Direct School Admissions - Secondary: Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

1. What is Direct School Admission – Secondary (DSA-Sec)?

   The Direct School Admission (DSA) Exercise aims to promote holistic education by giving participating schools greater flexibility in selecting students while holding to the key principles of transparency and meritocracy. For students, the DSA provides them the opportunity to demonstrate a more diverse range of achievements and talents in seeking admission to secondary schools.

2. How much discretion will the Sec Schools have for DSA-Sec 2008?

   Type of School	Discretionary Places
   Schools with Integrated Programme (IP)	Up to 100%
   Independent Schools (without IP)	20%
   Autonomous Schools (without IP)	10%
   Niche Programme Schools	5%

   Last year all the IP schools, with the exception of NUS High School and School of the Arts, admitted up to only 50% of the Secondary One intake through the DSA-Sec Exercise. This year, we expect a similar level of places to be available for centralised posting.

3. Can I apply for direct admission to any government or aided school?

   Not all secondary schools are participating in the DSA-Sec Exercise. You may refer to the list of participating schools in this year’s exercise.

4. As my child will be considered for posting only after PSLE results, my child will be deprived of a place in the school by others who were given priority admission through DSA. Can MOE explain?

   The DSA initiative is to allow recognition of a more diverse range of student achievements and talents for student admission into schools. Admission is still based on merit, with more flexibility given to schools to admit some of their students based on a broader set of criteria than just PSLE results. Other than for IP schools, 80-95% of places in DSA participating schools will continue to be available to students after PSLE.

5. Why is there a need to have a Selection Stage and School Preference Stage? Why can’t schools confirm DSA candidates on their own?

   Participating schools will issue Confirmed Offers to selected students. However, as some students may have more than one offer, we have provided them with the opportunity during the Exercise School Preference Stage to indicate their choices. This will also enable freed-up confirmed offers to be given to other students on the school’s waiting list.

6. Can a student below Primary 6 be considered for the DSA?

   No. Admission to Secondary One is only for students who have completed Primary Six or its equivalent.

7. How much flexibility is given to schools to select their students?

   In general, schools can decide on their admission criteria, as long as it is meritocratic and transparent. Primary school students must achieve PSLE results that would enable them to be eligible for admission to the course being offered by the school.

Niche Programme Schools

8. Why did MOE introduce schools with niche programmes for the Direct School Admission (DSA) exercise?

   Currently, Independent Schools (IS) and Autonomous Schools (AS) have the discretion to admit students outside the Secondary One central posting system. The discretion to admit students is now extended to mainstream secondary schools with approved niche programmes (referred to as niche programme schools). Niche programme schools are allowed to admit students up to 5% of their Secondary One intake on a discretionary basis for the purpose of building up their niche programmes. This gives niche programme schools greater flexibility in student admission so as to allow a more diverse range of pupil achievements and talents to be recognised. It also gives due consideration to abilities not fully assessed in the PSLE. Having niche programme schools as a part of the educational landscape is also in line with MOE’s move to support a more flexible and broad-based education system.

9. What are the criteria used by MOE for approving the niche programme schools?

   The following criteria are used:

   • The school should have demonstrated a very strong potential in, and have a proven track record of achievements in its declared niche.
   • The school should have in place a comprehensive and workable development plan to ensure the niche continues to be sustainable in the future.
   • The school should have a set of selection criteria for discretionary places which is transparent and merit-based.

Stage 1: Selection

10. How do I find information on the DSA-Sec Exercise?

    You may do the following:

    • Visit the Direct Schools Admissions website.
    • Visit the websites of the participating schools
    • Call the participating schools

    Besides the above channels, you may wish to contact MOE Customer Service Centre at 6872 2220 for more information.

11. Can I apply to more than one school?

    Yes, you may approach more than one school for consideration if you are interested. There is no limit to the number of schools you can apply to. However, the schools may conduct selection tests, trials or conduct interviews. You are therefore advised to be selective on the number of schools you wish to apply to so that you do not have too many tests, interviews or trials to attend. Moreover, the number of places available for each school is limited, and the schools would generally apply stringent selection criteria.

12. When can the schools start inviting me for interviews / selection?

    Secondary Schools participating in DSA will have their specific schedules for application and selection. You should check the detailed schedule of the participating Secondary Schools that you are interested to apply for, by visiting their websites or contacting them directly.

13. As I am not a student in MOE School, I have been advised to collect a Registration Number from MOE Customer Service Centre before my application can be processed. Why is there a need to register at MOE Customer Service Centre first?

    MOE would like to have some basic information on you, as your information is required for centralised processing. With the registration number issued to you, MOE is able to identify you as a DSA candidate and enable you to participate in the exercise.

