Raffles Institution (RI) Integrated Programme (IP) Curriculum — 2025 Evergreen Guide
Download printable cheat-sheet (CC-BY 4.0)09 Jul 2025, 00:00 Z
TL;DR
RI's IP splices depth (A-Level concepts two years early) with breadth (Research Ed, Raffles Academy, Bicultural Studies) — but the freedom hides early trip-wires in Mathematics and Physics. This guide maps every checkpoint, flags high-impact misconceptions, and shows how targeted tuition locks in \(y = mx + c\) and \(F = ma\) before they snowball.
1 RI at a glance
| Phase | Years | Credential | Distinctives |
| Junior Raffles Programme | Y1 - Y4 | Promotion by GPA (no O-Level) | Research Education (RE), compulsory Talent Development Programme |
| Senior Raffles Programme | Y5 - Y6 | GCE A-Level | H2/H3 subject buffet, boarding option |
RI admitted its first IP cohort in 2004.
RI's total roll is about 4000 (boys in Years 1-4; co-ed in Years 5-6). The school does not publish a finer annual breakdown.
MOE caps total IP intake at ≈ 10 % of each PSLE cohort, so RI's PSLE cut-off hovers typically at AL 4-6 (under the new Achievement Level system; historically ≈ T-score 260). MOE IP overview
2 Subject flow Y1 → Y6
2.1 Mathematics
| Year | New vs Express | Typical WA / exam window |
| Y1 | Standard form, solving inequalities, financial math | WA 1 (T1 Wk 8), WA 2 (T2 Wk 8) |
| Y2 | Quadratic sketching, simultaneous lin-quad systems, basic probability | Two WAs + End-Year |
| Y3 | Binomial \((a+b)^n\), surds, \(\Sigma\) notation, derivative from first principles | WA Mar, WA Aug, Paper 1 \(1\frac12\) h, Paper 2 2 h |
| Y4 | Product/quotient/chain rules, sigma proofs, hypothesis test #1 | WA Apr, Block Test Jul, Prelim Sep |
| Y5-6 | Full H2 9758 syllabus + optional H3 Math, RA modules on Number Theory, Olympiad | Block Tests, Promo, A-Level |
Pain-point: Y3 squeezes binomial, surds, log and first-derivative into a single term — students relying on drill rather than pattern-recognition bleed marks. See our IP Math Roadmap & 12-Week Grade-Jump Plan.
2.2 Physics
| Year | Key leap | Why tutoring helps |
| Y1-2 Integrated Sci | Vectors in forces, energy-power rate questions | Early vector literacy short-circuits later sign-slip errors |
| Y3 | SUVAT, Newton II + free-body diagrams, work-energy theorem | Multi-topic questions (kinematics ↔ dynamics) punish silo revision |
| Y4 | Electricity, EM induction, uncertainty calculus (Paper 4 prep) | Practical ACE rubrics demand spreadsheet graph skills |
| Y5-6 | H2 9478: waves, SHM, nuclear, data-analysis design | H3 Research or Olympiad ramps up calculus & error-propagation |
Worked example (Y3):
A ball shot up at \(u = \pu{15 m.s-1}\). Time to return?
Kinematics: Solve \(0 = ut + \frac12 a t^2\) (\(a = -\pu{9.81 m s^{-2}}\)) → \(t ≈ \pu{3.1 s}\).
Energy: \(\frac12 m u^2 = m g h\) → peak height; double ascent time — cross-checks numerically.
(Same twin-model method we teach in class; see IP Physics Crash Course.)
2.3 Chemistry & Biology (brief)
Chem dives into redox titrations Y3, equilibria Y4; Bio hits Mendelian genetics Y3, physiology Y4.
Both subjects bleed marks if Maths algebra is weak (logs in pH questions, calculus in enzymatic-rate tasks).
3 Signature programmes
3.1 Research Education (RE)
- When: Y1 - Y4, one period weekly
- Outcome: Group paper + oral defence; top 10 % published in Young Rafflesian Scientist
- Skill tie-in: LaTeX write-ups force unit-discipline \(\pu{kg m s^{-2}}\) and error bars \(\pm \pu{0.02}\).
