DSA 2021

[Ender]

Hi
Trying to find out in details what SST is looking for
for those who received CO from SST
Kindly share the portfolios of your child
Greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

Both my children got CO for SST
My older son, joined in 2016. During primary school, good in math usually A* while science is hover between B and A. Langauge wise is just B. Particiapted in a few math olypiad, but didn't get any medal.

My daugther got a CO this year. Math is AL1, Science hover between AL3 and AL4. For both language also hover around AL3 and 4.
Joined Math olympaid since P3. Got bronze, silver, bronze since P4. She is a very quiet and shy girl, I didn't expect her to do well in the phase 2 which may require the student to speak up. Glad that she did.

[Marina Collection]

My daughter tried hard to secure a academic CO with her dream school in Bishan area (a popular girl IP school). Now that she’s received a CO , she said that she’s keeping her options open . Might give up the CO to go back to her affiliated Sec school (also a popular IP school in AMK area) using psle results . Kids do change their mind don’t they ?!

What’s your advice on this ? Do your DC who has secured CO have such similar thoughts ?

I would think that with the current uncertainties under the new AL system , perhaps it’s safer to take up the CO. She definitely wants to do the IP programme which means that at least a AL6 to safely secure a place in an IP school . I’m afraid that if any kid is unlucky n end up getting a 89 in all 4 subjects , this will be a AL8 which knocks her out of IP programme. Just hearing how difficult the EL LC was last week give me the creeps …..

[phtthp]

Sit down with your daughter, write down 2 column, on a piece of paper : the pros and con of

- remaining in St Nick

Vs.

- accepting RGS Secondary CO.


Then, you will get your answer.

However, based on all the info u shared above, you already have the answer yourself

Because

If you are contented to remain inside St Nick, then why bother to apply for RGS DSA in the first case, right?

Since you have decided to proceed with the DSA

And

now that RGS has already given her a CO, accept it. You have already spoken out aloud your worries openly.


Besides, all along, all these years,
if RGS has been your daughter's as well as your (parent) dream school, since P3 right up to until today, accept RGS CO !

[SG_KP1]

My daughter tried hard to secure a academic CO with her dream school in Bishan area (a popular girl IP school). Now that she’s received a CO , she said that she’s keeping her options open . Might give up the CO to go back to her affiliated Sec school (also a popular IP school in AMK area) using psle results . Kids do change their mind don’t they ?!

What’s your advice on this ? Do your DC who has secured CO have such similar thoughts ?

I would think that with the current uncertainties under the new AL system , perhaps it’s safer to take up the CO. She definitely wants to do the IP programme which means that at least a AL6 to safely secure a place in an IP school . I’m afraid that if any kid is unlucky n end up getting a 89 in all 4 subjects , this will be a AL8 which knocks her out of IP programme. Just hearing how difficult the EL LC was last week give me the creeps …..

There's no right or wrong answer because everyone has different risk preferences and views the downside of "missing it" differently. For example, AL8 will still get you into IP somewhere, it just may not be the first or second choice. So you have to weigh this against how much more do you like #1 vs. #2.

I've suggested this before but for each subject take the worst score over P5 SA2-P6 SA1-Prelim and calculate the total AL score. If you can still clear SNGS IP, the odds should be strongly in your favor (recognizing nothing is guaranteed). Also, I assume your kid is taking HCL, and this could be a way to strengthen (or weaken) the odds of getting in even if the AL score is not as strong as she had hoped.

I also believe make the decision before PSLE is over. I don't like guessing on how one did, especially with the boundary conditions in AL system. Good luck.

[Swc]

My daughter tried hard to secure a academic CO with her dream school in Bishan area (a popular girl IP school). Now that she’s received a CO , she said that she’s keeping her options open . Might give up the CO to go back to her affiliated Sec school (also a popular IP school in AMK area) using psle results . Kids do change their mind don’t they ?!

What’s your advice on this ? Do your DC who has secured CO have such similar thoughts ?

