2019 PSLE Discussions and Strategies (Children born in 2007)

[whitecarrotcake]

Tinklebell Mom\" post_id=\"1948565\" time=\"1574559867\" user_id=\"182514:[quote=\"Tinklebell Mom\" post_id=1948565 time=1574559867 user_id=182514]
My boy from a SAP Pri sch, and got score 264 with Merit in HCL.

We are unable to make a decision between Dunman High and VS (IP). We love the culture of both schools. We want him to grow up to be a more well-rounded gentleman; and also strong in Chinese. VS is also more conveniently located. But at the back of my mind didn’t want to waste the chance of getting him into a SAP school.

Any advise please?[/quote]

You have to consider the JC.
Do 6 years in DHS or 4 years in VS, followed by VJC?

[peasants]

manorway\" post_id=\"1948834\" time=\"1574609584\" user_id=\"9303:

ilovelaksa\" post_id=\"1948824\" time=\"1574607347\" user_id=\"88602:

[quote=Stevenlsf post_id=1948817 time=1574604880 user_id=69371]
i would say my dd's school did better than last year based on the number of students above 250. But I don't know the top t-score.

Ours is a small nbh pri sch. My son’s classmate got 276+2. Not sure if she is the highest. But we had a record number of 250 and above, two-thirds are girls : )

ilovelaksa,just curious, how small is cohort? 180?
Do you know if most of the above 250 scorers have multiple subjects tuition?

In recent years, I have come to realise that many top scorers in neighbourhood schools attend 2 to 4 subjects tuition/enrichment too, just like students in popular schools. The only difference is the % with tuition is lower in neighbourhood schools.[/quote]Cause and effect will appear especially in IP schools where there are no fixed curriculums. Fewer centres will offer tuition resulting higher fees. Freelance will charge even higher.

[phtthp]

Omar\" post_id=\"1948832\" time=\"1574608979\" user_id=\"30035:

My daughter had scored 244 and she wants to know which sch is better either PLMGS or Tanjong Katong Girls Sch. Since PLMGS has only 20% for non affliated sch intake, is there a chance that she get in there.
If a person with 240 applies for sch A as first choice and another person with 244 applies for sch A as the second choice, who would get the place assuming that the COP is 241 for this year at that school. Cedar Girls has consistently had a COP of 250, are there any chances for a score of 244 this year. Please guide me.

Cedar O-level COP was 250 last year (2018), unlikely it will drop 6 points this year, to 244, waste one choice


PLMGS :
In one recent year was fixed at 250, because PLMGS sealed off outsiders.

But wef 2019 this year, \"forced\" to take in 20% Non-affliates, the free market demand and supply forces at work, unlikely to be at 250 COP so high.
Thus, your 244 still got chance (hope), to enter PLMGS


TKGS :
should be able to enter

[juzzmee]

Hi, I posted this earlier but no replies/advises. I know this forum moves very fast but hope someone can shed some light or advise pls.


My DD obtained 251, a t score neither here nor there. We are thinking of trying for MGS O levels (COP 254 - 2018) as first choice. SCGS IP as 2nd and SCGS O level as third (both COP 252 - 2018). Any idea what are the chances of the getting into any of the 3 listed above? TIA

[phtthp]

whitecarrotcake\" post_id=\"1948843\" time=\"1574610815\" user_id=\"114080:

Tinklebell Mom\" post_id=\"1948565\" time=\"1574559867\" user_id=\"182514:[quote=\"Tinklebell Mom\" post_id=1948565 time=1574559867 user_id=182514]My boy from a SAP Pri sch, and got score 264 with Merit in HCL.

We are unable to make a decision between Dunman High and VS (IP). We love the culture of both schools. We want him to grow up to be a more well-rounded gentleman; and also strong in Chinese. VS is also more conveniently located. But at the back of my mind didn’t want to waste the chance of getting him into a SAP school.

Any advise please?

You have to consider the JC.
Do 6 years in DHS or 4 years in VS, followed by VJC?[/quote]

Ask your son which school environment he feel more comfortable in, as he is the one studying next 4 to 6 years. You brought him to the Open house before, or talked to students, VP and staff Tr there, before ? How does he feel ?

[Tookies]

From what I understood, there is actually no cut-off point to meet in order to admit into sec school. The COP or the range is only a reference of the score of prior year students who were admitted into that school. It only reflects the prior year’s students choice of school.


Students are posted based on merit which means vacancies are filled up by students with higher scores first according to their choices. If the school is a popular school among high scorers, it gets filled up fast by high scorers which means lower scores students doesn’t get their chance to get admitted because no more vacancies, not because student doesn’t meet the cut off point.

Please feel free to correct me if I’m wrong. Cheers!


https://postimg.cc/cg79TxDP

[floppy]

manorway\" post_id=\"1948831\" time=\"1574608706\" user_id=\"9303:

Asking for a friend. Please share your views.

