Introduction to Direct School Admission (DSA)

Time flies. Before I knew it, it was already July!

So much had happened during the past few weeks. I took the Nanyang Girls' High School (NYGH) GAT on 1st July and the Raffles Girls' School (RGS) GAT on 10th July. Yes, yes. I am applying for DSA to both schools. Trust me, parents/children, Direct School Admission is horrible. Taking tests and going for interviews are certainly NOT fun.

Anyway, back to our main topic. I don't think GAT is something that can prepared, so I guess all that you have to do is to sleep well. :D After knowing that there's something called DSA, my mother quickly urged me to apply, though I resisted. After all, I was not a big fan of DSA. To me, DSA is a new and foreign territory. It is something that I'm not used to. I simply did not know what to expect.
Mother told me that I was afraid of failure. I had to admit, I was. So, after much persuasion, I finally applied for it reluctantly and wasted several days writing my RGS personal statement.

 So, parents/children, think twice before you apply for DSA. I think DSA is good in the sense that you have a 'higher possibility' of getting into your dream school. For pupils (I'm talking about DSA via Academics) who have won many 'pro' competitions (SMBO, SMOPS, UNSW...), I think you should give it a try. Who knows? You might be what the teachers are looking for. I reckon the reason I did not want to apply for DSA is because I have won only a few competitions.

For other pupils who want to use 'Academics' (those who did not take part in any competitions), I discourage you to do so. Don't forget that taking tests also takes time off your tight schedule.

For pupils who want to use 'CCA', I'm sorry to say that I can't offer any suggestions since I did not use this route. Nevertheless, good luck! I hear it is very tough but if you are really good, I'm sure you will be given a 'Confirmed Offer' as well.

Parents/Children, don't be disheartened if you are rejected. At the end of the day, DSA is only a 'chance'. Study hard for PSLE! This is the safest way.

Introduction

Primary School Leaving Examination.

How the Primary Six students in Singapore dread these four words.

As everyone knows, the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) is a national examination which is taken by all the Primary Six students in Singapore. After the results are released, every pupil will be posted to a Secondary School, except those who fail.

Needless to say, during that critical year in every child's life, the child will definitely be under a lot of stress. I'm sure a lot of parents will nag at their children for playing computer games, not doing their homework, oversleeping, and just not taking the examinations seriously.

Fortunately, for me, this is not the case. I have parents who are 'very lax', so lax that sometimes I wonder if they really care about the PSLE at all. Until now, my dad still doesn't know that the list of 'keywords' that every 'kiasu' parent knows: Direct School Admission (DSA), General Ability Test (GAT) and none other than the PSLE itself.

I can't really blame them, really. They are terribly busy. So, I have decided to rely on myself to study hard, persevere, and get good results.

Now, before I continue, I must tell all of you something. I can't really guarantee my study methods work. All of the methods suggested are only my ways of doing things.

My Dream School: Raffles' Girls School (Secondary)
Goal: 270+

Okay, I guess I should stop babbling and move on to what you guys are most interested in:

HOW I SURVIVED PSLE IN 2012

'Jiayous', everyone!

I would love to hear from you.

Laverne Zachary.

P.S. No impolite comments please. Thank you.

P.P.S. I might not update my blog very often. Sorry in advance!