School Placement Exercise for returning S'porean children

[sandunes]

Hi happies and paznwrkz, may I know how was the experience of the SPERS testing for your kids?

After the results, how many schools were u given on the list? Did u encounter any difficulties in securing a secondary school?

[hoskins8h]

sandunes:

Hi happies and paznwrkz, may I know how was the experience of the SPERS testing for your kids?

After the results, how many schools were u given on the list? Did u encounter any difficulties in securing a secondary school?

Depending on the child, SPERS in my opinion is one of the more efficient ways of getting into good school (compared with approaching school, DSA, PSLE). I guess you could prepare for Math by getting trying to catch up with Singapore maths. Test as far as I can tell from DD is multiple choice and a few open ended, topics not strictly singapore system but also includes a few IQ questions. Not sure how to prepare for English - multiple choice and a few open ended as well.

Those I know who have taken it tend to be admitted to good schools, ie IP and independent schools. The list of schools you get is the \"score\" and I think the odds of getting the first or 2nd choice of the schools on the list is high. In my opinion, it's easier through SPERS than through PSLE.

Chinese and Science not tested. Note that if a SAP school is on the list, you may have to take a Chinese test if you get posted there and if you dont make the cut, you may not have a school to go to (at least that's what I have been warned). Good luck!

[happies]

sandunes:

Hi happies and paznwrkz, may I know how was the experience of the SPERS testing for your kids?

After the results, how many schools were u given on the list? Did u encounter any difficulties in securing a secondary school?

According to my son, Maths was quite manageable but he couldn't finish the paper on time. He also told me there were some verbal reasoning questions in the English paper.

MOE sent us a full list of schools (excluding girls' school) for us to choose 6 schools. The only problem we faced was that MOE did not want to disclose his marks and hence we had difficulties selecting the schools.

Good luck if your child is taking the test:)

[hoskins8h]

happies:

MOE sent us a full list of schools (excluding girls' school) for us to choose 6 schools. The only problem we faced was that MOE did not want to disclose his marks and hence we had difficulties selecting the schools.


Good luck if your child is taking the test:)

The list of schools is the \"score\". Eg, if you see RI , HCI on the list, means the child did well. If the child didnt do well, you wouldnt even see these schools on the list of schools to select. You can choose any school on the list; my feel is many people get their first choice (havent heard of anyone not getting their first choice although my sample size is only 3). So just pick the best of what you get.

[happies]

The list of schools is the \"score\". Eg, if you see RI , HCI on the list, means the child did well. If the child didnt do well, you wouldnt even see these schools on the list of schools to select. You can choose any school on the list; my feel is many people get their first choice (havent heard of anyone not getting their first choice although my sample size is only 3). So just pick the best of what you get.[/quote]


We didn't choose those top schools as we thought the reason they were in the list was because they offer express stream. Although I felt a bit pity not trying but still happy to get our first choice

[sandunes]

:thankyou: very much for the replies.


Does it mean that the school on the list are all ready to accept your child without any further testings by the school itself?

I asked because according to some schools' website, returning students are asked to take the SPERS conducted by MOE. If they are eligible for the school(s), the child still need to take the schools' entrance tests (4 subjects) to determine if they will accept them.

[jtoh]

I agree with one of the earlier posts that SPERS is one of the most efficient and probably easiest way to gain admission into a secondary school, compared against taking the PSLE and DSA.


As for whether you will get into your first choice of school (selected from the list given to you), it really depends on the number of vacancies available at the school. I know of a couple of friends whose list included RGS and NYGH, but did not get their first choice.

[hoskins8h]

sandunes:

:thankyou: very much for the replies.


Does it mean that the school on the list are all ready to accept your child without any further testings by the school itself?

I asked because according to some schools' website, returning students are asked to take the SPERS conducted by MOE. If they are eligible for the school(s), the child still need to take the schools' entrance tests (4 subjects) to determine if they will accept them.

As far as I know, SPERS posting is final except for SAP schools. I believe all sec schools must reserve some places for returnees (my guess is 1% of students). MOE called saying that one of choices was a SAP school which may require the child to take a Chinese test. If dont make the grade, school has right to reject student based on Chinese. I called up the school to clarify and they say their PSLE standard is either A* for Chinese or Distinction (or maybe Merit?) for Higher Chinese. Needless to say, we changed our choice because MOE warned that if school rejects, child is out of centralised posting will NOT have any school to go to and must appeal to the individual schools for admission.

My suggestion is if you're in Singapore during the summer, you may want to try a DSA (Direct School Admission) for a SAP school just so that you get to sit for the Chinese test. Even if you're rejected for DSA, the school gets to mark the Chinese test and then you may ask the school if the child can be admitted if posted under SPERS (best to get black and white!). Nationally, about 80% of students get an A/A* for Chinese, whilst the number for the other 3 subjects is about 45%, so it may not be as difficult to attain the standard as one might imagine.

With regards to jtoh's comments, yes, the posting depends on the applicants vs vacancies. This is first time I know of someone not getting their first choice, but then again my sample size was only 3. However, looking at a larger sample size of 7 (dont know if each got first choice), all but one were posted to schools with PSLE cutoff at or above 250. That one other was to an independent school.

I would encourage a person to take SPERS even if plans for returning are not firm; hold a place in the school because you never know when you have to return. This can be done as I have seen a returnee posted to an IP school with the letters LOA (Leave of Absence) against the name.

[mommyNg]

So does that mean if you have a choice between coming back to Singapore to take PSLE versus taking SPERS, the latter is actually a better choice (in terms of chances of getting into a better school)?

[hoskins8h]

mommyNg:

So does that mean if you have a choice between coming back to Singapore to take PSLE versus taking SPERS, the latter is actually a better choice (in terms of chances of getting into a better school)?

I had that choice and certainly felt SPERS was much very better. With SPERS, you dont have a specific syallabus to sweat over (some might disagree and prefer a syallabus so as to have \"control\" or have something to work on). You dont compete with others who have been preparing for PSLE. My wild guess is that the numerical odds are also better with probably more vacancies vs number taking SPERS exam. Bear in mind that SPERS does not test Chinese or Science so for those who are strong in those subjects, that strength will not be reflected. Even if you dont plan to return, I would recommend sitting for SPERS and holding a place in the school. If you suddenly have to return, getting a school place mid-year probably faces the worst odds.