After going through a frenzy of DSA, PSLE, School Selection last year and seeing the after school-posting frenzy of appeal, transfer and fretting by some parents… and further down to regrets/ panic of some parents when they see their childs’ sec 1 results in IP schools, here’s what I can gather:


1) If you MUST have elite school name in your child’s resume but somehow your child is not successful in DSA or did not meet cut-off with PSLE results, opt for O level track instead of opting for a IP school that is not your choice. You child will mature and grow in 4 years’ time, find their area of interest or strength in the subject. … you can get another shot to satisfy your needs for elite schools (JC). Afterall both IP or O levels lead to the same destination. Just a different route and experience for your child.

2) If you need to see all the As and high marks on your child’s results, don’t go IP. The competition is brutal. In most schools, the spread of the t-score for each intake is very narrow. Meaning, your child can be top in 1 test and ousted out from his/her throne easily. Everyone is almost equally good. It is not like primary school where the spread is wide, and the top 10 % is pretty much dominated by that few kids.

2) If your child needs lots of pushing and rely heavily on tuition and spoon feeding to score well, be prepared to support your child for the revolutionary change if you opt for IP. If you don’t have confidence that your child will learn to be self-driven and are not game to let them try or fail in school exams, go O level track. O levels has a more structured teaching syllabus and you can find lots of tuition centers, assessments books out there to help your child. High possibility that they will continue to do well in O levels and go to good JCs. Saves you sleepless nights.

3) If you are chill about your child’s results and are more focused on other developments e.g. leadership, independence, self reliance, communication, Knowledge outside textbooks etc, Go IP if you are offered. Your child may not be the top in their class/ school, they may fail tests/ exams but will have lots of opportunities and exposure. They will have a good time!

4) If your child is super driven of course just go for IP. They will do well wherever they are and still have a good time.

Secondary school selection is tricky… most kids are too young to decide what they really want. Parents may have different priority vs the kids preference…

MyBaby:

MittenMom:

My DC wants to go NJC for the AEP program. What are the chances of being selected for AEP? How many applicants vs successful candidates? Is there any pre requisites? Have to be winning art competitions prior? What does the portfolio required for the interview and selection process need to have? Any information greatly appreciated.

Hi MittenMom, there are no pre-requisites for AEP. During reporting day, NJC will make available the date for AEP selection test. Interested applicants will take the selection test and can bring along their portfolio if they want to. I don't think there is an interview. The results will be made known by the first day of school as students taking AEP are grouped into one class (similarly, those taking MEP are grouped into one class). After being selected, the students go through several AEP lessons before committing to taking it for 4 years. More details can be found at https://www.moe.gov.sg/education/secondary/other/art-elective-programme

Hope the information is of some help.

Thanks for the information blok and My baby. !

My DC wants to go NJC for the AEP program. What are the chances of being selected for AEP? How many applicants vs successful candidates? Is there any pre requisites? Have to be winning art competitions prior? What does the portfolio required for the interview and selection process need to have? Any information greatly appreciated.

I am trying to figure out what to select when results are out next week. Greatly appreciate anyone who are experts in this to help me here :


It looks like if your child takes :

HMTL - gets 2 extra points for JC entry
3rd Language - gets 2 extra points for JC entry

So if the child takes both HMTL and 3rd language he gets 4 extra for JC entry?

Anybody knows if MEP or AEP also get 2 extra points?

Is there a limit to the elective the child is allowed? e.g. if already taking 3rd language , is the child allowed AEP or MEP ?