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PSLE Insider: The Complete Guide to the Direct School Admission (DSA-Sec) 2024

Direct School Admission Complete Guide

Dear Parents of Upper Primary children! At this time of writing, there is about half a year more leading to PSLE, which is possibly one of the biggest milestones of your child’s Primary School journey. But we are not here to talk about how to give your child an edge in PSLE, or whatsoever. This time, let us explain to you more about the Direct School Admission a.k.a DSA-Sec.

The application window for Direct School Admission will be opening soon, and it will be an exciting time for you, parents and children. If your child is eligible, DSA may be your child’s key to getting into an elite Secondary school or specialised school.

In this comprehensive guide, we will be discussing what Direct School Admission (DSA-Sec) is all about and why it concerns you, some important dates for you to take note of, eligibility criteria, and so many more. We have also included the complete list of schools which participate in the DSA-Sec Exercise. Let’s get crackin’ and dive deep into the topic.

 

Why apply via the Direct School Admission (DSA-Sec)?

DSA-Sec was introduced in 2004 in line with MOE’s efforts to place less emphasis on academics into greater focus on holistic education. From 2018, the MOE stated that all secondary schools will offer up to 20% of their non-IP places through DSA.

This Exercise allows Primary school students to gain direct entry to their preferred Secondary Schools even before taking their PSLE exams. Needless to say, it is a notable popular route for kids who own a specific passion and talent (known as talent areas). 

It does not mean that your child’s PSLE score no longer matters. After all, your child still need to meet the PSLE score cut-off point which qualifies them for the courses offered by the school. However, DSA-Sec provides an alternative entry route to popular schools — that takes into consideration more than just a student’s academic performance.

So what if your child has successfully been admitted to a Secondary school via DSA-Sec? Then they are NOT ALLOWED TO:

  • Participate in the Secondary 1 (S1) posting exercise at the end of the year
  • Transfer to another school, even if they have gotten a better grade to qualify for a ‘better’ school. They MUST commit to their school of choice for the duration of the programme

 

What talent areas must my child have to be eligible for Direct School Admission?

dsa-eligibility-direct-school-admission-sports-volleyball

Your child should possess at least one of these ‘talents’ to be considered eligible for Direct School Admission:

  • Sports and games
  • Visual, literary and performing arts
  • Debate and public speaking
  • Science, mathematics and engineering
  • Languages and humanities
  • Uniformed groups
  • Leadership (for example, prefects)

On general, if your child has a record of representing his/ her school in a CCA, being involved in a performance or play, done exceptionally well in a subject or held a leadership role in class or a CCA, it will most likely give their chance of success at DSA-Sec a huge boost.

Different schools have different selection criteria and talent areas that they are looking for. Be sure to scroll below for our complete list Direct School Admission Secondary (DSA-Sec) Schools and explore individual schools’ websites to learn more!

 

What are some important dates to take note of when applying for Direct School Admission (DSA-Sec)?

1. DSA Application Period: Early May to early June

Apply for the DSA-Sec Exercise via the DSA-Sec portal during this period.

2. Interviews/ audition/ trials: Between late June and mid September

If your child is shortlisted, the schools will get in touch with you to attend interviews, auditions or trials.

3. Receive school offers: Mid September

You will be receiving offers from school during this period. If your child has made it to this stage, we would like to say Well Done! In the heat of preparations for the PSLE exam, take some time to explore the different schools’ reputations through Google or forums search. If possible, hear a first-hand experience of the school culture from the school’s alumni.

4. Submit school preferences: Late October

If possible, we strongly encourage you to attend the Open Houses conducted by the different Secondary Schools. Secondary Open Houses serve as an excellent way through which you can catch a glimpse of your child’s future school compound, teachers and what each school has got to offer in terms of CCAs, values or culture and academically. When selecting a school, be sure to select one which has a good reputation and be able to nurture your child’s potential to the fullest.

Also read: Feeling overwhelmed? Here are some of the factors to consider when choosing a Secondary school for your child?

