2009 DSA(Direct School Admission)

[turquoise]

wmd:

turquoise:

Actually, if you log in to your admissions form, the date stated there is 19 & 26 July, NOT 25 July.

Yes, you are right.

There two days for Math & Science Camp, 19 & 26 July, they did not mention that applicant should attend both sessions or only one session.I called NUSH admission office, nobody pick up the phone.

Just wait for their email.

[SunnyBoy]

turquoise:

Dharma:

There are a few girls from GEP who got into RGS via DSA but with PSLE scores of 240+. This would not have been possible without DSA. On the other hand, there may be others (mainstream) who could not get in 'cause they fell short by only a few points.

Once you get in via DSA, all you need for your PSLE scores is the minimum 200 points. This applies to EVERYONE who made it through DSA, whether you're GEP, mainstream or CCA. In fact, students who made it through CCA are more likely the ones who scored below 250 at their PSLE. They are grouped together in one class at RGS.

The idea behind DSA is so students get a confirmed place before PSLE, meaning their PSLE scores don't matter as much. Otherwise what's the point of having DSA if you have to meet the 263 cut-off? You might as well just wait for your PSLE results.

At the begin I also have the same thought as yuo, but my friend told me this year got some changes. so I check MOE anouncement and it said:

A student who indicates his preference for a school which had given him a Confirmed Offer will be guaranteed a place in the school, provided that he is eligible for a course (e.g. Express) which is offered by the school.

[wmd]

wmd:

turquoise:

Actually, if you log in to your admissions form, the date stated there is 19 & 26 July, NOT 25 July.

Yes, you are right.

There two days for Math & Science Camp, 19 & 26 July, they did not mention that applicant should attend both sessions or only one session.I called NUSH admission office, nobody pick up the phone.

There is last year info at NUSH web site, camp should be held on 25 July 2009 as scheduled

ACCEPT DO NOT ACCEPT
Please input your option for acceptance the invitation to attend the camp on 19 & 26 July 2008 at NUS High School of Math & Science

[turquoise]

SunnyBoy:

turquoise:

[quote=\"Dharma\"]There are a few girls from GEP who got into RGS via DSA but with PSLE scores of 240+. This would not have been possible without DSA. On the other hand, there may be others (mainstream) who could not get in 'cause they fell short by only a few points.

Once you get in via DSA, all you need for your PSLE scores is the minimum 200 points. This applies to EVERYONE who made it through DSA, whether you're GEP, mainstream or CCA. In fact, students who made it through CCA are more likely the ones who scored below 250 at their PSLE. They are grouped together in one class at RGS.

The idea behind DSA is so students get a confirmed place before PSLE, meaning their PSLE scores don't matter as much. Otherwise what's the point of having DSA if you have to meet the 263 cut-off? You might as well just wait for your PSLE results.

At the begin I also have the same thought as yuo, but my friend told me this year got some changes. so I check MOE anouncement and it said:

A student who indicates his preference for a school which had given him a Confirmed Offer will be guaranteed a place in the school, provided that he is eligible for a course (e.g. Express) which is offered by the school.[/quote]Exactly. To get into Express stream, all you need is 200.

[kelly1]

Hi, just wondering if anyone attended the Half-Day English selection test - what does it involve? Thanks…

[turquoise]

wmd:

wmd:

[quote=\"turquoise\"]Actually, if you log in to your admissions form, the date stated there is 19 & 26 July, NOT 25 July.

Yes, you are right.

There two days for Math & Science Camp, 19 & 26 July, they did not mention that applicant should attend both sessions or only one session.I called NUSH admission office, nobody pick up the phone.

There is last year info at NUSH web site, camp should be held on 25 July 2009 as scheduled

ACCEPT DO NOT ACCEPT
Please input your option for acceptance the invitation to attend the camp on 19 & 26 July 2008 at NUS High School of Math & Science[/quote]Thanks. Makes sense.

[kohjl]

turquoise:

wmd:

[quote=\"wmd\"]
Yes, you are right.

There two days for Math & Science Camp, 19 & 26 July, they did not mention that applicant should attend both sessions or only one session.I called NUSH admission office, nobody pick up the phone.

There is last year info at NUSH web site, camp should be held on 25 July 2009 as scheduled

ACCEPT DO NOT ACCEPT
Please input your option for acceptance the invitation to attend the camp on 19 & 26 July 2008 at NUS High School of Math & Science

Thanks. Makes sense.[/quote]
There has been some confusion about the Camp date, so I called NUSH and spoke to the lady there. She confirmed that the camp date is 25 July 09 and it is only a ONE-day Camp. The dates 19 and 26 July are INACCURATE. She also advised that parents log in tomorrow for the amended notification.

