Application for 2008 School Placement Exercise for Returning Singaporeans - Secondary Schools (2008 SPERS-Sec)
Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does ‘returning Singaporean (RS) children’ mean?

   ‘RS children’ refers to Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident children who have lived overseas and are currently not students in local schools.

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2. Who should participate in SPERS?

   SPERS was introduced to facilitate the school admission of Singaporean children who are returning from overseas and who wish to join our secondary schools. SPERS is therefore intended for RS children who have lived overseas and who do not have a place in a local school.

   It is applicable for RS children seeking admission into Secondary 1-3 in the following year. As Secondary 4 is a national examination year, RS generally would not seek admission at this level.

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3. Can children who are not Singapore Citizens (SC) or Permanent Residents (PR) but whose parents are SC/PR take part in SPERS?

   No. However, such children may approach their preferred secondary schools directly for admission or seek assistance from MOE.

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4. Can an RS re-take the SPERS papers at the same level?

   No, RS are only allowed to sit for the SPERS papers once for each secondary level (i.e. S1 to S3).

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5. Can RS take the SPERS papers at levels below their age-appropriate levels (e.g. RS’ age-appropriate level is Sec 2 but applying to sit for Sec 1?

   Yes, RS are allowed to sit for the SPERS papers at levels below their age-appropriate levels, subject to a limit of 4 years overage.

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6. Can RS take the SPERS papers at levels above their age-appropriate levels (e.g. RS’ age-appropriate level is Sec 2 but applying to sit for Sec 3?

   RS are encouraged to apply for levels appropriate for their age. Applications for levels above the age-appropriate level will be considered on a case-by-case basis. RS are to provide the relevant supporting documents (certified true and translated into English where necessary) e.g. copies of transcripts of last level completed and past educational background levels as far as available, together with their application forms and registration fees for MOE’s consideration.

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7. What are the school admission options for RS seeking admission to primary schools?

   RS can approach their preferred primary schools directly for admission or MOE for assistance. In the case of the latter, MOE will offer the RS a place in a suitable primary school with vacancies nearest his/her home at the level appropriate for his/her age cohort, and the RS will not have to sit for any entrance test for admission.

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8. Is SPERS compulsory? What are the options available to RS if they do not wish to take part in SPERS?

   SPERS is not compulsory. RS can approach their preferred secondary schools directly or seek assistance from MOE.

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9. Why is sitting for the centralised papers required for admission via SPERS?

   SPERS applicants are required to sit for the centralised papers, as admission to secondary schools in Singapore is based on merit, and to facilitate their admission to schools with students of similar abilities.

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SPERS-Sec Papers

10. Will the SPERS papers take into account RS who are educated in different education systems overseas?

    The SPERS papers comprise English and Mathematics and will assess applicants’ literacy, numeracy and reasoning ability. There will also be non-content based items to assess their reasoning and thinking ability, which will more holistically assess RS who have attended overseas schools with curricula different from Singapore’s.

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11. Why are results of the Eligibility Phase in the form of a list of schools that an RS is eligible for?

    The Eligibility Phase is intended to provide a common yardstick to facilitate the centralised posting and placement of RS and obviate the need for them to sit for multiple school-based tests. The SPERS-Sec papers are used to establish the suitability of applicants for admission to our schools and hence the specific results in the papers may not be meaningful. The eligible school list reflects the performance of the RS since the RS is assessed to have similar ability as pupils already studying in the secondary schools on the list.

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School Option and Posting Phases

12. Why did MOE make available places over and above the planned capacity of secondary schools under the SPERS-Sec exercise?

    As they were overseas, RS may not have equal opportunities as local students to compete for places in our secondary schools. Thus, some places over and above the planned capacity of secondary schools will be provided to RS under SPERS-Sec to ensure that they have at least an opportunity to seek admission to a secondary school of their choice.

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13. How many places over and above planned capacity of schools are created per secondary school?

