📖 SWAT 2019

This year, instead of going to ANNTIC, we have SWAT (Studying the Word of God Altogether) instead. We had combined our camp teachings with other schools such as NTU, SUSS, SIM, SMU, SIT, etc instead of just NUS alone. Our SWAT committee was only consist of people from different schools. This year, I chose to signed up as a BSL (Bible Study Leader) because be it in a small or big way, I would like to serve God because I love Him a lot and would like to glorify His name.

Each group consists of an average of 9-10 people. One of my group member did not came for the whole camp as she was sick unfortunately. I initially did not want to go for this camp as I wanted to join some internship or something else, when I realised I would also be going overseas to Batam for two short days in the middle of December on weekdays, I decided to just sign up for this camp in faith. 160 is actually kinda expensive and I was contemplating about the price as I missed the early bird discount too. However, my friends told me that money can always be earned back but time cant, especially when Anntic/Swat is only once per year. In addition, it could also be an offering of time and money upon to the Lord.

Like Anntic, Swat lasts also for six days. However, for this year, we have something different. We had a catching event on day 2 which was pretty fun but tiring at the same time. We have to strategise also if we want to win.

It was also such a coincidence that Kee Yong, one of my army friends, also happened to be in my same SWAT group. We reconnected and became closer during the camp and so stuffs together. It was also my first time staying in the bunk as last year during Anntic in Majodi, I stayed in the chalet instead. At first it was scary on the bed as I slept on the top and when I first climbed up, the bed was super shaky. Thank God I was safe throughout the 6 days of the camp and my bed did not break at all. The food was good there but I wish there were portions of meat and fruits. It was buffet style which was different from last year Anntic where everything would already be placed neatly on every tables.

I was also very thankful for my groups who were very participating and providing lots of valuable insights and thoughts to the group discussions. This year I also got enough sleep, about 7 to 8 hrs per day as we did not stay up late to htht unlike last year. In addition, I also got to explore a pathway which was scary cause I walked through it late at night. It was super dark and scary, but as Christians I know that Christ is much much much more stronger than anything else.

In my life, especially the three camps which I had been through, every time when people share about their life struggles I would always have nothing much to share as usually whenever something bad happens, there would always be almost a happy ending as God would always take me out of the fire. However, for this camp, there was an issue or rather a specific set of issue (which I will write later on) that I had/was facing. This time, God was actually delivering me through the fire instead of out of it. Through this camp, especially one of the workshops which I had went, God was ministering healing to me.

Overall, I pretty much enjoyed this camp and hope that my group will still remain in close contact after this camp.

Pic: My SWAT group members

Pic: All the campers

Pic: Engin CFers

Pic: Celebrating Sarah's Birthday on the actualy day itself!

Pic: Highly encourages by my church pals who went for SWAT too

Pic: Guohong carrying me

Pic: Me and Xiang Da at the sermon of the mount

Pic: my IBS classmates

Pic: A chinese letter/epistles that we wrote to the church in Hong Kong

Pic: Lunch at Ding Tai Fun (super cheap)

🔧 Year 2 Semester 1 NUS Mechanical Engineer Modules Review

This academic year 2019/2020 will be a very interesting year. This is because I will be left with 12 MCs or 3 modules of SUs to be used. I cannot afford to screw up any modules (B- and below) just like how in last two semesters. I need to study harder to stay ahead in the bell curve and also the content taught will be much harder too. In addition, I will be take 4 pure ME core modules, if you count my IDP module that would be 5 for this semester. Last two semesters did not give me a clear understanding on where I would roughly stand on the ME bell curve as the modules that I took are also taken by other people from other courses. In addition, this semester was more "xiong" as my IDP module was a total nightmare. It was a 4 MC module but it did not felt like a 4 MC module because the time spent on this module is much more required than a normal 4 MC module.


Modules taken: 6

1) ME 2112 Strength of materials 4 MCs

If you love forces and love drawing free body diagrams, this is a perfect module for you although civil engineering will be a more perfect major for you. If you do well for the forces question in PC 1431 or EG1111, you should be able to survive or do decently well for this module too. To be able to do decently well or at least pass this paper, you should be able to at least master the basic fundamentals like drawing a free body diagram, using your ruler for visualisation, drawing the shear force and bending moment diagram, knowing where to make free body diagrams and the sign conventions for different surfaces on each free body diagram. This module consist of three sections, 15 percent midterms, 15 percent lab and 70 percent finals. The labs are easy to do and complete just that it is extremely daunting and tiresome. The midterms on the other hand might be challenging, however the content tested will be the first few chapters in the modules which are relative easier too. If you practice enough, you should fare just fine too. The finals is not open book and a cheat-sheet is also not allowed into the exam. However a formula sheet will be given so in reality you probably only need to actually just memories a few formula. The finals will be challenging too because the time given are quite tight. 15 minutes to do one small part which most people will take much more time to complete during their tutorials. So if you wanna do well for the finals, practice your tutorials and past year papers under time constraints. I got an E for the midterms (exceptional probably around an A-) but only a B for the final which was disappointing for me cause i screw up one big question. One of the tip that was given is to focus on the method that you write and not necessarily the final answer cause given the limited time, it is better strategically to write more working marks rather than spend a huge chunk securing the right answer (which still might be wrong due to careless mistakes).

