It’s easy to say that if want IB, then won’t even waste time applying for DSA for other schools. There is only 1 IB school in SG for gals minus SOTA, hence, won’t want to waste 3 DSA choices as in the first place, wasn’t even sure if will be shortlisted by any of the schools that we applied DSA. International is of cuz last choice because expensive and truthfully also dunno if international will be better than local. It just that if really want it in Year 5 & 6, then it could be an option if didn’t chose the IP (A level) route now.


For gals, truthfully only those get AL4/5 gets to choose whether they want IB / A level. AL6, there’s chance you will be ballot out if you put RGS IP / MGS IB as your first choice, hence will end up in your second/third choice school.

Her feeling is that she is likely to make the cut for IP schools which is below single digit AL but no guarantee that it will be AL5 because each mark in the exams make a difference, what if get 89.25 marks/84.25 marks (yes, a 0.25 mark instead of 0.5 is possible), hence if wait for PSLE, might still be pondering over the same options.

There is definitely some benefits in just taking the IP A level route that is offered in more schools since get to skip an exam, can enjoy CCA without worrying about bonus points, can take 1 instead of 2 humanities subject and potentially more time to explore interest areas since don’t have to prepare for a national exam, hence the dilemma.

As for 3rd language, did a little more research, I guess the main reason why ppl drop is because of the short time frame of 4 years to master the language and also the fact that it is usually counted in overall marks for promotion. If only can take as something that can benefit the student in the long run without worrying about whether it will affect overall marks for promotion, am sure many students will be happy if they can master even conversational French/Japanese/Malay, etc without excelling in writing but the stress comes when you not only must be able to speak but write essays and score in the exams.

I guess it doesn’t hurt to just try for 1 year, if at the end of 1 year you know a bit more of the language than before, it still benefits you right? Not sure if can drop in year 2 in time for it not to affect overall for promotion.

Haha yeah, all d options that we have now have their own risks and pros n cons so potentially there will be some regrets later but whichever option that we choose, hopefully kid will just make the best of it in the end and enjoy the learning journey.

Ah not confident for leadership. I thought they will participate in SYF yearly, hence at least prob can easily get points if get distinction, etc. I thought external competitions will not be counted. External comp prob useful if wanna submit for DSA to JC but I thought won’t be recorded in Leap certs to get the minus bonus points?

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2120986\" time=\"1697687455\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2120986 time=1697687455 user_id=53606]OT: for CCA bonus points, uniformed groups give best chance for leadership points. Unless u confident your child will be picked for class monitor/leader or prefectorial board. Even PA groups for SYF they only participate 1-2 times within their 4 years, so they may not get sufficient Achievement points (then u need to headache go find external comps for child to compete in…)[/quote]

Yeah that was what I was saying to my dH yest also. Can’t meet cut off of 5/7 to go to acsI/sJI, then would have given up better JC with cut off of 6. Then he said will not go back, will just send to local international IB and will start saving up money now.


Yeah I know about potentially not getting into cca that u want since usually the cca chooses u n not the other way round. Hers has no cca commitment cuz DSA academic. Does seem to make more sense to go to IP, then also don’t need to stress about Cca or consider taking the MLEP or whether will do well for exams but then instead of travelling far for once a week now for MLEP, have to travel further everyday.

Further add on to the decision making is o level school said if meet cut off of IP there may be some vacancies to appeal for. Tried to ask my daughter whether she thinks she did well in PSLE n she said she will only know when results out cuz each mark makes a difference. She could have gotten 84 or 90 and the AL difference is huge which is again true.

Yeah, cuz most parents took A levels during their time, some will just say they dunno much about IB hence didn’t consider IB schools for their kids. Like u said, they have no idea what it’s about.


Also, most of the kid’s friends who DSA this year also didn’t put IB schools as a choice or if they did, if they get more than 1 CO, seem to chose A level schools over IB. Of cuz there r some who will still choose IB but between RI/RGS/Nanyang/HCI/NUSH vs IB, IB schools seem to be considered second choice or third choice for some.

Also seems to be the same for my older kid. Majority of his friends went to IP but not IB school.

manorway\" post_id=\"2120996\" time=\"1697690017\" user_id=\"9303:

How did you realise that? By asking around?

More schools offering A levels. Limited seats, so how to tell?

Still a lot of people I spoke to have no idea what IB is about. Some parents thought IB is only suitable for those who want to go overseas Uni. Some thought local Uni prefer A levels or that only those in international schools will study IB (because of the name 'International').

Spot on. That’s why I think my DH n I are the minority who would choose O levels over IP and my dd who has no preference basically don’t mind either track and will just listen to whatever we suggest. Too carefree, also don’t mind taking another exams and she has no strong preference for d schools.


As DSA pref submission time is nearing, I also realised that besides needing to stress over O level results, have to decide on the CCA soon and also decide whether want to put in application for MSP. It does seems easier to just take the IP.

Dilemma is O level school is much nearer, hoping for more options after O level if results is good and get into IB programme. Taking IB though not easier than A levels seems more holistic as less focus on just one major exam at the end. IP school is a bit further from our house.

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2120985\" time=\"1697687255\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2120985 time=1697687255 user_id=53606]Let me simplify it for you:
- pick IP, u no need worry abt O levels results
- pick IP, u no need worry abt CCA bonus points
- pick IP, u no need worry abt MSP bonus points[/quote]

My child got DSA for O level n Ip track. O level school doesn’t have MSP.


Was looking at MSP for its bonus point cuz hoping to get good results minus max 4 bonus point to go to IB but does seem silly to give up direct pass to JC via IP. Plus there’s a chance she might score worse than the cut off for the JC that she can already go to via IP now.

For CCA, seems hard to get total 2 bonus points since need to be leader n do well in 4 domains. Is it easier to get 2 bonus points via performing arts domain since they participate in SYF yearly compared to clubs where winning competitions depends on strength of a smaller team or individual effort? Though got DSA, such a dilemma to choose between the school also. Worse is child don’t really have a strong pref for the tracks n is fine with either.

Even choosing CCA also fine with different options cuz has experience in competing in both performing arts n club’s competitions. But cuz lacking in leadership skills, was never prefect or captain or cca heads, was only class subject leader in primary school, thinking maybe it’s hard to get max 2 bonus point for CCA if can’t achieve at least level 3 for leadership domain so perhaps a try at MSP. For 2 bonus point via English / HCL, should be ok since criteria is C6.

We r probably the minorities that give up IP track for O level offer then still need to stress which CCA to take since can’t change if wanna get level 4 for participation and stress about whether to take MSP to get have higher chance to get max 4 bonus points.

I realised most still prefer RI/HCI over ACS/SJI and RGS/Nanyang over MGS which means majority prefer A levels

Oic, yeah I saw that some schools have it in-house so was wondering if still can take the programme if choose schools that don’t have it in house. The lessons are 3 hours per week right? Can choose to drop if can’t cope at end Sec 1 or end Sec 2?

Hi, is Malay Special Language offered at Bishan MOE centre or only some schools have this programme?