    MOE will review the demand for school places from RS and the capacities of schools, and allocate an appropriate number of places each year.

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14. Will such places make it more difficult for local students to get into secondary schools?

    No. This will not impact on students currently in our schools.

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15. Can an RS select a school that is not on his/her list of schools during the School Option Phase?

    No. For the School Option Phase, the RS can only select schools that are in his/her list of eligible schools. If the RS selects any other school outside this list, that school choice will be considered invalid.

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16. How are RS posted to schools at the School Posting Phase under SPERS-Sec?

    RS are posted based on their performance in the SPERS-Sec papers, their school choices and available school vacancies.

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17. Can RS reject the schools that they were offered during the School Posting Phase?

    Yes, RS may choose not to accept the place offered during the School Posting Phase and seek admission to another secondary school with vacancies. If the school approached is on his list of eligible schools, the RS would be admitted to the particular school if there are vacancies. Otherwise, the school has the discretion to assess (including setting school-based assessment tests) the RS and decide whether to admit the RS.

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School Admission Outside the SPERS Exercise

18. Can RS use their lists of schools outside of the SPERS exercise?

    RS who are not yet admitted to any school can approach schools on their lists for admission. Listed schools that have available vacancies will admit the RS.

    RS who have already been admitted to the schools posted under SPERS may still approach other schools, although such cases will be regarded as requests for school transfer. The schools approached by the RS will have the discretion to decide whether or not to admit the RS.

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19. What are the school admission options for RS who miss SPERS?

    RS who are unable to make it for the SPERS-Sec exercise can apply for the pilot supplementary placement exercise scheduled after the SPERS-Sec exercise.

    RS, who are unable to make it for both exercises, can approach their preferred schools directly or MOE to facilitate their secondary school admission outside the exercises.

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Administrative Details

20. Who will set and administer the SPERS papers?

    The SPERS-Sec papers will be set and administered by the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB).

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21. When and where will the SPERS papers be conducted?

    The SPERS-Sec papers will be held on 13 October 2008 at the Singapore Expo.

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22. Why should the email address be mandatory for SPERS registration?

    As most RS are living overseas, it would be difficult to ensure that postal mail sent overseas can reach the RS on time. Hence, email is the main mode of communication and prompt information dissemination on SPERS and the posting exercise. The purpose of using e-mail is to ensure that RS can be informed of their application outcome expeditiously and that RS receive the subsequent School Option Form and posting results promptly.

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23. What are the implications if the parents/guardians of an RS do not currently have a local address? What should such parents/guardians do?

    If RS currently do not have a local address, they have to provide an alternative local address that is convenient for them to check for correspondence. However, for the posting exercise, the parents/guardians of the RS must declare the intention to live at a specific local address even if they currently do not have a local address. A false declaration is an offence, which can result in the RS losing his/her place in the school he/she was successful in securing a place in, as the place was based on the declared address.

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24. If the initial application by an RS is rejected (e.g. inappropriate level or payment was unsuccessful), is he/she allowed to sit for the SPERS papers if he/she cannot submit another application in time?

    Interested RS are strongly encouraged to register early. Late cases will be considered on a case-by-case basis. In cases where RS are allowed to sit for the papers, an additional administrative fee of $55 (inclusive of 7% GST) will be levied.

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25. What happens if an RS turns up for the papers at the Eligibility Phase without first registering for SPERS with valid reasons?

    Such cases will be considered on a case-by-case basis. In addition to the appropriate registration fees, RS will incur an additional administrative fee of $55 (inclusive of 7% GST) if they are allowed to sit for the papers.

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26. What happens if an RS wishes to make changes to his/her application e.g. change of level?

    RS who wish to make changes to their applications can do so by informing SEAB or MOE’s CSC before the registration deadline of 3 Oct 2008. Requests for changes after 3 Oct 2008 would be considered on a case-by-case basis. An additional administrative fee of $55 (inclusive of 7% GST) will be levied if the changes are allowed.

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