DSA 2022

bbbay

There are still below average primary schools producing 260+/270+ PSLE score students. These schools are below average because they produce less of these students, not because they don’t produce these student at all. So students coming from below average schools cannot be written off academically. Moreover DSA is mainly not about academics achievements.

floppy

J mom\" post_id=\"2067727\" time=\"1652747271\" user_id=\"40182:[quote=\"J mom\" post_id=2067727 time=1652747271 user_id=40182]
DSA for sports.
For academic result, will school look into the difference in exam difficulty from different primary school?[/quote]

I think you don't have to be overly concerned about the exam difficulty from different primary schools.

Yes, there may be some difference but it will, at most, result in a movement of 1 to 3 AL points (especially for the AL1 to AL4 scoring where the 'points gap' is actually very small). Besides, the main concern for most schools is whether the student is able to cope with the curriculum, and not whether you can match up to the intellectual capability of his / her peers. Hence, even a popular school with a 'normal' COP of AL8 points is likely to consider students scoring up to AL13 or even AL14 points in their primary schools during DSA.

Marina Collection

Mima\" post_id=\"2067632\" time=\"1652676219\" user_id=\"194754:

Is taking O Level so much stressful?....I heard in IP students have to prove every year that they qualify for IP...isn't that more stressful??
One more question does a student from O level join the IP students in JC?
If he does......does he get the subjects he has chosen or do the IP students get priority??
I am new here so don't know much abt the system.

Most IP schools spell out promotion criteria of overall GPA2 to promote to next year . That’s like a overall 50% pass . To stay in the IP track , taking the example of a top boy IP school , overall criteria is about a 2.4 (>55%). If below GPA2.4, the school might consider moving to O level track .

I would say it isn’t that tall order to meet GPA2.4 due to several reasons :
1) most kids just have 1-2 weak subjects . Meeting the overall 55% isn’t that tall order . N it’s based on L1R5 computation . So the kid can take one really bad subject off . Of course there are some compulsory subjects that must be included in the computation (EL, math , sci , humanities ). In some schools , MT is compulsory to be included
2) the Teachers in IP schools are usually dedicated and will monitor weak students carefully .
3) the IP syllabus has project work and assignments (for almost all subjects except math) , a lot of guidance is given to the students . So I would say the students can get a decent score for these tasks quite comfortably . Depending on subjects , these project work can be up to about 30-40% of the total weightage

Different ip schools have different promotion criteria . So I would suggest parents to do your own due diligence to call up the IP school to verify the promotion criteria - though if you do a shout-out here , many experienced KSP will be able to tell you the answer .

Whereas from what I understand , some O level schools require a >50% in each and every single subject to promote .

From an experience of a friend’s child , the boy DSA by sports to a top boy IP school . Boy struggled in math n sci . However, his overall GP still clears the minimal 2.4 to stay in IP . There were a handful of boys (<10) who is above 2 to 2.4. School decided to let them stay in IP n guided them very closely . Now my friend son is at JC and is happy coz he chose Arts stream , which turned out to be his forte . Had he done O level , he might not have scored well enough to gain entry to this top JC .

There’s a lot of hearsay that IP schools are competitive and hence it’s stressful etc …. I feel that it will help greatly if parents don’t pile up the stress on the kids … a lot of times , it’s really expectations from parents that’s stressing out the kids … n it is with relief that I can now say from experience of my kids that there are many wonderful classmates that help out one another coz everyone is in the same boat . If you offer to help others , others will return the favour too …. And also , the kid will soon find out that if he finds something tough , almost every other kid in his class will find it tough too . He’s certainly not alone …. In fact I often joke with my kids how come there are so many fumbling fools in their classes lol ? Of course there’ll always be those super kahn jiang and KS kids …. the kids will know to smell them from afar n side step them !

