2013 FAQ on DSA Year 1 - Sites

Dear Parents & Guardians
Frequently Asked Questions (<strong>FAQ</strong>) on DSA Year 1
We thank you very much for your interest in the ACS (Independent) Direct School Admission. It is
our hope that this list of <strong>FAQ</strong> will help to answer any questions you may have. You may also wish to
access the school website http://www.acs.sch.edu.sg/acs_indep for more information.
While we understand that you may be anxious about the outcome of your son’s application, there is
no need to call to enquire about the status of your application. We assure you that all applicants
will be duly notified about the DSA outcome: successful students will receive a phone call from the
school and unsuccessful applicants will be informed via postal mail by the end of August. We ask for
your patience and understanding in this matter.
ACS (Independent) DSA Committee
A. Questions relating to DSA application
A1. What is DSA
DSA stands for Direct School Admission. 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.
There are two DSA exercises for admission into ACS (Independent) Year 1, one for admission to the
Integrated Programme (a through train six-year course that leads to the International Baccalaureate
Diploma Programme) and the other for admission to the Express Programme (a four-year course
which leads to the GCE ‘O’ Level examinations). Please access the school website:
http://www.acs.sch.edu.sg/acs_indep and the IBO website https://www.ibo.org/ for more information
on the programmes.
A2. How do you select the students What do you look out for
All DSA-IP students will be selected based on their Primary 4 to 6 school exam results, outcomes of
a Higher Ability Selection Test (HAST) as well as submission of a detailed three-page application
form which includes personal portfolio (CCAs, leadership qualities, etc) and personal statement
(short essay).
All DSA–Express Programme students will be selected based on their primary school exam results,
their personal portfolio and ability in niche areas (athletics, badminton, bowling, international chess,
cricket, rugby, sailing, softball, squash, swimming, tennis and waterpolo).
A3. Are students who are not studying in the Singapore local schools eligible to apply for the
DSA I am not sitting for PSLE; so can I apply for DSA How and when do I apply
Yes, you can participate in the DSA exercise. However, you are required to obtain a registration
number from MOE Customer Service Centre. You may contact the MOE Customer Service Centre
at 6872 2220 for more information on the registration number. The registration number should be
submitted with your completed application form to the school.
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A4. When and how do I apply for DSA
The ACS (Independent) DSA Exercise for Year 1 commences on 13 April <strong>2013</strong> and closes on 21
June <strong>2013</strong>. All application forms, personal portfolio and personal statement must be submitted
by the closing date, 21 June <strong>2013</strong>.
Students applying for the IP must register for the Higher Ability Selection Test. IP applicants who
excel in sports may also sign up for the sports selection trials at the School Admin Office which
opens from Mondays to Fridays, 8 am to 5 pm.
Closing date for registration of the Higher Ability Selection Test (HAST):
13 June <strong>2013</strong> for 28 June <strong>2013</strong> test
21 June <strong>2013</strong> for 4 July or 5 July <strong>2013</strong> tests.
Closing date for registration for selection trials for sports: please refer to document “Direct
School Admission into ACS (Independent) for Year 1” or school website. Applicants should register
at least one week prior to the selection trial or by 21 June <strong>2013</strong> whichever is earlier.
A5. Can I apply for DSA in other schools too
Yes, you can apply to as many schools as you wish for the DSA Exercise.
B. Questions on the Higher Ability Selection Test
B1. How do I register for DSA / HAST How and where do I apply When is the test and do I
have to pay for the test
The HAST is only for students applying for IP. You may register for the HAST at the School Admin
Office. To register, you will need to provide information on the student’s name, Birth Certificate
number, Primary school, date of birth, parents’ contact numbers and home address. If you are not
studying in a local school, you must obtain a registration number from the Ministry of Education
(contact MOE Customer Service Centre at 6872 2220) before you can register for the HAST.
A HAST fee of $80 is payable either by cash or cheque made payable to ACS (Independent). NETS
or Credit Card payment is not available.
Another person may register on behalf of the student at the School Admin Office. The DSA
application forms are available from the School Admin Office upon HAST registration.
There are 3 HAST dates available:
1. Friday, 28 June <strong>2013</strong> from 9 am to 11:30 am;
2. Thursday, 4 July <strong>2013</strong> from 2:30 pm to 5 pm; and
3. Friday, 5 July <strong>2013</strong> from 2:30 pm to 5 pm.
The closing date for the HAST registration is 13 June <strong>2013</strong> for 28 June <strong>2013</strong> test and 21 June
<strong>2013</strong> for 4 July <strong>2013</strong> or 5 July <strong>2013</strong> tests.
Completed DSA application forms together with the personal portfolio, personal statement and
photocopies of supporting documents must be submitted to the school by 21 June <strong>2013</strong>. The
forms can be submitted personally or via postal mail.