I would think that with the current uncertainties under the new AL system , perhaps it’s safer to take up the CO. She definitely wants to do the IP programme which means that at least a AL6 to safely secure a place in an IP school . I’m afraid that if any kid is unlucky n end up getting a 89 in all 4 subjects , this will be a AL8 which knocks her out of IP programme. Just hearing how difficult the EL LC was last week give me the creeps …..

I think most parents will say "take the CO". Kind of like a no brainer when the CO is a CO to RGS.

But I do know that St Nick's students have an extremely strong affiliation towards their school. Sometimes, so strong that they find it difficult to adapt to another culture and become unhappy there. So for your case, it can be a dilemma.

My advice is firstly, dun make the decision now. Keep an open mind. Let your DD take the PSLE exam first. After that, she probably would have a better sense of how well she fared. You have at least 2 weeks to think through and discuss this after PSLE papers.

Secondly, you mentioned RGS was your DD's dream school. Why did this change? Or was it her dream school because she felt it was your dream school? List down the reasons why it was her dream school in the first place. Maybe the process will help her understand what she really wants.

I know at 11/12 years old, they do change their decision rather easily. Many started with one school in mind and along the way changed their mind when they found out their friends were planning to go another school. Peer influence is big at that age. Need to remind them that where their friends go can only be ONE factor and definitely not THE factor.

When I was helping my DD to make a decision (years back), it helped when I discussed with her the different paths beyond, upper sec special programs and JC special programs. St Nick's and RGS I believe have different special programmes and approaches. It would also help to look at Eunoia JC and RJC as well. She might not fully understand the implications but it does help them to understand the decision they make now has impact way beyond the immediate years to come.

No matter which decision your DD and you arrive at, I have confident she faces a bright future ahead. Good luck and congrats on the CO!

[Marina Collection]

Thank you parents for your advice .

We did try scoring a st Nick DSA . But strangely , wasn’t even granted an interview with st Nick for bilingualism with a AL1 for both EL and CL in p6 SA1. So maybe heaven has other plans for her ….

I think she only wants st Nick or RGS . So it’s a minimum AL6 to safely secure 1. Given her usual performance , I think it’s achievable . But who knows what can happen in this current system ?!

Once again , many thanks for all your valuable advice .

[SG_KP1]

For clarity, I do agree with SWC that you have time and can make the decision after PSLE. I guess I am advocating don't make the decision based on whether you think you scored well over 4-5 days. Instead, make it based on all of the reasons listed above. If now is a bad time to throw all of those thoughts into the fray, I get that.

[Jasminelin]

I have a question. What will happen to our DSA posting if our child misses their PSLE exams due to Covid QO/LOA? I am a little paranoid now with the rising cases..

[phtthp]

I have a question. What will happen to our DSA posting if our child misses their PSLE exams due to Covid QO/LOA? I am a little paranoid now with the rising cases..

Then, SEAB will refer back to your P6 school exam results

[J.Loke]

My daughter tried hard to secure a academic CO with her dream school in Bishan area (a popular girl IP school). Now that she’s received a CO , she said that she’s keeping her options open . Might give up the CO to go back to her affiliated Sec school (also a popular IP school in AMK area) using psle results . Kids do change their mind don’t they ?!

What’s your advice on this ? Do your DC who has secured CO have such similar thoughts ?

I would think that with the current uncertainties under the new AL system , perhaps it’s safer to take up the CO. She definitely wants to do the IP programme which means that at least a AL6 to safely secure a place in an IP school . I’m afraid that if any kid is unlucky n end up getting a 89 in all 4 subjects , this will be a AL8 which knocks her out of IP programme. Just hearing how difficult the EL LC was last week give me the creeps …..

My DC has received CO from 2 IP schools and 1 of them is from Bishan too. DC academic achievement has always been around AL5/6 however it very difficult to gauge how DC will perform during national exams like PSLE.

Will we give up CO to try for S1 posting? Certainly NOT because doing so will mean we have completely wasted DC time and effort in DSA preparation.

The only possible considering is if your DC is happy to fulfil the 4 years DSA obligation. If the answer is yes, then follow her dream.