DSA 2017

[Estéema]

Looks like ACSI 2017 Open House is on 22 April.

[Estéema]

Anyone have a copy of HAST or GAT to share?

[Future Academy]

For those who are interested in DSA via Math domain, please take note math competition results are quite important.


To find out more on the major math competitions dates and information this year (2017), please click here to access some information,

http://www.fa.edu.sg/math-competition-mo-class/

Our team, consists of former DSA paper setter of premiere schools, experienced coaches of international math olympiad gold medalists and premiere school team, will be uploading more useful resources on our website to benefit more students. Please watch out for them.

Cheers! :rahrah: :rahrah:

[deardear07]

Hey All, is there a link/ thread that shows which domain is wanted by which schools?


My kid is keen in performing arts and wants to apply to neighbouring schools (since it will be looooong days in sec sch), but seems that they both only want sports. Is sports in higher demand? or is it just coincidence that the schools wants sports?

[kiasuparents_2010]

Hi,

1) Any body can share a useful link on how to prepare personal statement on DSA?
2) Also anybody can refer to the latest right procedure for DSA? e.g. GAT first, if never pass, then no chance to get into phase two for interview. For Personal Statment, when we need to submit to school? When we apply DSA? DSA meant for IP program or O level track?
3)My DD now is P6, she is very strong in English, almost top 3 in her level, but she doesn’t won any national-wide English Competition prize, but a key debating speaker who represented school won PSDO 2016 Division 1 debating competition Champion. Is that strong enough for English DSA? Heard a lot of students DSA by English domain, not sure whether is it worthy to try or not? Her dream school is MGS, but felt a bit tough for her. Personally wanted her to try CHIJ St Nicolas and Ceda IP program, anybody can share some experience for DSA on these two schools? Heard applying for DSA of only 1 or 2 school will be more appropriate given quite heavy time and effort spending for DSA process, any suggestion which school will be more suitable to her?
4) My last neigbour said her DS got two offer from RI and HCI, eventually he went to RI. The CO can last until PSLE score is released?

[kiasuparents_2010]

Hi,

1) Any body can share a useful link on how to prepare personal statement on DSA?
2) Also anybody can refer to the latest right procedure for DSA? e.g. GAT first, if never pass, then no chance to get into phase two for interview. For Personal Statment, when we need to submit to school? When we apply DSA? DSA meant for IP program or O level track?
3)My DD now is P6, she is very strong in English, almost top 3 in her level, but she doesn’t won any national-wide English Competition prize, but a key debating speaker who represented school won PSDO 2016 Division 1 debating competition Champion. Is that strong enough for English DSA? Heard a lot of students DSA by English domain, not sure whether is it worthy to try or not? Her dream school is MGS, but felt a bit tough for her. Personally wanted her to try CHIJ St Nicolas and Ceda IP program, anybody can share some experience for DSA on these two schools? Heard applying for DSA of only 1 or 2 school will be more appropriate given quite heavy time and effort spending for DSA process, any suggestion which school will be more suitable to her?
4) My last neigbour said her DS got two offer from RI and HCI, eventually he went to RI. The CO can last until PSLE score is released?

[Oh My Gosh]

kiasuparents_2010:

Hi,

1) Any body can share a useful link on how to prepare personal statement on DSA?
2) Also anybody can refer to the latest right procedure for DSA? e.g. GAT first, if never pass, then no chance to get into phase two for interview. For Personal Statment, when we need to submit to school? When we apply DSA? DSA meant for IP program or O level track?
3)My DD now is P6, she is very strong in English, almost top 3 in her level, but she doesn't won any national-wide English Competition prize, but a key debating speaker who represented school won PSDO 2016 Division 1 debating competition Champion. Is that strong enough for English DSA? Heard a lot of students DSA by English domain, not sure whether is it worthy to try or not? Her dream school is MGS, but felt a bit tough for her. Personally wanted her to try CHIJ St Nicolas and Ceda IP program, anybody can share some experience for DSA on these two schools? Heard applying for DSA of only 1 or 2 school will be more appropriate given quite heavy time and effort spending for DSA process, any suggestion which school will be more suitable to her?
4) My last neigbour said her DS got two offer from RI and HCI, eventually he went to RI. The CO can last until PSLE score is released?

You have a lot of questions so let me try to answer as much as possible.
(1) Popular sells a book called \"Decoding DSA (The Ultimate Parental Guide to Success in DSA)\" by Lye Kok Leong. There are tips on writing personal statements and interview questions.

(2) Different schools have different DSA procedures. Typically, you will apply for GAT test (around June to July after getting your SA1 results) and indicate the schools you are applying for. Even before the GAT results are out (note that the results go straight to the schools and not to the students so you will never know how you fare), you also submit the DSA application to the respective schools. The school will then call you up for interview. I know of cases which students are called up for interviews that day after they have their GAT. Presumably GAT results are not submitted to the schools so fast, I think different schools have different selection criteria other than GAT results. Other schools like HCI and NJC have their internal tests and hence there is no need to take GAT for such schools. DSA is meant for both O levels and IP programme. For schools with dual track, you need to indicate which track you are applying for.

(3) So far, there is no DSA category for debating. You can try to DSA via English but this domain seems to be more focussed on writing. A fren of mine... his DS won the Best Speaker of the Wits and Words Competition and whose team also won the PSDO did not manage to DSA via English domain. He was eventually given a CO via leadership domain.

(4) All students will be informed of their DSA results before PSLE (usually around 31 August latest). So some students can have more than 1 CO. They are then required to submit their choices (up to 3 choices) after the PSLE, but before PSLE release date. In 2016, PSLE ended first week of October, students are to submit their DSA choices by late October and PSLE results are released by late November. The results of the DSA posting will be given together with your PSLE results. Once you got a CO and managed to get the minimum Express cut off point, you are guaranteed a place in the school. The uncertainty is those who are given a WL instead of CO.

[zeemimi]

Nebbermind:

ACSI has interview? I remember they used to be the easier...just HAST.

Usually no interview. And it's not just based on HAST alone. HAST results is only the first stage of sieving. For DSA 2016, I know of high ability students who were not successful in ACSI DSA. Instead, those who were successful were all rounders who do well not only in academics, but non-academic aspects as well.
For bright students, it's not difficult to perform well in HAST, but to be able to do well in studies and at the same time juggle multiple non-academic commitments, that's what the school is looking for.

[zbear]

zeemimi:

Usually no interview. And it's not just based on HAST alone. HAST results is only the first stage of sieving. For DSA 2016, I know of high ability students who were not successful in ACSI DSA. Instead, those who were successful were all rounders who do well not only in academics, but non-academic aspects as well.
For bright students, it's not difficult to perform well in HAST, but to be able to do well in studies and at the same time juggle multiple non-academic commitments, that's what the school is looking for.

OT - zeemimi, welcome back!!!! It's been a long while since you posted!!!

:rahrah:

[Nebbermind]

zeemimi:

Nebbermind:

ACSI has interview? I remember they used to be the easier...just HAST.

Usually no interview. And it's not just based on HAST alone. HAST results is only the first stage of sieving. For DSA 2016, I know of high ability students who were not successful in ACSI DSA. Instead, those who were successful were all rounders who do well not only in academics, but non-academic aspects as well.
For bright students, it's not difficult to perform well in HAST, but to be able to do well in studies and at the same time juggle multiple non-academic commitments, that's what the school is looking for.

Howdy!
Your ds completed the IB or in the final yr?