2021 PSLE Discussions and Strategies (Children born in 2009)

[m3i_m3i]

tyne\" post_id=\"2048108\" time=\"1637807153\" user_id=\"16028:

Hi All

Having a hard time deciding on schools. My son scored AL9(M) and we are tossing around a few options. He is attracted to the idea of skipping another major exam in 4 years but not exactly fixated about getting into IP and he has an affiliated secondary school with cut off at AL12 (for non-affiliates). Given these considerations, we are thinking of:
1.\tCatholic High – IP (AL8)
2.\tCatholic High – O’levels (AL9M)
3.\tACSI – O’levels (AL9)
4.\tSJI – O’levels (AL10)
5.\tAffiliated School (AL12)

For #1 and #2 scenario – our hypothesis is that if he can’t get into Catholic High IP and Catholic High O’levels goes into tiebreaker, given that he is Singaporean and had chosen the same school in #1 and #2, the system still views his choice of Catholic High as first choice. Can I pls affirm this understanding?

Given that we have SJI and affiliated school as #4 and #5 and there is a 1–2-point buffer here, this should be a safe fall-back strategy to at least get into either one of these schools if he fails to get into the schools ranked ahead?

Appreciate any feedback and advice.

Indicative IP CHS is 8(M) so it's unlikely your son will get it, there still AL8(P), AL8 & AL9(D) above his score.
If COP CHS is exactly the same with the indicative 9(M), it's disadvantage to put it in the 2nd order because kids put it in 1st order will get in first.
It's also the same disadvantage to put ACSI in 3rd order.
As there's possibility this year COP not exactly the same with indicative (means can be higher or lower) so if that order is your son's best choice of preference, then you can go with it.

[Rea]

optrex80\" post_id=\"2048125\" time=\"1637808608\" user_id=\"72116:

Rea\" post_id=\"2048116\" time=\"1637807882\" user_id=\"47915:

Hello
Can someone advise me please.
My child scored a total of 15.
Do you think its ok for me to apply for school with 13 as cut off point? Please help. This AL system is soo tough

Usually to play safe, apply for school 1-2 point lower than the cut-off points.. Year to Year comparision is usually +- 1 point only.. For 2 point away from the cut off point, it is VERY RISKY. Not worth the risk. But you can try if u really want too.. but chances are very low in my view...

Yes, I understand what you mean....Really in a dilemma

[Papalovesgirl]

m3i_m3i\" post_id=\"2048148\" time=\"1637810155\" user_id=\"18745:

tyne\" post_id=\"2048108\" time=\"1637807153\" user_id=\"16028:

Hi All

Having a hard time deciding on schools. My son scored AL9(M) and we are tossing around a few options. He is attracted to the idea of skipping another major exam in 4 years but not exactly fixated about getting into IP and he has an affiliated secondary school with cut off at AL12 (for non-affiliates). Given these considerations, we are thinking of:
1.\tCatholic High – IP (AL8)
2.\tCatholic High – O’levels (AL9M)
3.\tACSI – O’levels (AL9)
4.\tSJI – O’levels (AL10)
5.\tAffiliated School (AL12)

For #1 and #2 scenario – our hypothesis is that if he can’t get into Catholic High IP and Catholic High O’levels goes into tiebreaker, given that he is Singaporean and had chosen the same school in #1 and #2, the system still views his choice of Catholic High as first choice. Can I pls affirm this understanding?

Given that we have SJI and affiliated school as #4 and #5 and there is a 1–2-point buffer here, this should be a safe fall-back strategy to at least get into either one of these schools if he fails to get into the schools ranked ahead?

Appreciate any feedback and advice.

Indicative IP CHS is 8(M) so it's unlikely your son will get it, there still AL8(P), AL8 & AL9(D) above his score.
If COP CHS is exactly the same with the indicative 9(M), it's disadvantage to put it in the 2nd order because kids put it in 1st order will get in first.
It's also the same disadvantage to put ACSI in 3rd order.
As there's possibility this year COP not exactly the same with indicative (means can be higher or lower) so if that order is your son's best choice of preference, then you can go with it.

From MOE website: https://www.moe.gov.sg/secondary/s1-posting/school-choices/complete-option-form
\"For priority admission to the affiliated secondary school, your child must indicate that school as the first choice. However, admission is still subject to the availability of places. Some schools may also have additional qualifying criteria for their affiliated primary school students.\"

You need another safety net to replace the affiliated school.

[chervin]

All AL5 qualify for ESIS? Just wondering if there’s any AL5 who didn’t qualify for ESIS since it may depends on actual raw score.

[sportyger]

Daughter got AL6(M), thinking of putting MGS IB as first choice and St Nicks IP as second choice. Do you all think it’s OK?

[sushi88]

Veyron\" post_id=\"2048111\" time=\"1637807274\" user_id=\"30663:

sushi88\" post_id=\"2048104\" time=\"1637806791\" user_id=\"100857:

[quote=Pegasus08 post_id=2047984 time=1637770697 user_id=41264]Since the results are out, any sense on whether this year's cohort did better or worse than last year?

In terms of overall pass rate to secondary school, it is the same 98.4% as 2020.
In terms of students making to Express course, it has increased from 66. 3% in 2020 to 68.4% in 2021
In terms of students making to Normal Acad course, it decreased from 21.2% in 2020 to 18.9% in 2021.
For Normal Tech, it was increased from 11% to 11.1%.

