DSA 2017

[mommyNg]

RGS typically accepts about 50% of their cohort via DSA, if this year they were to reduce to 35% that's a pretty substantial cut. I suppose the cut is across the board (CCA plus academic). So this year competition for DSA is even greater!

If it is direction from MOE, I wonder if this will be the same for the other IP schools?

I spoke to the admission teachers in RGS last weekend and they told me that the DSA Acad is still in place, points to note is that no more GAT( but will have subject specific tests for chosen DSA Acad subject.)

Principal also mentioned that when subject chosen for DSA Acad should to be in the top % of the cohort to be shortlisted for 2nd round, also other subjects grades are also important.

For DSA sports, do note that not all sports are open for DSA even if its offered as a CCA.
RGS took out DSA golf this year

Thanks for the informative post.

Since 40% of RGS vacancies is filled by DSA, so can't be half the school all sports persons. As a premium girls school, I think it is very hard for them to do away with something academic.

To add the DSA %, parents were told this year DSA vacancies will down to 35% compared to last year(40%.-50%)
Will be mix of sports and acad DSA

Direction from MOE, did not ask why

[phtthp]

If is a Direction from MOE, instructions from the Top, to reduce from 50% downwards, means will apply across the board, to all Secondary schools involved in DSA selection of candidates.

Reduction of DSA % seats implies that now, they allocate more Secondary 1 admission seats, based on performance of the students' PSLE results.

[NikkiRGPS]

Didn't you watch TV? Recently in a interview with Minister J Teo, she said talent is inborn, thus shouldn't need money to groom.

How can that be? Got people allegedly spent $15K on a dance portfolio for DSA!

Btw got rumors that there will be no more acad DSA (math, Sci, Lang) starting from next yr. What will be left are those non-acad DSA which obviously children of poor parents like mine will be at a big disadvantage!!

got talent no train also no use. even for my girl from competition private classes about $180 per hour training on top of twice weekly ballet classes and not to forget expensive costumes is so money-consuming. cab fares and food cost also not cheap especially in the city area! inborn talent, no need to groom i really beg to defer.

[NikkiRGPS]

the changes is quite sudden and a lot are caught off guard over the acad thing but if super excellent in one subject no need all can also apply which i think is maybe easier and more open to more applicants since not all can do well for all subjects?

[Joyymum]

Am keen to know more about DSA via violin to ACSI

Anyone can share their experiences? Thank you

[Estéema]

Might be MOE's indication but some schools implement immediately. Just as it was indicated that GAT/HAST will be eventually scrap. Some schools took out GAT immediately this year & not wait till 2010 when it's MOE eventual directive to scrap. Some schools still use GAT/HAST to help in their selection process.

ACSI indication is 20% which is 48 places for Express, 50% which is 82 places for IP. So doesn't look like it's immediate implementation to go lower than 50% or 30% for this year. Each school probably hv autonomy now till MOE reign in administering DSA centrally.

[Gxmas]

HCI DSA places are also down to 35%.
something I do not quite follow... since the general academic is removed and only subject domains are allowed, why is there still a need to reduce the %? All are applying with some specific talent now.

[phtthp]

Because no matter what specific subject domain u go by, it still fall back to academic category.

Psle results is good enough, to tell right away, which particular subject domain a student is strongest in. Hence, reducing the number of dsa seats.

Moe interested in Sports, Arts category. Not so much in specific academic subject.

specific subject getting lesser & lesser significance, as time approaching nearer and nearer, closer towards 2021, where AL scheme kick in

[Gxmas]

Because no matter what specific subject domain u go by, it still fall back to academic category.

Psle results is good enough, to tell right away, which particular subject domain a student is strongest in. Hence, reducing the number of dsa seats.

Moe interested in Sports, Arts category. Not so much in specific academic subject.

specific subject getting lesser & lesser significance, as time approaching nearer and nearer, closer towards 2021, where AL scheme kick in

In that case, it is highly likely that subject domains will be removed next year by most schools.
But in S1 posting, only the Tscore is used, and not subject. How does that compare to subject domain?

[mommyNg]

HCI DSA places are also down to 35%.
something I do not quite follow... since the general academic is removed and only subject domains are allowed, why is there still a need to reduce the %? All are applying with some specific talent now.

This means the competition for DSA to HCI will also increase this year. I heard from one of the teachers at open house saying that MOE doesn't want talent to be congregated at a few (IP) schools. It wants to spread the talent around. IP schools should not "hog" all the talents. So one way is to get IP schools to reduce the % of DSA, while increasing % of DSA at other schools.