NUS: Year 2, Semester 1
Adjusting the Academic Sail: Y2S1
Embarking on my second year at NUS, I initially opted for an extra course, pushing my limits further. However, I soon realized that IS1128 wasn’t aligning with my interests, and my Thursdays were packed to the brim—from 10 AM to 6 PM. To reclaim some breathing room, I decided to drop IS1128, which conveniently freed up two precious morning hours.
This semester’s pace was deceptively manageable at first, but as the weeks progressed, the intensity ramped up. Both CS2103T and CS2100, which are co-requisites, culminated in group projects that demanded significant time and effort. The workload crescendoed towards the end, making for a challenging yet rewarding finish to the semester.
CS2100: Computer Organisation
Course Review
Content-wise, this course is quite dense. The administrative aspect could use some improvement, particularly with the use of Examplify during finals, which was not ideal for diagram-based questions. Additionally, the exams often contained numerous typos and errors that required correction. In my final exam, for instance, the truth values for a function with seven variables were omitted, leading to an awkward situation where over ten values had to be verbally communicated during the exam. It seems the proofreading process needs to be more thorough. Aside from these issues, the course content is well-taught.
Tips
- Binary Conversions: Become comfortable with converting between binary and other bases, and make sure you understand 1’s and 2’s complement well.
- Past Year Papers: Accessing past year papers should be straightforward. As questions tend to recur, especially in midterms, thoroughly practicing these can be quite beneficial.
- Calculator: Casio calculators provide a convenient feature for effortlessly converting between decimal, binary, and hexadecimal. In exams, I’ve encountered questions that are expected to take a minute or two, but with the calculator, I could complete them in just 10 seconds. Of course, it’s crucial to learn how to perform these conversions manually.
Performance
The final exam was quite unusual, so I’m not entirely certain of my performance. However, based on my final grade, I believe I did average or slightly above, as I scored just a bit higher than the median for the midterms. Given the steep curve for midterms, this difference wasn’t very significant.
Grades
- Expected: A-
- Actual: A-
CS2105: Introduction to Computer Networks
Course Review
CS2105 stands out as one of the easiest yet invaluable computer science courses offered at NUS, which explains the competitive grading curve. I highly recommend the textbook by Jim Kurose, a renowned figure in the field, whose work is a cornerstone for introductory networking courses globally (including CS2105). For a comprehensive understanding, visit Computer Networking: a Top Down Approach and work through the practice questions provided. You can visit his YouTube channel as well to watch his lectures.
Also, NUS’s introductory networking course seems less demanding compared to other universities, so you might face difficulties when attempting other university’s coursework.
Tips
- Quizlet: An excellent resource for active recall. NUS past year papers are frequently uploaded there, allowing you to practice with flashcards that present both questions and answers. This method of rapid-fire questioning is incredibly effective for reinforcing knowledge.
- Past Year Papers: Another of the course where it is possible to score well by simply getting your hands on PYPs. My friends and I got PYPs without answer keys, so we use a Google Docs to collaborate on our answers.
Performance
I performed slightly above the median in the midterms. I believe I maintained this trend in the finals, as I was able to answer all the questions confidently. I think I was just shy of the A+ boundary.
Grades
- Expected: A+
- Actual: A
CS2103T: Software Engineering
Instructor: Damith Chatura Rajapakse
Course Review
This co-requisite course is taken alongside CS2101. When bidding, you only need to bid for CS2103T as the timeslot for CS2101 will be automatically included. This means your tutorial groups for both courses will be the same.
Prof Damith’s remarkable teaching of CS2103T across all iterations and both semesters showcases his exceptional ability to distill complex concepts. The seamless automated systems behind the course speak volumes of his achievements.
The course introduces the principles of software engineering. The individual section allows for flexibility—there’s no single correct answer, so as long as you meet the objectives, you can tailor it to your preferences. However, the group project is quite demanding, requiring everyone to contribute equally. It’s recommended to take this course with friends, as I recall working diligently up until the 11:59 PM deadline at COM3. The practical component is competitive, as it involves identifying errors in other groups’ work to boost your own score. But don’t worry too much; most students tend to score similarly, and the final exam, which accounts for 30% of the grade, is the real differentiator.
Tips
- Study Habits: Revisit the notes and retake the LumiNUS quizzes. Consistent practice is key, as past year papers (PYPs) for this course differ in format and may not be as useful for revision. Despite any aversion to diagrams, they’re unavoidable, so it’s best to embrace them. The finals can be straightforward if you’re adept at memorization and can manage exam pressure well—there’s no option to navigate backwards, so manage your time wisely.
Performance
I believe I performed much better than average in the finals. Specific results for each component were not explicitly released.
Grades
- Expected: A
- Actual: A
CS2101: Effective Communication for Computing Professionals
Instructor: Aileen Lam
Course Review
Enrollment in CS2101 is automatic when you sign up for CS2103T. It serves as the second communication course for CS students and is commonly selected for the S/U option. My TA was exceptional, making the class thoroughly enjoyable. From what I have seen, I was fortunate to have one of the best TAs in the CS2101 roster. The entire class appreciated her, and we learned a great deal. The product pitches and demos were highlights for me, though they required a significant investment of time for slide design and pitch memorization. Nonetheless, the quality of slides produced by my entire tutorial group was impressive.
The enjoyment of this course heavily depends on your TA, which can significantly influence the overall experience.
Performance
Despite my creative approach to presentations, I feel I did not fare as well due to the overall high standard set by my talented classmates. My group’s user guide, in particular, did not reach the expected level, resulting in an average grade.
Grades
- Expected: A-
- Actual: B+
IT2900: Technical Management and Leadership
Instructor: Ben Leong, Shane Yan, Shamantha Yan
Course Review
The course dives deep into leadership philosophies, emphasizing reflection, personal growth, and self-awareness. Prof Ben enriches the lectures with his insights and occasionally invites notable guest speakers, enhancing the learning experience. Shane and Shamantha lead the tutorials with an open-minded approach, fostering a non-judgmental environment that encourages diverse perspectives. Despite being pass/fail, the workload is on par with a 4 MC course due to the extensive weekly reflections and writing assignments. Applications open in the previous semester and include comprehensive questions and an interview process.
Your enjoyment and learning in this course will largely depend on your mindset and openness to new ideas.
Grades
- Expected: CS
- Actual: CS
Academic Summary
Grade Distribution
| Grade | Number of Courses |
|---|---|
| A | 2 |
| A- | 1 |
| B+ | 1 |
| CS | 1 |
| W | 1 |
GPA Analysis
- Semester GPA: 4.83
- Cumulative GPA: 4.75
I decided to S/U my CS2101. This is the time when many people struggle with whether to S/U their B+ as they fear an inflated GPA. However, as I mentioned before, it’s best to just S/U it. Opportunities to do so might be limited in the future. Plus, if you don’t secure your SEP this semester, you can bid again in Semester 2, where your grades from this semester will be taken into account.