5. Confirmation of admission: End November (when PSLE results are released)

You’ve made it till the end of this journey! Huge congrats for getting accepted via the Direct School Admission! From now till the start of school, take some time to prepare your child academically as there will be a massive jump in academic standards from Primary to the Secondary level.

At our centre, we have the Secondary One Headstart Programme in the month of November to guide your child as he/ she makes this important step.

** 100% of our past students reported they found themselves ahead of their classmates in Term 1 and 2, because they have attended our S1 headstart.

 

A comprehensive list of schools which offer Direct School Admission (DSA) entry

We have put together a list of schools allowing Direct School Admission so that you can go browsing for schools immediately. Here it is:

    • Admiralty Secondary School

    • Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School

    • Anderson Secondary School

    • Anderson Secondary School

    • Ang Mo Kio Secondary School

    • Anglican High School

    • Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)

    • Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) (Secondary)

    • Assumption English School

      • Location: Bukit Panjang
      • DSA talent areas: visit here
      • Contact: 6572 9100 | aes@moe.edu.sg

    • Bartley Secondary School

    • Beatty Secondary School

    • Bedok Green Secondary School (merging)

    • Bedok South Secondary School

    • Bedok View Secondary School

    • Bendemeer Secondary School

    • Boon Lay Secondary School

    • Bowen Secondary School

    • Broadrick Secondary School

    • Bukit Batok Secondary School

    • Bukit Merah Secondary School

    • Bukit Panjang Govt. High School

    • Bukit View Secondary School

    • Canberra Secondary School

    • Catholic High School (Secondary)

      • Location: Bishan
      • DSA talent areas: visit here
      • Contact: 6458 2177 (Secondary) | chs@moe.edu.sg
      • For students studying Sec 1 & Sec 2 in other schools, CHS accepts application for admission to Year 3 Integrated Programme (IP)

    • Cedar Girls’ Secondary School

    • Changkat Changi Secondary School

    • CHIJ Katong Convent

    • CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh)

    • CHIJ St. Joseph’s Convent

    • CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School (Secondary)

    • CHIJ St. Theresa’s Convent

    • Christ Church Secondary School

    • Chua Chu Kang Secondary School (merging)

    • Chung Cheng High School (Main)

    • Chung Cheng High School (Yishun)

    • Clementi Town Secondary School

    • Commonwealth Secondary School

    • Compassvale Secondary School

    • Crescent Girls’ School

    • Damai Secondary School

    • Deyi Secondary School

    • Dunearn Secondary School

    • Dunman High School (Secondary)

    • Dunman Secondary School

    • East Spring Secondary School

    • Edgefield Secondary School

    • Evergreen Secondary School

    • Fairfield Methodist School (Secondary)

    • Fuhua Secondary School

    • Gan Eng Seng School

    • Geylang Methodist School (Secondary)

    • Greendale Secondary School

    • Greenridge Secondary School (merging)

      • Location: Bukit Panjang
      • DSA talent areas: visit here
      • Contact: 6760 1052 | gss@moe.edu.sg

    • Guangyang Secondary School

    • Hai Sing Catholic School (relocating)

    • Hillgrove Secondary School

    • Holy Innocents’ High School

    • Hougang Secondary School

    • Hua Yi Secondary School

    • Hwa Chong Institution (Secondary)

    • Junyuan Secondary School

    • Jurong Secondary School

    • Jurong West Secondary School

    • Jurongville Secondary School

    • Juying Secondary School

    • Kent Ridge Secondary School

    • Kranji Secondary School

    • Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Secondary School

    • Loyang View Secondary School

    • Manjusri Secondary School

    • Maris Stella High School (Secondary)

      • Location: Toa Payoh
      • DSA talent areas: visit here
      • Contact: 6280 3880 (Sec) | msh@moe.edu.sg

    • Marsiling Secondary School

    • Mayflower Secondary School

    • Meridian Secondary School

    • Methodist Girls’ School (Secondary)

      • Location: Bukit Timah
      • DSA talent areas: visit here
      • Contact: 6469 4800 | mgss@moe.edu.sg
      • MGS is the only girls’ school with a through-train programme leading to the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) at Anglo-Chinese School (Independent).

