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    DSA 2022

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Secondary Schools - Selection
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    • M Offline
      Mr.025413Clumsy
      last edited by

      This is my first time on the merry-go-round so I may be mistaken. I believe that most schools will assess the student’s academic results first as part of the initial shortlist. I suspect that the schools know what their DSA cut-off AL score is like and if the student is unlikely to meet that score (based on P5 YE and P6 MY results), then the student is less likely to be shortlisted regardless of their talent.


      This is also because there is not much else that the schools can go on since the initial DSA submission (which has the 10 entries for achievements) is quite basic and unverified (unlike academic results which are in the MOE system and verifiable). This is not to say that the talent achievements etc. are disregarded but rather that the first round of shortlisting is likely based more on academic performance.

      My 2c.

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      • alieA Offline
        alie
        last edited by

        To be far, "good" academic means being able to "survive" in some of these schools. DS3 is having PSLE this year and DS1 is in JC1 IP in one of more sort after schools mentioned here. Allow me to share a bit of what I feel.

        DS1 started in a sports not in his school CCA. He is very academic person and I felt he needs to learn to be flexible and such, we "push" him into a sports since P1. Didnt know or plan for him to DSA eventually.
        So come P6, DS1 was not the top in this sports, ie. not a Nat player. But perform consistent at "below cloud level". By some coincident, he was invited to a Math Camp by one of the IP school, and the rest we just followed instructions after being introduced to DSA from there.
        For the sports that he was in, we never thought of DSA him. Although we found out later that one of the IP school coach actually submitted DS1 name in for DSA. We heard he was "angry" after that as he assumed everyone would have submitted to his school. To clarify, the coach knows that academic must be a baseline, according to the principal, and he cannot admit even the top Nat player if academic baseline is not met, of course the "good" academic for DSA is not the "good" for the real PSLE results for those who can get in by results to those schools.
        So DS1 got in by Academic domain (Maths), J1 now
        DS2 got into a SAP school, OP by PSLE results, Sec 2 now
        DS3 now trying to DSA
        From DS1 and DS2 experiences, IP syllabus is very "independent". DS1 still in contact with those in his sports as he also represented his school until Sec 2 (in addition to his other CCA but he continue to pursue in this own time 2 days weekly) before he told me he wants to "retire" Sec 3 onwards cos academic getting heavier. Believe me, most of this DSA friends is not enjoying secondary school life, and a few actually did not continue to year 5 but went Poly.
        For DS2, his is SAP OP track, so IMO, the syllabus very clear and structured to me. Very steady and also allows you to see and plan, or even catch up if need to. DS1 IP very difficult to catch up because its all over the place.
        Just sharing the above, no right no wrong, but some after thoughts. We also dont know what is right or wrong for DS3, but just let him DSA and let things take its course. Important, they have tried their best.

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        • B Offline
          bammama
          last edited by

          Hmmm I guess in conclusion,


          - if the student doesn’t meet the ‘baseline’ academic requirements for the school, the students chances will be very low. Regardless of his achievements. Esp for the elite schools. Cos the student may end up struggling to keep up with the curriculum in the school if selected.

          Am I right?

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          • Daddy with one sonD Offline
            Daddy with one son
            last edited by

            bammama\" post_id=\"2071912\" time=\"1656295781\" user_id=\"198444:

            Hmmm I guess in conclusion,

            - if the student doesn't meet the 'baseline' academic requirements for the school, the students chances will be very low. Regardless of his achievements. Esp for the elite schools. Cos the student may end up struggling to keep up with the curriculum in the school if selected.

            Am I right?
            The follow question is… what is the baseline of each school? Maybe 3-4 AL above their PSLE AL cut off?

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            • alieA Offline
              alie
              last edited by

              bammama\" post_id=\"2071912\" time=\"1656295781\" user_id=\"198444:

              Hmmm I guess in conclusion,

              - if the student doesn't meet the 'baseline' academic requirements for the school, the students chances will be very low. Regardless of his achievements. Esp for the elite schools. Cos the student may end up struggling to keep up with the curriculum in the school if selected.

              Am I right?
              Yah, especially IP, where the students cannot \"bailout\" during sec 4...but not sure how some of DS1 classmate managed to go Poly and overseas.

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              • phtthpP Offline
                phtthp
                last edited by

                Daddy with one son\" post_id=\"2071913\" time=\"1656295946\" user_id=\"102861:[quote=\"Daddy with one son\" post_id=2071913 time=1656295946 user_id=102861]
                The follow question is… what is the baseline of each school? Maybe 3-4 AL above their PSLE AL cut off?[/quote]
                DSA baseline

                If is IP school :-
                ( 2 to 3 ) points, away from PSLE AL Cut off point, for that DSA school applied for. The more \"atas\" the IP school is, the stricter they are.