B2. Is your test the same as those conducted in other schools Do we have to go for camps
after the test
No, our test is not the same as other schools. If you have taken tests at other schools, you will still be
required to take our tests if you want to participate in our DSA exercise. We do not conduct camps
after test as it will be too time consuming for the students. We would like to make the DSA exercise
as simple as possible as the students should be spending their time preparing for the PSLE.
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B3. What is the test about Where can I get past years’ papers for the test
The Higher Ability Selection Test (HAST) comprises 3 test papers – Reading Comprehension (45
minutes), Mathematical Reasoning (40 minutes) and Abstract Reasoning (30 minutes). The total
duration of the HAST is about 2½ hours. All the papers consist of multiple-choice questions (MCQ)
and students only need to shade their answers. There are no past years’ papers for the test. A
Candidate Information Bulletin will be issued upon registration for the HAST. The bulletin contains
a few sample questions that will provide a reference to the type of questions covered.
B4. What do I have to bring for HAST
Candidates are required to bring their EZ-link card or student pass and HAST registration slip for
identification purposes. Students are required to bring HB or B or 2B pencils, eraser and sharpener
for the test.
B5. I have taken the test in XYZ School. Do I have to sit for ACS (Independent)’s test
Yes, you are required to register and take our test if you want to participate in our DSA exercise. The
question papers are not the same and hence students who have sat for XYZ School’s test will not
have an advantage over those who did not.
C. Questions on general DSA matters
C1. Is the DSA only for the Integrated Programme (IP) What about the DSA for Express
programme
The DSA exercise is for intake into the IP and Express programme. For DSA-IP, all applicants must
take the school’s HAST. IP applicants can apply to be also considered for the Express programme
by indicating so in the IP application form. IP applicants wishing to be considered for the Express
programme must sign up for the sports/games selection trial. The school will consider you for the
four-year Express Programme only if you are not successful for IP. All IP applicants will be charged
a HAST fee of $80 and there is no additional charge if you wish to participate in the selection trials
for consideration into the Express Programme.
Applicants who want to apply for the DSA Express programme only must have clear talents in the
school niche areas. Please refer to C2 for school niche areas. These applicants must register for the
selection trials for the niche sports and will be charged an admin fee of $30.
C2. My son plays golf; so will he be considered favourably Do you have selection trials How
do I register What are the dates
Golf is not our niche sport. Our niche sports are Athletics, Badminton, Bowling, International Chess,
Cricket, Rugby, Sailing, Softball, Squash, Swimming, Tennis and Waterpolo
Selection trials are conducted for Athletics, Badminton, Bowling, Cricket, Rugby, Softball, Squash,
Tennis and Waterpolo. For Swimming, Sailing and Chess, the students’ national age group rankings
and national inter-primary school competitions will be used for consideration.
The dates of the selection trials are posted on our school website
(http://www.acs.sch.edu.sg/acs_indep) and you will have to register at our School Admin Office
which opens from Mondays to Fridays (8 am to 5 pm) at least one week before the selection trial date
or by 21 June <strong>2013</strong> whichever is earlier.
C3. Do I have to submit my completed forms personally Can I mail them in Do I have to
attach photocopies of testimonials, school results, etc
There is no need to submit completed forms personally; you can mail them to our school at the
address indicated on our application forms. You are required to attach photocopies of all supporting
documents. There is no need to approach primary schools for “Certified True Copies”. You are
also not required to put your completed application forms and documents in a file; the documents
may simply be stapled or clipped together for submission.
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C4. What is the number of places available for DSA What is the PSLE cut-off point for entry
to ACS (Independent) What is the PSLE cut-off point for IP
IP
Express Programme
No. of DSA Exercise places available 90 50
No. Of PSLE Posting Exercise places available 90 220
Total Number of Places 180 270
As a guide, the PSLE cut-off point in <strong>2013</strong> was 249 for non-affiliated primary schools and 235 for
affiliated primary schools. For the IP, the PSLE cut-off point was 256.
D. Questions relating to DSA outcomes
D1. When will we know the test result When will I know whether I am successful Will the
school inform us
The HAST results will not be revealed to students or parents.
The HAST result is not the only criteria for consideration, we also consider applicants’ Primary 4 to
6 exam results, their personal portfolio and personal statement. As such, please ensure that the threepage
application form is complete with photocopies of supporting documents. There is no need for
“Certified True Copies” of the documents by the primary schools. Photocopies will suffice. You will
be informed to bring along the original copies if you are required to come down to the school.
All applicants will be duly notified about the DSA outcome. Successful and short-listed candidates
will be contacted by phone sometime from 3 rd week of August to meet the Principal and collect the
offer letters. All successful candidates will be contacted by telephone. If you are not contacted, it is
likely that you are unsuccessful in the DSA exercise. All unsuccessful candidates will be informed in
writing via postal mail by the end of August. Please call the school only after end of August if you do
not receive any letter from the school.
