DSA 2022

[Lavanya123]

What I do: put all or as much as we can into the 10 records within the space limits. You can use this template: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... 3lGuk/copy

My son’s draft so far:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... Sp29xxOaQ/

All the best! Hopefully both our sons can become schoolmates at NUSH!

Thanks for this!

All the best to your kid too, it will be really nice indeed if they become classmates at nush

[floppy]

Yes, I have no knowledge of some secret meeting between the Five Families or G17 in a hidden location after hours or strangers accidently bumping into each other in MRT cars and passing coded messages, etc.

Random coincidence? Who knows. But self-selection is an incredibly powerful tool...

In your case, I'd apply both (RI and NUSH) to start. Can always choose if given the luxury.

There is no such thing as a random coincidence.

As someone said, forcing parents / kids to decide early probably reduces the rate of CO not being taken up. It opens up more opportunities to other students who may be more keen on the school.

[SG_KP1]

.....
As someone said, forcing parents / kids to decide early probably reduces the rate of CO not being taken up. It opens up more opportunities to other students who may be more keen on the school.

Yes, it is likely a more efficient allocation of time and resources.

I've always thought it would be interesting if they (MOE) said you can apply three slots and rank them, but you must go if you get any CO or WL conversion. That would thin out the ranks of "back up" applications and let schools know anyone who applied is genuinely interested. Of course, there are cons to this method too so not saying it should be done.

Will see what other "conflicts" come up on the schedule...

[Rockmelon]

NUSH test will be for all applicants. In contrast, RI's test will only be for shortlisted applicants. I'd apply both unless you have a preference and know you will get it (i.e. RI). If you get both, you will likely have to choose where you want to bet...

NUSH selection camp also the same day as HCI interviews...

You are right, we should apply both. Anyway may not get shortlist for RI’s test.

[J mom]

DSA for sports.
For academic result, will school look into the difference in exam difficulty from different primary school?

[phtthp]

DSA for sports.
For academic result, will school look into the difference in exam difficulty from different primary school?

When seasoned / experienced panel of DSA interviewers look at the name of the primary school your child come from, straightaway in their mind, they already roughly what kind of P6 standard your child's school is.

[bbbay]

There are still below average primary schools producing 260+/270+ PSLE score students. These schools are below average because they produce less of these students, not because they don’t produce these student at all. So students coming from below average schools cannot be written off academically. Moreover DSA is mainly not about academics achievements.

[floppy]

DSA for sports.
For academic result, will school look into the difference in exam difficulty from different primary school?

I think you don't have to be overly concerned about the exam difficulty from different primary schools.

Yes, there may be some difference but it will, at most, result in a movement of 1 to 3 AL points (especially for the AL1 to AL4 scoring where the 'points gap' is actually very small). Besides, the main concern for most schools is whether the student is able to cope with the curriculum, and not whether you can match up to the intellectual capability of his / her peers. Hence, even a popular school with a 'normal' COP of AL8 points is likely to consider students scoring up to AL13 or even AL14 points in their primary schools during DSA.

[Marina Collection]

Is taking O Level so much stressful?....I heard in IP students have to prove every year that they qualify for IP...isn't that more stressful??
One more question does a student from O level join the IP students in JC?
If he does......does he get the subjects he has chosen or do the IP students get priority??
I am new here so don't know much abt the system.

Most IP schools spell out promotion criteria of overall GPA2 to promote to next year . That’s like a overall 50% pass . To stay in the IP track , taking the example of a top boy IP school , overall criteria is about a 2.4 (>55%). If below GPA2.4, the school might consider moving to O level track .

I would say it isn’t that tall order to meet GPA2.4 due to several reasons :
1) most kids just have 1-2 weak subjects . Meeting the overall 55% isn’t that tall order . N it’s based on L1R5 computation . So the kid can take one really bad subject off . Of course there are some compulsory subjects that must be included in the computation (EL, math , sci , humanities ). In some schools , MT is compulsory to be included
2) the Teachers in IP schools are usually dedicated and will monitor weak students carefully .
3) the IP syllabus has project work and assignments (for almost all subjects except math) , a lot of guidance is given to the students . So I would say the students can get a decent score for these tasks quite comfortably . Depending on subjects , these project work can be up to about 30-40% of the total weightage

Different ip schools have different promotion criteria . So I would suggest parents to do your own due diligence to call up the IP school to verify the promotion criteria - though if you do a shout-out here , many experienced KSP will be able to tell you the answer .

Whereas from what I understand , some O level schools require a >50% in each and every single subject to promote .