3.2 Raffles Academy (RA)
Invitation-only modules (Math, Physics, Chemistry, Humanities) for top ≈ 10 % per cohort.
Math RA covers induction proofs, complex numbers; Physics RA hits Lagrangian basics.
3.3 Bicultural Studies Programme (BSP) & Raffles Leadership (RLP)
Adds China immersion + policy debates.
BSP (China) is offered from Y3-6; RI lists lectures, seminars, an immersion trip, and bilingual policy fora.
Weekly contact can reach ~3 h in heavy weeks but is not fixed.
4 Assessment architecture
| Component | Weight | Features | Tutor focus |
| Weighted Assessments (WA) | 15-25 % x 4 per year (depending on subject) | Mix of timed papers, lab reports, oral presentations | Train transfer — single CO2-drag lab may test kinematics, energy and %-uncertainty |
| End-of-Year / Block Test | 50-60 % | \(1\frac12\) h P1 short-answer + 2 h P2 long-answer | Teach pacing: \(1\) mark / \(1.5\) min rule |
| Research Education | 10 % (Y3) | APA-style report + viva | Mentor stats (t-test, regression) |
| Promotion GPA | 2.5 auto; 2.0-2.49 conditional support | Monthly audit meetings if flagged | Provide gap-analysis sheet |
*No Mid-Year exams across all levels from 2023 (announced under the Learn for Life assessment reforms). Our article WAs vs Mid-Years explains why we run mock 2 h papers each holiday.
5 Common trip-wires we see in RI tutees
| Misstep | Symptom | Fix we implement |
| Vector-sign fog | \(F_x\) wrong sign ⇒ zero diagram marks | Five-move FBD blueprint + traffic-light margin |
| Binomial over-expansion | writes all terms instead of spotting zero middle term | Heuristic: dot-and-colour repeated coefficients |
| Spreadsheet phobia | Drops experimental %-uncertainty section | Pendulum mini-lab with =LINEST() worksheet demo |
| Under-estimating WA weight | 1 missed WA drags GPA < 2.5 | Build term calendar + automated score tracker |
| CCA time sink | Rugby season + RE draft clash | 47-min pomodoro templates + asynchronous video consult |
6 Tuition leverage points
6.1 Maths Y1-Y2 — Algebra Bridge
Parents say: "PSLE star, now average."
We run a 4-week algebra boot-camp: factorising quadratics, inequality graph hacks, \(\pu{15 min}\) nightly Quick-Fire Quiz 🔥.
6.2 Physics Y3 — Forces & Energy Synthesis
Class bundle:
- Live FBD sketch-along
- SUVAT variation drills (student-created Qs)
- Spreadsheet ACE walk-through for uncertainty 5 % cap
6.3 Exam Sprint Y4 — Mock Prelim Pack
- Six past-year RI papers (annotated)
- 1-page formula sheet with units via
\pu{}macro - Error-log tracker Google Sheet
7 FAQs parents ask this week
- “Triple Science compulsory?” — In RI yes, but students may drop one at Y4; check GPA cut-offs in our Subject-Combination guide.
- “Is DSA Math easier once inside?” — Curriculum identical; DSA admits often juggle CCA commitments so early Maths support still matters.
- “Boarding worth it?” — Yr 3 pilot: All Y3 students undergo a 7-week, Mon-to-Fri boarding programme. Boarders stay Mon-Fri and return home on weekends.
- “Does RA add workload?” — Yes: weekly 2-h seminars + problem sets; huge payoff for Olympiad ambitions.
8 Action checklist
| Before Y1 starts | Term 2 Y2 | Term 1 Y3 | Term 2 Y4 |
| Finish Algebra → Calculus bridge workbook | Join Kinematics Micro-Course (4 evenings) | Attend FBD + Energy Mastery camp | Sit our Mock Prelim; flag red topics |
9 Key references
(Links updated 8 Jul 2025. Inline page numbers / PDF anchors available on request.)
10 Takeaway
RI's IP is less a straight road than a clover-leaf interchange: maths proofs loop into physics derivations, research papers feed A-Level practicals, CCAs collide with RE deadlines.
Parents who map the junctions early — and add precision tutoring right where lanes merge — turn traffic into flow.
