2020 PSLE Discussions and Strategies(for those born in 2008)

[pengpeng]

Glad to hear such sharing!


My son also entered HCI through DSA. He is progressing to Sec 4 next year.

His PSLE T-score was very very far (I mean it,)short of the COP. I felt so sorry for the school for offering him a DSA position. I actually wrote to the Principal to offer to transfer him to International School if he is not able to cope academically. The Principal was so encouraging - asked us to give it shot.

Even as a DSA kid, there was no discrimination. My son has been given so many opportunities in school, be in leadership positions, or challenging himself in other ways. I expected the environment to be cut throat, but it really didn’t turn out to be so. In fact he has such nurturing friends, who pulled him along in a group science project that won some award in a national competition!

Is my son among the top academically? No, he isn’t. But he has always been average, or above average, and has qualified for some (not all) special programmes at the end of Sec 2. He did not opt to take any special programmes eventually.

Does he find academics a walk in the park? No, he needs to put in substantive effort. But the peer and teacher support have been amazing. The level of mutual sharing, help and support surpassed anything I could have imagined. Were there setbacks and disappointments along the way? Yes, no doubt. For one, my son’s Chinese sucks :p. But he’s picked up so much knowledge about Chinese history, politics, culture along the way, and appreciates it.

All I can say is that he is deeply engaged in school, and loves it. I’ve never once had to wake him up for school, ever.

Will Sec 4, JC1 and 2 be as positive? I do not know. But I am already grateful enough for 3 good years.
[/quote]

Very glad to read such sharing as well! Warm and inspiring.

[Cool nurse]

tutu_san\" post_id=\"2004537\" time=\"1606384419\" user_id=\"9722:

think this is a perennial dilemma to choose between HCI vs RI. My son's score is 267+3. think he prefers HCI, mainly cos his dad is an alumnus. but personally i prefer RI due to its proximity to our home and the later starting time in the morning (745 instead of 720 of HCI , which is a good half an hour more sleep everyday). i am also impressed by RI e open house last sat, whereby the students are mixed up in different classes be it DSA or GEP kids. whereas in HCI, i think the GEP will remain in GEP classes - correct me if i am wrong.
and this morning, we did our trial to HCI by using public transport. its abt 30-40 min from our place.

well we still havent' decided which one to put as first option. open for any suggestions and comments. Eventually I think I will let the boy decide for himself.

Firstly, Congrats on such good results!!! :rahrah: Disclaimer before I start: My son is in RI, so my post may be biased :oops: . Anyways, I think just like someone mentioned experience varies from person to person. Maybe your son won't have the exact experience as his dad. My humble opinion is that I don't think that parents being an alumnus should affect his decision very much. As usual, if he is willing to go to HCI, he must be ready to take on the 'extra' Chinese. So if he is not that much into Chinese as a language, I would encourage you to probably give it a miss. Having said that, with a score of 267, he can practically go to any school he prefers and I am assuming he got A* and Distinction for Chinese and Higher Chinese respectively. So, he is good in Chinese (and most likely is into Chinese). Also, since RI is close to your home, you might want to consider that heavy workload, returning home late after CCA, etc. Especially as a teenager, sleep is vital to him. To me personally, 30-40 min of travel isn't that big of a deal. Both schools are good schools, but it's finding a good school for HIM. Hope this helps!

[phtthp]

Cypress_tree\" post_id=\"2004582\" time=\"1606390351\" user_id=\"119522:

And can anyone share the criteria and possibility of transferring from O level track to IP within the school by the end of Sec 1?

Many thanks!

There is NO transfer, from O-level into IP, at the end of Sec 1.
Sec 1, the entire year, is just for you to get aclaimatized to the new Secondary school environment.

Sec 1,
is to give you time, to \"warm up\" your seat because you just finished your PSLE, so you need time to settle down and get used to juggling with 8 subjects now, from your previous past Psle 4 subjects only. Double the dosage of study work-load expectations


Transfer from O-level to IP track, can only arise & take place at the end of Sec 2 AFTER your Term 4 year end exam streaming, into choosing Sec 3 subject combination .

Schools need to look at your past two years of track record, that is, both ( Sec 1 and Sec 2), to ascertain if you are suitable or not, to transfer across from O-level into IP curriculum. There will be a clearance interview, for short-listed Sec 2 students keen to transfer across from O-level into IP.

Hope this is clear

[Cypress_tree]

:thankyou:

floppy\" post_id=\"2004583\" time=\"1606390733\" user_id=\"97579:

Cypress_tree\" post_id=\"2004582\" time=\"1606390351\" user_id=\"119522:

Hi all, with the marks of 251, what’re the chances of getting into Victoria (IP)? Or should I just put Victoria (O) as the first choice?

And can anyone share the criteria and possibility of transferring from O level track to IP within the school by the end of Sec 1?

