, and they
will form their own opinions on controversial
issues. They will then work closely with our
experienced lecturers on how to most effectively
present their arguments and themselves both
in person and in writing.
GTE students will participate in writing and
drama workshops, and will expand their
interests outside of the classroom.
The HELP A-Levels Annual Production, run by
the English Literature Department, has been a
tremendous success since its debut in 2003.
Some of their previous productions include Dr
Faustus, Much Ado About Nothing, Man and
Superman, The Importance of Being Earnest,
The Irony of Matrimony, Life: The Mobius Strip,
Lost in Yonkers (2012), Arcadia (2013), All in the
timing (2014)

Getting The Edge With

Mathematics
Workshops
HELP's Department of Mathematics, with teaching
experience of staff averaging more than 20 years, has
officially conducted workshops for top secondary
schools in Kuala Lumpur, the popular Shortcut
Methods for Additional Mathematics series, the Maths
Challenge & Enhancement workshops, as well as the
Annual National Mathematics Marathon.
Students will receive 2 hours of extra attention each
week to master special mathematical techniques
beyond the scope of class texts and curriculum, to
improve their speed and accuracy in solving problems.
These additional skills will not only help them in their
examinations, but will also help them develop an
appreciation and enjoyment of Mathematics.

Multimedia
Workshops
Today, the world of information technology creates
endless opportunities and limitless scope for creativity,
making it fun and exciting to study and even work!
After completion of the A-Levels most of you will
embark on your chosen career paths, starting as
undergraduates in top universities. You will find
yourselves competing with the best around the world.
In tertiary education, the use of multimedia is
unavoidable. Undergraduates and postgraduates
require good multimedia skills for presentations,
assignments and coursework. These skills are not only
essential in universities or colleges but in working life as
well.
An impressive multimedia presentation can earn a
student an A grade, but in real life it may earn you a
million dollar deal.
8

Some of the learning topics in our workshops are:

Manual Photography Advancement in Microsoft Office
Online Platform Creation
Videography
Networking
Video Editing
GTE students will participate in weekly multimedia
workshops and projects to develop the technical skills
needed to succeed in todays ever-changing world.
9

Profilesof
of Achievers
Achievers
Profiles
Our A-Level
students who
scored straight
As proudly show
their results.

"HELP is the best college

experience ever. The
lecturers and administrators
have guided and provided
me with advice on key
lessons in life which I will
always treasure as I expand
my perspectives on life."
Avinaash Subramaniam
A-Levels: 4 As. Harvard University
on Harvard Faculty Scholarship.
Former school: SMK Damansara
Jaya. First runner-up in the 2008
Oxford Cambridge Society Public
Speaking Competition. HELP
Academy Distinction Scholarship
Award. SPM 10 A1s, 1 A2. United
Nations Youth Achievement Award.

HELPs Centre for A-Levels

- Your Careers Junction
Always a level above the rest
Record 70 World Top Awards in Accounting (23),
Law (15), Chemistry (10), Physics (8), Biology (6),
Maths (2), Further Maths (5), English Literature (1).
(Most recently, 37 Top Awards in Malaysia)

Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA)

Singapore Government Investment Corporation
(GIC)
Bank Negara Scholarship

Toray Science Foundation Awards for 7 years running

Maybank Scholarship

 Declared Best & Largest A-Levels Centre in the

World (Edexcel World Conference in Hong Kong,
16 March 2011)

CIMB Corporate Scholarship

 47% straight As in one year alone.

Increasing list of scholarship recipients for admission
to top universities in the UK, USA and Australia.
In 2013, HELP Academy was awarded by Pearson
Edexcel in recognition as Top Performing Registered
Training Centre.
Note: First year undergraduate studies is structured to allow for entry by students from diverse
subject backgrounds. Hence, universities have advised that it is not necessary for potential Law,
Economics or Accounting and Finance students to study these subjects at A-Level, while science
students will continue to enjoy the variety of options for careers in science and arts.

10

Scholarships won by HELP A-Level Students

(partial list)

Yayasan Sime Darby Scholarship

Maxis Scholarship for Excellence
Khazanah Nasional Global Scholarship
ASEAN Scholarship
Shell Scholarship
Securities Commission of Malaysia Scholarship
University Scholarships
Petronas Scholarship
Ministry of Education (MOE)
Bank Pembangunan Scholarship
Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA)
Yayasan Sabah
and many more

"The GTE programme

really helped my
Cambridge application
- the mock interviews
prepared me for the real
deal and the personal
statement forced me to
polish the rough corners
of my original critique."
Melissa Chee
A-Levels: 4 A*s. Chemical
Engineering at Cambridge
University under the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust
Scholarship. Double World Top
Awards: for Further Maths and
Physics. SPM 9 As from SMK
Damansara Jaya.

