JC Economics Tuition by The Economics Tutor

Economics is a highly popular subject in JC. 

Most parents know that it is a very useful subject and hence both Arts and Science students are encouraged to pursue it.

If you are still hesitant, do read up more about the Benefits of Learning Economics. 

There is also a need to decide between H1 and H2 Economics and the article should be very helpful.

Exams Format

For H2 Economics, which is what the majority will choose, there is both an Essay as well as Case Studies paper.

Paper 1 Case Studies

Paper 1 consists of 2 compulsory Case Studies worth 30 marks each. Your score for Paper 1 will contribute towards 40% of the final grade.

Most students will find Paper 1 more challenging and this is usually the decider between a A or B grade. 

Very good comprehension skills are needed to clearly dissect the case studies and very accurate economics knowledge and understanding will be required to correctly apply to answering questions. 

Higher-order thinking and reasoning skills are also needed. 

Very good time management skills are also essential as many students struggle with answering all the questions within time.

In Mr Hong’s JC Economics Tuition, a major focus is on helping students to deeply understand the economics concepts so that they can easily apply, as well as to train them in thinking and reasoning. 

Our students are trained to read the extracts with “economics lenses”. This is crucial and also will highly benefit them in future, beyond the examination. 

Mr Hong’s years of experience as a policy maker and also an entrepreneur besides being an economics tutor is invaluable in imparting all these skills and insights to the students. 

This is especially critical in helping students take “mature” judgments on issues raised and justify them convincingly. Such answers are needed to score Evaluation marks, which are worth about 16% of total 60 marks for Paper 2. It is a deciding factor between a good and mediocre grade.

A lot of experience is actually needed for that and we impart all our years of examination as well real-world experience to our students.

As if that is not challenging enough, students are also time-pressed (just 2hrs 15mins for 2 rather lengthy Case studies and about a total of 12 questions) and have to think quickly on their feet. That is why we have very special training for them in our  highly interactive classes. Students are also taught Mr Hong’s very own time management techniques including a strategy we term DUO.

Paper 2 Essays

Paper 2 consists of 6 Essays, which students must choose 3 and complete within 2h 15mins. At least 1 essay must be from Section A (mainly Microeconomics) and 1 from Section B (mainly Macroeconomics). 

There is usually context given (ie preamble) before the actual question. Hence, students must apply their knowledge to the given context and cannot simply ignore  it and just regurgitate content. (Gone are the days!!! The robots have taken over!) 

Questions can also be rather tricky and require good comprehension skills to interpret requirements correctly. Quite often, students receive NAQ comments from their teachers. NAQ stands for Not Answering Question. So accurate question analysis is really important.

Students must also learn to form arguments – For and Against. This is similar to GP essays except they must be backed up by economic theories and rigorous analysis. Again, this is where Mr Hong’s JC Economics tuition lessons come in as well as the many valuable resources provided.

Finally, just like with Case Studies, there is an Evaluation Component, which requires higher-order thinking and reasoning. Evaluation marks make up 15 out of total 75 marks for Essays. That is a whopping 20%! Some students score zero or almost zero!!! So it does make a very “grade” difference!

Your score for Paper 2 will contribute towards 60% fo the final grade. In practical terms, there is no big difference in importance between the 2 papers. Students must work equally hard for both.

Final Words (almost!)

Do note that JC Economics is a concept heavy subject. There are probably about 300 terms and concepts to learn about.

We know it is “siong”. Hence the Infographics, mind maps, Definitions database, Concept Videos, Model Answers and many more produced for you!!!

Many of our students also share that they  don’t understand what is happening in school. We also don’t understand why. Many share that they can’t really understand what their teachers are saying the pace is simply too fast for them. 

Fortunately, at The Economics Tutor, we take it step by step. 

Most schools steamroll ahead and we try to keep just slightly behind. 

All our students know that they must no matter what remain highly attentive in school (otherwise why bother to attend school!). That is only wise. 

And our programme is tailored such that students must be responsible for basic content knowledge whilst Mr Hong comes in to build up understanding, deepen understanding and help them apply to questions. This is essential as regurgitation of content in exams will not work.

Many students greatly appreciate this approach and the pace in our class. Ironically, RIJC has perhaps the slowest teaching pace among all the JCs. As they say, slow and steady, wins the race. That is also what Mr Hong believes in. Even then, this is what Jeff Li of RIJC had to say:

“Classes with you felt a lot better than the lectures and tutorials in school. For one, the lessons were set at a slower pace, where there was more emphasis on understanding rather than just going through the curriculum. Most questions in school are left unanswered. However in your class, not only do we find the answers to these questions, we were also taught beyond just the surface knowledge. Classes have always been very engaging especially with a vibrant tutor like you.”

And it is not just Jeff alone…look what Rozalin of VJC has to say:

“You’re a really great teacher and I can say that my true economics education took place during your classes, not during lectures in school.”

Our Students’ Advantage

1. Top Quality lessons by Top quality Tutor with Top Qualifications 

Where to find ?? 

Read article on Best Economics Tuition or Best Economics Tutor ?

2) Superior insights and Evaluation points

A result of super-relevant real-world experience as a previous member of the Administrative Service of the Singapore government and a successful entrepreneur (over 10 companies including overseas).

Again, where to find?? And hear it from students like Jun Rong, RIJC.

