Direct School Admission Exercise for Junior College 1 and Equivalent Level: Frequently Asked Questions

General FAQs

1. How much flexibility is given to JCs to select their students?

   In general, JCs can decide on their admission criteria, so long as they are merit-based and transparent. However, students currently studying in secondary schools must achieve GCE ‘O’ Level results that meet the eligibility criteria for admission to JCs. If they do not meet the criteria, they will be given the chance to participate in the Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE) to gain admission to Millennia Institute, the polytechnics or ITE.

2. When will the student know the outcome of his choice?

   Once the student has accepted a Confirmed Offer from a JC, he will be deemed to be admitted into the school. If he fails to attain the eligibility criteria for JC admission, he will be withdrawn from the JC.

3. If a student accepts a DSA offer, can he participate in JAE?

   No, he cannot participate in JAE as long as he is successfully admitted into the JC via DSA. If he is unable to meet the eligibility criteria for JC admission, he can participate in JAE if he still wishes to seek admission into Millennia Institute, Polytechnics or ITE. He will know if he has met the eligibility criteria for JC admission upon receipt of his GCE ‘O’ Levels results. JAE is held after the release of the GCE ‘O’ Levels results.

4. What happens when the student wants to indicate his preference for special programmes (e.g. Language Elective Programmes, Humanities Programme etc)?

   Students who wish to apply for elective programmes (e.g. Language Elective Programmes, Humanities Programme) should first check if the JC they wish to apply to offers the elective programmes. In addition, they should check if the JC has incorporated the eligibility criteria for the elective programmes as part of the admission criteria. If so, they can proceed with admission to the elective programme. If not, they can still register their interest in these programmes with the JC after they have accepted a Confirmed Offer from the JC.

5. I am currently taking my Singapore-Cambridge GCE ‘O’ Levels in a private school this year. Can I participate in the DSA-JC Exercise?

   Yes, you can participate in the DSA-JC Exercise as long as you fulfil the age requirement for the level [i.e. 16 to 20+ for JC1 admission if you are Singaporean Citizen (SC) or Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR)]. If you are non SC/SPR, your appropriate age for admission to JC1 must be between 16 and 18+. However, you will still need to meet the JC admission criteria upon receiving your GCE ‘O’ Levels results next year. Students who are successfully admitted to a JC under DSA are not allowed to participate in the JAE and JPSAE after the release of the GCE ‘O’ Levels results.

6. I am an International Student with qualifications other than GCE ‘O’ Levels. Am I eligible to apply under the DSA-JC Exercise?

   Yes, you can apply for the DSA-JC Exercise if you fulfil the age requirement for the level (i.e. 16 to 18+ for JC1 admission). In addition, you might need to sit for the entrance tests conducted by the JCs concerned to determine your eligibility for admission.

7. Can I take part in both the DSA-JC and DPA?

   Yes, you can participate in both DSA-JC and DPA Exercises. However, you can only accept either a JC or a Polytechnic offer. Students who accept both DSA-JC and DPA offers will be disqualified from both exercises.

Phase 1

8. I have received several DSA-JC Phase 1 Offers. When must I decide to accept one?

   You are allowed to accept only one DSA-JC Phase 1 Offer during the Acceptance Stage. You must accept an offer by 31 Jul 2009. Otherwise, the offers will lapse and you will be considered to have rejected the schools’ offers.

9. What must I do to confirm acceptance of the DSA-JC Phase 1 Offer?

   Students are required to complete and sign 2 copies of the DSA-JC Phase 1 Acceptance Form and return them to the JC for endorsement. The JC will retain a copy, while the student will retain another copy (duly endorsed by the JC) for reference.

10. I have accepted one DSA-JC Phase 1 Offer during the Acceptance stage. Can I still change my mind during the Acceptance Stage to accept another Offer?

