Do non-GEP student has much chance with DSA

[Jenn]

mummyjoyce:

Hi,

I have just registered my child for NUS High (she wanted it). Any idea what sort of test will be given?

Thanks and looking forward to hear from experienced mums/dads out there.

Yes, many of the students who apply to NUSH actually wanted it themselves. Parents tend to choose the safer and more proven route like RI/RGS or HCI/NYGH.

The NUSH selection test consist of 2 parts - Math and Science. Questions will probably be Olympiad level - not the norm that is taught in school.

In the past, most math olympiad awardees found the math paper relatively easy. But the science paper had been difficult for most. There were many terms and terminology that normal P6 students do not know unless they have read widely. Format was in multiple choice but wrong answers will get marks deduction.

Last year, about 1700 students sat for the test. 400 made it to the camp. Most who made it thru tend to have math olympiad awards or had distinction/high distinction for the UNSW science papers. However, there were some who did not have such awards. Some with these awards did not make it thru.

I would not advocate going for the DSA training conducted by some of these commercial centres. You will see the same flyers placed on your car at every open house you attend. $700 is really too expensive and every school DSA is different. I don't see how these centre can train a kid in 1 or 2 months.

[joconde]

daisyt:

joconde:

There is, i attended DSA open house at river valley last yr

joconde, just out of curosity ... you attended RV open house last year when your kid was only P4 ? :?

ha ha, i know u must be thinking what a superKS mum i am... well, actually i not so extreme la, my friend dragged me along last yr, she started doing research last yr for her daughter who is now p6

my son din really bother much abt DSA, but he enjoyed the games, goodies and fun at the open houses

[mummyjoyce]

Jenn:

mummyjoyce:

Hi,

I have just registered my child for NUS High (she wanted it). Any idea what sort of test will be given?

Thanks and looking forward to hear from experienced mums/dads out there.

Yes, many of the students who apply to NUSH actually wanted it themselves. Parents tend to choose the safer and more proven route like RI/RGS or HCI/NYGH.

The NUSH selection test consist of 2 parts - Math and Science. Questions will probably be Olympiad level - not the norm that is taught in school.

In the past, most math olympiad awardees found the math paper relatively easy. But the science paper had been difficult for most. There were many terms and terminology that normal P6 students do not know unless they have read widely. Format was in multiple choice but wrong answers will get marks deduction.

Last year, about 1700 students sat for the test. 400 made it to the camp. Most who made it thru tend to have math olympiad awards or had distinction/high distinction for the UNSW science papers. However, there were some who did not have such awards. Some with these awards did not make it thru.

I would not advocate going for the DSA training conducted by some of these commercial centres. You will see the same flyers placed on your car at every open house you attend. $700 is really too expensive and every school DSA is different. I don't see how these centre can train a kid in 1 or 2 months.

Thanks Jenn for the insight. You are so right, i am not too keen on NUS High as I have yet to see the actual result from the pioneer batch of students. I guess only the good students will get to NUS or other good Uni but what abt the average one????
Anyway, I will prepare my child not to put too much hope on DSA but to concentrate on the actual PSLE. THANKS again.

[sally]

mummyjoyce:

Hi,

I have just registered my child for NUS High (she wanted it). Any idea what sort of test will be given?

Thanks and looking forward to hear from experienced mums/dads out there.

Hi mummyjoyce

I have registered my boy for the NUSH DSA too. We attended the open house last week, the introduction abt the school by the Principal was good.
My husband feel that this NUSH is good and my boy love it but it seem that DSA is important and they seem to select the students thru DSA not PSLE result.

I heard from a friend that her son last year went for DSA and his comments was Math easy but science difficult need to read widely. Read more abt science I think it will help.

Hope both our kids selected by the school thru DSA.

[mummyjoyce]

sally:

mummyjoyce:

Hi,

I have just registered my child for NUS High (she wanted it). Any idea what sort of test will be given?

Thanks and looking forward to hear from experienced mums/dads out there.

Hi mummyjoyce

I have registered my boy for the NUSH DSA too. We attended the open house last week, the introduction abt the school by the Principal was good.
My husband feel that this NUSH is good and my boy love it but it seem that DSA is important and they seem to select the students thru DSA not PSLE result.

