KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

Yes, you are right !

Under the New AL marking scheme, more P6 applicants tend to apply for DSA than before, under the old Tscore marking system.


Why ?

Because

1) this year, 2021, being the initiative new year implementation for AL pioneering batch (born 2009), many things are unknown, not clear especially when come to the S1 posting, when 6 choices of Secondary schools are submitted to MOE S1 posting computer.

When a situation is not clear, it give rise to several question marks, inside (P6 parents and students') mind.
Thus, give rise to more DSA applicants, trying to secure a seat into a Secondary school first, as best as they can.


And


2) under the new AL marking system, several permutations (combination) can give rise to the same, identical AL ( 9 or 10 points), as an example.

More P6 students can end up in the same, identical AL band to potentially ballot together in the same common pool during S1 posting, unlike in the past, where students achieved a very specific Tscore value. Thus, more P6 (parents & students) tend to worry. They prefer to apply for DSA first, to help secure a seat before hand wherever possible, in order to obtain some peace of mind. Catching a bird in your palm, is better than nothing !

After end of August, once DSA news are released (either Successful / Wait list / rejection),

for those who have caught a bird in their palm,

after PSLE is over by end of 1st week October,

students can sit down, re-assess themselves one more time, how well have they performed in PSLE, because they would have roughly known how many mistakes / how well they have fared in each of the 4 PSLE subjects, and

by then, if they really want to release the bird in their palm, they can do so, if need be

floppy wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 03, 2021 12:18 pm

Number of applicants and competitiveness of the DSA process are two separate things.

That may not be the case because if more parents start to prep their DC for DSA, eg. sending their DCs for MO and SO enrichment and competition, then we can expect more applicants of similar credentials or porfolio vying for the limited DSA slots.

Veyron wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 03, 2021 2:58 pm

floppy wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 03, 2021 12:18 pm

Number of applicants and competitiveness of the DSA process are two separate things.

That may not be the case because if more parents start to prep their DC for DSA, eg. sending their DCs for MO and SO enrichment and competition, then we can expect more applicants of similar credentials or porfolio vying for the limited DSA slots.

If psle enrichment/tuitions aren't enough.. Add on DSA enrichment.

Ender wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 03, 2021 3:35 pm

Veyron wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 03, 2021 2:58 pm

floppy wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 03, 2021 12:18 pm

Number of applicants and competitiveness of the DSA process are two separate things.

That may not be the case because if more parents start to prep their DC for DSA, eg. sending their DCs for MO and SO enrichment and competition, then we can expect more applicants of similar credentials or porfolio vying for the limited DSA slots.

If psle enrichment/tuitions aren't enough.. Add on DSA enrichment.

It’s a nuclear arms race. I know parents who start the Olympiad training in pre-school. Sports as well.

Veyron wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 03, 2021 2:58 pm

floppy wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 03, 2021 12:18 pm

Number of applicants and competitiveness of the DSA process are two separate things.

That may not be the case because if more parents start to prep their DC for DSA, eg. sending their DCs for MO and SO enrichment and competition, then we can expect more applicants of similar credentials or porfolio vying for the limited DSA slots.

Then what you are going to get is sporting competitions, olympiads, etc getting more competitive, which is what the nature of competition is all about (with or without DSA). The number of golds, silvers, bronzes remain the same. You are not going to get 8 golds from 8 swimmers in the finals of a 100m butterfly or 100 gold from 100 participants in the math olympiad. You cannot get more applicants of similar credentials vying for the same, you are only going to get better quality applicants trying to emulate their seniors or past applicants.

The competitiveness of the DSA, however, remains the same. The limited places are still going to the top of whatever domain you are competing in.

floppy wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 03, 2021 3:42 pm

Veyron wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 03, 2021 2:58 pm

floppy wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 03, 2021 12:18 pm

Number of applicants and competitiveness of the DSA process are two separate things.

That may not be the case because if more parents start to prep their DC for DSA, eg. sending their DCs for MO and SO enrichment and competition, then we can expect more applicants of similar credentials or porfolio vying for the limited DSA slots.

Then what you are going to get is sporting competitions, olympiads, etc getting more competitive, which is what the nature of competition is all about (with or without DSA). The number of golds, silvers, bronzes remain the same. You are not going to get 8 golds from 8 swimmers in the finals of a 100m butterfly or 100 gold from 100 participants in the math olympiad.

You cannot get more applicants of similar credentials vying for the same, you are only going to get better quality applicants. The competitiveness of the DSA, however, remains the same. The limited places are still going to the top of whatever field you are competing in.

It is not possible for the competitiveness of DSA to remain the same if there are more "quality" applicants competing for the same limited DSA slots. If more primary students start getting into MO and SO enrichment, then the MO or SO competition will become stiffer, and hence making it harder to win. Which mean it will become harder. Then again, MO and SO are not the only way to get selected into STEM or NUSH DSA as there are other means to build up a fancy portfolio with good academic results and good interview skills. Likewise in DSA sports domain, not all DSA sports are equally competitive. e.g. Swimming, Badminton, Table Tennis etc will always be more competitive as compared to fencing, golf, tennis, or gymnastic due to the popularity and accessibility of the sports.

You don't really need to win gold to be selected for sport DSA. Using your swim analogy as an example, if an applicant can demonstrate and prove that he or she can swim close Schooling or national record, there is of course no reason for top schools to no give him a slot for DSA. On the other hand, if a swimmer won a gold medal in some unknown competition, there is no guarantee he or she will be selected.

This is basic law of supply and demand

zac's mum wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 03, 2021 3:41 pm

Ender wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 03, 2021 3:35 pm

Veyron wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 03, 2021 2:58 pm

That may not be the case because if more parents start to prep their DC for DSA, eg. sending their DCs for MO and SO enrichment and competition, then we can expect more applicants of similar credentials or porfolio vying for the limited DSA slots.

If psle enrichment/tuitions aren't enough.. Add on DSA enrichment.

It’s a nuclear arms race. I know parents who start the Olympiad training in pre-school. Sports as well.

MO - the national pastime of the Chinese. They are dominating the local olympiads

megh24 wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 03, 2021 12:08 pm

Hi all, some parents are projecting a trend of more DSA applicants in the coming years due to the change to PSLE scoring, as they want to secure a spot in a top sec school first without 'risking' it at PSLE. From what you've heard / friends around you, is it really true that DSA has become more competitive than before??

https://www.moe.gov.sg/news/parliamenta ... -admission

Just to share, in case anyone's DC is still waiting for SST Round 2 news. We just got informed on Mon to go for Round 2 after PSLE oral.

Hello, my daughter's finished her interview for SCGS DSA and been called for NUSH interview. If they get CO, does it also come with PSLE min scores? In short, is there also a threshold PSLE score they need, even if they a DSA offer? Thanks, in advance, for the help.