I don't like the system either which is why I chose the acad stream. The only subjects I have problems with is Math and Chinese. The rest, I could score a decent A2 if I wanted to, but I never really had the motivation of having such grades. =/
The thing about english is that I have advantage the oral exams, I'm the only one in school who has a good accent (mixed american accent) thanks to Counter-Strike Source . 80% of the Counter-Strike Source players come from international schools in Singapore. So after one year of playing Counter-Strike Source with them and having conversations with them through the mic, I kinda got "ang moh". Its really cool everytime when I finish my Oral exams and the teacher asks "Are your parents american?".