The first 6 months of Sec school journey is a deep dive . Almost every kid that I know (be it O level , IP-A level or IP-IB) do feel that at times they aren’t coping . It’s very normal . All the kids feel the same way . It’s really a normal adjustment period . I would say that after the jun holidays , most kids will feel better n happy coming back to school to meet their Sec 1 classmates . So we parents just need to be there for our kids to listen to them when they have grouses ….. if they even open their mouths to talk (coz most flat out by the end of the day)! Lol

At the end of the day , a parent will know his kid best . Whichever course you/kid choose to take , trust your own decision and be happy with it . Don’t keep thinking the grass on the other side is always greener …..

lassie girl

Not following this chat but just want to chip in to add on some insights during this dsa season.

Take note all IP schools have their own promotion criteria - be it using all subjects grades or L1R5 as total, and not all school use 50 or 55% as promotion benchmarks - some use 60%. Some IP schools even used to count language grades as double weightage but I believe they have since changed that. In general, math and sci are accelerated in the IP schools, although different schools are on different speeds of acceleration. In actual fact, the schools that are commonly associated with being very advanced in some of their subject syllabus might not be “faster” than the others - I have since learnt the difference between “wide” and “deep”when trying to understand the different schools’ subject offering (not going to elaborate more here). I guess this makes each school unique in their offerings. Project work vs pen and paper exams varies between schools and subjects as well (in terms of marks weightage).

In general as well, higher mother tongue in the SAP schools are compulsory (and mandatory to include their grades in the promotion criteria). In the non-SAP schools, there is usually some leeway. Some SAP schools may not be very open to admit during the open houses that HCL is one of the crucial subjects to be considered for promotion - so do ask these questions if these are important to u and your child. Have seen IP students who struggled with math/sciences, and have similarly seen IP students who struggled with the languages/humanities in the IP schools. At the end of the day, it boils down to the student’s interest and aptitude in the subjects - an open discussion u should have with your kids to see which schools (IP or not) fit them better.

Teachers in IP schools will help the weaker students, and these weaker students might be from either DSA (any dormain) or those who entered via psle scores. For subject combo selections at the end of year 2 for IP, it is not correct to say that grades don’t matter - because most schools use their overall (eligible) grades to decide if they take a 8, 9 or 10 subject combo in year 3, which might in turn limit their subject combo choices. However, some schools indeed do not need to check the subject grade to decide if u can take that particular subject in year3 - interest takes precedence as long as the child has shown ability in handling its academic demands. Some schools (especially the ones with bigger cohort sizes) will try to accommodate their students’ request to do the subject combo of their choice and will open up more classes if the students meet their requirement.

For those looking at o level schools, the situation will be similar as well. Each school will have their own unique offerings and promo criteria, there will be teachers who are willing to help and opportunities for each student if they are up for the challenge. So choose the schools that u think suit your child best, or which school will benefit him/her best.

Do visit the schools’ open houses (physical and e) to get more current info. The good thing is that some physical open houses are back! It is always nice to visit the schools together with your kids to get a feel of the schools’ vibes and what some call culture. Personally I believe the schools will “speak” to your child if that’s the school that attracts them, so let them have the chance to make their own decisions. There is always something to be learnt from each learning journey that your child takes, whether branded or not.

Whether a school is IP, dual track or o level track, has easier paper, lower promo criteria, more “GEP students”, etc - it actually doesn’t matter as much as we think. What matters is your child’s attitude towards learning, whether the school is his/her choice (or your choice?), and most importantly, what kind of environment do u and your child feel will suit him or her more during the next 4-6years? I have shared this other post in dsa2021 if anyone is keen.

KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore - Moderator Control Panel - UCP - DSA 2021 - Page 300

Another point I feel parents didn’t consider enough is the dormain or talent development of each school. It depends on u and your child’s aim in this dsa exercise - is it the school or dormain that u ultimately want? If it is the dormain - some schools are champions in the dormain that your child is going for, some schools maybe not so, even if both types of schools offer the same dsa dormain. Some schools also attract more talents even though these kids didn’t go in via dsa. Be prepared if your child is not a champion/heavy weight in that dormain - there may be less opportunities for participation. Let your child go in with the awareness that a bigger pond will definitely have many fishes, some bigger than them. So an honest question to ask your child - do they want to play (as in participate in these events) or they are just happy to be part of a winning team. Other schools may not win all the awards but your child might get more participation opportunities.

I noticed a new trend over the years - more kids will dsa to chope not just the school, but also the cca dormain. Which might explain why increasingly, dsa kids are doing as well as, sometimes even better than, the ones who went in by psle score. Remember dsa is one way to get your child in the door, the rest is up to your child. Keep an open mind, be open to challenges, and learn from any failures (if any). Even if one door closes, another door will open, as long as your child reaches for the knob. There are indeed many pathways to success now so let’s help our children grow to their fullest potential. All the best to all applicants!

:rahrah:

Edited and posted for https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/article/choosing-a-dsa-school/

mystique_j

:goodpost:

lassie girl\" post_id=\"2067900\" time=\"1652866376\" user_id=\"35383:[quote=\"lassie girl\" post_id=2067900 time=1652866376 user_id=35383]
Not following this chat but just want to chip in to add on some insights during this dsa season.

Take note all IP schools have their own promotion criteria - be it using all subjects grades or L1R5 as total, and not all school use 50 or 55% as promotion benchmarks - some use 60%. Some IP schools even used to count language grades as double weightage but I believe they have since changed that. In general, math and sci are accelerated in the IP schools, although different schools are on different speeds of acceleration. In actual fact, the schools that are commonly associated with being very advanced in some of their subject syllabus might not be “faster” than the others - I have since learnt the difference between “wide” and “deep”when trying to understand the different schools’ subject offering (not going to elaborate more here). I guess this makes each school unique in their offerings. Project work vs pen and paper exams varies between schools and subjects as well (in terms of marks weightage).

In general as well, higher mother tongue in the SAP schools are compulsory (and mandatory to include their grades in the promotion criteria). In the non-SAP schools, there is usually some leeway. Some SAP schools may not be very open to admit during the open houses that HCL is one of the crucial subjects to be considered for promotion - so do ask these questions if these are important to u and your child. Have seen IP students who struggled with math/sciences, and have similarly seen IP students who struggled with the languages/humanities in the IP schools. At the end of the day, it boils down to the student’s interest and aptitude in the subjects - an open discussion u should have with your kids to see which schools (IP or not) fit them better.

Teachers in IP schools will help the weaker students, and these weaker students might be from either DSA (any dormain) or those who entered via psle scores. For subject combo selections at the end of year 2 for IP, it is not correct to say that grades don’t matter - because most schools use their overall (eligible) grades to decide if they take a 8, 9 or 10 subject combo in year 3, which might in turn limit their subject combo choices. However, some schools indeed do not need to check the subject grade to decide if u can take that particular subject in year3 - interest takes precedence as long as the child has shown ability in handling its academic demands. Some schools (especially the ones with bigger cohort sizes) will try to accommodate their students’ request to do the subject combo of their choice and will open up more classes if the students meet their requirement.

For those looking at o level schools, the situation will be similar as well. Each school will have their own unique offerings and promo criteria, there will be teachers who are willing to help and opportunities for each student if they are up for the challenge. So choose the schools that u think suit your child best, or which school will benefit him/her best.

Do visit the schools’ open houses (physical and e) to get more current info. The good thing is that some physical open houses are back! It is always nice to visit the schools together with your kids to get a feel of the schools’ vibes and what some call culture. Personally I believe the schools will “speak” to your child if that’s the school that attracts them, so let them have the chance to make their own decisions. There is always something to be learnt from each learning journey that your child takes, whether branded or not.

