<![CDATA[Factors to consider when choosing sec school]]>

emoh:
nss:

hi all, my ds has gotten 228 for psle, which schools do you think are good? We stay in Yew Tee. Is it a must to choose from highest to lowest COP? He prefer nearby schools.


Kranji (228)
Bukit Batok (222)
West Spring (219)
Unity (215)
Chua Chu Kang (212)

Its usually only logical to choose by highest to lowest but you can always choose otherwise just that you may end up wasting the later choices

You should choose based on personal preference rather than COP. Of course, if you put schools with much higher COP after your preferred choice, then it's \"wasted\" as if you don't get your first choice, you are unlikely to get the ones with higher COP that come after. On the other hand, if you really like a school, put it first, even if the COP is lower than your T-score. Otherwise you may be posted to a \"better\" school that you don't like as much.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/89932/factors-to-consider-when-choosing-sec-schoolRSS for NodeMon, 20 Apr 2026 20:14:21 GMTMon, 27 Nov 2017 00:53:37 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Factors to consider when choosing sec school on Sun, 26 Nov 2017 16:40:45 GMT]]>

nss:
hi all, my ds has gotten 228 for psle, which schools do you think are good? We stay in Yew Tee. Is it a must to choose from highest to lowest COP? He prefer nearby schools.

Kranji (228)
Bukit Batok (222)
West Spring (219)
Unity (215)
Chua Chu Kang (212)

Its usually only logical to choose by highest to lowest but you can always choose otherwise just that you may end up wasting the later choices

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1818894https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1818894Sun, 26 Nov 2017 16:40:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Factors to consider when choosing sec school on Sun, 26 Nov 2017 15:37:17 GMT]]>hi all, my ds has gotten 228 for psle, which schools do you think are good? We stay in Yew Tee. Is it a must to choose from highest to lowest COP? He prefer nearby schools.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1818876https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1818876Sun, 26 Nov 2017 15:37:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Factors to consider when choosing sec school on Sat, 25 Nov 2017 13:18:04 GMT]]>

https_dreamland:
hi all,

my child has gotten 218 for psle, which schools do you think are good? staying in the north.
thanks 🙂
Ahmad Ibrahim (218)
Deyi (213)
Mayflower (220)
Woodlands Ring (212)

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1818393https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1818393Sat, 25 Nov 2017 13:18:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Factors to consider when choosing sec school on Sat, 25 Nov 2017 13:09:27 GMT]]>hi all,

my child has gotten 218 for psle, which schools do you think are good? staying in the north.
thanks 🙂

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1818383https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1818383Sat, 25 Nov 2017 13:09:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Factors to consider when choosing sec school on Fri, 17 Nov 2017 09:27:53 GMT]]>For me, when I picked my sec school about 3 years ago, the biggest concern was location. Try not to pick a school that requires more than 45mins of travel, since that will roughly amount to 1.5hrs of travel a day, and ur child will probably be really tired after school, CCA and what-not.


You should also consider whether to choose a co-ed or boy/girl school, depending on how your child reacts in different environments. If he/she was in a co-ed Pri school and was comfortable w the opposite gender, then obviously co-ed is the obvious choice. Boy/girl schools tend to have more cliques in my opinion, co-ed schools tend to be more stable (in general).

As for subject combination, do not worry too much, most schools USUALLY offer the same few subjects, unless its SAP, IP or IB, then I can’t say. For example, the school that I go to does not offer POA, D&T, as well as Elective Literature, and only started offering Bio&Chem + Pure Humanities stream this year, to my disappointment. But overall don’t worry too much about subjects, preference will vary over time, and to be honest what you pick in secondary school is not a very big deal, it’s just about getting as low a L1R5 as possible.

Regarding T Score, as long as your child’s T-score is within about three points of the previous year’s cut-off, just go for it.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1816525https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1816525Fri, 17 Nov 2017 09:27:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Factors to consider when choosing sec school on Fri, 17 Nov 2017 05:23:21 GMT]]>

DaddyD:
slmkhoo:

[quote=\"DaddyD\"]Time to think of the 6 school choices... :yikes:

Don't know where to start without knowing PSLE score...