Many thanks!

This question has been asked again and again in many forms.

Until MOE implements a system whereby you have to trade an arm for the first choice, two arms for the second choice, an eye for the third and so on... just pick and choose what you really prefer for the first choice. There’s no risk and no harm TBH (until next year at least, when AL comes to town, it’s a different ball game).

It’s more unlikely that you won’t meet the cutoff, but that’s alright. Besides, you never know. If an idiot can be the POTUS, anything can happen! If you never try, you never know. As long as the remaining 4 or 5 choices are sensible, it’s ok.

[Faraway]

phtthp\" post_id=\"2004597\" time=\"1606393069\" user_id=\"35251:

Cypress_tree\" post_id=\"2004582\" time=\"1606390351\" user_id=\"119522:

And can anyone share the criteria and possibility of transferring from O level track to IP within the school by the end of Sec 1?

Many thanks!

There is NO transfer, from O-level into IP, at the end of Sec 1.
Sec 1, the entire year, is just for you to get aclaimatized to the new Secondary school environment.

Sec 1,
is to give you time, to \"warm up\" your seat because you just finished your PSLE, so you need time to settle down and get used to juggling with 8 subjects now, from your previous past Psle 4 subjects only. Double the dosage of study work-load expectations


Transfer from O-level to IP track, can only arise & take place at the end of Sec 2 AFTER your Term 4 year end exam streaming, into choosing Sec 3 subject combination .

Schools need to look at your past two years of track record, that is, both ( Sec 1 and Sec 2), to ascertain if you are suitable or not, to transfer across from O-level into IP curriculum. There will be a clearance interview, for short-listed Sec 2 students keen to transfer across from O-level into IP.

Hope this is clear

How about at the end of sec 1, transfer to another secondary school same Express level? is there such possibility?

thanks

[ongstarling]

Hi

Would like to have some advice. When you choose an IP stream say in SCGS but over the years may wish to do a transfer to another JC say in Year 5, any idea whether this is viable ? Or will it be wiser to just choose O level stream instead?

[phtthp]

No


MOE is very strict now.


If you are already currently studying inside SCGS (IP) track, MOE won’t allow students to "suka suka" jump ship in Year 5, to say RI or Hwa Chong. No, not allowed. You are expected to complete your A-level in Eunoia Junior College, because EJC is your supposedly destination, when you come on board to join SCGS (IP), from day 1 Sec 1

========================

Your other question, consider which one ? Consider SCGS (IP) or consider SCGS (O-level) ?

To answer this,
You need to rope in your daughter to make the decision herself

Is she the type who show that she does take ownership and responsibility, of her own psle preparation in P5 & P6 ? If her character trait does show this, then is all right to let her study IP.


But in contrast, if she is the type that need to be told : Do this, do that, or learn this topic now or learn another topic later, that means, need a lot of hand holding, then is better to stick to the traditional O-level path.

Or

already during PSLE prep, need a lot of tuition support, eg. 2 tuition teachers to support 1 subject, unable to self learn on her own, then is better to take O level

All of us study differently. Some of us need a National exam to wake us up, then we can study.

[doodbug]

The only thing MOE can't stop you,, is if you transfer to International School at Year 5, or go overseas to Boarding School to do A levels or IB or whatever

[Tzuke]

bbbay\" post_id=\"2004394\" time=\"1606369523\" user_id=\"175278:

NSL\" post_id=\"2004382\" time=\"1606368906\" user_id=\"4191:

My gal scored 247+2 for hmt. We stay in Hougang. Her list is as below:

1. Cedar O level 249
2. Paya Lebar Methodist 237
3. Anderson Sec 245
4. Nan Chiau 244
5.CHIJ Toa Payoh 246
6. CCHS (Main) 244

Any comment or suggestion?

Last year COP are shown above. If your ranking is as above , if for some freak reason you cannot get into PLM, you will not get selected by rest of the your choices because their COP based on last year results are higher than PLM. This will be a very bad situation.

If PLM is really your top 2md choice, suggest for 3-6, select schools that has lower COP than PLM, then they can be a real fall back should you cannot get into PLM. her 247+2 will still get into CCHS

The ranking is fine. If indeed for some freak reason, PLMS COP this year hit above 247, the chances of getting into choice 3, 4, 5 and 6 are very high especially for SAP school like CCH.

[Boys club]

whitepaper\" post_id=\"2004475\" time=\"1606376460\" user_id=\"99586:

Hi everyone! May I ask, for a score of 246, is there a possibility to be accepted into Victoria School (with a COP of 248)? We really love the school

We are thinking of the following 6 choices:

1. Victoria School
2. Chung Cheng High School (Main)
3. Anglican High School
4. Ngee Ann Sec
5. Tanjong Katong Sec
6. Dunman Sec

Any advice is appreciated. Thank you so much!

My boy in the same situation. 😅