I heard from a friend that her son last year went for DSA and his comments was Math easy but science difficult need to read widely. Read more abt science I think it will help.

Hope both our kids selected by the school thru DSA.

Thanks... let keep each other updated ! Really appreciate all these prompt and useful replies.

[Jenn]

[quote]
Thanks Jenn for the insight. You are so right, i am not too keen on NUS High as I have yet to see the actual result from the pioneer batch of students. I guess only the good students will get to NUS or other good Uni but what abt the average one????
Anyway, I will prepare my child not to put too much hope on DSA but to concentrate on the actual PSLE. THANKS again.[/quote]I don't think that it will be an issue with the average NUSH students. All of them are expected to have a place at least in NUS. After all, NUSH is affiliated to NUS and there are only a small number of NUSH graduates. On the contrary, the uncertainty lies at the top or above average students who are vying for scholarship. Currently benchmarks of the NUSH diploma with A levels are non existent and these students do not know where they stand when competing with the top A level students for scholarships. A lot depends on the path paved by the pioneer batches and efforts by the school.

[Fairy]

sally:

mummyjoyce:

Hi,

I have just registered my child for NUS High (she wanted it). Any idea what sort of test will be given?

Thanks and looking forward to hear from experienced mums/dads out there.

Hi mummyjoyce

I heard from a friend that her son last year went for DSA and his comments was Math easy but science difficult need to read widely. Read more abt science I think it will help.

Hope both our kids selected by the school thru DSA.

Yes. My son's feedback from last year's test was that Maths was very easy. But Science has tougher questions. He was among the 400plus selected for the camps. As to how they select during the camp, I personally am very sceptical how they assess PASSION! The camp leaders were just a bunch of students themselves. Anyway, be an Olympiad Gold/Platinum award holder, and you're confirmed a place. Otherwise, be prepared to fight for the 70 or so places with the 300plus non award holders selected for the camp or pay $100 for the 'fun'. I do not know the reason, however, from what I know, most of the Maths Olympiad Gold/Platinum award holder last year are currently at RI.

[phankao]

Jenn:

[quote]
i am not too keen on NUS High as I have yet to see the actual result from the pioneer batch of students. I guess only the good students will get to NUS or other good Uni but what abt the average one???? .

.[/quote]But the pioneer batch has already graduated. Are you referring to a FULL 6-year batch?

The top NUSH grads got places in top overseas schools already. Maybe the not-so-good ones go to local U.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/393462/1/.html

[mummyjoyce]

phankao:

Jenn:

[quote]
i am not too keen on NUS High as I have yet to see the actual result from the pioneer batch of students. I guess only the good students will get to NUS or other good Uni but what abt the average one???? .

.

But the pioneer batch has already graduated. Are you referring to a FULL 6-year batch?

The top NUSH grads got places in top overseas schools already. Maybe the not-so-good ones go to local U.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/393462/1/.html[/quote]Many thanks Phankao for the information. I didnt attend any of the talks or keep track of the happenings in NUS High. I will leave it to my child to see if she can excel in the test and get selected. She is taking her Maths Olympiad tomorrow

[Jenn]

[quote]
Yes. My son's feedback from last year's test was that Maths was very easy. But Science has tougher questions. He was among the 400plus selected for the camps. As to how they select during the camp, I personally am very sceptical how they assess PASSION! The camp leaders were just a bunch of students themselves. Anyway, be an Olympiad Gold/Platinum award holder, and you're confirmed a place. Otherwise, be prepared to fight for the 70 or so places with the 300plus non award holders selected for the camp or pay $100 for the 'fun'. I do not know the reason, however, from what I know, most of the Maths Olympiad Gold/Platinum award holder last year are currently at RI.[/quote]Platinum in SMOPS will secure you a place there. But gold in SMOPS also need to compete for a place thru the camp. Last year there were about 70+ SMOPS platinum holders. About 20 chose to go NUSH. Many of them coming from non GEP schools. Perhaps those who also strong in languages tend to choose RI.