The PSLE results are OUT!
Some children have performed very well while others could manage to stay above or near average. Do all have the same post-PSLE options for further studies in Secondary School? Of course not!
Every anxious parent and child who just went through PSLE exams are struggling with the same questions; “What are my options?”, “Which secondary school shall I pick?”, “I want to pursue my higher studies in a particular school. Will I get admission there with my score?” and many more.
If you are one such individual or parent of a child struggling to find the best Secondary school for your child, this blog post is for YOU.
With the hope that it would help you make the best choice, we have gathered certain data that can guide you as you begin your new academic journey. Your academic career largely depends on the choice of school. Hence, it is pivotal to pick the best.
But, is it available for one and all equally? The answer is ‘NO’.
You may wish for your child to be admitted to a certain school, but whether you’ll get it depends upon your PSLE score. Due to immense competition in education, PSLE cut-off point (COP) plays the major role in your decision. This cut-off limits your choice for a secondary school.
As a general consideration, the higher the COP of a secondary school, better is its rank and the more succcessful your child will be in academic terms. If you attained a high PSLE T-score, you have a wide range of choices available and of course, you can pick the school that is best for you.
While there are children who manage to get the school of their choice, yet others remain indecisive due to variety of reasons, some of which can be location, curriculum, fee structure, whether the school is for boys or girls or co-ed and many more that can further limit their choice of Secondary School.
If you have difficulties choosing the right school for your child, keep reading further and you may find some help in hand-picking the best option for yourself.
The very first thing that remains the decisive factor for the admission is the admission criteria through PSLE COP.
And, we have collected this data based on 2019 PSLE Cut-Off Points intake just to help you check your first eligibility.
Here is the secondary school ranking list and their cut-off points:
Learning is a journey. And secondary school journey depends largely on your choice of the school.
Pupils who are in the top 30% of the PSLE cohort wishing to enter in SAP secondary schools will be given bonus points, added to the T-Score if they take the Higher Chinese subject. Bonus points will be 3 points for Distinction, 2 points for Merit and 1 for Pass. SAP secondary schools cater to learning in both languages, English and Chinese.
Though the same programs can be offered by a variety of schools, you may want to look into other contributing factors before arriving at the final decision.
Most of the schools in Singapore are either government schools or government-aided schools. Then, there are others like independent schools, specialized schools and specialized independent schools (SIS).
Fee structure of a school is a big deciding factor. Most of the government and government-aided schools provide education at a subsidized fee.
Government and government-aided schools follow the National curriculum as determined by the Ministry of Education (MOE). Autonomous schools have the liberty to choose their curriculum, programs and activities.
Fee structure of these autonomous schools is on a higher band as they charge the autonomous fee above the subsidized fee.
Independent schools, as the name suggests have the independence to select their curriculum, set up special programs and activities. Hence, you can expect their fee to be higher even than the autonomous schools.
Under the MOE financial assistance scheme, the monthly fees in Government and government-aided schools is maximum S$25, while in that of autonomous schools, it is S$43. And in independent schools, it can range from S$300 – S$600.
There are certain schools that best suited for students with deep interests in sports, arts, applied learning, Mathematics and Science:
Specialised schools are the ones which take up students who could not manage to qualify for any secondary course. They are then educated by a hands-on-learning method by experienced teachers. Two such schools are:
Other specialized schools that can be taken up by students interested in the technical stream are:
These schools have a practice-based approach to learning where necessary skillset and training can be obtained.
Curriculum offered by the schools is yet another contributing factor to this major decision. What a child wants to take up as a career depends on the course he/she picks and the quality of education.
The three pathways for the courses are:
English Language, Mother Tongue Language and Mathematics are the compulsory subjects for all tracks. Students enrolled in the Express or Normal Academic Track have to study humanities and science. And students in the Normal Technical Track are required to study Computer Applications and Social studies.
One other pathway is to embark on the international syllabus IB or IGCSE which also offers a route to a local or foreign university. You can read up in our Ultimate Guide to International (IB) Schools in Singapore.
The next deciding factor for the selection of a secondary school is the child’s interest. Ultimately, the best career is the one that can be enjoyed at work. If you have an interest in arts, music, sports or language, then you should develop it further.
For that, your criteria for the choice of secondary school can be the special programmes offered by certain schools in your area of interest. Some such programmes are the Art Elective Programme (AEP), Music Elective Programme (MEP) and Third Languages.
For those who are interested in Sports have certain choices and one of them could be The Singapore Sports School that can hone your sports skills if you wish to be a professional Sportsperson.
AEP and MEP can be availed at some other schools like Ngee Ann Secondary and St Andrew’s Secondary.
And the final contributing factor is the location of the school and availability of boarding or travelling facilities. For that, you can check each school’s prospectus or website or inquire at their helpline number.
[Latest Update] The New Secondary Cut Off Points from 2021
The Ministry of Education (MOE) in Singapore keeps on changing policies, or they amend existing. During this year, they have introduced new cut-off points for admission into your preferred secondary school. Effective next year, the students who will be taking be PSLE will receive Achievement Levels (AL) instead of grades.
These levels will range from 1 to 8 in each of the four subjects that your child has. The sum of all these subjects will be the final score and the final AL of your child.
Here is everything you need to know about the new cut-off points.