Expected grade: A-
Actual grade: B

2) ME 2134 Fluid Mechanics I 4 MCs

This module is one of the worst engineering student nightmare, be it if you are mechanical, civil or even chemical engineering, you will most likely still take a similar form of this module. This module is just like H2 physics on steroids, a lot of content and formulas to grasp. Try not to fall behind lessons if not it will be very hard to catch up especially when the content and questions take a super long time to grasp and master. Prof Teo will be teaching the first part of this module. He is quite entertaining but however he goes through the content quite detailed. This module is made up of 30 percent lab and 70 percent finals. The 30 percent lab is to help you pass this module, so please go for it and do well and you will probably pass this module. For the finals, it is not open book but a cheat-sheet, a double sided A4 size paper can be brought in. It is better to write down questions too on your cheat sheet and all the formulas possible because in exam, just like the ME 2112 finals, the time given which is 2 hours given is very little, especially if you want to go for accuracy. Just like the ME 2112, it is advisable to go for method marks for the open ended questions and try to get full marks for the Buckingham pi question. For the finals, the format might change every year and for my batch, it was 50 percent MCQs and 50 percent finals. What I did was spend more time on the open ended questions because I can copy as much stuff on my cheat-sheet to the exam booklet but for the MCQs, if I dont have much time I can just anyhow shade and method marks would not be awarded for MCQs. Besides, attempting each MCQs with accuracy also consume too much time and you might be still wrong in the end. Overall, I enjoyed this module, the content itself and especially Prof Teo lectures a lot even though the final was horrible.

Expected Grade: B-
Actual Grade: B+

3) ME 2151 Principle of Mechanical Engineering Materials 4 MCs

This module was actually meant to be very content heavy. However being the last module to be taught and required to be cleared for graduation, to allow everyone to pass easily, the new prof reduce tons of content from this module and make it super easy, even easier than H2 chemistry. He gave a lot of hints in all his of lectures of what might be tested. This module became super easy but however that also means that the bell curve would be very steep. It was 30 percent lab and 70 percent finals, so of course go for the labs and do well for it. Plus the lab is actually kinda fun cause you get to play with microscopes. For the finals, it was actually easy but i screw up a few true/false questions (its like 30 percent of the paper, 10 questions?!) and also the calculation and possibly one of the phase transformation questions. Prof Thian who taught this module was quite kind and also quite humorous in his lectures and he always use the word "huh" in his lectures. People even recorded how many "huhs" he said and it amount to over 300 for one lecture?!

Expected Grade: A-
Actual Grade: B+

4) ME 3162 Manufacturing Process 4 MCs

This module is very interesting. The first part consists of heavy content being taught by Prof Seah. He will get you to buy his textbook, which should cost around 16 bucks. Please do get it because everything will be tested from there in the finals and he will be going through everything in the textbook. The second part will be taught by Prof Woon. Most of the stuffs tested are mainly calculations, especially the Merchants' Circle. He is very passionate during his lectures, but if you really want to score for this module, since this final is open book, print everything available from the Grover textbook to the tutorials to the past year papers and extra tutorials etc. Also label everything properly so that you can properly flip to the required content without taking much time during the exam. For the calculations, it would also be easier as you can just refer straight away to your workings and just change the number. This module was 20 percent midterms, 20 percent lab and 60 percent finals. The midterms was super easy and many people score around 16 marks and above upon 20. The lab was super fun as we got to use machines used in workshop to shape metals.

Expected Grade: B+
Actual Grade: A-

5) EG 2301 Engineering Case Studies 4 MCs

This module is one of the IDP modules that I decided to choose. The components graded were not exactly revealed by Prof Kouen. This modules had a lot of mini essays, a major mid term essay and two projects presentation. Attendance for lectures and first few weeks for an Auto-desk Fusion class was also graded. If you really want to score, you will have to put in a lot of effort in the essays and especially the two projects. However, I was pretty salty as even though I did put in a lot of effort in this module, my grades did not reflect otherwise. This module was a pretty fluff module too, however instead of just a presentation slide like the previous module that I took last semester (EG 2201A), you might want to do a proper animation and draw-up using cadding softwares like Auto-desk Fusion that you just have learnt and also 3D printing or making the prototype just to score extra marks.

