2023 PSLE Discussions and Strategies (Children born in 2011)

[00skyblue00]

Cloudynight\" post_id=\"2123401\" time=\"1700796368\" user_id=\"203376:

Hello parents, total newbie here to find out information and opinions, and thanks in advance to hear from anyone.

We are Singaporeans and live in the extreme west. For the two months, we were only hoping our child could get into RVHS with her prelim results and location as the main considerations. Then my child had pulled off the unthinkable and gotten AL4M, and the general opinion we got from surrounding friends was it would be a pity not to go RGS or NYGHS.

The thought of her joining NYGHS is extremely alluring but the distance remains the biggest barrier. And we like to find out more pros and cons from both NYGHS and RVHS.

Several questions we have for now below:

1. We have heard more great things about NYGHS' teachers (in forums especially), and would like to find out more about teachers in RVHS, how students fare under them, etc.

2. How the two schools fare in terms of campuses, facilities. We do understand it's hard to draw definitive comparisons between the two.

3. School hours for both school are about the same. The biggest worry remains on how often and late the students stay back after school hours; which of the two invest more in after school activities and CCAs.

4. We would like to find out more about the third language offering, how intense it gets, and the drop out rate, etc.

5. We aren't financially well-off, even with the possibility of scholarship, we do worry about money when it comes to other programme fees in independent schools like NYGHS. Is that the case for NYGHS, or both?

AL4M is eligible for ESIS, your results slip would have stated which is $2400 per year for 6 years, covers most of NYGH fees. Need to top up for RGS.

For commuting, alternatively, you can consider to take bus 174 to Bukit Timah, no need transfer and get to seat from start to end with mostly accurate timing of bus from Boon Lay Bus interchange. The journey in the morning quite alright. You can see many HCI, NJC, and others on the bus along the way. You can try taking the different routes together with your girl during holidays to familiarise. I heard from friend NY's reporting time is 8:15am for most days. Hence they chose it.

But if your girl is not into Chinese, RGS may be more suitable? Which school to chose highly depends on the student, whether her unexpected high performance was her own abilities or with a lot of assistance and whether she is strong in Chinese or not or not into too much chinese based activities or program. But no matter what, competition among the best students should be expected. Competition can be healthy and may help each other to pursue excellence. But competition can also be toxic, plays politics, in order to stand out among others. Some are so talented and motivation, it may be interpretated wrongly as too ambitious and toxic. So it really depends on the personality of the child.

As long as the child can have a small group of 2 or 3 close friends to start with, it will make a big difference in her sch life, I strongly believe.

What she has achieved is exceptional! All the best to her!

Some CCAs may need one time top ups, you can try asking more about this from gurus.

[lee_yl]

kab\" post_id=\"2123406\" time=\"1700797097\" user_id=\"7705:

My older girl is in NYGH sec three. I highly recommend the school. My girl ends at 5:00pm for CCA days ( twice per week) and 6:45pm ( once a week) for third language day. Most school program can be paid by Edusave. There are also all sorts of financial help available.

I wish my younger girl ( PSLE this year) did well enough for NYGH! She got AL8D which is not bad but sadly not good enough to join her jie jie...

@Cloudy, I highly recommend NYGH too. My DD2 was from NYGH. The teachers over at NYGH are caring, I would say hand-holding the girls till they mature so it’s a very nurturing environment. DD2 has since moved on to Hwa Chong and she loves her JC too!!

@Kab, AL8 points is a very good score! Every child is unique and matures at different pace. Your DD2 can consider SCGS IP. My DD1 was from there and in my view, SCGS IP and EJ are great. Eng Literature is compulsory at SCGS. As DD1 moved on to EJ, her Lit was strong which indirectly helps her GP!!

[travebuggie]

Hello parents,

DS’ school of choice is ACS Indep. He scored AL7 for which we are grateful.
Dilemma is whether he should try for
- First choice - ACSI IB which had balloting last year at AL7 (from what we read in this platform)
- Second choice - ACSI SEC which had balloting last year at AL8 (again based on what we read here)

He is afraid if the cut-off for both IB and SEC is each reduced by 1 point (+balloting), he may not get either as he has placed ACSI SEC as his second choice. As parent, I would like him to try for IB but i don’t want to cost him his chance to be admitted to his school of choice.

I am even thinking of putting SJI IB as third choice (cut off last year was AL8), but that might be risky too.

Any views would be much appreciated!

Haha, school choices are just as stressful or i am overthinking it.

[wonderwebmum]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2123285\" time=\"1700735733\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2123285 time=1700735733 user_id=53606]
I see that your listed 6 choices are in increasing order of COP for the G2 stream. Good, u know the MOE rule that states all 6 choices must be the same stream.

He can go to G2 stream. Based on his psle grades, he will get to do G3 Math. The other subjects he will start on G2 first. If do well in Sec 1, will get chance to upgrade the relevant subject(s) to G3 level.

Looking at his Sci/EL/CL grades, i think he will struggle if choose G3 stream, because G3 stream default all subjects take at G3 level first. Dun forget he will have to start his History, Geog & Lit at G3 level also, which is very tough if his EL is poor.

Whereas pick G2 stream, the humanities marking is not so strict. I have seen some G2 Lit papers, the kids are actually highly guided in the qn paper how to phrase their answers. Not as difficult as G3.