Kid is in the NA/NT range. They did not want NT. But NA means only a few schools in the town they live in and they went open houses for schools in 3 nearest towns. But they want “nice” facilities and interesting ALP. Did not like some older looking schools or those with “sleepy” vibes. Don’t mind travelling for 60-90 min on bus one way.

All these are their words. They don’t know how to elaborate what “sleepy” or “nice” means.

I thought it is more important to look at subject combo and CCAs. But kid is really weak in all subjects. No strength or talent. Even if school has Leadership prog, ALP Science related, competitions etc... Low chance that kid will be selected.

My recommendation is to just pick a decent enough school nearby. Save travelling time as kid is weak academically. Any advice?

This post probably will get a better response in NA / Express thread.

To put it crudely, your friend wants ”green”, must be cheap and preferably comes with big melons. Can... but those are only available for top of the class. The way our meritocratic system works, the bottom of the food chain has, unfortunately, limited pickings. It’s not going to be easy to find schools with “nice” facilities as well as “happening” within that range. The best such schools would most likely be the missionary schools. However, I’m not sure that with a t-score in the NA / NT range, he would be able to meet their COP.

Frankly, the real question is what’s the (immediate) end point that they are looking at. By choosing NA, I’m assuming that they are looking for an opportunity to go Poly instead of ITE. As such, there is very little point in looking at all those frills (because the likelihood of the child enjoying / using them is fairly low). Focus on choosing a school that can produce decent results for their NA students and especially, one that can help their students get into the PFP. They should have or should be able to look at the psyche of the school and their approaches if they have paid attention to the teachers / pupils during OH (but if they were distracted by facilities... then jialat lor). O Level is never, ever going to be a realistic option for the child, NA or otherwise. He is most likely going to end up as fodder if he decides to sit for O Level.

[sembgal]

juzzmee\" post_id=\"1948856\" time=\"1574614100\" user_id=\"95866:

Hi, I posted this earlier but no replies/advises. I know this forum moves very fast but hope someone can shed some light or advise pls.

My DD obtained 251, a t score neither here nor there. We are thinking of trying for MGS O levels (COP 254 - 2018) as first choice. SCGS IP as 2nd and SCGS O level as third (both COP 252 - 2018). Any idea what are the chances of the getting into any of the 3 listed above? TIA

Congrats! 251 is an excellent score of top 10% of PSLE cohort.

MGS has been consistent with 254 and SCGS 252. There is 50-50 chance. In fact, there are many choices for you to consider if you are willing to explore co-ed schools.

Your 4th to 6th choices have to select very wisely if you want to take the risk to have your first 3 initial choices. The schools you have selected are independent schools and you have to pay independent school fees of about $300 and on top of that, there are miscellaneous fee.

SCGS is accessible by the new underpass from Stevens MRT station and MGS is accessible from King Albert Park station.

If you are a Christian, you may favour MGS. SCGS is not a Christian or Catholic school to my understanding. If you are a free thinker, you can consider either 1.

[sembgal]

kiasusis\" post_id=\"1948826\" time=\"1574607696\" user_id=\"182531:

Hi! Would appreciate valuable feedback and recommendations. My boy scored 216. We went to the open houses for both North Vista (COP 214) and Compassvale (214). They both seem okay to us, in terms of the subject combinations offered and also the CCA varieties, thus we cannot make a decision. Does anyone know more about these schools, in terms of culture, teachers, or any other things we may have missed out? Thanks.

You may want to look at CCA schedule as some schools have once a week CCA, while some schools have twice or thrice a week CCA. In addition, some schools have enrichment programmes catered to the higher-ability students in the school (the higher scorers) and required students to stay back in schools too. You have to check that out. Compare the booklists used by the Sec 2 to Sec 4 for both schools and look at the teachers’ profile and the awards and achievements of the schools. Lastly, factor in distance. Do consider the nearer one as your priority as your child has to handle O levels at Sec 4. Sec 1 is a honeymoon year and your child may not feel the time constraint problem. Begin with the end in mind that your child has to take O levels and would you mind him travelling further when he could have more sleep instead?

[sembgal]

manorway\" post_id=\"1948831\" time=\"1574608706\" user_id=\"9303:

Asking for a friend. Please share your views.

Kid is in the NA/NT range. They did not want NT. But NA means only a few schools in the town they live in and they went open houses for schools in 3 nearest towns. But they want “nice” facilities and interesting ALP. Did not like some older looking schools or those with “sleepy” vibes. Don’t mind travelling for 60-90 min on bus one way.

All these are their words. They don’t know how to elaborate what “sleepy” or “nice” means.

I thought it is more important to look at subject combo and CCAs. But kid is really weak in all subjects. No strength or talent. Even if school has Leadership prog, ALP Science related, competitions etc... Low chance that kid will be selected.

My recommendation is to just pick a decent enough school nearby. Save travelling time as kid is weak academically. Any advice?

Your recommendation is wise. Knowing that the child is weak academically, she should pick a school that is near home so that the child does not need to spend 3 hours on the road. 3 hours means forgoing 3 hours of sleep or revision.