Looking at this, it seems the 2021 cohort did better since the % of students going to Express from NA is higher (2.1%) then NA going to NT (0.1%) and probably a remaining rounding to 1 decimal place of 0.1% unaccounted for in the decrease for NA, (2020 ~ 66.3+21.2+11 = 98.5% when it should be 98.4%)

I believe the reason why more students made it to Express is due to the AL6 score band of 45-65 marks.
Under the old system, anything below 50 mark is failed, but today, 45 is the same as 65.[/quote]
You are probably right in the sense for students who are handicapped by some weak subjects.
AL6 band is 45-64
For the students who are balanced in all 4 subjects, eg. 64 for all 4 subjects will end up as AL24 (normal stream). So it means this new system gives hope to students who are extremely strong in 1-2 subjects and can still get to go into the Express stream.

[tyne]

m3i_m3i\" post_id=\"2048147\" time=\"1637810138\" user_id=\"18745:

tyne\" post_id=\"2048108\" time=\"1637807153\" user_id=\"16028:

Hi All

Having a hard time deciding on schools. My son scored AL9(M) and we are tossing around a few options. He is attracted to the idea of skipping another major exam in 4 years but not exactly fixated about getting into IP and he has an affiliated secondary school with cut off at AL12 (for non-affiliates). Given these considerations, we are thinking of:
1.\tCatholic High – IP (AL8)
2.\tCatholic High – O’levels (AL9M)
3.\tACSI – O’levels (AL9)
4.\tSJI – O’levels (AL10)
5.\tAffiliated School (AL12)

For #1 and #2 scenario – our hypothesis is that if he can’t get into Catholic High IP and Catholic High O’levels goes into tiebreaker, given that he is Singaporean and had chosen the same school in #1 and #2, the system still views his choice of Catholic High as first choice. Can I pls affirm this understanding?

Given that we have SJI and affiliated school as #4 and #5 and there is a 1–2-point buffer here, this should be a safe fall-back strategy to at least get into either one of these schools if he fails to get into the schools ranked ahead?

Appreciate any feedback and advice.

Indicative IP CHS is 8(M) so it's unlikely your son will get it, there still AL8(P), AL8 & AL9(D) above his score.
If COP CHS is exactly the same with the indicative 9(M), it's disadvantage to put it in the 2nd order because kids put it in 1st order will get in first.
It's also the same disadvantage to put ACSI in 3rd order.
As there's possibility this year COP not exactly the same with indicative (means can be higher or lower) so if that order is your son's best choice of preference, then you can go with it.

Thanks for your quick reply. Really headache. For tie-breakers using choice of school, it was not clear to me from MOE's communication if they consider choice of program or choice of school for dual-track schools.

[Bleep]

sportyger\" post_id=\"2048168\" time=\"1637811178\" user_id=\"28161:

Daughter got AL6(M), thinking of putting MGS IB as first choice and St Nicks IP as second choice. Do you all think it's OK?

MGS IB cop 5 then she can't make it. Cop 6 then she may end up ballot. Then the f don't get that 2nd choice risky if cop is 7 or 8 all those put first choice with 5/6 points in and full?

[tyne]

Papalovesgirl\" post_id=\"2048162\" time=\"1637810867\" user_id=\"145597:

m3i_m3i\" post_id=\"2048148\" time=\"1637810155\" user_id=\"18745:

[quote=tyne post_id=2048108 time=1637807153 user_id=16028]Hi All

Having a hard time deciding on schools. My son scored AL9(M) and we are tossing around a few options. He is attracted to the idea of skipping another major exam in 4 years but not exactly fixated about getting into IP and he has an affiliated secondary school with cut off at AL12 (for non-affiliates). Given these considerations, we are thinking of:
1.\tCatholic High – IP (AL8)
2.\tCatholic High – O’levels (AL9M)
3.\tACSI – O’levels (AL9)
4.\tSJI – O’levels (AL10)
5.\tAffiliated School (AL12)

For #1 and #2 scenario – our hypothesis is that if he can’t get into Catholic High IP and Catholic High O’levels goes into tiebreaker, given that he is Singaporean and had chosen the same school in #1 and #2, the system still views his choice of Catholic High as first choice. Can I pls affirm this understanding?

Given that we have SJI and affiliated school as #4 and #5 and there is a 1–2-point buffer here, this should be a safe fall-back strategy to at least get into either one of these schools if he fails to get into the schools ranked ahead?

Appreciate any feedback and advice.

Indicative IP CHS is 8(M) so it's unlikely your son will get it, there still AL8(P), AL8 & AL9(D) above his score.
If COP CHS is exactly the same with the indicative 9(M), it's disadvantage to put it in the 2nd order because kids put it in 1st order will get in first.
It's also the same disadvantage to put ACSI in 3rd order.
As there's possibility this year COP not exactly the same with indicative (means can be higher or lower) so if that order is your son's best choice of preference, then you can go with it.

From MOE website: https://www.moe.gov.sg/secondary/s1-posting/school-choices/complete-option-form
\"For priority admission to the affiliated secondary school, your child must indicate that school as the first choice. However, admission is still subject to the availability of places. Some schools may also have additional qualifying criteria for their affiliated primary school students.\"

You need another safety net to replace the affiliated school.[/quote]Thanks for the quick reply. The affiliated school cut-off for affiliates is 16 and for non-affiliates is 12. So my choice #5 should be a really safe fall-back? :xedfingers:

[putien]

Some useful info:

[list]