2010 DSA(Direct School Admission)

[verykiasu2010]

tiger262:

Thank you verykiasu2010 for your neat explanation.


I think even RI and RGS themselves could not have posted such a detailed explanation of their methods.

You are truly a Kiasu Grandmaster.

paiseh ! paiseh !

you mean I am now a Kaypoh grandmaster ..... lol

[verykiasu2010]

Sun_2010:

RGS does interview non-GEPers

So does HCI

[sautille]

verykiasu2010:

As for those who need to do GAT & selection test (poorer-grade GEPers & Mainstreamers), no interview is SAME as those who apply through S1 posting after PSLE result released = purely based on academic excellence. After all they don't interview the S1 posting successful candidates

As for the GAT & selection test, is a to provide a level playing field for all applicants (non-GEP) to be tested at the same level, since individual primary school's P5 & P6 results could vary quite a lot between schools

I think your explanation makes a lot of sense. However, RI, as stated on their website for DSA 2010, still requires all GE Domain applicants to attend an interview, regardless whether they need to take GAT or not.

I also think group interview has its merits. For one, my son felt less nervous during the interview as he was not alone when facing the panel of interviewers. And since the interview questions were directed at specific persons, all were given opportunities to say their piece.

[tiger262]

Sun_2010:

RGS does interview non-GEPers

Thank you Sun_2010 for the info.

I was impressed by the explanation given by 'verykiasu2010'. Now that you say that RGS does interview Mainstream applicants, I wonder why there is a difference in policy between RI and RGS on such an important issue.

Between the two, I think RGS has the correct approach - i.e., asking all short-listed applicants to attend the interview - irrespective of whether they are from GEP or Mainstream.

I am unable to understand why RI does not interview the Mainstream applicants.

If anyone can explain, I will be most grateful.

Thank you.

[Relaxer]

Thank you all for the discussion. My DD was briefed on 24 Jul's Half Day Selection Test that RGS will be conducting interview for selected candidates.


As for NYGH, I am still not sure if there will be interview. What was discussed makes sense. GAT provides a level playing field. Schools take in students through posting exercise without interview too.

Somehow reluctant to call NYGH as don't want to appear like a desperate housewife. :roll: In any case, my DD said that NYGH and Dunman High used identical GAT paper. Not sure how level is the playing field.

[tiger262]

Relaxer:

...... What was discussed makes sense. GAT provides a level playing field......

Hi Relaxer,

I agree with you that GAT provides a level playing field. But it is not so in the case of RI. Let me explain.

After getting shortlisted in the GAT in RI, the GEP students get a chance to present their case to RI in the Interview. But the Mainstream applicants who get shoertlisted in the GAT by RI, do NOT get any such chance since RI does not give the Mainstream applicants a chance to get interviewed.

Can we call that a level playing field? Does it not unduly favour the GEP applicants?

Please note that even low-scoring GEP applicants (who are hence asked to undergo GAT along with the Mainstreamers) get a chance to undergo Interview at RI. But even the most brilliant Mainstream applicants who clear both the GAT and the Half-day Selection test are NOT given a chance by RI to undergo Interview.

This discriminatory treatment towards Mainstream applicants is baffling, especially since it comes from an institution of impeccable reputation like the RI. Its sister institution RGS does not do this discrimination, but RI appears to do this discrimination.

That is why I feel that RI DSA process is not a level playing field.

May be I am wrong. I request other members to offer their inputs on this.

Thank you all.

[verykiasu2010]

Relaxer:

Thank you all for the discussion. My DD was briefed on 24 Jul's Half Day Selection Test that RGS will be conducting interview for selected candidates.


As for NYGH, I am still not sure if there will be interview. What was discussed makes sense. GAT provides a level playing field. Schools take in students through posting exercise without interview too.

Somehow reluctant to call NYGH as don't want to appear like a desperate housewife. :roll: In any case, my DD said that NYGH and Dunman High used identical GAT paper. Not sure how level is the playing field.

wow ! same GAT paper.... that is the most level playing field, no ?

in the past the GAT was administered by CSC and the result is posted to all the schools that the candidates have applied for

starting this year, they all want to differentiate from each other ... each has their own GAT...may be NYGH and Dunman used CSC ?

[gleemom]

The GAT papers are similar in that they are non-verbal ‘patterns’ type puzzles, but they may not be exactly the same. Heard from someone who took tests at NYGH & DHS on the same day that the tests are the same. But there are others who took tests on different days who said there were a couple of similar questions, but certainly not the same papers. They are not administered by CSC.

[verykiasu2010]

gleemom:

The GAT papers are similar in that they are non-verbal 'patterns' type puzzles, but they may not be exactly the same. Heard from someone who took tests at NYGH & DHS on the same day that the tests are the same. But there are others who took tests on different days who said there were a couple of similar questions, but certainly not the same papers. They are not administered by CSC.

GAT test by definition is non-verbal so that people from any lingual background will not be penalised by the usage of any particular language

[Relaxer]

The NYGH and Dunman High GAT papers were IDENTICAL.