mommyNg:

Another question.... did any of you (or your friends) brought your child back for GEP screening/selection, and perhaps successfully get into the programme? I remember somewhere in this forum someone mentioned they brought their kid back for GEP screening, passed, but didn't get through the selection round.

GEP screening is useful because I think they select 8% (or is 6%?) after the first round. It gives information about where the child stands with respect to the Singapore student population. Most overseas parents are uncertain about where the child is compared with local standards.
In your case it is extra useful if your child passes the first stage, the PSLE strategy maybe worthwhile because 250 is about the top 10%. I think latest you can come back is P5. If child is in the Singapore International School HK, MOE conducts GEP first round test in the school, but you will have to be in Singapore for the second round. I think you have to write in by June for other places (see website). If child makes it to GEP and you decide to return, there are privileges, such as higher odds of getting into IP through DSA and GEP scholarship for Independent school. But I think child has to go through GEP to get these advantages; GEP bragging rights dont count.

If you decide to return, another way to boost the odds is to get exemption from Chinese, which the school and MOE are likely to give if you give good reason even if the child is doing well in Chinese, eg away from Singapore, dont speak Chinese at home, no Singapore style tuition available, hence child at disadvantage etc. Child should still take MT lessons and keep up, since NYGH is SAP school and will require a standard like A* in normal Chinese. No need to be discouraged by this requirement as about 80% of the national cohort gets A/A* in Chinese. Once you're in the school, you can get feedback as to whether child meets the Chinese standard to get into NYGH even though not taking PSLE Chinese. I know a case where returnee exempted Chinese, got posted to IP school, and appealed and got into HCI. Trick is have evidence that the child is capable of handling Higher Chinese and the reason for exemption is that the child needs time to catch up to local standards since at disadvantage without the local support system (e.g. tuition, daily environment). Besides having one less subject to mug, my feeling is that there is more room to improve in other subjects. About 44% of students get A/A* for Eng, Math, Sci whereas it's 80% for Chinese; which means there is more room to improve for other subjects. So even if you get 100% for Chinese, the average raw score for Chinese is likely to be high and hence Chinese T-score may not be that high. Must qualify that this is my speculation and a lot depends on the child's Chinese standard.

mommyNg:

[

Pardon my blurness... how to observe the situation for SPERS? Through grapevine or ask MOE?

Just through the gravevine. MOE is generally tight lipped about information. I asked what are the odds of getting first choice, and they read the standard text from MOE website , something like \"depends on vacancies and applicants to particular school\". So why have a list? Again standard website text ... \"child assessed to be on par with the students in the school\". I guess the computer can only accept 6 choices. Methinks they want to avoid having to explain things to some who may inevitably be unhappy.

jtoh:

Just wanted to add this. If your child is a very strong student and has his eye on the top schools, then you might prefer him to take PSLE rather than rely on SPERS. That's because with SPERS you're subject to the vacancy available in the school. I know of someone's child, who took SPERS and was offered the top schools in his list. Unfortunately, although he put his preferred top school as first choice, he was eventually given his 2nd choice. If this child had taken PSLE, chances are he would have gotten in to his preferred top school based on his PSLE aggregate.

My own observation so far suggests that SPERS Sec-1 postings have been better than parent's expectations based on performance at overseas school. I gather that all sec schools have to set aside a certain percentage for students returning at Sec 1. Dont know if there's this quota for entry at higher years. Would suggest to mommyNg to observe the situation as SPERS first started for 2007 intake and the observed statistics might change.

mommyNg:

Do you know how kids (or your kids) are doing/coping after returning to Singapore in sec sch, especially for those who got the chance to go into the better schools, e.g. RGS/RI, NYGH/HCI, IP schools?

It depends on the kid but most do fine, some even more outstanding than before because now motivated to \"catch up\". Some may require help in weaker subjects, eg Mother Tongue, English or Maths. Attitude of the kid is important because workload is heavier in Singapore system (even non IP); some might rebel at having to work harder but that's a fact of life now (school and work!). By work load I dont mean academics only, CCAs, school support activities, Community Service all take up time and add stress.

In terms of syllabus, language is obviously one that carries over from primary school so need to pay attention. Not much disadvantage for Science as material in secondary school generally dont rely too much on primary school science. Math topics also generally new. If child has trouble with subject, need to work at it, not blame it on not attending Sing primary school.