The \"amended notification\" is only with regards to the Camp date; so if you have already gotten a \"YES\" answer, then that should remain (at least that's what the lady said). Phew! But it is not clear whether all the shortlisted applicants have already received the notification or whether they are still in the process of sending it out.

I guess the best thing to do is to \"wait for tomorrow\" as the NUSH lady suggested and check \"My Status\" in your A/C again.

Hope that clears up the confusion.

[Above also posted under topic \"NUS High Sch\".]

[Merlion]

I totally agreed with turquoise … All the GEP P4-P6 test papers are standardize by the GEP branch, ie all 9 GEP schools have the same test paper for the GEP kids. Even the homework are about the same. I wish some parents can understand how difficult these papers are. Some of the maths questions are as difficult as those set for maths competition. Most of the time they have to study sec 1 or sec 2 material for project or ERM. There are still social study and a lot of presentations. So they really do not have time for "formal" PSLE training. Also there are a lof of reasons why GEP kids score 240+ - most of them are due to the poor result of their chinese. Most of them did extreme well for maths and science. Another big reason is once they knew that they got accepted by the top school, they just want to take a more relax approach towards PSLE.

People have to understand DSA selection is not just based on the school test result. It includes a lot of other factors. GEP kids are quite well train in presenting themselves and to react to tough questions.
I wish people can give more credits to these GEP kids. They went through a very tough 3 years training program, include a lot of non-PSLE material. They do not have "priority" over any mainstream kids. That’s why there are still GEP kids got rejected by all these top schools. Please do not judge a GEP kid by just looking at the PSLE result. A lot of material that they have learnt and know are not shown on it. When it comes to project time, I think people will realize how good they really are. I have a JC teacher friend who once told me that GEP kids are "usually" very outstanding when it comes to project presentation. You can just leave them alone and they will complete the task all by themselves.
This is one of the main factors that top schools are looking for when it comes to DSA, not just test result.

[mathsparks]

Merlion:

So they really do not have time for \"formal\" PSLE training. Also there are a lof of reasons why GEP kids score 240+ - most of them are due to the poor result of their chinese. Most of them did extreme well for maths and science. Another big reason is once they knew that they got accepted by the top school, they just want to take a more relax approach towards PSLE.

People have to understand DSA selection is not just based on the school test result. It includes a lot of other factors. GEP kids are quite well train in presenting themselves and to react to tough questions.
I wish people can give more credits to these GEP kids. They went through a very tough 3 years training program, include a lot of non-PSLE material.

Well said, merlion.

The other reason why gep kids don't do as well in psle is because they think too much out of the box, they challenge standard answers and don't accept general facts. And for psle science esp, this way of non-conforming thinking will result in them getting wrong answers. As for maths, they've not been exposed enough to mainstream problem sums.

While my son did well for both his maths/science in his midyear, he did poorly in the recent prelim practice paper. Hence, I've been feeling anxious that his school is not doing enough to bring the kids up to standard.

[Fairy]

mathsparks:

Merlion:

So they really do not have time for \"formal\" PSLE training. Also there are a lof of reasons why GEP kids score 240+ - most of them are due to the poor result of their chinese. Most of them did extreme well for maths and science. Another big reason is once they knew that they got accepted by the top school, they just want to take a more relax approach towards PSLE.

People have to understand DSA selection is not just based on the school test result. It includes a lot of other factors. GEP kids are quite well train in presenting themselves and to react to tough questions.
I wish people can give more credits to these GEP kids. They went through a very tough 3 years training program, include a lot of non-PSLE material.

Well said, merlion.

The other reason why gep kids don't do as well in psle is because they think too much out of the box, they challenge standard answers and don't accept general facts. And for psle science esp, this way of non-conforming thinking will result in them getting wrong answers. As for maths, they've not been exposed enough to mainstream problem sums.

While my son did well for both his maths/science in his midyear, he did poorly in the recent prelim practice paper. Hence, I've been feeling anxious that his school is not doing enough to bring the kids up to standard.

I faced the same issue with my son last year. For Science, he would argue and challenge the 'model' answers provided. He read widely, out of interest, as far as Science is concerned. That proved to be a hindrance rather than an asset as they are expected to answer within the scope of the syllabus. Knowing more, without an expert to constantly clear your doubts and steer you in the correct direction is worst than not knowing as one would be left confused and frustrated. Many a question has to be put aside for further 'research' & clarifications. Most of these are subsequently not followed up. A few of which I emailed the teacher. eg. While the teacher acknowledged that his answer is not wrong, it is not the standard answers that can be accepted for marking purpose. :?