BRIEFING TO P5 AND P6 PARENTSPSLE AND SECONDARY SCHOOL PATHWAYS

Address by Principal

7 April 2017

PSLE – A PLACEMENT TEST

Assesses pupils' suitability for secondary education

Places them in the appropriate secondary school courses which match their learning pace, ability and inclination.

PSLE AGGREGATE SCORE

Incorporates performance of pupils in all 4 subjects (EL, MT, MA, SC)

Equal weighting for all 4 subjects

It is a sum of T-scores.

WHAT IS T-SCORE?

It is not a raw score. The raw mark obtained in the exam only shows how good the pupil is, in that subject, not how good he is as compared to others

The T-score gives the relative position of a pupil’s performance as compared to the performance of all the other pupils in that subject

HOW IS THE PSLE T-SCORE CALCULATED?

X = Raw score of student in the subject

Y = Average or Mean Score of the level or cohort

Z = Standard Deviation (SD) of the level or

cohort Standard Deviation (SD) is the spread of the

marks around the average.

AN EXAMPLE - A CHILD SCORES 85% IN BOTH ENGLISH AND MOTHER TONGUE LANGUAGE

The child did better in English than Mother Tongue Language compared to his peers.

AN EXAMPLE

Subject Raw Score

(X)

Mean

(Y)

Standard

Deviation

(Z)

Transformed T-

Score

EL 85 60 14 68

MTL 85 70 15 60

HOW IS THE AGGREGATE SCORE CALCULATED?

By adding the T-scores of the 4 subjects

Subject Transformed T-score

English 68

Mother Tongue Language 60

Mathematics 70

Science 63

Aggregate Score 261

WHAT ABOUT THE MARKS FOR HIGHER MOTHER TONGUE?

Bonus points are only eligible for pupils who are going to a SAP secondary school.

Distinction – 3 points

Merit – 2 points

Pass – 1 point

SAP SCHOOLS1. Anglican High School

2. Catholic High School

3. CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School

4. Chung Cheng High School (Main)

5. Dunman High School

6. Hwa Chong Institution

7. Maris Stella High School

8. Nan Chiau High School

9. Nan Hua High School

10. Nanyang Girls’ High School

11. River Valley High School

12

ENTERING A SECONDARY SCHOOL

PSLE/S1 Posting Exercise DSA

• Based on a student’s PSLE score

• Most students enter secondary

schools this way

• Based on a diverse range of talents and

achievements in specific academic subjects

or non-academic areas, beyond what the

PSLE recognises

• Allows students to access school programmes

to develop their talents

13

CHANGES TO THE DSA

All schools allowed to take in

up to 20% of S1 non-IP intake

through the DSA

All schools to stop using general

academic ability tests to select

students

Schools may offer DSA in more areas

Check the MOE DSA website in May for latest

info on participating schools and DSA areas

Schools may stop using general

academic ability tests to select students

Check schools’ websites for selection

requirements

Common online portal

for DSA application

Students can apply online,

through a single form

2018 DSA Exercise

(2018 P6 Cohort)

2019 DSA Exercise

(2019 P6 Cohort)

Moving to an improved DSA

More choices and opportunities for students

2017 DSA Exercise

(2017 P6 Cohort)

14

WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR A TYPICAL DSA-SEC EXERCISE?

May

DSA exercise starts. Apply through schools.

July

Shortlisting and selection by secondary

schools. Each secondary school has different

selection criteria for its categories and

programmes. Schools will inform you of the

selection outcome by Aug.

Indicate up to 3 ranked choices

if you have more than 1 offer

October

You will know whether you

have been allocated to a

school through the DSA, at

the same time you receive

your PSLE results.

Late-November

15

IS THE DSA FOR YOUR CHILD?

Yes, if you have talent in an area

which a school offers the DSA in

And are passionate about and

committed to developing your

strengths in that area in that school

Talent

PassionCommit-

ment

16

WHICH SCHOOL SHOULD I APPLY TO?

Look for a school whose programmes match your interests and talentsSchools are looking out for students whose interests and talents they can develop further.

Get the latest information about what each school offers by:Visiting the MOE’s DSA website (will be updated by early May 2017): https://www.moe.gov.sg/admissions/direct-admissions/dsa-sec/overview

Visiting school websites

Attending schools’ Open Houses

DSA APPLICATION

17

OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO ASK

Am I able to cope with the school’s academic curriculum?

