When one rejoices, another will suffer --Book of Philosophies 12:44

I was in a bookshop just now (no need to say which) and i realised something very disturbing.

Ever wondered why some paper products are expensive? Well, they aren't. The cheaper alternatives can be found in the bottom piles, and I saved about a dollar doing that.

Another disturbing fact is that publishers of past-year model papers can be after your money by cheekily putting the price of the paper in question really cheap -- only for you to find out that the answers are sold separately, and it is better of with the book with the answers in it. To prevent such scenarios from happening, purchase from credible publishers such as Dyna. SAP has separate answers booklet either sold with the book or separately, so be very very very very very careful.

My focus today is the shifting tides. Is it actually equally fair to compare and be compared to others when circumstances slightly differ? I got the inspiration from our O Levels. I'm sure people taking the 'O's in 2008 are facing a crisis -- a major change in syllabus (although chemistry students enjoy the benefit of a much easier syllabus).

This major change in syllabus is rather drastic and is listed as follows:

1. Social Studies: The addition of terrorism to the syllabus
2. Geography: Pure brain drainage on the removal of MCQs
3. Elementary Maths: This one changes every year so i'm not complaining
4. Additional Maths: The addition of quadratic roots, partial fractions and %$%# geometrical proofs
5. A much earlier O level date

What does this mean? Simple -- we have more to study for, with a shorter time to do so. Moreover, removal of JC tryouts means we are always 2 points short of people who take the 'O's before us.

JC points are dropping drastically to boot.

To sum it all up, the good results windfall last year made others expect more of us.

By the way, I have calculated that their A1 might only account for an A2 and A2 can account for a B3 if the people before us were to take our 'O's syllabus taking pressure, time and workload to consideration.

So tell me, is it fair to be compared to others? Post your views in the cbox or in the comments space!