    Yes, provided you have another valid offer and apply for a change before the end of the Acceptance Stage. If you wish to take up a DSA-JC offer from another JC during DSA-JC Phase 1 Acceptance Stage, your Cancellation Form must be submitted before you confirm acceptance for that school. These must be done before the end of Phase 1 Acceptance Stage (31 Jul 2009).

11. Can I accept more than one DSA-JC Offer?

    No. If you are found to have accepted more than one DSA-JC Offer, you will be disqualified from the DSA-JC Exercise. If you would still like to be admitted into a JC, you will have to participate in the JAE.

12. What happens if I accidentally accept two DSA-JC Phase 1 Offers?

    Once you are found to have accepted more than one DSA-JC Phase 1 Offer at the end of Phase 1, all your offers will be rendered void, unless you cancel one of them before the end of the Acceptance Stage which is (31 Jul 2009).

13. If I accept a DSA Phase 1 Offer, can I accept a DPA (Direct Polytechnic Admission) Offer subsequently?

    Yes, you are allowed to accept a DPA offer if it is your preferred choice over DSA Phase 1 Offer. If so, your DSA Phase 1 Offer will be automatically rendered void.

14. I forgot to accept the DSA-JC Phase 1 Offer by 31 Jul 2009. Can I still take up the offer on 1 Aug 2009, only one day later?

    No. The terms of offer are clearly spelt out in the offer letter. If you do not accept the offer by 31 Jul 2009, you will be considered to have rejected the offer. You will also not be issued another DSA-JC offer under Phase 2 by the same school.

15. I could not accept my DSA-JC Offer in time due to extenuating circumstances (accident/medical emergency/quarantine/terrorist act etc)? Can I still submit my acceptance after 31 Jul 2009?

    You are not allowed to submit your acceptance after the end of Phase 1 Acceptance Stage, which is 31 Jul 2009. If you are unable to accept an offer in time due to extenuating circumstances, you may submit a Letter of Authorisation for another adult (age 21 and above) to submit the Acceptance Form on your behalf.

Phase 2

16. If I have just been offered a DSA-JC Phase 2 Offer by a school but have already accepted a DSA-JC Phase 1 Offer from another school, what must I do?

    If you are interested in taking up the DSA-JC Phase 2 Offer, you must cancel your DSA-JC Phase 1 Offer by submitting a DSA-JC Phase 1 Cancellation Form to MOE Customer Service Centre before the end of the Cooling-Off Stage, which is no later than 5 Aug 2009. Once you have cancelled your earlier acceptance, you will then be eligible to accept the DSA-JC Phase 2 Offer during the DSA-JC Phase 2 Acceptance Stage from 18 Aug 2009 to 21 Aug 2009.

17. I have been informed that I must cancel my DSA-JC Offer 1 before 5 Aug 2009 so that I can take up a DSA-JC Phase 2 Offer from another school. Why is this so, as the Acceptance Stage under DSA-JC Phase 2 has yet to commence?

    This is to ensure that vacancies arising from cancellations can be filled by other deserving students. The deadline of 5 Aug 2009 for such cancellations has been clearly stated in the DSA-JC Phase 1 Offer Letter that you have received.

18. If I have received multiple DSA-JC Phase 2 Offers and have accepted one of them during Phase 2 Acceptance Stage but now wish to change my mind and accept another, is this possible?

    You can still change your mind to accept another DSA-JC Phase 2 Offer provided that you submit your official Cancellation Form to MOE Customer Service Centre before the end of the Phase 2 Acceptance Stage (21 Aug 2009).

19. What if I accidentally accept one DSA-JC Phase 1 Offer and one DSA-JC Phase 2 Offer after Cooling-Off Stage?

    If you are found to have accepted one offer in Phase 1 and another in Phase 2 after Cooling-Off Stage, your Phase 1 offer will be rendered void and you are deemed to have accepted the Phase 2 Offer as your preferred offer over the Phase 1 Offer.