All the best. I think NAS is a good choice for G2.[/quote]

Thanks and appreciated for your info

May I know as COP for NAS Group3 is AL 6 -13, Group 2 is 21.
Is that mean for those students with AL 14 -20 will have higher change to join Group 2 ?
Means AL21 will have less chance?

Thank you for your reply

[radiant00]

Cloudynight\" post_id=\"2123401\" time=\"1700796368\" user_id=\"203376:

Hello parents, total newbie here to find out information and opinions, and thanks in advance to hear from anyone.

We are Singaporeans and live in the extreme west. For the two months, we were only hoping our child could get into RVHS with her prelim results and location as the main considerations. Then my child had pulled off the unthinkable and gotten AL4M, and the general opinion we got from surrounding friends was it would be a pity not to go RGS or NYGHS.

The thought of her joining NYGHS is extremely alluring but the distance remains the biggest barrier. And we like to find out more pros and cons from both NYGHS and RVHS.

Several questions we have for now below:

1. We have heard more great things about NYGHS' teachers (in forums especially), and would like to find out more about teachers in RVHS, how students fare under them, etc.

2. How the two schools fare in terms of campuses, facilities. We do understand it's hard to draw definitive comparisons between the two.

3. School hours for both school are about the same. The biggest worry remains on how often and late the students stay back after school hours; which of the two invest more in after school activities and CCAs.

4. We would like to find out more about the third language offering, how intense it gets, and the drop out rate, etc.

5. We aren't financially well-off, even with the possibility of scholarship, we do worry about money when it comes to other programme fees in independent schools like NYGHS. Is that the case for NYGHS, or both?

It IS a pity if she does not join a top school due to distance. Both NYGH and RGS should be easily accessible via public transport but NYGH may be a bit closer to the west.
School fee should be all manageable after ESIS, probably around 120-150 extra per month.
Competition will be there regardless which school you choose, NYGH, RGS or even RVHS.
3rd language is something you need to assess together with your daughter. She needs to be really interested in the language to survive - considering the likely intensive CCA schedule, the 3rd language may take up the only afternoon she can relax a bit.

Overall speaking, I can sense that you already made a decision on the NYGH and I would say, congratulations to your little girl and yourself, and just go for it.

[radiant00]

travebuggie\" post_id=\"2123424\" time=\"1700802282\" user_id=\"119826:

Hello parents,
DS' school of choice is ACS Indep. He scored AL7 for which we are grateful.
Dilemma is whether he should try for
- First choice - ACSI IB which had balloting last year at AL7 (from what we read in this platform)
- Second choice - ACSI SEC which had balloting last year at AL8 (again based on what we read here)

He is afraid if the cut-off for both IB and SEC is each reduced by 1 point (+balloting), he may not get either as he has placed ACSI SEC as his second choice. As parent, I would like him to try for IB but i don't want to cost him his chance to be admitted to his school of choice.

I am even thinking of putting SJI IB as third choice (cut off last year was AL8), but that might be risky too.

Any views would be much appreciated!

Haha, school choices are just as stressful or i am overthinking it.

I guess nothing is risk free but I am a science guy and I believe data don't lie. Based on the stats of the last 2 years (for AL result), not a single change for the IP school COP, not even the HCL grade for those SAP schools. I doubt there will be any major changes this year.

https://www.thewackyduo.com/2023/03/psle-cut-off-point-for-secondary-schools-2023.html

I can't really give you guarantee but if it was myself, I would go with ACS IB followed by ACS O if that's the boy's dream.

[Mikayi]

My son got AL8M. Any chances if he’s able to get into Dunman High? Any school to recommend based on his result?

[00skyblue00]

radiant00\" post_id=\"2123438\" time=\"1700806285\" user_id=\"118087:

I guess nothing is risk free but I am a science guy and I believe data don't lie. Based on the stats of the last 2 years (for AL result), not a single change for the IP school COP, not even the HCL grade for those SAP schools. I doubt there will be any major changes this year.

https://www.thewackyduo.com/2023/03/psle-cut-off-point-for-secondary-schools-2023.html

I can't really give you guarantee but if it was myself, I would go with ACS IB followed by ACS O if that's the boy's dream.

I second that. If for my child, I would too, knowing that there is still a risk.
If get balloted out but at COP, still can appeal supported by the fact that his 1st two choices showed his genuine preference for the school.

[hope_luv04]

hope_luv04\" post_id=\"2123396\" time=\"1700795375\" user_id=\"158048:

Thank you for your reply.

Cut off was 7D last year. I hope it won’t change this year.

Indeed very stressful.

Maybe I’m overthinking and worrisome, but need experienced parents’ advice. Any parent here whose child got into NYGH with 6M? Thank you 🙏

[soccerking888]

Dear all,


After studying some secondary schools in Bukit Panjang for the past 1 day, due to my dotter's result is AL20, i can only select the below:

1. Hillgrove Secondary (19) (thirty mins away)
2. Zhenghua Secondary (20) (Nearest to home)
3. Unity Secondary (20) (thirty mins away)
4. Chua Chu Kang (21) (twenty mins away)
5. Greenridge Secondary (22) (Nearest to home)


Can all the experts kindly advise what should I do please? I asked my dotter, she also not sure which school to select?