“I learnt to think deeper and I understood the economics concepts better…very grateful to have a mentor like you.”

3) Enjoy learning through real world connections and entertaining lessons!

Hear it from our students!

“I didn’t understand economics in any of my tutorials or lectures…Your examples are one of a kind! I look forward to every one of your lessons. A for Econs!”   

 Jermaine Tay SRJC

“Made Econs fun by applying it to real life.”

Guan Zhuo, HCI

“His method of teaching economics allowed me to engage…in a more fundamental and conceptual manner, allowing me to quickly internalise concepts and apply various techniques that were taught during my examinations. From S to A!”

Eunchan, RVHS

“Mr Hong also makes lessons rather enjoyable with his ridiculous and farfetched but somehow extremely relatable and fun analogies to further boost our understanding of the matter.”

Timothy Teo, SAJC

“Mr Hong is a funny, eccentric and passionate teacher whose classes helped me get an A for A levels when a C seemed out of reach when I joined at the start of J2.”

Wei Yuan, VJC

4) Regular assignments that are detailedly marked (Practise is important!)

“Mr Hong does detailed marking of every script and helped me completely understand and learn from my mistakes.”

Liz Wong, HCI

5) Super Powerful Resources : 

• Economics Study Guides 
• Model Essays (even teachers and other tutors use them!),
• Economics Songs
• Infographics & Mindmaps
• Concept Videos
• Economics Definitions Bank
• & More!

Again, where to find?

“He provides the best materials for his students and is always very patient to slower students. He has very good understanding on the syllabus in JC  and is extremely competent in passing on his Economics knowledge to his students. He often comes up with methods like songs and even makes Mindmaps for his students.”

Ming Yang, RVHS

6) Patience, Counsel, Encouragement (may come in the form of helpful scoldings)! 

Mt Hong cares for his students. He wants the best for them. 

“Thank you also for working so hard to patiently help me through my misconceptions. Also really appreciate all the times you assured and encourage me to work harder.”

David Vun, SAJC

“Thank you so much for helping me get an A for H1 Econs! Even though I flunked my way through JC, you continued to encourage and push me to do better!”

Nicole Hia, DHS

“Mr Hong is a wonderful teacher,…ensures that every students is not left behind.”

Priyanka, TPJC

“…Mr Hong is a caring tutor, which is hard to come by these days.”

Faith Tay, NJC

“Thank you for making me a better person…”

Brandon Ang, ACJC

“Mr Hong is also very encouraging, and he pushed me for 2 years, allowing me to improve drastically from a U to finally an A in the A Levels for H2 Economics.”

Jia Yuan, VJC

7) Detailed Real World Example Bank including a dedicated one on Singapore (very important for A Level Economics)

Please let us know where else to find!

8) Spotted Questions on Practice Exams

So accurate often times…it can be spooky…

“Mr Hong also systematically analyses past year trends and gives stunningly accurate predictions about A Level topics and questions.”

Marissa Chok, RIJC

“Your spotting was so accurate!”

Cheralyn Liu, HCI

“In the recent A-level examinations, Mr Hong even accurately predicted the case study questions!”

Samuel Tay, HCI

“Mr Hong was really nice & patient, and the questions he spotted were super on point! His notes are also really good would definitely recommend.”

Claire Wong, RIJC

How Mr Hong does it is still top secret…Not even his co-workers know…(but we are peeping)

BIG Bonuses

9) Advice on Uni Applications

Many of our students go on to read Medicine, Law, Economics, Computer Science, Accountancy and Business.

10) Tips on Interview Preparation

Mr Hong is both a seasoned and highly successful interviewer and interviewee.

Relevant Experience includes:

• PSC Scholarships interviews
• PHD Senior Tutorship interviews
• To represent Singapore in Young Leaders’ Initiative
• Admin Service interviews (several!!)
• Straits Times, Channel News Asia, MediaCorp, Business Times
• As employer interviewing candidates for business development, marketing, operations, centre manager positions
• Plenty more that has been temporarily forgotten!

11) Guidance on Investments & Entrepreneurship

In recent years, students see economics in action, live, with Mr Hong’s foretelling of currency value changes, and tips on property market, gold etc. Some students have benefited from guidance on investments, post- A Levels. Only for those who really seek.

12) Internship Opportunities

Read the many lessons a ex-intern learnt : One Internship, Many Life Lessons

By the way, if you haven’t, we encourage you to read up on How to choose Right Tuition or Tutor Part 1. It will help you to make your decisions for all subjects.

CAVEAT: Not every student appreciates The Economics Tutor

Those who expect Mr Hong to do all the work and them just regurgitating wholesale in exams will not appreciate Mr Hong’s Economics Tuition lessons. 

They just don’t understand how the A Levels work and these are also usually those who refuse to think and who are highly disinterested to learn. Or are plain lazy.

They don’t know they are in danger of being replaced by AI.

Fortunately, Mr Hong has managed to transform even some who enter the programme hating Economics.

“You managed to turn Econs from a dread into something I enjoy studying!”

– Nicole Ng, NJC

“Because of Mr Hong, the subject I hated most turned into the one I now enjoy and have substantial interest in.”

– Jingwen. HCI

“From hate to love!”

– Vania Ng, RIJC

Unfortunately, there have been a few students, over the years, that Mr Hong has quite gladly seen depart from the programme. We just can’t please everyone.😀