D2. Will there be interviews
Interviews will only be conducted if deemed necessary, for instance to establish some facts. Students
will be duly informed.
D3. Do I need to submit anything else before you call us
There is no need to submit anything else if you have not been informed by the school to do so.
D4. If I have been informed that I am successful in my application, do I have to accept the
offer immediately
There is no need to accept any offer during the DSA exercise period. Students who are given
Confirmed Offers or Waitlist offers will only exercise their DSA option in October (tentatively on 21
October). MOE will issue School Preference Form to successful DSA students (Confirmed Offers or
Waitlist Offers) through their primary schools and these students will indicate their choices. Upon
release of PSLE results in November, students who have received DSA Confirmed Offers or Waitlist
Offers will know the outcome of their DSA choices and be informed of the school they are posted to.
They will not take part in the MOE Central Posting exercise.
D5. Is my Confirmed Offer for DSA dependent on my PSLE results
The Confirmed Offer from ACS (Independent) is guaranteed, so long you are eligible for the Express
Stream based on your PSLE results (PSLE score of 200 and above).
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D6. If I accept your offer can I also accept other schools’ offers How many offers can I
accept
You can receive as many confirmed offers as possible. However, schools appreciate that you inform
them if you do not intend to take up their confirmed offer. This would allow schools to offer the
place to other students on the waitlist.
D7. I received a waitlist offer. How and when do I know that my offer is changed to confirmed
offer
You will only know upon release of PSLE results.
D8. What is this DSA Preference Option
Students who are given Confirmed Offers and Waitlist Offers will be issued with this DSA
Preference Option form by MOE through their primary schools in October. The form will show all
the offers that the student has and he has to indicate his first choice, second choice, etc. Upon the
release of PSLE results, as long as he is posted to Express Stream his DSA choices will be
considered and he will then be informed of his posted school. Once you are posted to a school via
your DSA Preference Option you will not participate in the MOE Central Posting exercise based on
PSLE results. In addition you will not be allowed to transfer to other secondary schools.
D9. From previous years of the DSA Exercise, how many students apply via the DSA exercise
and how many will be successful in the application to ACS (Independent)
The school receives about 750 DSA applications; of which only 90 and 50 will be offered the IP and
Express Programme respectively.
The school takes in more students via the PSLE posting exercise; another 90 and 220 for the IP and
Express Programme respectively.
E. Questions relating to IP, IB & Mother Tongue subject in the school
E1. What is the IP What is IB Do local universities recognize IB diploma
IP stands for the Integrated Programme; a six-year through train programme. Students spend six
years in ACS (Independent) and are not required to sit for the GCE ‘O’ level exams. In their fifth
and sixth years, they do the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) which is a
rigourous and demanding course of study that prepares students very well for university work. ACS
(Independent)’s IP prepares students for the IB Diploma examinations and not the GCE ‘A’ level
examinations.
As the IB programme is a university-bound course of study, most of our students will apply for a
university course of study after obtaining their IB Diploma. The local universities recognise and
accept the IB Diploma. University admission will depend on the university and the course applied
for. The IB Diploma is a very well-recognised international pre-university qualification and
established universities around the world readily give places to IB Diploma graduates.
Please access the school website: http://www.acs.sch.edu.sg/acs_indep and the IBO website
https://www.ibo.org/ for more information on the programmes.
E2. If I offer Higher Mother Tongue in primary school, do I have to do Higher Mother Tongue
in secondary school
Upon release of the PSLE posting results, students will be informed by MOE on their eligibility to
offer Higher Mother Tongue (HMT) in secondary school. Students are given the option to offer
HMT or Mother Tongue (MT). Please inform the school during the Secondary 1 registration exercise
which will take place on the next day after the release of MOE posting, tentatively on 18 December.
A student will only be allowed to drop HMT if he is not coping well with the subject.
A HMT student will be required to sit for the MT GCE ‘O’ Level examination in Secondary 3 and
the Higher MT GCE ‘O’ Level examination in Secondary 4. If a student does not perform well in
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the Sec 3 MT GCE ‘O’ Level examination, he may request to drop HMT and re-take the MT GCE
‘O’ Level examination in Secondary 4.
E3. I am exempted from Mother Tongue in primary school. Do I have to offer Mother Tongue
in your school
If you have been exempted from offering Mother Tongue by MOE in the primary school, the
exemption will still be applicable in ACS (Independent).
If you are an IP student, the exemption will carry through until the end of Year 6. For International
Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma all Year 5 and 6 students are required to do a Group 2: 2 nd Language
subject. Students who are exempted from Mother Tongue will offer ab initio (beginner) languages
such as French, Spanish, Mandarin and Malay. These ab initio subjects are offered in the school
during curriculum time.