14. When will I know the outcome of my application to each school?

    You should receive a note from the school informing you of the outcome of your application during the selection stage by 29 August 08. The letter will clearly state if you have been given a Confirmed Offer, or been put on the Waiting List, or that you are unsuccessful. If you have been placed on the Waiting List or given a Confirmed Offer in at least one school, you will receive a School Preference Form on 23 October 08 after your PSLE examinations. You will have to make your choices (maximum of 3 choices) from 23 – 30 October 08.

15. Can schools offer Confirmed Offers to DSA candidates during Selection Stage?

    Yes, participating schools are required to issue a letter to all candidates, informing them on the outcome of their applications by 29 August 08.

16. Am I guaranteed a place in the school if I am given a Confirmed Offer by the school?

    You are guaranteed a place in the school if the school has given you a Confirmed Offer, provided that your have indicated the school as one of your choices during the Exercise Preference Stage, and you qualify for an academic course which is offered by the school [Express / Normal (Academic) / Normal (Technical)].

17. What does it mean if I have been placed on the Waiting List of a school?

    If you have been placed on the Waiting List of a school, the school will consider you for admission if they have places remaining after the other students given Confirmed Offers have made their choices. However, you must also:

    • have indicated the school as one of your choices during the Exercise Preference Stage,
    • have qualified for an academic course which is offered by the school [Express / Normal (Academic) / Normal (Technical)].

18. If I am not successful in any of my applications under the DSA-Sec Exercise, can I still opt for the school during DSA Option?

    If you are not successful in your applications during the Selection Stage, you will not be eligible to select any school during the School Preference Stage and will not receive the School Preference Form. Hence, you will not be able to select any school during the Exercise School Preference Stage. However, you can still select any school of your choice during the centralised posting exercise after the release of PSLE results.

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Stage 2: Exercise School Preference

19. When is the Exercise School Preference period? How do I receive the DSA School Preference Form?

    The DSA Exercise School Preference Stage takes place after the PSLE, from 23 – 30 October 08. DSA candidates who are currently studying in MOE schools will receive the DSA School Preference Form from their respective primary schools. For DSA candidates who are currently NOT studying in MOE schools, they are required to collect their School Preference Forms at the MOE Customer Service Centre. You may download a copy of proxy form (142kb .doc) to appoint a proxy to act on your behalf, if you are unable to collect the School Preference Form at the MOE Customer Service Centre.

20. How many schools can I opt for?

    Each candidate is allowed to opt up to a maximum of three schools from the schools listed in the School Preference Form.

21. If I have been offered a place in more than three schools, can I opt for all the schools?

    You are allowed to select a maximum of three schools as your DSA choices.

22. If I am only given offers by two schools, can I leave the rest of the DSA choices blank?

    Yes. You can only select schools which have either given you Confirmed Offers or put you on their Waiting List.

23. If I have received Confirmed Offers or put on the Waiting List by a school, can I decide not to select the school?

    You can decide whether to select the school during the Exercise School Preference period.

24. 1. I have received two offers, a Waiting List (WL) Offer from School A (my preferred school) and a Confirmed Offer (CO) from School B. Would putting School A as my first choice and School B as my second choice affect my chances with School B should I not be allocated School A?

    2. Should I put School B as my first choice, since I am guaranteed a place there?

       As school B has given you a CO and as you have opted for School B as one of your choices, you are guaranteed a place in School B as long as you qualify for an academic course (with your PSLE results) offered by School B.

       You can put School A as your first choice and School B as your second choice if you prefer School A over School B. You will be first considered for admission to school A if they have places remaining after the other students given COs have made their choices. Past experience showed that an average of 50% of those who selected the school who gave them a WL offer was successfully allocated a place in the school. If you are unsuccessful with School A, you will then be allocated School B, which has given you a CO, as long as you qualify for an academic course (with your PSLE results) offered by School B.

       Please see the following scenario to help you better understand the posting process.

       Student Z is put on Waiting List (WL) by School A (his preferred school) and given a Confirmed Offer (CO) by School B, his second preferred school.

       1. He puts School A as 1st choice, followed by School B. If School A has enough remaining DSA places to admit him after the other students given COs have made their choices, Student Z will be allocated School A if he is eligible for an academic course that School A offers.
       2. He puts School A as 1st choice, followed by School B. If School A does not have enough DSA places to admit him after the other students given COs have made their choices, Student Z will be allocated School B, where he has a guaranteed place, as long as he is eligible for an academic course that School B offers.
       3. He puts School B as 1st choice, followed by School A. As School B is student Z’s first choice and because School B has given him a CO, Student Z will be posted to School B, as long as he is eligible for an academic course that School B offers. He will not be allocated School A, even if School A has enough DSA places to admit him after the other students given COs have made their choices, as he has put School B as his 1st choice.

25. I have only received one Waiting List (WL) offer. Should I still exercise my option since my chance of getting into that school may be quite slim?

