School Of The Arts, Singapore

[mommyNg]

jajnj:

their standard is really high... so depressing to be 'rejected' :gloomy: :gloomy: :gloomy:

Ya, so disappointed... when I went to the Open House, the teachers and students I talked to say the portfolios need not be that professional.... but it looks like things have changed.....

[MMM]

Mine didn’t make it too. Told ds to take it positively. Maybe this is not the right time for him and we should consider another 4 years of mainstream before deciding at 16 if music is sonething he wants to pursue. In the meantime he still can enjoy making music in a good band cca.


Told him dsa is not easy and not every application is successful so if he is eventually shortlisted, treasure the opportunity and do his best! Good luck to all for the other choices. Let’s move on.

[cool_hi]

Hihi,

Anyone try to get into dance via ballet???

[jajnj]

yes… life goes on.


Great to have this forum to share our feelings.

[luckyone]

hi thanks for the info, my dd has been shortlisted for VA and has to write the CE on 24 June…can you throw some light on how to prepapre for the exam and also the TA thereafter? Many thanks

[yip33]

luckyone:

hi thanks for the info, my dd has been shortlisted for VA and has to write the CE on 24 June..can you throw some light on how to prepapre for the exam and also the TA thereafter? Many thanks

I am not sure about VA TA, as that's not my art form, but I know about the CE.

There isn't anything you can do to prepare. But I think the best bet you have is to prepare it like how you would prepare for oral conversation. CE, for me, was just like oral conversation exams, just that you write it down on paper. The questions, again, for me, were like the type of questions that would be asked in oral exams, just that it's not so much of a yes-no questions, more of something along the lines of \"How has art helped you in your academics\".

[luckyone]

Hi my dd is writing the Cognitive Exm & Talent Academy end of June 2014…for visual Arts…can anyone pls post any useful info on what to expect in the exam/interview?

[anonymousguru]

luckyone:

Hi my dd is writing the Cognitive Exm & Talent Academy end of June 2014..for visual Arts..can anyone pls post any useful info on what to expect in the exam/interview?

Hey luckyone! I am a Year 2 VA student from SOTA! The Cognitive Exam is a written paper test in which the students writes an at least 300-400 word essay on a chosen topic (the one I chose in my year was \"Is it beneficial for children to watch TV?\" I think) within a time limit.

Why do they want candidates to take this test? Well, I think its because there is one very important subject (like super important) called ARC (Analysis, Research and Communication) or ToK (Theory of Knowledge in the upper years) which is similar to the General Paper, which tests the students ability of understanding issues in today's society. These tests (when one gets into SOTA) are either in a comprehension style format (Year 1 to 2) or essay format (Year 1 to 6)

Why is ARC so important and crucial? Many students consider this subject as the hardest to score in, and a pass in this subject is needed to pass all years and not get retained. However, it is also because it helps build the student's understanding of the issues in the world today and help them write essays in their upper years.

The next part (the audition+interview+portfolio review) are what many consider as the important part. It is true: a candidate need not have a superb, flawless and fully professional portfolio. What they want to test is your passion, and how much you really love it.

I will share my personal experience: the day I went for the audition, I was so scared. I looked around, and there were art pieces there were miles better than mine, and even people from those 'branded' schools like RGS. My mum also had little faith that I would make it, like we just 'see see' and 'try try'.

However, my mum was extremely supportive. She helped set up my portfolio, and arranged a great day for me. (the first day she concluded the teachers would be strict and 'more alert' and the last day the teachers were probably tired and disinterested, so she set up the day in the middle day for me.)

The day of the audition didn't start too well. I think I did a sub-par drawing of a still life that was presented to me, and I was to present it later on. What made matters worse was that I was the FIRST one to go. :scared: Even worse, the interviewers all looked very unfriendly and strict, with one who I later found out was the Head Of Visual Arts.

I was too flustered to remember all the questions I was asked that day, but I did remember one. \"Why do want to come to SOTA?\" I (sort of) vented my frustrations of not having a proper arts program in primary school. I think that was what won me in, (but don't copy answer ah.)

To clarify, I brought many (11-15) sketches (or cartoons more like), paintings, ink drawings and a photo of a scene in one of Colin Thompson's books (check him out!).

Sorry for the long reply, and hope this helps. Congrats to your dd, for she has made it this far! I have read the requirements this year, and they were more demanding than in my year. Congrats to your dd, and hope to see her next year. She has made it this far! :rahrah: :rahrah:

[mamabung]

Hi anonymousguru,


Thanks for being so forthcoming in your reply about what the CE entails.

As for the still-life drawing component, what kind of objects can a candidate expect to draw and how much time is given to complete that?

[mamabung]

Does anyone know how many made the shortlist this year? And from that number, how many more will be eliminated?


This is the first year that SOTA has introduced shortlisting. What could be the possible reason behind this - did SOTA expect a deluge of applicants this time round?