2021 PSLE Discussions and Strategies (Children born in 2009)

[Liew Nga Wing]

ChiefKiasu\" post_id=\"2041221\" time=\"1633570373\" user_id=\"3:

Pegasus08\" post_id=\"2041197\" time=\"1633541170\" user_id=\"41264:

Wish list for MOE is if they can provide the percentage of students per AL band for each school. Then no need to guess or think too much since from there, one can calculate the probability of getting into the school.

Ah, but you are forgetting this is the first year they are doing this Only simulated data. No real data.

In any case, even if the data exist, do you think MOE will release it? No... all schools are good schools... so no need to compare

Just think what will you feel if you are studying in a school with a relatively high % of relatively bad exam result students according to MOE data, will you be happy for it. Or how other students from schools with high % of good result students look at you if they got the data from MOE. Schools together with their students should not be differentiated according to the % per AL band students and therefore the MOE will not release such data even this data is exist.

[the critical observer]

Hi Parents,


We’re new here and cannot start a new topic, so thought we’d ask it here instead since our daughter has just taken her PSLE…

The question - How are indepedent schools materially different from the public government schools (other than the very significant difference in school fees)?

From what I can tell, other than some schools offering the IB and/or IP programmes, everything else appears to be the same. As examples, teachers are still from MOE, syllabus is still from MOE (esp since/if they all lead to the same "O"/"A"/IB exam), same student to teacher ratio, same CCAs, same types of classrooms, etc…

Afterall, isn’t every school a good school?

So why the premium in the school fees? And it appears that only the traditionally popular schools have been categorised as "independent" schools… so is it simply a case of charging a premium because they can (due to the schools’ popularity)?

Am I missing something?

Thanks all!

[Momo70]

Regarding the AL banding vs COP topic


The intention of the new system is to discourage the students/parents chasing over a single mark for the dream school. Be Top4, IP, or even school nearby. It can be quite frustrating to miss out the dream school/only school just by a mark.

Personally I encountered this in 2019
My girl scored 263 (3A*+A) and my friend’s daughter scored 261 (3A*+1). That year the COP for RGS was 261, and my friend’s daughter got rejected. Actually, both my friend and her girl was quite upset about it.

So under the new banding system, you can see both girls will score a AL5. So my girl will not have the advantage anymore under this new system. Who knows, the end result might be different for my girl during the S1 posting if it is based on AL banding.

I believe my friend will wish for the S1 posting to be AL banding instead and definitely it will not be what I would like to have - lol.

So it is true that this year, there will be not much differentiation between a student scoring 259/260/261…even 263 anymore. Most likely they will be banded under AL5. The competition for the place will be intense.

To be honest, I’m also curious how the selection will be…who is in who it out …

Anyway - it is a tough year for all student and parents to go through PSLE during this period.
Great job and all the best to all. You’re the warriors!!!

[CCK2008]

Every school is a good school is more realistic for primary schools, where kids enter without knowing their potential. So choose those primary schools close to home.


Coming to sec schools, kids had to group according to their learning ability. So that they can either learn at faster or slower pace. Imagine a intelligent kid in a normal class, he will be bored.

Those students at top 4 will most probably have ESIS to offset school fee, so it is not that high after offset, my DD mthly fee is $50 after offset.

Their curriculum is determined by individual school, does not really followed O level.

Going top 4, I think the ultimate objective is to go RJC or HCJC, if you try to enter these 2 JCs using O level result later is even more difficult, scoring full points (6 points) are still not enough, need to subtract points through CCA etc. Using psle to enter is easier. Mainly because left 300 or 400 vacancies after taking in student s from top 4.

[the critical observer]

Thanks CCK2008 for your thoughts.


However, I still cannot understand why a multifold premium needs to be charged for these "independent" schools…

[Momo70]

Not all IB/IP program school fees is premium - DHS/TJC also offers IP programs and their school fees is just like any Gov. School.


The rest like ACS/RI/RGS/CHS/NYGS are independent school, they don't get much funding from MOE unlike DHS/TJC.

I agree with CCK2008 - \"All school are good school is only applicable to Primary school.\"
This will not be applicable to Secondary/JC/Uni.

[CCK2008]

the critical observer\" post_id=\"2041387\" time=\"1633613462\" user_id=\"195313:[quote=\"the critical observer\" post_id=2041387 time=1633613462 user_id=195313]
Thanks CCK2008 for your thoughts.