" Im very happy with the

teaching quality and the
learning atmosphere
here at HELP.
Trishna Banerjee Nair
A-Levels 4 As. Recipient of SASA, SPM 5 A+,
4 As, 1 A-, Top 10 High Achievers in Malaysia.
Economics at University of Chicago on a
Maybank Oversea Scholarship. SMK (P) Sri
Aman, PJ.

"With the help of

dedicated lecturers,
I was able to achieve
good results. I would
not trade the year and a half
that I spent at HELP University
for anything in the world."
Lee Ren-Ling
A-Levels: 3 A*s & 1 A. University of
Manchester (Chemical Engineering). Former
student of SMK (P) Methodist Kuala Lumpur.
SPM 9 A+s & 2 A-s. Edexcel Excellence Award
for Further Mathematics 2011. MABECS Best
Student Award 2011.

11

Profiles of Achievers

"I am extremely grateful to

be able to pursue medicine in
such a renowned university
[Imperial College London]. I
hope the knowledge I gain will
allow me to continue HELP's
mission to to share our success
with the community we serve."
Tan Wei Jian
A-Levels 4 A* Double award winner
for World Top Awards for Biology and
Chemistry. Imperial College London
studying Medicine as a JPA scholar.
SPM 10 As from SMK Kepong Baru KL.

"The best part of HELPs A-Level

program is its resources not only
for the students current needs
but references for their future
academic prospects as well."
Looi Bob Rick
A-Levels 4 A*. Australian National
University (Actuarial Science) on an ANU
Malaysian Alumni Scholarship. School
Achiever Scholarship Award (SASA)
for A-Levels. SPM 9 A1s and 2 A2s. SMK
Damansara Jaya PJ.

"HELP provided
me with the
platform to meet
new people
and try out new things
while chasing academic
excellence all at the same
time."
Amanda Foo Wei Meen
A-Levels: 3 A* & 1 A. University of
Southern California. Former student
of Wesley Methodist School KL. HELP
Distinction Scholarship Award. SPM 9
A1s and 1 A2.

"Im glad to have

studied in the
A-Level program
at HELP. Apart
from the experienced
lecturers and the conducive
environment, the helpful
staff in the A-Levels
Department gave me great
cause for satisfaction."
Hoo Jian Hong
A Levels: 3 A* & 1 A. Heriot-Watt
University (Actuarial Science) on a
Mathematical and Computer Sciences
(MACS) Undergraduate Overseas
Scholarship. SMK Seri Bintang Utara.
SPM 10 A1s, 2 A2s.Edexcel International
World Award winner for Accounting
(2010).

"Studying
Accounting at
the top University
of Melbourne
is challenging, but the
foundation given by the
HELP A-Levels program
made it very manageable."
Shipren Jayadev
A-Levels : 1 A* & 3 As.
Accounting at the University of
Melbourne. Smk Bukit Bandaraya, KL.
SPM 6 A1s and 3 A2s.

12

Jahn Cheah Thean Lye

Dean, Faculty of University Foundation Studies, HELP Academy
Director, Department of A-Levels
Senior Lecturer in Mathematics
MSc (App Stats) (UPM), BSc (Maths), DipEd (Malaya)

The A Team
Anuar Bin Shamsuddin
Senior Lecturer
BSc (Polytechnic Central
London)

Lin May Ching

Senior Lecturer
MSc (Maths) (London), BA
(Tionghoa & Pure Maths) Hons
(Malaya), CertEd (Birmingham)

Pang Huey Shen

Lecturer
MSc (Chem), BSc (App
Chem) Hons (Malaya)

Noel Chia Wei Xiang

Senior Lecturer
BSc (App Physics) Hons
(Malaya)

Philip Loh Soo Ming

Senior Lecturer
BSc (Maths) Hons (Malaya)

Foong Yoke Ting

Senior Lecturer
MPhil, BSc (Gen) Hons
(Malaya)

Jaslinder Kaur Dhillon

Senior Lecturer
BSc (Biotech) Hons (USM)