What we did was make a long list covering the range of possible scores we thought our daughter might get. Then when the actual score was known, we selected 6 from the relevant part of that list. Save some time to be able to prepare in advance.

:udawoman:

We only have 2 school choices in mind after visiting the open houses... if DD maintains similar results.
The others just choose randomly? :faint:[/quote]Presumably you have some criteria - distance, single-sex/co-ed, reputation (if you have heard anything) etc. Pick a few of those, arrange them in order, and see if you have major gaps to fill int terms of COP. Of course, if you think your daughter is definitely going to make it into one of those 2 schools, then you can pick randomly.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1816481https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1816481Fri, 17 Nov 2017 05:23:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Factors to consider when choosing sec school on Fri, 17 Nov 2017 04:13:14 GMT]]>

slmkhoo:
DaddyD:

Time to think of the 6 school choices... :yikes:

Don't know where to start without knowing PSLE score...

What we did was make a long list covering the range of possible scores we thought our daughter might get. Then when the actual score was known, we selected 6 from the relevant part of that list. Save some time to be able to prepare in advance.

:udawoman:

We only have 2 school choices in mind after visiting the open houses... if DD maintains similar results.
The others just choose randomly? :faint:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1816465https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1816465Fri, 17 Nov 2017 04:13:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Factors to consider when choosing sec school on Fri, 17 Nov 2017 04:01:38 GMT]]>

DaddyD:
Time to think of the 6 school choices... :yikes:

Don't know where to start without knowing PSLE score...
What we did was make a long list covering the range of possible scores we thought our daughter might get. Then when the actual score was known, we selected 6 from the relevant part of that list. Save some time to be able to prepare in advance.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1816464https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1816464Fri, 17 Nov 2017 04:01:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Factors to consider when choosing sec school on Fri, 17 Nov 2017 03:57:25 GMT]]>Time to think of the 6 school choices... :yikes:

Don't know where to start without knowing PSLE score...

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1816463https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1816463Fri, 17 Nov 2017 03:57:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Factors to consider when choosing sec school on Thu, 16 Nov 2017 22:43:17 GMT]]>

Yckuan:
anyone knows the link to schools offer and their cop?

The choosing your sec sch info booklet from Pg J-1 to J-144 or 111-254

https://www.moe.gov.sg/docs/default-source/document/education/admissions/secondary-one-posting/2017-files/2017_S1_IB.pdf

There were attempts to compile the list but I think its not too complete:

https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=88059

https://www.fa.edu.sg/2016-psle-2017-sec-1-cut-off/

Otherwise you can use MOE info service too

http://sis.moe.gov.sg/

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1816402https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1816402Thu, 16 Nov 2017 22:43:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Factors to consider when choosing sec school on Thu, 16 Nov 2017 07:24:59 GMT]]>anyone knows the link to schools offer and their cop?


Admummy:
Hi to all..wld appreciate anyone cld share some tips with me on the follwing:

COP
is it safe to conclude that if my child's psle score is equals or higher than the MEDIAN COP of the sec sch's 2016 PSLE Median Aggregate (as published on the handbook , also extracted from MOE SIS website); she is safe to include that school as 1 of her 6 choices?

eg. XXX Sec schoo
Lower 233
Upper 258
Median 237
Child score 233 and below, worth trying? or don't waste a choice, try another sch..
237 - 258 can get in?

my question is what if this yr batch all do particularly well or bad? then we cannot rely on this stats right?

Sec 3 electives
do u look at the sec 3 electives the secondary school provide when you choose the secondary school for your child? or most secondary have the same electives?

eg. XXX Sec School
SCIENCE (CHEM, BIO)
SCIENCE (PHY, CHEM)

the other YYY Sec School
SCIENCE (CHEM, BIO)
SCIENCE (PHY, BIO)
SCIENCE (PHY, CHEM)
from the above, i think YYY Sec School more flexible combi to choose...what are your views?


thks in advance

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1816323https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1816323Thu, 16 Nov 2017 07:24:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Factors to consider when choosing sec school on Tue, 07 Nov 2017 16:05:19 GMT]]>

Admummy:
i zoomed into the subjects offered by the 6 Sec sch of my child's choices..


i was overwhelmed by the differences in the subjects offered....just humanities alone comfused me, 3 different schools offered 3 different combination..
...