However, I still cannot understand why a multifold premium needs to be charged for these \"independent\" schools...[/quote]

My first impression of the school is the facilities and environment, they are different from neighborhood sec schools. My DD school has a boarding school the same size as the campus. The treachers are mostly former alumni , they show passion in their teaching. Those alumni teacher addressed the students as 学妹in class.

[Juning]

Momo70\" post_id=\"2041383\" time=\"1633610691\" user_id=\"189715:

Regarding the AL banding vs COP topic

The intention of the new system is to discourage the students/parents chasing over a single mark for the dream school. Be Top4, IP, or even school nearby. It can be quite frustrating to miss out the dream school/only school just by a mark.

Personally I encountered this in 2019
My girl scored 263 (3A*+A) and my friend's daughter scored 261 (3A*+1). That year the COP for RGS was 261, and my friend's daughter got rejected. Actually, both my friend and her girl was quite upset about it.

So under the new banding system, you can see both girls will score a AL5. So my girl will not have the advantage anymore under this new system. Who knows, the end result might be different for my girl during the S1 posting if it is based on AL banding.

I believe my friend will wish for the S1 posting to be AL banding instead and definitely it will not be what I would like to have - lol.

So it is true that this year, there will be not much differentiation between a student scoring 259/260/261..even 263 anymore. Most likely they will be banded under AL5. The competition for the place will be intense.

To be honest, I'm also curious how the selection will be...who is in who it out .....

Anyway - it is a tough year for all student and parents to go through PSLE during this period.
Great job and all the best to all. You're the warriors!!!!

Last year COP was even calculated by the decimal.
2 students with same t score may not get to the same school. The one that got in has a higher decimal in her t score. The rejected one has a lower decimal.

[Veyron]

Momo70\" post_id=\"2041383\" time=\"1633610691\" user_id=\"189715:

Regarding the AL banding vs COP topic

The intention of the new system is to discourage the students/parents chasing over a single mark for the dream school. Be Top4, IP, or even school nearby. It can be quite frustrating to miss out the dream school/only school just by a mark.

Personally I encountered this in 2019
My girl scored 263 (3A*+A) and my friend's daughter scored 261 (3A*+1). That year the COP for RGS was 261, and my friend's daughter got rejected. Actually, both my friend and her girl was quite upset about it.

So under the new banding system, you can see both girls will score a AL5. So my girl will not have the advantage anymore under this new system. Who knows, the end result might be different for my girl during the S1 posting if it is based on AL banding.

I believe my friend will wish for the S1 posting to be AL banding instead and definitely it will not be what I would like to have - lol.

So it is true that this year, there will be not much differentiation between a student scoring 259/260/261..even 263 anymore. Most likely they will be banded under AL5. The competition for the place will be intense.

To be honest, I'm also curious how the selection will be...who is in who it out .....

Anyway - it is a tough year for all student and parents to go through PSLE during this period.
Great job and all the best to all. You're the warriors!!!!

3A*+A can range from Al4 to AL7

e.g. 91 91 91 75 = AL7

261, is likely to be AL7 or AL6. certainly not AL5

[CCK2008]

Veyron\" post_id=\"2041414\" time=\"1633782348\" user_id=\"30663:

Momo70\" post_id=\"2041383\" time=\"1633610691\" user_id=\"189715:

Regarding the AL banding vs COP topic

The intention of the new system is to discourage the students/parents chasing over a single mark for the dream school. Be Top4, IP, or even school nearby. It can be quite frustrating to miss out the dream school/only school just by a mark.

Personally I encountered this in 2019
My girl scored 263 (3A*+A) and my friend's daughter scored 261 (3A*+1). That year the COP for RGS was 261, and my friend's daughter got rejected. Actually, both my friend and her girl was quite upset about it.

So under the new banding system, you can see both girls will score a AL5. So my girl will not have the advantage anymore under this new system. Who knows, the end result might be different for my girl during the S1 posting if it is based on AL banding.

I believe my friend will wish for the S1 posting to be AL banding instead and definitely it will not be what I would like to have - lol.

So it is true that this year, there will be not much differentiation between a student scoring 259/260/261..even 263 anymore. Most likely they will be banded under AL5. The competition for the place will be intense.

To be honest, I'm also curious how the selection will be...who is in who it out .....

Anyway - it is a tough year for all student and parents to go through PSLE during this period.
Great job and all the best to all. You're the warriors!!!!

3A*+A can range from Al4 to AL7

e.g. 91 91 91 75 = AL7

261, is likely to be AL7 or AL6. certainly not AL5

A* can be quite misleading. My DD classmate, 257 is 3A* 1A. Another classmate at 254, 4A. Her best friend 264, 4A*.