Expected Grade: B+
Actual Grade: B

6) GEQ Asking questions 1000 4 MCs

This module is also one of the 5 GE pillars and mandatory module that all NUS students (except law, med and dentistry) are required to take. It is an auto SU module, so most people will overload their semester while taking this module. The time required to be spent on this module just to pass it is actually quite little, as long you attend all your tutorials, do all your online quizzes and the forums and the assignments, you will still pass even if you never watch the online lectures. Usually if that semester if that semester is very heavy, it might be good to overload that semester with a GEQ in it. However I feel that the content being taught in GEQ is actually quite interesting, so if you might have some spare time maybe it would be good to to glance through the lectures.

In conclusion, I actually expected to score more for most of my grades, especially my IDP and ME 2112 module. However, I am still satisfied as I am still second upper even though it is very dangerous now. In addition, this would be one of my toughest semester and I was glad I did not screw up most of my modules.
Overall cap at the end: 4.05

🔧 Year 1 Semester 2 NUS Common Engineering/Mechanical Engineer Modules Review

                            I decided to join the IDP programme (Innovation Design Programme) before year 1 semester 2 officially started. I initially wanted to overload this semester but I kinda screwed up and didn't because I thought I didn't need too. In the end, this semester was too chill for me as I had a lot of free time due to two of my modules tutorial only on even weeks. In addition, most of my modules are heavily project-based and very few exams. I regretted not overloading my second semester.
 

1) EG1112 (ENGINEERING PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE II) 

6 MCs

10% Oral Presentation
10% Report Write-up
40% Quiz (2 x 20% quiz)
30% Lab-work
10% Tutorial Attendance

This is a continual of EG1111 which I had previously took last semester. This module is actually a basic introduction to triple E stuffs which is something you would probably hardly use in your future mechanical engineering modules. It was a very tough module to be frank. The triple E content that you will be learning is totally foreign as compared when you were introduced to EG1111 content which at first was easy for almost everyone to learn. You will get to have some hands on on electrical circuit components like playing with wires, light bulbs, breadboard and even Arduino coding. The oral presentation, unlike EG1111 which was individual, for EG1112 is it a pair presentation. For lab groups with odd numbers, there will be one group of 3 people. The same person that you will pair with is the same person that you will be doing the report with. The report content will be the same content as the oral presentation. For the two quizzes, like EG1111, the first quiz will be held on week 5 and the second will be held on week 12. Even though the two quizzes were MCQ and open book, the quizzes were still very hard as there was negative marking (for every one question correct 2 positive marks, one question not attempted zero marks and one question wrong minus 1 mark). The questions were are also very tough and some of it were not taught in class. There were 20 questions each and total marks was 40. For both quizzes, the average was quite bad, especially the second where the median was 10. I got a big flat zero mark for my second quiz LOL but I was pretty chilled about it. This is because I screwed up my first quiz and I already resigned to fate and decided to SU this module from the very start. For the lab work, it was pretty chill too as compared to EG1111. For EG1111, the weekly lab report had to be done out of class time too and usually consumed a lot of our time. For EG1112, they decided to adjust the complexity and make it such that each weekly lab assignment could be done within the 3 hrs given stipulated lab timing. In addition, a 10% tutorial attendance was included as a lot of people were very late or did not came at all for the lab sessions in EG1111. Generally, I did not particular enjoy this module a lot as I was learning triple E stuffs which was not really my interest. I am glad that I was in mechanical engineering and not triple e after taking this module. For both EG1111 and EG1112, if you want to do well, do well in mainly the two quizzes as averagely everyone else would have roughly the same marks for the other components as everything is bell-curved. The two quizzes are the main factor that will determine you grade as seen from both EG1111 and EG1112. For EG1111 I did quite well for the quizzes and got quite a good grade. Likewise for EG1112, I did very poorly for both quizzes and got quite a bad grade.

Expected Grade: C
Achieved Grade: B-

2) MA1512 (DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS FOR ENGINEERING)

2 MCs

20% Online quiz
80% Finals

Last time, there was MA1506, now it split into both MA1512 and MA1513, both 2 MCs each. MA1513 started off as first half of the semester and MA1512 continue off in the second half of the semester.  For this module, there are both physical and online lectures. However, I just watched the online lectures and skip the physical one because essentially they covered the same content of the topic and I could do the tutorial questions.The structuring of the notes of MA1512 was quite bad though. Like the other math modules, you can bring in an A4 double sized cheat-sheet into the exam hall. To score well in this module, just practice as much as you can and write down all the formulas and past year questions with workings on the cheat-sheet. Even if you dont get the final answer, as long as you write down some formulas and working, you will still score some marks. Unlike MA1505 and MA1513, the tutorials are not graded. For the online quiz, it is just 4 long questions. Basically its a giveaway too because you can discuss it with your friends and the questions are not relatively difficult too. Personally, I enjoyed doing calculus so I do enjoyed this module a lot even though a lot of other people hated it a lot.

