2011 PSLE Discussions and Strategy

[jtoh]

Bmw0880:

Hi jtoh,


My DS had a 243+2. We intend to choose ACSI as his first choice with an appeal. Do you think any luck?
And also, any suggestion on the order sequence for the below school we intend to choose?

- ACSI
- CHS (he have affiliated advantage)
- Anderson
- SJI
- ????
- ????

You can only enjoy your affiliation status for CHS if you put it as your first choice. If you put it as your second choice, you will compete as a non-affiliate; no lower COP. As CHS' COP was 247 last year, your score of 243 is risky. Bear this in mind. Given your current order, Anderson is also above your COP. So you might end up at SJI if you're lucky. Just to add that SJI will start offering IP to its Sec 3 students in 2014 (your batch) which means demand for SJI is likely to go up this year, which means higher COP as well. Make sure you choose your 5th and 6th choices carefully.

As for ACSI, last year's COP of 245 for Express is more an abberation that is unlikely to repeat itself as previous years' intakes have been >250.

[stronger]

Many Thanks for summarize the posts!


My daughter has no problem for HCL, she got A* for chinese, and 2merit for higher chinese.

1. if worry she can't get cedar, must she put cedar for 1st choice to help for successful appeal after posting?
2. how about anglican high compared with chung cheng(main)? both Band 1?

KiasuMum1999:

stronger:

my daughter got 247+2, she like Cedar Girls, Cedar last year Cop is 248, next year cedar got IP, how high is the chance to get cedar through appeal?

Hi, extracted the below info from forummer, phtthp posted - Secondary School - Parents Networking Group on Cedar Girls. Hope you find the info useful.

\"just came back from Cedar open house today, 1 pm.
i asked: \"what is this year 2011 psle COP admission into Cedar Sec?\"

reply:-

\"girls opting for O level path - COP is 248.
girls opting IP path - COP still not out yet.
MOE currently still working with Cedar, to decide on COP for the IP programme.\"

Cedar Secondary takes off her maiden flight initiate IP programme, wef 2012 Term 1 (Sec 1).
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/ ... 39/1/.html

out of Total 9 classes (for 2012 Sec 1 batch intake):-

- 100 girls (approx. 3.5 to 4 classes) will come under the new maiden IP track programme.

- remaining 5.5 classes will come under traditional O level programme.

- feedback gathered:-

majority Sec 1 girls want to take Higher Chinese (HCL).
very few girls want to take normal Chinese. even those not so good in HCL said they're willing to buck up, motivate themselves, work harder & improve on their HCL. They prefer to remain in HCL, bec prefer to follow the norm in school (school culture) to take up HCL.

for other race, pupils can take Higher Malay or Higher Tamil.

the school is also strong in Humanities, besides strong in triple Sciences.

as the tour continue to bring us around, i saw many computer lab modern facilities.

curious, i asked our young, bubbly tour guide currently Sec 3 this year, \"so after O level next year - would you prefer go polytechnic or Junior college ?\" She replied chirpily, \"many of us target going JC, not so much the poly. After my O level, i hope to join RI.\"

[dadnmom]

Helping--Hand:

Uhh.... still didn't get sufficient replies.. :sad:

Chung Cheng High Main V.S. Tanjong Katong Girls School V.S. Nan Chaiu High School V.S. Tanjong Katong Sec School
I can have the opportunity to chose 4 of them.
Please help me. I am really dunno which is a better school. :gloomy:

Hi,

Likewise, can anyone please comment on
1. Chung Cheng High (Main)
2. Tanjong Katong Sec School

Thanks in advance.

[MummySTay]

Bmw0880:

Hi jtoh,


My DS had a 243+2. We intend to choose ACSI as his first choice with an appeal. Do you think any luck?
And also, any suggestion on the order sequence for the below school we intend to choose?

- ACSI
- CHS (he have affiliated advantage)
- Anderson
- SJI
- ????
- ????