20. What happens if I accidentally accept two DSA-JC Phase 2 Offers?

    Once you are found to have accepted more than one DSA-JC Phase 2 Offer at the end of Phase 2, all your offers will be rendered void, unless you cancel one of them before the end of the Acceptance Stage (21 Aug 2009).

21. Can I accept a DSA Phase 2 Offer and a DPA Offer concurrently?

    No. If you are found to have accepted a DSA Phase 2 Offer and a DPA Offer concurrently, all your offers will be rendered void, unless you cancel one of them before the end of Acceptance Stage (21 Aug 2009).

22. If I have turned down the DSA-JC Phase 1 offer from one school, can I reconsider and take up their offer again in Phase 2?

    No. Once you have rejected a DSA-JC offer from one school, you will not be offered another DSA-JC offer from the same school.

Cancellations

23. What do I do to cancel or withdraw my DSA-JC acceptance?

    To cancel or withdraw your DSA-JC acceptance, you must obtain 2 copies of the DSA-JC Cancellation Forms from MOE Customer Service Centre. Once the forms are completed and signed, you must submit them, in person, to MOE Customer Service Centre. You may keep one copy for your record. During submission of the forms at MOE Customer Service Centre, you must have with you the original of the following supporting documents:

    1. The offer letter from the school
    2. The endorsed acceptance form submitted to the school
    3. Your NRIC / Student Pass for verification

    Please note that MOE will retain the original offer letter and endorsed acceptance form when you cancel or withdraw your DSA-JC acceptance.

24. After I have cancelled my acceptance, what evidence/proof/verification must I produce to another school that I have cancelled before I can accept their DSA-JC offer?

    If you have cancelled an earlier DSA-JC acceptance, you would have retained one copy of the Cancellation Form, duly endorsed by MOE. You must show it to the school before you accept their DSA-JC offer.

JAE / JPSAE

25. If I have accepted a DSA-JC Offer to JCs this year, am I allowed to participate in JAE / JPSAE?

    Once you have accepted a Confirmed Offer under the DSA-JC Exercise, you will not be able to participate in the JAE and JPSAE, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria for JC admission based on your GCE ‘O’ Level results. Hence, please consider very carefully before you accept a Confirmed Offer to be admitted to a JC through the DSA-JC Exercise.

26. If I have accepted a DSA-JC Offer and want to withdraw so that I may participate in JAE / JPSAE, what must I do?

    You must withdraw from your DSA-JC offer no later than 9 Oct 2009. You must withdraw from DSA-JC personally at MOE Customer Service Centre, 1 North Buona Vista Drive, Podium Block Level 1.

27. If I have accepted a confirmed offer to a JC during the DSA-JC Exercise and have not withdrawn my acceptance before 9 Oct 2009, am I allowed to apply for another JC after receiving my GCE ‘O’ level results?

    Students successfully admitted to a JC under DSA are not allowed to participate in the Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE) after the release of the GCE ‘O’ Level results. While students may appeal for a transfer to other JCs after the release of JAE posting results, acceptance to any JC would be subject to vacancies available, and would be at the full discretion of the JCs.

    You are advised not to accept any DSA offer if you are not sure of your intent to pursue your education at the particular JC.

28. Can I drop out from DSA-JC and seek admission to other institutions (MI, Polytechnics and ITE) after receiving my GCE ‘O’ Level results even though I meet the eligibility for JC admission?

    As you have already accepted an offer under the DSA, you will not be eligible to participate in the various centralised posting exercises available to other students to select JCs, MI, and polytechnics, including the Joint Admission Exercise (JAE) and the Joint Polytechnic Special Admission Exercise (JPSAE). While you may seek direct admission to the JC, MI or polytechnic, you may only do so by going to the institutions concerned directly. You would only be considered by the JC / MI or polytechnic for admission if there are places remaining after the successful completion of the Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE).

    You are advised not to accept any DSA offer if you are not sure of your intent to pursue your education at the particular JC.