Module Review Year One Sem 1 (AY2014/15)

Modules this Sem:

MA1505	Mathematics I	4
EG1108	Electrical Engineering	3
CS1010E	Programming Methodology	4
ST1131	Introduction to Statistics	4
GEK1549	Critical Thinking and Writing	4

MA1505 Mathematics I

Compulsory math module for all engineers, so cohort size is about 1600.

Mid Semester test consists of 10 MCQs, Easy if you practice on at least 5 past year papers. But reminder here, I don't aim for A. I say doing about 2 to 3 is sufficient, leave the rest to luck (MCQ bro)! For my case, the test is quite chaotic but I really had superb luck to get an average score.

Final examinations also can be a breeze if you practice enough. But don't get me wrong, just do 2 to 3 papers will be sufficient to survive (just use 1st sem SU* option). Forget about understanding your notes or tutorial first, just print past year papers with solutions. Do it.

Topics taught:

• Differentiation
• Integration
• Sequence & Series
• Fourier series
• Double integration & Line integration
• 3D-space (Vectors)

Going for lectures is not important because people like me won't understand anything at the lecturers' pace. Make sure you view webcasts at your own pace.

Predicted grade: C

Actual grade: B, then S

*something new here is S/U option in NUS. Allows students to forgo actual grade and get a Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U) grade. You will get S as long as you passed the module, Actual grade will never be known to anyone. SU modules do not add weight-age to your Cumulative Academic Point (CAP).

EG1108 Electrical Engineering

'Play-play' module for ise. Alternatives to this module includes EG1109, some physics, chem and material science modules. Popular ones are certainly EG1109 & EG1108. EG1109 requires a lot of physics and have a group project which I hated.

Honestly, EG1108 is a very fun module except the labs.

Topics covered:

• KVL & KCL & Superposition
• Voltage, Current, Resistance & batteries.
• Resistance, Impedance & Transient analysis
• AC Power
• Rectifiers
• Boolean algebra & Logic circuits

Trust me, many students, like me, do not understand a sh*t only until we study for exams. It turns out that the content is actually very light. No webcasts, I always go for the 8am lectures. I do look for 3rd-party instructional videos on youtube to aid bulk of my study for this module.

No midterms. Finals carry 80%. 2 labs will each carry 10%. The labs you can discuss with anyone else for answers. My first lab was screwed up, left the lab report 90% blank! Because my friends also don't know how to do, lazy to think too.

Predicted grade: B-

Actual grade: B+

CS1010E Programming Methodology

Learn fundamental problem solving using C language. Quite tough for students with no understanding of coding at all. Make sure you take this module seriously because you need to build on it for CS1020E in year 2.

Topics covered:

• I lazy to type all, ask in comments if you really want to know.

Consistent effort is required to complete the fortnightly Assessed Labs, which carries a bulk of final grade weight-age. Even if you did not do well, don't worry, many people join you. Same applies to midterm test and final exams, I find them extremely tough.

All in all, the module requires very good logic to create algorithms that will solve the problems. Webcast available but lectures are not boring, can go for them.

Predicted grade: C

Actual grade: B+

ST1131 Introduction to Statistics

As the name says, this module includes many introductory contents in the study of statistics. It is a core module for ise. Note that ise skills are mainly made up statistics & probability application, you will definitely realize in year 2 or 3. ST1131 is not intensive, nothing much to say. General sentiment is that most students will do very well for the test and examinations, I personally am not worried about that because I'm just aiming for a B.

Contents covered:

• Centre & spread
• Empirical rule
• Regression line & Correlation
• Normal distribution
• Sampling Methods
• Simpson's paradox
• Binomial distribution
• Confidence interval, Margin of error, etc. (for sampling distributions)
• Hypothesis testing.

No webcast, advise go for lectures. For me, I catch no ball at all for the sampling distributions part only until I referred to a textbook. I didn't use the recommended text because I don't intend to right from the start but just so I found a statistics for business tb at home.

Predicted grade: B-

Actual grade: B+

GEK1549 Critical Thinking & Writing
Module is specially tailored for engineers by the NUS - Centre for English Language Communication (CELC). This module is a torture to me. Requires much critical thinking, interpretation of abstracts and formulation of an argument.

Really lucky I passed. I didn't do well for assignments and I flung the finals. I literally completed less than half of the paper. Class participation counts for a small part of grade. Just participate, it is not only for the grade but for your own good, else you gonna feel damn bored with 2 X 2hrs of sectional teaching per week. The class style is like tutorials, about 20 students per class.

Predicted grade: fail?

Actual grade: C, then S

End of Module Review Year One Sem 1~