Expected Grade: B+
Achieved Grade: A-

3) MA1513 (LINEAR ALGEBRA WITH DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS)

2 MCs

15% Online quiz
15% In class Assignment
70% Finals

This module covered more in depth contents on vectors and matrices. Like MA1505, there were in class assignments that were graded. There were also online and physical lectures, which I only just watched the online lectures though. For the online quizzes, you can submit it online any amount of times until you reach the deadline, which will be one week later. It is very advisable to discuss these quizzes every week with your friend if you want to secure the full 15% component. The bell-curve for this module is generally quite high and one small careless mistake could cost you, so do slowly. 

Expected Grade: B+
Achieved Grade: B

4) GER1000 (QUANTITATIVE REASONING)

4 MCs

30% Finals
20% Online Quiz
30% Project
20% Tutorial Attendance

This module is one of the 5 GE modules that you have to cleared in NUS. It is a compulsory module, being the only module in the GER pillar. If you are staying in halls/RCs, you can also choose to take this module with your hall/RCs people. There is no physical lecture of this module and all the lectures are all online. The tutorial session is only once per two weeks, either odd or even. To score the tutorial component marks, all you just have to do is attend the tutorial and answer whatever the TA asked you. For my tutorial, my TA set up a random generator, so whoever got chosen have to represent their groups and present one of the answers. By the way, you guys will be grouped for your projects which you will be presenting around week 12/13. For the finals, it will be MCQs and the recommended way to practice for is to spam practice and past year papers questions. Likewise, most people should be getting roughly about the same average score for the rest of the components, what determines the most of the grade for this module will be the final quiz. It will usually be an MCQ but it is very tricky, be it the calculations or concepts. Most people feel that what they learnt from this module does not really have much use as there are other modules out there which provides more depth and scope into statistics On the contrary, I really enjoyed this module a lot personally.

Expected Grade: B+
Achieved Grade: B


5) SSA1206/GES1023 (REPRESENTING SINGAPORE)

4 MCs

20% Mid Terms
20% Term Paper
20% Tutorial
40% Project

This module is a GE module, under the GES pillars. I choose the module as I found that the contents covered and the way it is covered is very interesting. I also initially chose this module because it is also an arts module and I love writing essays. Unfortunately, the lecture is not webcasted. For the mid-term, you will have to answer both questions by writing two short essays each physically on the exam booklet. Ever since after A levels and even into uni first semester,  all my essay assignments were due online on soft-copy so I typed it out on Word Document. It was my first time after a few years physically writing on a physical hard copy paper. After about half an hour into the paper, my hand was super pain not being conditioned into taking up a pen and scribbling down at a super fast pace. In the end, everyone did quite badly for the paper and they have to moderate the marks by adding a few marks to our initial score. For the term paper, you will be given the question in about 1 month in advance to prepare for it. For the tutorial, as long as you turn out and take part actively in class participation you will be given the marks. For the project, you will be grouped in about 3-4 and you can either do a full report, a creative project consisting of a short story write-up, a film, etc. This will constitute 30% to your total grades and the other 10% will be your final reflection about this module. For me personally, I kinda gave up halfway as I gotten quite badly from the term paper, a C+ actually. I feel that this module is unfair as everything like literally 100% of this module is graded by your TA. If your essay style doesn't suit your TA, you might not be able to score that well.

Expected Grade: B-
Achieved Grade: B-


6) EG2201A (INTRODUCTION TO DESIGN THINKING)

4MCs

This module is a special module, under the IDP programme (Innovation Design Programme). It is a 2nd major programme that is design focused based. I could have taken the other module which involves lots of electronics and coding, something which I am not too good and have a lack of interest in. This module teaches and gives you a brief introduction to design-thinking, which is something very interesting. For most people when comes to problem solving in the world they only think about the solution itself. However in design thinking, it actually teaches us on how to find out what is the problem itself. Put it in simple terms, even though the solution might seems too good, it might not specifically solve the main particular problem. For my semester, there were two projects being done and you will be shuffled randomly into two different groups for the two projects. Overall, I enjoyed this module a lot as it equipped me with interesting skill-sets and I really enjoyed the whole design-thinking process

Expected Grade: A-
Achieved Grade: A-


Overall, this semester was a pretty chill 4 months and i wished I had overloaded as some days I have too much free time. I was pretty disappointed with my GER1000 grade as I did not have enough SU and it pulled down my cap by quite a bit.