2010 DSA(Direct School Admission)
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24by7mum:
You are absolutely right it is unfair if the non GEP students do not get a chance to present themselves at an interview even though they may be better than the GEP students. The MOE should get rid of this GEP streaming! I know of kids who do so well in lower primary but just don't make the cut later on. Whilst there are kids who bloom later and hit the mark inspite of all this injustice![/quote]The Independent School set their own admission rules. Nothing fair or unfair nor discriminatory wrt interview /no interview for mainstreamers. If RI chooses to, they can admit 100% of their intake at DSA, leaving nothing for S1 posting.tiger262:
[quote=\"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.
I would interpret it that the interview for GEP candidates is in lieu of GAT & domain selection test.
Don't forget, all GEP students in Singapore, regardless of which primary school, sit for the same exam papers. So their standard is uniform, hence no need for additional subjective selection tests by the DSA schools. If they are good according to the GEP marking scheme (uniform for all GEP kids) then they are good and let's hear them at the interview to gauge their attitude. There have been very bright GEP kids with rotten attitude - of course they did not get in via DSA.
As for the mainstreamers, if you are good based on the selection test, then you are in, just as if you get in via S1 posting - but you are now given an advanced opportunity without reference to your PSLE score. Purely based on your academic excellency if you have it or lack of it - via domain selection test
I see no reason for the outcry that RI does not have interview for the mainstream DSA applicants. You want in, you play by their rules. If the kid is lacking in academic ability but a good salesman, it will come to nothing still. -
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Relaxer:
But it is a known fact the ACS(I) runs a 2-track programme: a 4 yrs course and a 6-yr course. Definitely if in ACS(I), the child may not necessarily be in the 6-yr programme!Just a side issue here. My friend's DS currently in ACS(I) Sec 3 and was accepted under DSA. Due to his results, he is in a class which need to sit for O-Level next year. Not sure what is the practice of other IP school.
IP does not guarantee through-train to A-Level. -
gleemom:
I only think that it is so strange that RI bothers to go through the whole process of trials/auditions for music/art which take a whole half day when they always only offer 1 or 2 students a place under that domain. Not worth trying under those domains, really. Oh, and RI does not take in under CCA for music or art, only under MEP/AEP.
Also all DSA applicants must pass GAT to be considered. Doing well at trials and auditions alone may not be good enough.. -
verykiasu2010:
The Independent School set their own admission rules. Nothing fair or unfair nor discriminatory wrt interview /no interview for mainstreamers. If RI chooses to, they can admit 100% of their intake at DSA, leaving nothing for S1 posting.
You are absolutely right it is unfair if the non GEP students do not get a chance to present themselves at an interview even though they may be better than the GEP students. The MOE should get rid of this GEP streaming! I know of kids who do so well in lower primary but just don't make the cut later on. Whilst there are kids who bloom later and hit the mark inspite of all this injustice!24by7mum:
[quote=\"tiger262\"]
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.
I would interpret it that the interview for GEP candidates is in lieu of GAT & domain selection test.
Don't forget, all GEP students in Singapore, regardless of which primary school, sit for the same exam papers. So their standard is uniform, hence no need for additional subjective selection tests by the DSA schools. If they are good according to the GEP marking scheme (uniform for all GEP kids) then they are good and let's hear them at the interview to gauge their attitude. There have been very bright GEP kids with rotten attitude - of course they did not get in via DSA.
As for the mainstreamers, if you are good based on the selection test, then you are in, just as if you get in via S1 posting - but you are now given an advanced opportunity without reference to your PSLE score. Purely based on your academic excellency if you have it or lack of it - via domain selection test
I see no reason for the outcry that RI does not have interview for the mainstream DSA applicants. You want in, you play by their rules. If the kid is lacking in academic ability but a good salesman, it will come to nothing still.[/quote]I agree with verykiasu2010. DSA schools have a clear idea of the abilities of GEP students based on their GEP exam records from P4-6. If the child has not been performing academically, he will not be given an offer for DSA. He may not even be given an interview if he doesn't perform at GAT.
We have to remember that DSA is for students with exceptional talent in academics, sports or aesthetics. Students who are very bright but not exceptional can still get into the top schools using their PSLE results. Indeed, I have heard of top schools telling students who are very strong academically in all subjects to just apply via PSLE. -
people don’t realise that when the schools say ‘sports’ or ‘art’ talent’ … they are referring to national champion, and still must have reasonable academic result
like someone posted, for those who may be borderline cases of the cut off point of the school
those who truly truly want to pursue sports career, go join the singapore sports school, i think the academic requirement there is different from the IP schools -
verykiasu2010:
people don't realise that when the schools say 'sports' or 'art' talent' ...... they are referring to national champion,
Actually this statement mostly applies to RI only.
Other schools consider under CCA. Ok, RI does consider sports under CCA domain, but definitely not music or dance or art.
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Why don’t you call NYGH and ask them? They’re very friendly. Better to find out once and for all from the horses mouth than to speculate.
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it is also a fallacy that some parents have in applying for RI via DSA :
they think that there are so many math olympiad title holders applying and therefore the competition must be very very keen. (which is true, and the math domain test is very demanding).
therefore they choose to apply under science domain - hearsay from previous years very easy … just do experiment … but … but …after getting through the GAT and the time come for the selection test, stumbled at the written questions section
same for mother tongue domain. some "schemed" to apply under MT thinking there will be less competition … but again the questions are very demanding, out of the world, and the kids really "sweat" and came out demoralised
parents, draw your own conclusion, if you have sons eyeing on RI in next year’s DSA
RI’s selection benchmark is NOT to fill a quota, therefore there is no advantage if there is no excellency in whatever subject the kids apply under -
phankao:
may beverykiasu2010:
people don't realise that when the schools say 'sports' or 'art' talent' ...... they are referring to national champion,
Actually this statement mostly applies to RI only. Other schools consider under CCA. Ok, RI does consider sports under CCA domain, but definitely not music or dance or art.
but look at NYGH and HCI - they take in those at the very top, if not national champ, may be runners up are ok
there is a huge crowd below the top few
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