E4. Do you offer Chinese B in your school How do I apply to do it
Yes, Year 1 to 4 students can opt to do Chinese B. Students will be required to inform the teachers
during the Secondary 1 registration exercise at the school.
E5. Can I opt to do Hindi, Punjabi or other Non-Tamil Indian Languages in your school Are
the classes conducted in the school
Hindi is conducted in our school with a special arrangement with a private Hindi teacher but students
will be required to pay for the cost of these lessons. Students who wish to offer Punjabi or other
Non-Tamil Indian Languages will be required to offer these languages outside school and after
school curriculum hours.
F. Questions on CCAs
F1. What are your CCAs and how many CCAs must my son take
We have a very wide range of CCAs. Please refer to the MOE booklet “Choosing Your Secondary
Schools” for the full range of CCAs available in our school. It is compulsory for all our Year 1 to 4
students (equivalent to Secondary 1 to 4) to have two CCAs; one of which must be a uniformed
group.
G. Questions on School Fees and Financial Matters
G1. What are your school fees per month
Fees for 2014
Level
Express Year 1 to Year 4
Integrated Programme
(IP) Year 1 to Year 4
International
Baccalaureate Diploma
Programme (IBDP) Year
5 to Year 6
School
Fee (per
month)
Misc Fee
(per
month)
Total Fee
(per
month)
Citizenship
Singaporean $280 $45 $325
Singapore PR $410 $45 $455
Foreigner (ASEAN) $905 $45 $950
Foreigner (Non-ASEAN) $1,050 $45 $1,095
Singaporean $300 $45 $345
Singapore PR $435 $45 $480
Foreigner (ASEAN) $945 $45 $990
Foreigner (Non-ASEAN) $1,100 $45 $1,145
Singaporean $450 $50 $500
Singapore PR $645 $50 $695
Foreigner (ASEAN) $1,455 $50 $1,505
Foreigner (Non-ASEAN) $1,675 $50 $1,725
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G2. Does your school offer scholarship How do I apply
Students who are Singapore Citizens and who have obtained a very high PSLE score (based on
previous years, the score ranged from 261 to 264) may be awarded the EESIS (Edusave Entrance
Scholarships for Independent Schools) by MOE. There is no need to apply for EESIS as these
awards are conferred by MOE. All awardees will receive an EESIS letter from MOE upon the release
of the PSLE results.
EESIS is tenable for studies at any Independent School (IS) offering the Integrated Programme (IP)
at Secondary 1. The annual Scholarship quantum is $2,400, or the annual school fees charged by the
IS less the annual amount of school and standard miscellaneous fees paid by pupils in
government/government-aided schools, whichever is lower, less any other subsidies provided by
MOE or the school for IS fees.
G3. Do you have financial assistance scheme How do I apply
The MOE Independent Schools (IS) Bursary and the ACS (Independent) Financial Assistance
Schemes are available for application for Singaporean citizens. The income criteria for MOE IS
Bursary are as follows:-
Monthly Gross Household Monthly Gross Per
Benefits
Income (GHI) Capita Income (PCI)
Not exceeding $2,500 Not exceeding $625 100% school fee subsidy
Free textbooks and school attire
(secondary); $750 bursary (JC)
75% subsidy of national exam fees
(100% subsidy for pupils under
MCYS PAS)
$2,501 - $4,000 $626 - $1,000 75% school fee subsidy
$4,001 - $5,000 $1,001 – $1,250 50% school fee subsidy
$5,001 - $7,200 $1,251 - $1,800 33% school fee subsidy
Students need only satisfy either the monthly Gross Household Income (GHI) or the PCI criterion to
qualify for MOE ISB.
Apart the MOE Independent Schools Bursary or the ACS Financial Assistance Scheme, there are
also various financial assistance schemes such as the Pacific Healthcare Scholarships, the Class of
1978 Bursary, Tan Foundation Scholarships and Khoo Yang Tin Scholarships to help cover the cost
of school fees and other school payments.
H. Questions on Other School-related Matters
H1. What are your school hours
The school curriculum hours are as follows:-
Year 1 to Year 4 Monday to Thursday 7:30 am to 2:40 pm
except for Wednesday (Week A) 7:30 am to 1:20 pm
Friday
7:30 am to 1:00 pm
Year 5 to Year 6 Monday 7:30 am to 4:00 pm
Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 7:30 am to ranges from 2:40 pm
till 4:00 pm
except for Wednesday (Week A) 7:30 am to 1:20 pm
Friday
7:30 am to 1:00 pm
22 May <strong>2013</strong> DSA <strong>FAQ</strong> 7