NUS: Year 1, Semester 1

Embarking on a Tech Odyssey: Y1S1

Welcome to my inaugural NUS blog series. As I navigate my first semester, I’ll be sharing reflections, insights, and practical advice. Rather than rehashing the syllabus—information that’s readily available—I’ll focus on the student experience, addressing common queries and offering strategies for academic success.

This semester proved challenging as I tackled the “triple math” combination: discrete math, calculus, and linear algebra. While many in the Computer Science program might replace MA1521 or MA2001 with a General Education or Unrestricted Elective course, I opted for the tougher choice as there were S/U option to fall back on and this was a good time to test out my limits since I was considering to overload in semester 2.

CS1101S: Programming Methodology

Instructors: Martin Henz, Boyd Anderson, Low Kok Lim

Course Review

As a foundational programming course for all Computer Science majors, CS1101S is as challenging as it is rewarding. The workload is substantial, encompassing lectures, tutorials, and recitations. Despite the intensity, the course is immensely enjoyable, thanks to a dedicated teaching team that excels in imparting the essentials of computational thinking.

Be warned as you’re diving into the deep end from day one. Time management and consistency are key to surviving/exceling in this course.

Tips

• Catch Up on Lectures ASAP: Watch the lectures as they’re released.
• Tackle Every Challenge: Missions and Quests are your proving grounds. Strive to solve every problem independently.
• Past Year Papers (PYP): Complete all Past Year Papers (PYPs) to understand the professors’ question patterns. Revisit these practice papers until you can ace them consistently.

Performance

I was just below the median for my Research Assignment (RA) and slightly above for my practicals, midterms, and finals. My estimate is that around 45% of the cohort achieved an A- or higher.

Grades

• Expected: A-
• Actual: A-

CS1231S: Discrete Structures

Instructors: Aaron Tan, Wong Tin Lok Lawrence

Course Review

CS1231S stands as a formidable challenge, particularly for those who may find logical reasoning doesn’t come naturally. Despite the effort invested, reaching the upper echelons of the class can seem a daunting task. My advice would be to concentrate on the problems within your grasp.

The SU Option

It’s common for students to opt for the Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (SU) grading option for this course, a path I also took. However, don’t be disheartened if discrete structures don’t click for you. While the course lays important groundwork for future studies in Computer Science and mathematics, struggling here doesn’t preclude success in the broader field of CS. That said, for those eyeing specialized areas where discrete mathematics is pivotal, excelling in CS1231S is crucial.

Exam Rigor

The examinations set a high bar, often surpassing the complexity expected in subsequent courses, unless one’s aspirations lie in the realms of proofs, theorems, or academia.

Performance

I am borderline median for both midterms and finals, and scored near full marks for all my assignments.

Grades

• Expected: B+
• Actual: B

MA1521: Calculus for Computing

Course Review

MA1521 revisits the realm of Junior College (JC) mathematics, presenting a refresher for those who, like myself, may have felt a bit out of practice. My semester was marked by the challenges of remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, which unfortunately led to widespread cheating due to lenient Zoom invigilation. This situation resulted in an adjustment of the Continuous Assessment (CA) difficulty and weighting, creating a less-than-ideal experience for all involved. Thankfully, with the return to in-person exams, future cohorts should not face these issues.

Performance

I achieved full marks on CA1 but stumbled through CA2 due to a lack of preparation, and dedicated myself to a rigorous study regime for CA3. While the marks for the final CA were not disclosed, I am pretty confident I scored near full marks despite the much higher difficulty.

Tips

• blackpenredpen: This YouTube channel proved to be my calculus savior. The ‘100 series’ videos (from derivatives, integrals to convergence tests) were particularly invaluable. Highly recommend to watch his videos during your free time and just try to solve it mentally alongside with him.

Grades

• Expected: A-/A
• Actual: A-

MA2001: Linear Algebra I

Instructor: Victor Tan

Course Review

Taking the course with A/P Victor tends to be more theoretical, with challenging exam questions, unlike other professors who prohibit the use of GC and MATLAB during exams, leading to a greater emphasis on calculations. If you feel less confident in theoretical understanding or proofs, you might want to consider enrolling with a different professor. I would still recommend Professor Victor because he excels at explaining and simplifying concepts for students and is one of the better professors I met in NUS.

Tips

• 3blue1brown: Another amazing math YouTube channel that saves students from across all universities. This channel focuses on teaching linear algebra from a visual perspective and makes understanding concepts much easier.
• Recommended Textbook: Do the textbook that A/P Victor published. Found it to be extremely useful and serves as a good practice if you like the JC-style of grinding PYP.

Performance

My performance was strong in the assignments, where I secured nearly full marks, accounting for 40% of the overall grade. The final exams, which made up the remaining 60%, were a tougher battleground, particularly the MCQ/MRQ sections. Although the final scores weren’t disclosed, I believe I performed above average.

Grades

• Expected: A
• Actual: A-

LSM1301: General Biology

Shifts in Academic Requirements: For my cohort (Computer Science class of 2021/2022), this course serves as our science elective. However, starting with the 2022/2023 cohort, the curriculum has shifted to Interdisciplinary & Cross-Disciplinary Education, which includes the option to take LSM1301 as part of the Cross-Disciplinary (CD) Courses requirement.

Course Review

Every semester, a different professor takes the helm for this course, making each iteration of the course unique. It may seem like a starter course assigned to professors with lighter workloads, but don’t let that fool you—it’s one of the more delightful classes I’ve taken. The labs are particularly engaging; you’ll find yourself making kimchi, brewing wine, and even embarking on a field trip to the NUS museum. While various professors may lead the course, the curriculum remains consistent, though the sequence of topics might vary.

In my semester, laboratory work was heavily emphasized, contributing to 70% of the final grade, complemented by a week 13 quiz worth 20%. This course seems quite manageable to excel in, particularly for those with O level biology and A level chemistry backgrounds. However, it’s not available to students who have completed A level biology.

Grades

• Expected: A
• Actual: A

Academic Summary

Grade Distribution

Grade	Number of Subjects
A	1
A-	3
B	1

GPA Analysis

• Before S/U Option: 4.4
• After S/U Option: 4.63

I did not SU immediately as from AY2021/2022 onwards, students could choose to exercise their S/U option at the end of the year.