Learn more about the school’s academic standards

Consult primary school teachers and your parents

How many schools should I apply to?

Instead of applying to many DSA schools, what matters more is choosing 1 or 2 schools that are just right for you. Remember every application takes time and effort.

9 out of 10 students participating in the DSA apply to fewer than 3 schools.

DSA APPLICATION

18

WHAT ARE SCHOOLS LOOKING FOR?

DSA SELECTION

Talent, passion, commitment

• Schools may ask you to submit a portfolio showcasing your talents and achievements e.g. participation in the Junior Sports Academy or other programmes/competitions

Strong personal qualities

• Schools may look at your CCA record, participation in VIA, personal statements, or character references

Good academic fit

• Schools may look at your Primary school results

Be sincere, be genuine, and be yourself –

if you are a good fit for the school, it will show.

Every school has a slightly different set of selection considerations and processes.

Some organise auditions, trials, tests, selection camps etc. depending on the

talent that is being assessed. Some may require personal statements and/or

character references. Generally, schools are looking for candidates with:

19

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE DSA OUTCOMES?

CO - Confirmed Offer You have a place reserved in the school as long as you qualify for a course the school offers [i.e. Express, Normal (Academic) or Normal (Technical)].

WL - Waiting List This means you will only be considered if other students with Confirmed Offer choose not to go to that school during the School Preference stage. Allocation will be based on students’ rank on the school’s Waitlist.

Unsuccessful If you are unsuccessful in all your applications, but still wish to enter the schools you applied for in the DSA, you can consider them again during the S1 Posting Exercise based on your PSLE results.

SELECTION

OUTCOME

20

HOW ARE DSA PLACES ALLOCATED?

Example: Confirmed Offer vs Being Waitlisted

Achievement Secondary School placed John on the Waiting List.John selected Achievement Secondary as his 1st choice.

Ahmad is given Confirmed Offer by Achievement Secondary.Ahmad selected Achievement Secondary as his 2nd choice.

Who will be considered for a place in Achievement Secondary?

Ahmad will be considered for a DSA place in AchievementSecondary, before John, as he has a Confirmed Offer.

SELECTION

OUTCOME

21

IF I HAVE A DSA CONFIRMED OFFER, DOES IT MEAN THAT MY PSLE RESULTS WILL NOT MATTER?

Your PSLE results will still be used to determine the secondary school course you are eligible for [i.e. Express, Normal (Academic), Normal (Technical)]

Even if you have a confirmed offer, you must qualify for a course offered by the school to be successfully admitted through the DSA.

SELECTION

OUTCOME

Example:

Jane has a DSA confirmed offer given by Achievement Secondary School, which offers

the Express Course only. However, Jane’s PSLE results qualify her for the Normal

(Academic) course. Hence, Jane will not be able to go to Achievement Secondary School

and will take part in the S1 Posting Exercise.

SELECTING SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Posting is by merit – choose school that best meets child’s academic abilities

Last year’s posting aggregate ranges of the schools

Curriculum and programmes of schools

Special needs and/or interests of the child

Distance

PSLE SUPPORT OFFERED BY SCHOOL

Academic & Non Academic

Supplementary/Remedial Lessons

June and September Holidays Revision Programme

Mock Papers

Motivational Talks by School Leaders, YH and Teachers

Education and Career Guidance

“Beyond Just Dreams” Workshops on Study Skills, Goal Setting, Time and Stress Management

PSLE SCHEDULE 2016Date Paper

17 & 18 August Oral

15 September Listening Comprehension

28 September English Paper 1 & 2

Foundation English Paper 1 & 2

29 September Mathematics Paper 1 & 2

Foundation Mathematics Paper 1 & 2

02 October Mother Tongue Languages Paper 1 & 2

Foundation Mother Tongue Languages Paper 1

03 October Science

Foundation Science

04 October Higher Mother Tongue Languages Paper 1 & 2

HOME-SCHOOL COLLABORATION

Dream with our children

Believe in our children

Encourage our children to Achieve

HOME-SCHOOL COLLABORATION

Help our children uncover their Passion

Direct our children to the Purpose

Take Pride in our children’s efforts and achievements