Whether a school is IP, dual track or o level track, has easier paper, lower promo criteria, more “GEP students”, etc - it actually doesn’t matter as much as we think. What matters is your child’s attitude towards learning, whether the school is his/her choice (or your choice?), and most importantly, what kind of environment do u and your child feel will suit him or her more during the next 4-6years? I have shared this other post in dsa2021 if anyone is keen.

KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore - Moderator Control Panel - UCP - DSA 2021 - Page 300

Another point I feel parents didn’t consider enough is the dormain or talent development of each school. It depends on u and your child’s aim in this dsa exercise - is it the school or dormain that u ultimately want? If it is the dormain - some schools are champions in the dormain that your child is going for, some schools maybe not so, even if both types of schools offer the same dsa dormain. Some schools also attract more talents even though these kids didn’t go in via dsa. Be prepared if your child is not a champion/heavy weight in that dormain - there may be less opportunities for participation. Let your child go in with the awareness that a bigger pond will definitely have many fishes, some bigger than them. So an honest question to ask your child - do they want to play (as in participate in these events) or they are just happy to be part of a winning team. Other schools may not win all the awards but your child might get more participation opportunities.

I noticed a new trend over the years - more kids will dsa to chope not just the school, but also the cca dormain. Which might explain why increasingly, dsa kids are doing as well as, sometimes even better than, the ones who went in by psle score. Remember dsa is one way to get your child in the door, the rest is up to your child. Keep an open mind, be open to challenges, and learn from any failures (if any). Even if one door closes, another door will open, as long as your child reaches for the knob. There are indeed many pathways to success now so let’s help our children grow to their fullest potential. All the best to all applicants!

:rahrah:[/quote]

Kaylasmum

Hello

I need some help. I tried to key in the DSA info for 3 schools with each school 2 talent area as specified by MOE but I realised after 3 choices , I can’t add any more talent area :
Eg choice 1 - ABC school - basket ball

Choice 2 ABC school - netball

Choice 3 XYZ school 1 netball

And then I can’t add in anymore .

Am i missing something?

floppy

Kaylasmum\" post_id=\"2067908\" time=\"1652872865\" user_id=\"22350:

Hello
I need some help. I tried to key in the DSA info for 3 schools with each school 2 talent area as specified by MOE but I realised after 3 choices , I can’t add any more talent area :
Eg choice 1 - ABC school - basket ball

Choice 2 ABC school - netball

Choice 3 XYZ school 1 netball

And then I can’t add in anymore .

Am i missing something?

You only have 3 choices, of which 2 can be from the same school.

You are asking for 6 choices, 2 per school. That’s not correct.

Toomuchlaundry

:xedfingers:

Hi Marina Collection,

Really appreciate your heartfelt sharing derived from personal experience! It's so true what you say about the difficult first half of Sec 1! My dd had the same adjustment difficulties, but with some love and care, she has flourished in a great class with good friends.

The 50% promotional criteria applies to Raffles I think! My best friend in RJC took a strange subject combi of Physics-Maths-Econs-Lit with mostly Bs and Cs in RGS and still did super well at A levels :nunchuk:

My kid from a Bukit Timah IP school has a slightly harder promotional criteria of 60% for Sec 2, and there are very stringent MSG rules for subject combos. They also frown upon 10 subjects in Sec 3, while I remember my friends taking 10 or 11 subjects at RGS. So DSA kids who choose IP schools have to double check promotional criteria before committing.

Having said that, while stricter promotional criteria put me off at first, seeing my dd blossom from a shy primary kid to a popular kid with all sorts of friends and open to experiences makes me realise that there are intangible aspects to IP school choice. Sometimes, after looking at your decision matrix, you just need faith and go with your gut!