There are many educational pathways these days to university. The trade off tends to be if you get selected for elite program, you get priveleges to go to next stage , but work load is higher. Eg, only 25-30% of RI(JC) intake comes from O levels, the rest is IP. Eg GEP students stand better chance of getting into good IP schools through DSA and thus dont need to do well at PSLE. I didnt understand the new elitism until fairly late and nearly didnt select an IP. Children are adaptable and you may want to try stretching them.

mommyNg:

So does that mean if you have a choice between coming back to Singapore to take PSLE versus taking SPERS, the latter is actually a better choice (in terms of chances of getting into a better school)?

I had that choice and certainly felt SPERS was much very better. With SPERS, you dont have a specific syallabus to sweat over (some might disagree and prefer a syallabus so as to have \"control\" or have something to work on). You dont compete with others who have been preparing for PSLE. My wild guess is that the numerical odds are also better with probably more vacancies vs number taking SPERS exam. Bear in mind that SPERS does not test Chinese or Science so for those who are strong in those subjects, that strength will not be reflected. Even if you dont plan to return, I would recommend sitting for SPERS and holding a place in the school. If you suddenly have to return, getting a school place mid-year probably faces the worst odds.

sandunes:

:thankyou: very much for the replies.


Does it mean that the school on the list are all ready to accept your child without any further testings by the school itself?

I asked because according to some schools' website, returning students are asked to take the SPERS conducted by MOE. If they are eligible for the school(s), the child still need to take the schools' entrance tests (4 subjects) to determine if they will accept them.

As far as I know, SPERS posting is final except for SAP schools. I believe all sec schools must reserve some places for returnees (my guess is 1% of students). MOE called saying that one of choices was a SAP school which may require the child to take a Chinese test. If dont make the grade, school has right to reject student based on Chinese. I called up the school to clarify and they say their PSLE standard is either A* for Chinese or Distinction (or maybe Merit?) for Higher Chinese. Needless to say, we changed our choice because MOE warned that if school rejects, child is out of centralised posting will NOT have any school to go to and must appeal to the individual schools for admission.

My suggestion is if you're in Singapore during the summer, you may want to try a DSA (Direct School Admission) for a SAP school just so that you get to sit for the Chinese test. Even if you're rejected for DSA, the school gets to mark the Chinese test and then you may ask the school if the child can be admitted if posted under SPERS (best to get black and white!). Nationally, about 80% of students get an A/A* for Chinese, whilst the number for the other 3 subjects is about 45%, so it may not be as difficult to attain the standard as one might imagine.

With regards to jtoh's comments, yes, the posting depends on the applicants vs vacancies. This is first time I know of someone not getting their first choice, but then again my sample size was only 3. However, looking at a larger sample size of 7 (dont know if each got first choice), all but one were posted to schools with PSLE cutoff at or above 250. That one other was to an independent school.

I would encourage a person to take SPERS even if plans for returning are not firm; hold a place in the school because you never know when you have to return. This can be done as I have seen a returnee posted to an IP school with the letters LOA (Leave of Absence) against the name.

happies:

MOE sent us a full list of schools (excluding girls' school) for us to choose 6 schools. The only problem we faced was that MOE did not want to disclose his marks and hence we had difficulties selecting the schools.


Good luck if your child is taking the test:)

The list of schools is the \"score\". Eg, if you see RI , HCI on the list, means the child did well. If the child didnt do well, you wouldnt even see these schools on the list of schools to select. You can choose any school on the list; my feel is many people get their first choice (havent heard of anyone not getting their first choice although my sample size is only 3). So just pick the best of what you get.

sandunes:

Hi happies and paznwrkz, may I know how was the experience of the SPERS testing for your kids?

After the results, how many schools were u given on the list? Did u encounter any difficulties in securing a secondary school?

Depending on the child, SPERS in my opinion is one of the more efficient ways of getting into good school (compared with approaching school, DSA, PSLE). I guess you could prepare for Math by getting trying to catch up with Singapore maths. Test as far as I can tell from DD is multiple choice and a few open ended, topics not strictly singapore system but also includes a few IQ questions. Not sure how to prepare for English - multiple choice and a few open ended as well.

Those I know who have taken it tend to be admitted to good schools, ie IP and independent schools. The list of schools you get is the \"score\" and I think the odds of getting the first or 2nd choice of the schools on the list is high. In my opinion, it's easier through SPERS than through PSLE.

Chinese and Science not tested. Note that if a SAP school is on the list, you may have to take a Chinese test if you get posted there and if you dont make the cut, you may not have a school to go to (at least that's what I have been warned). Good luck!