Does your child have an exceptional musical talent or a passion for an academic subject or a sport? The countless hours that your child spent to hone their craft can actually help them score a place in a school of their choice through the Direct School Admission (DSA-Sec)!
What is DSA?
Direct School Admission (DSA-Sec) is an admission programme that allows students with diverse talents to secure a place in a secondary school of their choice (with the option of choosing IP schools) before taking the PSLE. Students who successfully apply through the DSA-Sec can continue to develop their skills in their dream secondary school.
The DSA admits students with a wide range of talents such as
- Sports and games
- Visual, literary and performing arts
- Debate and public speaking
- Science, mathematics and engineering
- Languages and humanities
- Uniformed groups
- Leadership
If your child possesses talent in one or more of the above domains, the DSA-Sec could be a route to explore! Parents will also be happy to note that a particular school may have multiple talent domains.
Secondary Schools with Math Talent Area
- Temasek Junior College (Secondary)
- NUS High School of Mathematics and Science
- Raffles Girls’ School (Secondary)
- Nanyang Girls’ High School
- Catholic High School (Secondary)
- Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) (Secondary)
- Victoria School
- Hwa Chong Institution (Secondary)
- Raffles Institution (Secondary)
Beyond the math talent area, you can also use the MOE’s DSA school choices or SchoolFinder to narrow down your school choices based on your child’s talent area.
DSA Application Timeline
Students can start applying for DSA through the MOE DSA portal from early May to early June.
| Date | Important Event |
| 7 May – 3 June 2024 | Apply through the MOE DSA portal |
| July – September 2024 | Application and Selection Process |
| 21 – 25 October 2024 | School Preference Submission |
| Late November 2024 | DSA Allocation Results |
DSA Math Selection Criteria
Each school has its own DSA selection criteria. Certain talent areas may require students to pass a selection test and audition/interview while others may also be asked to provide character references or personal statements.
Secondary Schools with DSA Math Talent Area
| S/N | School | Single-Sex or Coed? | IP School | Criteria | Selection Process |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Temasek Junior College (Secondary) | Coed | ✅ | Excellent academic results and relevant achievements in the subject area | Written test and interview for shortlisted candidates |
| 2 | NUS High School of Mathematics and Science | Coed | ✅ | Academic performance in the school, particularly in mathematics and science and portfolio showcasing their passion and aptitude in mathematics and/or science. NMOS Silver or Gold may be required | DSA Test, camp and interview |
| 3 | Raffles Girls’ School (Secondary) | Girls | ✅ | Excellent academic results and relevant achievements in the subject area, able to work in a collaborative setting and/or attained a high level of achievement in relevant national and/or international competitions | Written test and collaborative hands-on activity for shortlisted candidates |
| 4 | Nanyang Girls’ High School | Girls | ✅ | Passion and aptitude in Math, academic ability and character and leadership disposition | Selection test and interview |
| 5 | Catholic High School (Secondary) | Boys | ✅ | Demonstrate strong interest and drive to excel in Mathematics study and research and have a portfolio of outstanding achievements and work that demonstrates passion and aptitude for Mathematics. | Interview and group interview |
| 6 | Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) (Secondary) | Boys | ✅ | Only APMOPS Round 1 Platinum will be considered | Interview only |
| 7 | Victoria School | Boys | ✅ | Good academic results for P5 overall or its equivalent and participation and achievements in the talent area | Interview (Portfolio required) |
| 8 | Hwa Chong Institution (Secondary) | Boys | ✅ | Excellent academic results and relevant achievements in the subject area. Students who have previously achieved SMOPS Platinum were invited to participate in the DSA interview. Students’ ranking in the SMOPS invitational round will also be taken into consideration. | Interview and/or selection test |
| 9 | Raffles Institution (Secondary) | Boys | ✅ | Demonstrate interest and talent in Math. Students who attain High Distinction in RIPMWC/RMO (Second Round) | Selection test and interview |
Preparing for the DSA Math Application
As part of the DSA application, students need to demonstrate strong academic performance and participation in Math Olympiads such as NMOS, RMO and APMOPS/SMOPS. Students who are planning to apply for DSA-Sec through Math should plan ahead to gain exposure and develop a portfolio by participating in local math competitions.
Even though most schools prioritise awards achieved in NMOS, RMO and APMOPS/SMOPS, students can develop mathematical thinking from as early as K2! Students who join math competitions such as SASMO and SMKC at an early age can develop their problem-solving ability and strengthen math olympiad foundations needed for Upper Primary Math Olympiad.
Think Academy Singapore provides basic and advanced math olympiad courses for students in K2-P6 to achieve excellence in the Primary School Math Olympiad. Our Semester 3 is now open for enrolment!
Our courses is a fast-paced and highly challenging math olympiad course. To ensure our course is suitable for your child, students will be required to complete an evaluation test (at no cost) before attending a trial.
Interested in an evaluation? Contact us to find out more!