Marina Collection\" post_id=\"2067868\" time=\"1652836068\" user_id=\"91099:[quote=\"Marina Collection\" post_id=2067868 time=1652836068 user_id=91099]Most IP schools spell out promotion criteria of overall GPA2 to promote to next year . That’s like a overall 50% pass . To stay in the IP track , taking the example of a top boy IP school , overall criteria is about a 2.4 (>55%). If below GPA2.4, the school might consider moving to O level track .

I would say it isn’t that tall order to meet GPA2.4 due to several reasons :
1) most kids just have 1-2 weak subjects . Meeting the overall 55% isn’t that tall order . N it’s based on L1R5 computation . So the kid can take one really bad subject off . Of course there are some compulsory subjects that must be included in the computation (EL, math , sci , humanities ). In some schools , MT is compulsory to be included
2) the Teachers in IP schools are usually dedicated and will monitor weak students carefully .
3) the IP syllabus has project work and assignments (for almost all subjects except math) , a lot of guidance is given to the students . So I would say the students can get a decent score for these tasks quite comfortably . Depending on subjects , these project work can be up to about 30-40% of the total weightage

So I would suggest parents to do your own due diligence to call up the IP school to verify the promotion criteria - though if you do a shout-out here , many experienced KSP will be able to tell you the answer .

Whereas from what I understand , some O level schools require a >50% in each and every single subject to promote .

From an experience of a friend’s child , the boy DSA by sports to a top boy IP school . Boy struggled in math n sci . However, his overall GP still clears the minimal 2.4 to stay in IP . There were a handful of boys (<10) who is above 2 to 2.4. School decided to let them stay in IP n guided them very closely . Now my friend son is at JC and is happy coz he chose Arts stream , which turned out to be his forte . Had he done O level , he might not have scored well enough to gain entry to this top JC .

N also , in some IP schools (RI & RGS being one of these), subject combi choice in Sec 3 is based on interest . Not marks dependent . The school open classes based on demand. That takes a lot heat off trying to attain a certain score …

There’s a lot of hearsay that IP schools are competitive and hence it’s stressful etc …. I feel that it will help greatly if parents don’t pile up the stress on the kids … a lot of times , it’s really expectations from parents that’s stressing out the kids … n it is with relief that I can now say from experience of my kids that there are many wonderful classmates that help out one another coz everyone is in the same boat . The kid will soon find out that if he finds something tough , almost every other kid in his class will find it tough too . He’s certainly not alone …. In fact I often joke with my kids how come there are so many fumbling fools in their classes lol ? Of course there’ll always be those super kahn jiang and KS kids …. the kids will know to smell them from afar n side step them !

The first 6 months of Sec school journey is a deep dive . Almost every kid that I know (be it O level , IP-A level or IP-IB) do feel that at times they aren’t coping . It’s very normal . All the kids feel the same way . It’s really a normal adjustment period . I would say that after the jun holidays , most kids will feel better n happy coming back to school to meet their Sec 1 classmates . So we parents just need to be there for our kids to listen to them when they have grouses ….. if they even open their mouths to talk (coz most flat out by the end of the day)! Lol

At the end of the day , a parent will know his kid best . Whichever course you/kid choose to take , trust your own decision and be happy with it . Don’t keep thinking the grass on the other side is always greener …..[/quote]

Kaylasmum

I saw on MOE DSA site that it says

Indicate up to 3 choices and 3 talent areas . You may indicate up to 2 talent areas at the same school .

I understood it as 3 schools I can choose and each of these respective school - I can choose up to 2 different talent area.

Incorrect understanding ?

floppy

Kaylasmum\" post_id=\"2067913\" time=\"1652873333\" user_id=\"22350:

I saw on MOE DSA site that it says
Indicate up to 3 choices and 3 talent areas . You may indicate up to 2 talent areas at the same school .

I understood it as 3 schools I can choose and each of these respective school - I can choose up to 2 different talent area.

Incorrect understanding ?

Line 2:
3 choices.

You can choose 2 talent areas for 1 school but everything is framed within 3 choices.

Yes, incorrect understanding.

DSA 2022

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