From an experience of a friend’s child , the boy DSA by sports to a top boy IP school . Boy struggled in math n sci . However, his overall GP still clears the minimal 2.4 to stay in IP . There were a handful of boys (<10) who is above 2 to 2.4. School decided to let them stay in IP n guided them very closely . Now my friend son is at JC and is happy coz he chose Arts stream , which turned out to be his forte . Had he done O level , he might not have scored well enough to gain entry to this top JC .

There’s a lot of hearsay that IP schools are competitive and hence it’s stressful etc …. I feel that it will help greatly if parents don’t pile up the stress on the kids … a lot of times , it’s really expectations from parents that’s stressing out the kids … n it is with relief that I can now say from experience of my kids that there are many wonderful classmates that help out one another coz everyone is in the same boat . If you offer to help others , others will return the favour too …. And also , the kid will soon find out that if he finds something tough , almost every other kid in his class will find it tough too . He’s certainly not alone …. In fact I often joke with my kids how come there are so many fumbling fools in their classes lol ? Of course there’ll always be those super kahn jiang and KS kids …. the kids will know to smell them from afar n side step them !

The first 6 months of Sec school journey is a deep dive . Almost every kid that I know (be it O level , IP-A level or IP-IB) do feel that at times they aren’t coping . It’s very normal . All the kids feel the same way . It’s really a normal adjustment period . I would say that after the jun holidays , most kids will feel better n happy coming back to school to meet their Sec 1 classmates . So we parents just need to be there for our kids to listen to them when they have grouses ….. if they even open their mouths to talk (coz most flat out by the end of the day)! Lol

At the end of the day , a parent will know his kid best . Whichever course you/kid choose to take , trust your own decision and be happy with it . Don’t keep thinking the grass on the other side is always greener …..

[Terrydad]

Well said!

https://www.ricemedia.co/exams-and-test ... d-time-is/

I find that with more unstructured time, my kid actually improves in creative pursuits like essay writing, music, and yes, advanced math. There is also a science study that shows video games actually increase kids' IQ points. I tried Minecraft once, and it involves coordinates, latitudes and longitude, and there is quite a bit of Math involved.

Most IP schools spell out promotion criteria of overall GPA2 to promote to next year . That’s like a overall 50% pass . Taking the example of a top boy IP school , overall criteria is about a 2.4 (>55%). If below GPA2.4, the school might consider moving to O level track .

I would say it isn’t that tall order to meet GPA2.4 due to several reasons :
1) most kids just have 1-2 weak subjects . Meeting the overall 55% isn’t that tall order . N it’s based on L1R5 computation . So the kid can take one really bad subject off . Of course there are some compulsory subjects that must be included in the computation (EL, math , sci , humanities ). In some schools , MT is compulsory to be included
2) the Teachers in IP schools are usually dedicated and will monitor weak students carefully .
3) the IP syllabus has project work and assignments (for almost all subjects except math) , a lot of guidance is given to the students . So I would say the students can get a decent score for these tasks quite comfortably . Depending on subjects , these project work can be up to about 30-40% of the total weightage

From an experience of a friend’s child , the boy DSA by sports to a top boy IP school . Boy struggled in math n sci . However, his overall GP still clears the minimal 2.4 to stay in IP . There were a handful of boys (<10) who is above 2 to 2.4. School decided to let them stay in IP n guided them very closely . Now my friend son is at JC and is happy coz he chose Arts stream , which turned out to be his forte . Had he done O level , he might not have scored well enough to gain entry to this top JC .

N also , in some IP schools (RI & RGS being one of these), subject combi choice in Sec 3 is based on interest . Not marks dependent . The school open classes based on demand. That takes a lot heat off trying to attain a certain score …

There’s a lot of hearsay that IP schools are competitive and hence it’s stressful etc …. I feel that it will help greatly if parents don’t pile up the stress on the kids … a lot of times , it’s really expectations from parents that’s stressing out the kids … n it is with relief that I can now say from experience of my kids that there are many wonderful classmates that help out one another . In fact I often joke with my kids how come there are so many fumbling fools in their classes lol ? Of course there’ll always be those super kahn jiang and KS kids …. the kids will know to smell them from afar n side step them !

The first 6 months of Sec school journey is a deep dive . Almost every kid that I know (be it O level , IP-A level or IP-IB) do feel that at times they aren’t coping . It’s very normal . All the kids feel the same way . It’s really a normal adjustment period . I would say that after the jun holidays , most kids will feel better n happy coming back to school to meet their Sec 1 classmates . So we parents just need to be there for our kids to listen to them when they have grouses ….. if they even open their mouths to talk (coz most flat out by the end of the day)! Lol

At the end of the day , a parent will know his kid best . Whichever course you/kid choose to take , trust your own decision and be happy with it . Don’t keep thinking of the grass on the other side being greener …..