Academia Exploratory and Preparatory Programmes

ADM 301: Secondary Explorations – Charting New Directions

A quintessential Year One English and Language Arts preparatory programme. With many secondary schools focusing on a Language Arts curriculum for first-year students, our Secondary Explorations programme eases learners in with a compelling orientation, and charts a direction towards a new, exciting, and multifaceted world of language and literature.

ADM301 is a foundational Year One English and Language Arts preparatory programme that equips students with essential core competencies for English and Language Arts at a secondary school level. As many secondary schools incorporate Language Arts curriculum into lower secondary syllabuses, the expectations for first-year students have shifted considerably. Year One secondary students are increasingly expected to swiftly master new skills that have little to no precedent in Primary School English.

The ADM301 program is carefully designed to prepare students for the demands of this accelerated learning curve. Our engaging and comprehensive curriculum familiarises and trains students in the new skills and competencies that undergird English and Language Arts education in secondary schools. Simultaneously, our lessons are crafted to be accessible and exciting, sparking appreciation and interest in students as they take their first steps into English and Language Arts education at a secondary level.

ADM301 lessons are taught by experienced teachers who are deeply versed in teaching both primary and secondary students, employing their expertise in both primary and secondary syllabuses to help learners bridge the gap between the two. The program covers a comprehensive range of English and Language Art competencies, including:

• Foundational skills for writing compelling and insightful compositions in the broad range of different essay types
• Familiarisation with new, challenging types of comprehension passages, questions and answering techniques
• Equipping students for the widely varied contexts and particular demands of situational writing
• A dedicated introduction to the study of English Literature and the unique skills required to excel in this subject

The Brief:

For students entering Year 1 / Secondary 1 in 2027
6-Week Programme starting 16 October 2026
$948 incl. GST 

Upper Thomson Timings
Tuesdays 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Fridays 5:15 PM to 7:15 PM

Bukit Timah Timings
Sundays 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

ADM 501: A Primer on the General Paper

The step up to Junior College and the General Paper represents a significant leap ahead in skills and knowledge. This primer aims to smoothen out the jump by introducing students to GP and easing them into new standards. Students will be exposed to the specific components of the paper, as well as key content areas to begin building the in-depth content required for various Big Topics. We’ll help them approach this upcoming transition with confidence and clarity, ready to take that next step towards the A Levels.

The transition from Secondary School to Junior College brings with it a significant step up in the demands of English and academic writing. General Paper asks students not merely to communicate clearly, but to think critically about complex issues, construct sophisticated arguments, engage with competing perspectives, and make informed judgements about the world around them.

ADM501: A Primer on the General Paper is an eight-week post-examination programme designed to give Secondary 4 students an early introduction to these demands. Open to students completing either the Integrated Programme or the O Levels, the course bridges the gap between Secondary-level English and the very different expectations of GP, helping students enter JC with a clearer understanding of the subject and a stronger foundation from which to begin.

Across eight weekly lessons, students will be introduced to the fundamental skills underpinning both GP papers. They will learn how to analyse essay questions, generate and organise arguments, develop ideas with greater depth and nuance, and support their views with relevant contemporary examples. For Paper 2, students will gain an introduction to critical reading, comprehension, paraphrasing, summary writing and the Application Question.

Just as importantly, students will discover what makes GP different. Moving beyond the more familiar demands of Secondary School, they will begin learning to engage with abstract concepts, evaluate rather than merely explain, read opinion-driven texts critically, and develop an informed perspective on current affairs and wider societal issues.

Rather than racing ahead into JC content, the programme focuses on building the habits of thought, reading and writing that successful GP students require. By the end of the eight weeks, students will enter Junior College with a clearer sense of what GP demands—and the tools to approach it with confidence.

Students will be introduced to:

• GP Paper 1 and Paper 2 examination demands
• Essay question analysis and argument generation
• Essay structure, development and evaluation
• Building examples and current-affairs knowledge
• Critical reading and comprehension techniques
• Paraphrasing and summary fundamentals
• The Application Question
• The key differences between Secondary-level English and General Paper

The Brief:

For students entering JC 1 in 2027
8-Week Programme starting 22 October 2026
$1168 incl. GST 

Upper Thomson Timings
Thursdays 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Saturdays 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Bukit Timah Timings
Mondays 7:15 PM to 9:15 PM

Tanglin Timings (Starting 21 November 2026)
Saturdays 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Academia Privileges

All existing Academia students are entitled to an exclusive 20% discount to the workshop fees, before GST. Friends of Academia students will also be granted this discount if they attend the workshop together. 

Academia’s usual terms and conditions apply.

Immerse yourself in the A-class experience today.