                They will study your (past years' Report card results, the standard of your primary school which u come from), and gauge (estimate) from there, what your projected actual AL PSLE score, likely to be.

                If is O-level school :-
                can exceed 2 points, from that DSA school's PSLE AL Cut off point.

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                • zac's mumZ Offline
                  zac's mum
                  last edited by

                  Technospaz\" post_id=\"2071904\" time=\"1656293335\" user_id=\"135989:

                  This is my first time on the merry-go-round so I may be mistaken. I believe that most schools will assess the student's academic results first as part of the initial shortlist. I suspect that the schools know what their DSA cut-off AL score is like and if the student is unlikely to meet that score (based on P5 YE and P6 MY results), then the student is less likely to be shortlisted regardless of their talent.

                  This is also because there is not much else that the schools can go on since the initial DSA submission (which has the 10 entries for achievements) is quite basic and unverified (unlike academic results which are in the MOE system and verifiable). This is not to say that the talent achievements etc. are disregarded but rather that the first round of shortlisting is likely based more on academic performance.

                  My 2c.
                  Speaking specifically for SJI Visual Arts, my son neither has fantastic academic results nor any training in those Art enrichment schools. Yet we received the email invite to submit his Art portfolio. Thus I am extremely grateful that they gave him a chance at all. Will see if they cut him off at this point due to poorer calibre of artwork compared to the highly experienced ones, but any further chance (for interview) will be a bonus not a given. I told him to just continue revising and assume nothing else.

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                  • alieA Offline
                    alie
                    last edited by

                    Daddy with one son\" post_id=\"2071913\" time=\"1656295946\" user_id=\"102861:[quote=\"Daddy with one son\" post_id=2071913 time=1656295946 user_id=102861]
                    The follow question is… what is the baseline of each school? Maybe 3-4 AL above their PSLE AL cut off?[/quote]
                    Its difficult to quantify. I have been trying to figure out how DS1 got in by Maths domain after all these years. He was even in the MO committee and I keep asking how, what, who interview etc. I still not satisfied and convinced myself. All I can say in short summary is that the interview matters, and how the kids project themselves and give an impression to the interviewers. BTW, DS1 real PSLE is a bit lower then DS2. But my credit goes to the interviewers, whoever they are, DS1 more then survived, he did very well in that environment.

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                    • phtthpP Offline
                      phtthp
                      last edited by

                      alie\" post_id=\"2071917\" time=\"1656296339\" user_id=\"39795:

                      Its difficult to quantify. I have been trying to figure out how DS1 got in by Maths domain after all these years. He was even in the MO committee and I keep asking how, what, who interview etc. I still not satisfied and convinced myself. All I can say in short summary is that the interview matters, and how the kids project themselves and give an impression to the interviewers. BTW, DS1 real PSLE is a bit lower then DS2. But my credit goes to the interviewers, whoever they are, DS1 more then survived, he did very well in that environment.
                      You mentioned that your DS1 is JC1 (A level), this year (2022) ?
                      That means, your son sat for his PSLE in year 2017 (born in year 2005), which fall under Tscore back then, not AL score system.

                      That is a difference,
                      in terms of DSA baseline -

                      between accepting candidates falling under (historial Tscore vs. current AL score) marking system.

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                      • floppyF Offline
                        floppy
                        last edited by

                        Technospaz\" post_id=\"2071904\" time=\"1656293335\" user_id=\"135989:

                        This is my first time on the merry-go-round so I may be mistaken. I believe that most schools will assess the student's academic results first as part of the initial shortlist. I suspect that the schools know what their DSA cut-off AL score is like and if the student is unlikely to meet that score (based on P5 YE and P6 MY results), then the student is less likely to be shortlisted regardless of their talent.

                        This is also because there is not much else that the schools can go on since the initial DSA submission (which has the 10 entries for achievements) is quite basic and unverified (unlike academic results which are in the MOE system and verifiable). This is not to say that the talent achievements etc. are disregarded but rather that the first round of shortlisting is likely based more on academic performance.

                        My 2c.
                        On the contrary, academic is not the priority in the first round, achievements in the talent area are. Achievements are actually quite verifiable - sports have competitions, performing arts have grading / public performances etc. Hence, schools who are on the look out or who are aggressive to attract the top talents in their respective field will likely send out the invitation to DSA, regardless of the talent's actual academic results.

                        In the second stage, the panelists / interviewers / selectors will look at their suitability, i.e. fit and also their academic ability to cope with the stream (Express or IP). Doesn't have to be excellent, and may even fall below the COP, but will need to at least cope with the selected stream. My guess is at least AL15 and better but probably will need more info / updates given the baseline for AL hasn't been established (in the past, T-score 230+ will suffice).

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