Hi I was a PSLE 2023 Mum too and here to share advice. Do not be too fixated over the schools your child can attend. I have seen my boy’s classmates getting all stressed up because they only wanted the top tier schools. My boy was fearless and relaxed because we have been telling him to get the results first then we think about the schools. We also paced him slowly and worked on the weaker topics first instead of rushing into exam papers (too much drilling kills the joy of learning and remember psle is only the beginning not the end). He continues to pursue two of his favourite sports up till August and even though we let him try DSA for the experience and he didn’t manage to get any, he was fine with it and continued to work hard and his eventual psle score was half of what he did in P5 SA2. He entered the school he originally tried DSA for and now he is free to choose any cca (he’s generally athletic and loves a variety of sports). I am enjoying watching him develop his independence. He just got his own phone too (with rules and restrictions) after year of co using my phone as there are too many teachable moments. He has no complaints at all although he’s the last in his p6 class to get a phone. Jiayou!! Continue to encourage your kids and motivate them on the small improvements..help them to focus by minimising distractions and give them lots of moral support.

Hi can I check in cases of appeal, is it left to individual school’s consideration who to admit based on internal criteria (eg affiliation, talents etc)? Just imagining if my son didn’t get his first choice (exactly the same as the school COP) and assuming the COP doesn’t change, is it even worth appealing? Any one with similar experiences to share?


Thanks.

I think to trust in your instinct if you have a good relationship with your child and know how much efforts he/she has already put in vs the ability. There are kids who have already put in a lot of efforts and that’s commendable but you know the standard is at the certain point. So you would not want to push the kid too much. On the other hand, there are playful kids who have not been putting in much efforts all this while but woke up and you suddenly realise he/she has this potential. On the other spectrum, you have kids who over prepped all these years and therefore could do well but after you take away all the help in sec, they cannot perform as well anymore, coupled with the fact they were not given chance to even “fall behind” before in pri sch. Trust in your child and all the best!

Hi for Math, I would like to share personal experience of my child who has no Math tuition. It would be helpful to download the past year psle questions from 2012 onwards and keep practising. For the tougher years like 2021 paper, many kids may score badly in the first attempt and it would be good to let them do a second time to boost their confidence. Mark down their errors for challenging questions and make them redo.

Bentley88\" post_id=\"2117489\" time=\"1693026666\" user_id=\"176959:

For boys that DSA into ACS(I) track and field, do the boys need to do uniform group as well? Since Uniform group is a compulsory CCA in ACS(I).

DSA Sports students are exempted from the 2-CCA policy, thus not required to do UG. This is stated on their website thr the link to the 2-CCA policy.

lassie girl\" post_id=\"2115150\" time=\"1690823267\" user_id=\"35383:[quote=\"lassie girl\" post_id=2115150 time=1690823267 user_id=35383]
From what I have seen in recent years, students who get in top schools via non-academic dsa often do not get enough credit for being strong in BOTH their academic results and their talent dormains. Gone are the days when only medals or ranking matter. The schools’ selection panel needs to not only be accountable to their own school leaders for the CO+WL given, but also to the ministry that they all report to. Of course the top schools will always get a bigger pool of applicants and they can choose the best among them, and since they have a bigger pool of talents to pick from, they pick talented candidates who give the schools less problems in their academics.

For those who had outdated information about past lax dsa requirements and think schools only want the child’s talent but don’t care about their academics, or felt disgruntled because someone else’s kid was selected but not yours - fret not. The selection committee might be doing u and your child a favor by not giving the spot to candidates whom they think can’t cope with the academic rigors + can’t contribute for the talent dormain. Interestingly, more often than not, the cohort that comes in via psle score into these top schools are usually quite multi talented too, thus no lack of talent pool to be honest.

For IP schools with dual track ie o levels, the schools are able to move the students to a different track if deem unsuitable midway. One straightforward way to assess if a “pure” IP school has been effective in their dsa selection - check if there is a need for them to open any o level class in recent years. Granted those who went in by psle score might not make it through too but it gives u an idea of how the school supports their students. Do your own research by asking the right questions.

For those who have the opportunity to progress through the various stages of selection tests or trials/auditions/interviews, hope u and your child have a better idea now on which is a better fit for your child. Personally after seeing so many real life examples of dsa success and failure stories, I can only conclude that the real winners in this dsa “game” are the parents who found the right fit for their child - the school which is able to bring out the best in their child for the next 4-6 years. Good luck. :rahrah:[/quote]

Yes I believe it’s less common today but still prevalent in only certain schools. There’s no O level class as the few will be asked to transfer school. It happens quietly. End of day, parents should know the child’s capability and choose wisely. I feel the DSA process is a good experience to find out more abt the domain you are keen on, and end of day, it can even help you to choose or not to choose that school or domain if you enter by grades. For us, we only try schools within capabilities of the child so that he/she can still enter by grades if no offer.

keas\" post_id=\"2115031\" time=\"1690768716\" user_id=\"29240:

Yes, not to mention it might dampen the child’s spirit.

But I don’t think it is RI in the question.

Anyway, for sports DSA, I heard RI will still push them for academics. End up the kid couldn’t pursue the sports at high level either cos RI asked him to buck up his study first.

Hi it is quite well known that RI will take in top medalists even with weak P5/6 grades for DSA. They are very hungry for the achievements. If the child cannot cope, worse case is to ask to transfer school. Personally know of kids who entered via Sports DSA that obtained 15-18 for actual PSLE. Also known kids with P5 SA2 worse than 17 shortlisted for interviews. It’s really nothing new. Like u, I also wonder why those parents still choose RI and not care about whether the overall fit is there.

keas\" post_id=\"2113796\" time=\"1689555756\" user_id=\"29240:

You meant your child has gone for the 1st interview and waiting for 2nd interview?
Or he went for the trial and waiting for interview?
If if it the second case, I am afraid SJI has already called up all successful candidates by Tuesday last week.
Cos my son’s friends received interview letter last week. My friend didn’t receive for her son so she called SJI, and was told that all letters have been sent out for successful candidates from all domains.
You may want to call SJI to confirm.

Hi any idea which domain was that? Cos there were still ongoing trials only last Sat 15 Jul.

mummychick\" post_id=\"2113749\" time=\"1689510485\" user_id=\"97763:

Hi, anyone receives email for second interview after sports DSA in SJI or any parents with past experience able to advise how long usually for the school to get back after the sports trial? Thank you in advance.

Hi heard that those shortlisted for further round/interview should be notified this coming week. So keep an eye on your mailbox.

Sloth\" post_id=\"2113167\" time=\"1689053667\" user_id=\"201957:

Although my child not in sport. But to give a fair judgement, not all dive into IP becoz of IP stream. It might be due to the coach the particular school is having.

Got to rem CCA is only one aspect of sch life. If the child cannot cope with the daily academic rigour, it’s gg to be very painful. I speak from experience as I did sports my whole life (but got in by results) and though there was no DSA during our time, there was “back door” and saw a few sports ppl suffer, repeat or even drop out of school.