Choong Mun's score of 5As and one C for his N(T) subjects, and a Grade 2 for the extra N(A) subject - mathematics - was better than his teachers expected. -- ST PHOTO: ALBERT SIM
OUTRAM Secondary student Choar Choong Mun, who is an avid gamer, wants to study computers and networking at the Institute of Technical Education to find out how to make his computer run faster.
The 16-year-old will be able to do so next year as he emerged on Thursday as the top Normal (Technical) stream student who took one or two Normal (Academic) subjects.
Based on the N-level examination results released on Thursday, there were 99 students in the stream who took one or two N (A) subjects - which are more difficult than N(T) subjects.
Since 2006, N(T) students have been allowed to take up to two N(A) subjects.
Choong Mun's score of 5As and one C for his N(T) subjects, and a Grade 2 for the extra N(A) subject - mathematics - was better than his teachers expected.
Form teacher Mr Hazlan Mohd Aris, 41, who described him as 'playful and mischievous', said that Choong Mun has always been ranked among the top three in his class.
'He has a steely determination to do better than his classmates. Any query he has, he asks before he leaves school,' he said.
Mr Hazlan was also the person who drove to Choong Mun's home to pick him up on Thursday before results were announced, as he could not be contacted on his mobile or home phone.
Even though Choong Mun took mathematics at the N(A) level, he said he did not spend much time outside class preparing for it.
His mathematics teacher Madam Haslinda Yusof, 28, confirmed that he was such an independent learner, she hardly gave him extra help.
Read the full story in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.