    • Montfort Secondary School

    • Nan Chiau High School

    • Nan Hua High School

    • Nanyang Girls’ High School

      • Location: Bukit Timah
      • DSA talent areas: visit here
      • Contact: 6466 3275 | nanyanggirls@nygh.edu.sg
      • In 2004, the school started its Integrated Programme (IP) with Hwa Chong Institution. IP aims to provide the best broad-based and holistic education for all the young ladies of Nanyang Girls’ High School.

    • National Junior College (Secondary)

      • Location: Bukit Timah
      • DSA talent areas: visit here
      • Contact: 6466 1144 | njc@moe.edu.sg
      • Offers 6-year IP Programmes

    • Naval Base Secondary School

    • New Town Secondary School (merging)

    • Ngee Ann Secondary School

    • North Vista Secondary School

    • Northbrooks Secondary School

    • Northland Secondary School

    • NUS High School of Mathematics and Science

    • Orchid Park Secondary School

    • Outram Secondary School

    • Pasir Ris Crest Secondary School

    • Pasir Ris Secondary School

    • Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School (Secondary)

    • Pei Hwa Secondary School

    • Peicai Secondary School

    • Peirce Secondary School

    • Presbyterian High School

    • Punggol Secondary School

    • Queenstown Secondary School

    • Queensway Secondary School

    • Raffles Girls’ School (Secondary)

    • Raffles Institution (Secondary)

      • Location: Bishan
      • DSA talent areas: visit here
      • Contact: 6419 9242 | comms@ri.edu.sg
      • Visit here for more info on their webinars & recorded livestream school tour

    • Regent Secondary School

    • River Valley High School (Secondary)

    • Riverside Secondary School

    • School of Science and Technology, Singapore

    • School of the Arts, Singapore

      • Location: Central
      • Admission Criteria: visit here
      • Contact: 6338 9663 | enquiries@sota.edu.sg
      • SOTA provides six-year integrated arts and academic curriculum that culminates in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) or the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP).

    • Sembawang Secondary School

    • Seng Kang Secondary School

    • Serangoon Garden Secondary School

    • Serangoon Secondary School

    • Singapore Chinese Girls’ School

    • Springfield Secondary School

    • St. Andrew’s Secondary School

    • St. Anthony’s Canossian Secondary School

    • St. Gabriel’s Secondary School

    • St. Hilda’s Secondary School

    • St. Joseph’s Institution (Secondary)

    • St. Margaret’s Secondary School

    • St. Patrick’s School

    • Swiss Cottage Secondary School

    • Tampines Secondary School

    • Tanjong Katong Girls’ School

    • Tanjong Katong Secondary School

    • Temasek Junior College (Secondary, relocating)

    • Temasek Secondary School

    • Unity Secondary School

    • Victoria School

      • Location: Bedok
      • DSA talent areas: visit here
      • Contact: 6291 2965 | victoria_sch@moe.edu.sg
      • Victoria is a dual-track school, offering both 4-year ‘O’ Level Programme or the Victoria-Cedar Alliance Integrated Programme (VCA IP). Jointly offered with Cedar Girls’ Secondary School (CGSS) and our affiliated college, VCA IP students will spend 4 years in VS and two years in VJC leading to the GCE ‘A’ Levels.

    • West Spring Secondary School

    • Westwood Secondary School

    • Whitley Secondary School

    • Woodgrove Secondary School

    • Woodlands Ring Secondary School (merging)

    • Woodlands Secondary School

    • Xinmin Secondary School

    • Yio Chu Kang Secondary School

    • Yishun Secondary School

    • Yishun Town Secondary School

    • Yuan Ching Secondary School

    • Yuhua Secondary School

    • Yusof Ishak Secondary School

    • Yuying Secondary School

    • Zhenghua Secondary School

    • Zhonghua Secondary School

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