Tan Chin Sin

Lecturer
MAppStats, BA (Maths/
Econ) Hons (Malaya)

Leong Set Wei

Senior Lecturer
MEd, BEc, DipEd (Monash)

Lam Sow Yee

Senior Lecturer
BSc (Maths) Hons, DipEd
(Malaya)

Lee Cherl Lu
Lecturer
Double Degree BSc
Biotechnology / BSc Medical
Bioscience (Monash)

Anu Rekha Themudu

Senior Lecturer
BA (Acct) Hons
(Hertfordshire)

Tan Ai Fong
Senior Lecturer
BSc & Ed (Physics) Hons
(UTM), MSc (UNIMAS)

Azis Bin Alias

Senior Lecturer
MEd (Malaya),
BSc (Tasmania)

Yeap Soon Chye

Senior Science Master/ Senior
Lecturer
BSc (Ed) Hons (USM)

Francis Dunn-Yu
Senior Lecturer
MACPA

Shirley Diong Chea Fong

Lecturer
BSc (Hons) Computational
Physics and Electronics
(Malaya)

Lim Chee Seong

Senior Lecturer
MSc (Physics), BSc
(Physics) Hons (Malaya)

Peter Thoo Boon Huat

Senior Lecturer
MBA (New England), CA (M),
ACMA, CGMA, ACIS

Jesselyn Pang Wai Leng

Lecturer
BIT (CSturt)

Lilian Wong Tan Lai

Senior Lecturer
BSc (Actuarial Science) (City)

Ling Toh Woon

Senior Lecturer
BSc (Physics) Hons, DipEd
(Malaya)

Ronnie Kueh Boon Lin

Senior Lecturer
MSc (Plant & Animal
Physiology), BSc (Bio) Hons
(UPM)

Low Chiang Heng

Lecturer
MEnv (UPM), BSc
(Biochem) Hons (Malaya)

Seow Yoke Hock

Senior Lecturer
MEd (OUM), BSc (App Physics)
First Class Hons (Malaya)

Tan Kimmie
Senior Lecturer
MEc, BEc (Western
Australia)

Poon Chong Khim

Lecturer
MAppStats, BSc Hons (Stats)
(Malaya)

Catalina Rembuyan
Lecturer
MA (English), BA (English)
(Malaya)

Aw Seng Hong
Senior Lecturer
MAppStats, BSc Ed (Maths/
Chem) Hons (Malaya)

Kanagambigai
Manickavasagar
Senior Lecturer
MSc, BSc (Biochem) Hons
(Malaya)

Charmaine Goh Shyen Fyrn

Senior Lecturer
LLB Hons (West of England,
Bristol), CLP, Advocate and
Solicitor (High Court of Malaya)

Cristabel Tan
Senior Lecturer
MEd (Stanford), BA
(English) (Wesleyan)

Khoo Keat Chye

Senior Lecturer
MAppStats, BA (Maths) Hons,
DipEd (Malaya)

Lai Li Wan
Senior Lecturer
MEd (Malaya), BSc & Ed
Hons (UKM)

Sarah Munirah binti Abdullah

Lecturer
LLM (Regulation & Technology)
(Kings College London)
LLB (Hons) (UiTM)
BLS (Hons) (UiTM)

Muhammad Faizal Bin

Mohd Nor
Lecturer
BSc (Resource Chemistry)
Hons (UNIMAS)

Yeap Hon Ve
Lecturer
MAppStats, BSc Hons (Stats)
(Malaya)

Lawrence Low Chia Wei

Senior Lecturer
MEc, BEc Hons (Malaya)

Teng Wai Ping

Lecturer
MSc (Maths) - USM
BSc (Pure Maths) - USM

Parvathy Nethiar
Lecturer
M.A. in English
Language and
Literature (University
of Calicut, India)

Md Syazni bin Idris

Lecturer
Bachelor of Legal
Studies (Hons.)
(UiTM)

Chew Cheng Lim

Lecturer
MSc (Physics)
(Bristol)

Dr. Khong Yoke Kam

Lecturer
PhD, BSc (App
Chem) Hons
(Malaya)
CertTeach

Lee Siew Meng

Senior Lecturer
BSc (Physics), DipEd (Malaya)

Samuel Lock Cheng

Hsiong
Senior Lecturer
MAppStats, BSc
(Maths) Hons
(Malaya)

13

Never express yourself more

clearly than you are able to think. - Niels Bohr

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