The New Secondary Cut-Off Points (COPs)
The COPs will differ every year. However, we can divide them into a few categories. First will be the government and government-aided schools. The second will be autonomous schools, and the third will be independent schools.
Let’s explore the different COPs for each school category.
#1. Government And Government Aided Schools
These schools are the backbone of the education system in Singapore. They offer an excellent education at a fee that does not break the bank of the citizens. You will find that these schools provide various subjects, electives, and other development programs for the students.
Here is the indicative AL COP range for different courses from last year’s PSLE:
Of course, this is subject to change in the coming year, but this is what you can expect the range to look like.
#2. Autonomous Schools
These schools are another subset of the government and government-aided schools. They provide a wide range of electives and programs so that the children's learning experience can be broadened. They want to help children work on their skills and develop new talents.
Here is the indicative AL COP range for different courses from last year’s PSLE:
#3. Independent Schools
Last but not least, we have independent schools. They develop their own curriculum and program to cater to the students' needs that enroll in their schools. Such schools are much more diverse than the types of schools stated above.
Here is the indicative AL COP range for different courses from last year’s PSLE:
All these COPs will vary from year to year. That is because the COPs are dependent on the results of the PSLE and the preferred school choices of that year’s S1 Posting Exercise.
In the first half of 2021, the MOE will provide the indicative AL COPs for individual secondary schools. The COPs will be based on the 2020 PSLE results and the school choices during the S1 Posting Exercise of 2020.
This has been done to encourage parents to look beyond the COPs when deciding on their child's secondary school education. They want parents to consider other factors so that they can cater to the students' needs in the best way.
The Scoring System Of The COPs
Under these new AL COPs, the PSLE score will range from 4 to 32. However, four will be the best score possible. Before, the scoring system was based on T-scores. These scores had more than 200 possibilities.
On the other hand, the AL COP will only have almost 29 possible scores. Doing so will reduce the differentiation between students as they don't want to instill differences between children from an early age.
According to the new system, many of the students will now have the same scores. That is why the one thing that will be considered the most will be the order of preference of secondary schools that you will submit.
That is why you need to make an informed decision and think hard about the secondary school you want your child to get into.
Subject Banding Criteria
Recently, an eligibility criterion was also released for subject-based banding. It will allow the students to choose subjects at a variety of difficulty levels in secondary school. It will be based on their AL score.
Secondary schools with Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical) courses will implement the new scoring system and the subject banding criteria. The students of this school will be eligible to take the same subjects at a more challenging level in Secondary 1 (S1).
However, this eligibility will be based on their AL scores for their individual subjects. These include:
If a student has an AL score of 5 or more, they can take the subject at Express Level. On the other hand, students with an AL score of 6 or better in a standard subject or AL A in a Foundation level subject can take it at the Normal (Academic) level.
The MOE has introduced these new guidelines so that students can have the opportunity to take challenging subjects based on their previous performance in school. Doing so will allow them to work on their skills and talents even further.
Planning Secondary School Choices With New COPs
Many parents wonder how they will decide on choosing a secondary school for their child. The new COPs that have been introduced means that you will have to look beyond the scores. You need to take a holistic approach and consider other factors before making a list of school options in order of your preference.
Here are some things you need to take into account before you make an informed decision:
#1. The Travel Distance
Yes, that is right. Even travel distance is essential when it comes to choosing the right school for your child. That is because school buses are readily available and easily accessible for Primary Schools.
However, this isn't the case for secondary schools in Singapore. That is why you need to consider the school's route as well before you decide to put it on your list. No one wants to spend too much time traveling, dropping, and picking their kids up.
So, consider the route, look at travel options, and then decide whether you want that school to be on your list or not.
#2. Subjects Offered
Not every secondary school offers all subjects. Some may provide science courses, while others may provide humanities courses. Some schools will not let you take certain subject combinations.
So, think about what you want for your child and what you want them to study during their time at secondary school. Choosing the right school defines the future roadmap for your child.
Make sure you choose a school that offers the program you want your child to study later on. It will help them build a solid base that they can continue to work on in the future.
#3. Visit Schools When They Have Their Open House
Almost all secondary schools offer an open house so parents can physically come and see the school. Doing this allows them to have a broader sense of the environment and culture.
If you want to know more about a school, you should visit their open house before making your decision. It will help you understand if it is the right fit for your child, as you will talk to the teachers and understand their teaching styles.
You need to understand your child's learning style and then make choices accordingly so that they can be somewhere that suits them the best. Going to the open house and talking to teachers will help you understand what is more suitable.
#4. Have A Discussion With Your Child
Don't decide without consulting your child first. They will be the ones who will be going to school, and they need to have some say in where they want to go.
Let your child voice his/her opinion, and then you can provide your insights as well. Doing this will help you have a healthy discussion with your child whose needs will be your priority.
They will feel included, which will help them look forward to secondary school experience. Many parents don't consider involving their children in such decisions. Still, it would be best if you gave them this sense of autonomy early on so that they can have better decision making abilities in the future.
Final Words
That was your complete guide to the new AL COPs indicated by the MOE and what you need to do to choose the right secondary school for your child. The stage of transitioning from primary to secondary school is an important one in every parent's and child's life.
It is up to you to make the transition easier for your child and include them in their education decisions. Instilling this sense of responsibility early on will help them in the future. Follow this guide to make your list of preferred schools so that your child can experience the best secondary school that suits their needs well.
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