Moral of the story:
Don’t put the cart before the horse.

No point peering so far into the future when it’s impossible (for the majority at least) to tell what your child will like / dislike or a strong leaning towards. Unless your child is among the minority who is clearly ahead of the curve, looking at sec 3 offering is simply an exercise in nothingness.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1814483https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1814483Tue, 07 Nov 2017 16:05:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Factors to consider when choosing sec school on Tue, 07 Nov 2017 11:40:33 GMT]]>POA in not a popular choice nowadays - if u take a deeper look - Sch with students who are academically incline ( ie the 230s n above grp) do not offer poa at all. Such subject like EBs / POA - Sch gear to prep them for poly biz route ( or higher Nitec in worse off case)


I agree to look at Sch offer more subjects variations. BUT diff Sch leaders may chg acoordingly again - which u would not know when the child get into sec1 & what will happen in Sec 3 ?

Edit to add: I suggest to look at Sch who offer express stream only . Students profile more controlled, I hope/ feel.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1814440https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1814440Tue, 07 Nov 2017 11:40:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Factors to consider when choosing sec school on Tue, 07 Nov 2017 10:37:16 GMT]]>i zoomed into the subjects offered by the 6 Sec sch of my child's choices..


i was overwhelmed by the differences in the subjects offered....just humanities alone comfused me, 3 different schools offered 3 different combination..

school 1
HUMANITIES (S,G)
COMBINED HUMANITIES (S,H)

school 2
HUMANITIES (S,G)
COMBINED HUMANITIES (S,H)
COMBINED HUMANITIES (S,L)
COMBINED HUMANITIES (SS,LC)

school 3
HUMANITIES (SS, GEOGRAPHY)
HUMANITIES (SS, HISTORY)
HUMANITIES (SS, LIT IN ENGLISH)


It is difficult for me to guage my child's inclination towards which area at this early stage so on the safe side i should choose the school that offers the most flexibility in the subject combi? Like the above, school 3 seems to be more flexible compared to school 1. What do u guys think? then there are schools that offers principles of accounts, HIgher Music, AEP Art etc but some doesnt...wow...totally :scared:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1814428https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1814428Tue, 07 Nov 2017 10:37:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Factors to consider when choosing sec school on Tue, 07 Nov 2017 09:22:22 GMT]]>Hi Admummy, bravissimo, you have highlighted an excellent point. Yes, if my child is eligible for IP/IB, the upper secondary (so to speak) subject offerings would I reckon be similar across institutions. However, if my child is going for the \"O\" level track, I'd certainly consider the so-called electives as well as whether the schools niche area matches the child's interest. In that respect, indeed electives/niche outweigh many other factors, at least for me.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1814413https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1814413Tue, 07 Nov 2017 09:22:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Factors to consider when choosing sec school on Tue, 07 Nov 2017 09:14:55 GMT]]>

Admummy:
Hi to all..wld appreciate anyone cld share some tips with me on the follwing:


COP
is it safe to conclude that if my child's psle score is equals or higher than the MEDIAN COP of the sec sch's 2016 PSLE Median Aggregate (as published on the handbook , also extracted from MOE SIS website); she is safe to include that school as 1 of her 6 choices?

eg. XXX Sec schoo
Lower 233
Upper 258
Median 237
Child score 233 and below, worth trying? or don't waste a choice, try another sch..
237 - 258 can get in?

my question is what if this yr batch all do particularly well or bad? then we cannot rely on this stats right?

Sec 3 electives
do u look at the sec 3 electives the secondary school provide when you choose the secondary school for your child? or most secondary have the same electives?

thks in advance
yes, must look at the subjects or electives given esp if your child is interested or not interested in certain subject(s) or electives... eg not all schools offer biology or POA in sec 3; some schools make it compulsory to take AM & EM while others do not etc

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1814409https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1814409Tue, 07 Nov 2017 09:14:55 GMT