    You can exercise your option if you are still keen on entering the school via DSA. Past experience shows that an average of 50% of those who opted for the schools who gave them a WL offer was successfully allocated a place in the school. If you are unsuccessful, you can still participate in the centralised S1 Posting Exercise in November.

26. Where do I submit my DSA choices? Can I make amendment to the choice(s) made after submission if I change my mind?

    DSA school preference(s) can be submitted electronically either via DSA-Sec Internet System or physically submit at your primary school between 23 October and 30 October 2008. You are allowed to make One-Time amendment after submission via DSA-Sec Internet System before 30 October 2008.

27. Can I make amendments after the Exercise School Preference period?

    No, amendments are not allowed after the closure of the Exercise School Preference period.

28. After I have made my choices during the Exercise School Preference period, can I withdraw my application altogether?

    Yes, you may withdraw your application, as long as it is done before the end of the Exercise School Preference period (on 30 October 08).

29. What can I do to withdraw from DSA after Exercise School Preference Stage?

    You can no longer withdraw from the DSA Exercise after the close of the Exercise School Preference Stage (on 30 October 08).

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Pre-Results Release Stage

30. How does the DSA allocation to schools work?

    DSA candidates are allocated to schools based on the students’ choices made and school’s ranking of the students, subject to the availability of DSA vacancies in the schools. The allocation system is similar to that for the centralised Secondary One Posting System.

31. Assuming candidate A is on the Waiting List in School X and had selected School X as his 1st choice, as compared to candidate B who had been given a Confirmed Offer in the same school but opted for the school as 2nd choice, who will be given priority in allocation to School X?

    Candidate B will be given priority, as he has a Confirmed Offer in School X.

32. If two candidates are placed on the school’s Waiting List and both have indicated the school as their 1st choice, who will be allocated first?

    The candidate who is placed higher in the school’s ranking of the candidates will be offered the allocation first. It does not matter which choice the candidate puts the school in the School Preference Form.

33. How will I be informed of the outcome of the DSA allocation?

    Candidates who have participated in the DSA Exercise School Preference Stage will be informed of the DSA allocation on the day of PSLE results release (late Nov 08).

    Candidates currently studying in MOE schools will be informed by their respective primary schools. Candidates currently not studying in MOE schools can collect their DSA results from MOE Customer Service Centre.

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Stage 3: Results Release

34. Do I have to participate in the centralised Secondary One Posting Exercise?

    Once you have exercised your school preference for a Confirmed Offer or on Waiting List, and are accepted, you will not be able to exercise your choice of schools during the centralised Secondary One Posting Exercise.

    The results of the DSA-Sec Exercise will be released in late Nov 08, together with the PSLE results.

    If you are successful in the DSA, you will be informed of the school that you have been admitted into. Since this place has already been reserved for you, you will not be allowed to indicate your choices of schools during the Secondary One Posting Exercise.

    If you are unsuccessful in the DSA, you will be notified that none of the schools you had indicated a preference for are able to offer you a place. Hence, you will be given the option to indicate your choices of schools in the Secondary One Posting Exercise. During the Secondary One Posting Exercise, you may still opt for the schools that had not been able to offer you a place under the DSA-Sec Exercise if you wish, as only a certain percentage of places in these schools are made available during the DSA-Sec Exercise.

35. If I am successful in DSA but I am eligible to study in more than one stream (e.g. Express / Normal (Academic), can I select the stream of my preference?

    DSA candidates who have been successfully allocated to a secondary school and who obtained PSLE aggregates which put them in the option bands [the Express/Normal (Academic) or Normal (Academic)/ Normal (Technical)] are allowed to indicate their preferred stream of study in the school allocated provided that the school offers both the preferred stream.

36. How do I apply for foreign language programmes?

    You will be informed of your eligibility together with the release of the PSLE results for any foreign language programmes. You would have to submit your application during the option period of the centralised Secondary One Posting Exercise (late Nov 08), if you wish to apply for approval to study a foreign language.

37. Am I required to apply for Edusave Entrance Scholarship for Independent School (EESIS) if I have been allocated to an Independent School and am eligible?

    Candidates who qualify for EESIS and are admitted to an Independent School are automatically given the EESIS award. You do not need to submit any application form.

38. If I am successfully allocated to a secondary school via DSA and want to withdraw so that I can be posted under the centralised posting, what must I do?

    Candidates who have been successfully allocated to a secondary school under the DSA are not allowed to select any school during the centralised Secondary One Posting Exercise. You may however seek school transfers on your own if you are able to secure a place in another secondary school.

39. If I am unsuccessful in DSA and I had opted for a particular school in the DSA Exercise, can I still select the school again during the centralized Secondary One Posting Exercise?

    Yes, you can. The centralised Secondary One Posting Exercise is to allow you to select school(s) for central posting. It is a separate exercise from DSA.