Hi, just being a kaypoh here. If I were you, I would put CHS as my first choice. It is after all a band 1 school. Have lots of friends whose DS went to CHS and are full of praises for the school.

If the students fail a test, they might have to stay back after school for extra lessons, then sit for a re-test. I think that is good because the teachers make sure that the students have grasped the topics taught before they proceed to the next.

Also, the principal actually gives out his personal handphone number to all the parents who are present when the boys report to the secondary school. He is probably the only principal in Singapore to do so.

Most of my friends' DS actually did well enough at O levels to join RI(JC). Just sharing what I know. Hope it helps.

[fruitteller]

[quote]That is one great comment there.....totally agree. [/quote]

2ppaamm:

random 99, this is what I ask my students to do when they want to get into medical school and cannot for some reasons. Ask yourself these:

1. why do I want to go to RI?
2. what can I do in RI that I cannot do in another school?
3. what if I cannot get into RI?

Write 5 points down for each question. Then you will realize it really does not matter. Getting into RI is just a bonus. I know that. I spent 6 years as a Rafflesian, and my son is also from RI. It is not so big a deal after many years. HCI or ACSI or any school is the same, as long as you are a great person. Work on the latter.

[Itaniwa]

For SAP schools, which student will be considered first when it comes to borderline case?

student A: 255+2(merit for HCL)
student B: 257

Need some advise as I wanted to have my 2nd dd into the same school as my 1st dd but worried that her score is the borderline case. She is in student A senario.

Can someone help?

[ngbrdad]

So far nobody compared the differences between independent and government schools.


Independent schools should have more teaching staffs and resources/fundings for various activities. However fees will be higher too.

On the other hand government schools have less teaches and maybe resources but fees much cheaper.

Anybody wants to add other differences ?

[tisha]

2ppaamm:

tisha:

Is there any advantage/disadvantage in applying for 3rd language? My ds does not wish to apply for 3rd language.

Then don't.

Thanks. Its as simple as that, rt. Sometimes we complicate things ourselves.

[tisha]

Chenonceau:

tisha:

Is there any advantage/disadvantage in applying for 3rd language? My ds does not wish to apply for 3rd language.

I'm not sure I am entirely right 'cos my perspective dates from 30 years ago... The 3rd language enriches life but has no other practical purpose. It offers deep exposure to another culture that opens your mind to new possibilities. You learn to think differently from the normal Singaporean. You also make life long friends in countries that few have a chance to know simply because you know the language and others don't. Once in a while, depending on socio-economic and political opportunities, you might make that language count at work.

On the scholarship form, it adds coolness.

On a daily and weekly basis, it is very hard work. You need to spend time travelling to the language centre for your classes and when you have a lot to do (as is the case in many top secondary schools from which the nation picks 3rd language talent), even the 2 hours of travel time has high opportunity costs. Some secondary schools offer a mind boggling buffet of enrichment and developmental opportunities that have nothing to do with grades... and one might end up staring at them, unable to indulge because one has no time.

In my opinion, if you love languages then go ahead. Your DS must have scored really well in BOTH languages to be offered this. He has aptitude. But if he scored but hates them... and has no curiosity whatsoever about the different cultures, then it is likely he'll give up.

Thanks chenonceau for you valueable inputs. I'm sure it is helpful for all those who are not sure whether to take up third language or not.
BTW, DS is just offered the third langs like MSP/CSP/arabic/BI... which I think is offered to all express and NA students, nothing glamorous abt it. He did get an A* for english though, but MT is not something he enjoys. So he straight away said no to one more additional language.

[tisha]

ngbrdad:

So far nobody compared the differences between independent and government schools.


Independent schools should have more teaching staffs and resources/fundings for various activities. However fees will be higher too.

On the other hand government schools have less teaches and maybe resources but fees much cheaper.

Anybody wants to add other differences ?

One difference I observe is that independent schools usually have a JC affiliation, but gov schools don't. I'm not sure abt this though. Would like to know more from other KSPs.