Direct School Admission (DSA) Exercise 2023
(This document is correct as of 26 Jun 2023)
Do you have a strength, interest or talent area we are looking for? Do you think that Ngee Ann Secondary School will be a good fit for you?
The Ngee Ann Secondary School Direct School Admission (DSA-Sec) to Secondary One in 2024 is open to interested applicants.
Application for DSA-Sec can be submitted through the online DSA-Sec Portal. The application is free-of-charge and will be open from 4 May 2023, 11am - 31 May 2023, 3pm. For more details, please refer to MOE website – MOE website
Think it Through
How do you know if Ngee Ann Secondary’s DSA suits you? The following considerations might help:
(i) The Ngee Ann DNA. Check out what Ngee Ann stands for from the information on our school website. Do the flagship programmes and the Ngee Ann Experience excite you? Is it aligned to what you look for in your secondary education?
(ii) Learning culture and rigour. What sort of learner are you? Do you learn well with technology? Do you want breadth with depth? Can you handle independence with discipline? Do you take ownership of your own learning? Can you learn in groups? Decide if our pace and pitching is right for you.
(iii) Your strength, interest and talent area. Can our DSA programmes meet your needs? Can we take you further? How can you use your strength, interest and talent to enrich, build and serve the Ngee Ann Sec community?
Parents and students are encouraged to choose schools wisely based on the student’s aptitudes and strengths, bearing in mind the schools’ academic and non-academic requirements, and the programmes available to develop the area of talent.
DSA-Sec Talents Offered
The following talent areas are offered by Ngee Ann Secondary School:
| # | DSA-Sec Talents | Opportunities that students can expect to participate in |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coding | Choice of CCA (subject to qualifying for it) Offer to enrol in Technopreneur Programme and O-level Computing |
| 2 | CCA: Chinese Orchestra | Participation and representing school in
- Singapore Youth Festival (Arts Presentation) - School performance and events |
| 3 | CCA: Badminton | Participation and representing school in
- National School Games - School events |
| 4 | CCA: Basketball (Boys only) | |
| 5 | CCA: Volleyball (Girls only) | |
| 6 | CCA: Wushu |
Students who are successfully admitted to Ngee Ann Secondary via DSA are expected to (a) honour their commitment to the school and (b) participate in the activities related to the talent they are selected in for the duration of the programme admitted to. For DSA talent areas associated with a CCA, they are also expected to remain in their CCA. If your child is not able to fulfil the DSA commitment without valid reasons, they may be required to transfer out to another school.
DSA-Sec Talent Shortlisting Criteria
These are our school’s shortlisting criteria for each DSA-Sec Talent offered.
Meeting all the criteria does not guarantee the student will be shortlisted/given an offer.
In general, all potential students must:
- Demonstrate strong passion for, as well as motivation in the respective talent areas;
- Demonstrate commitment, perseverance and resilience in their talent area endeavour;
- Demonstrate good character with a minimum conduct grade of “Very Good”.
In addition, each talent areas will have their own shortlisting criteria:
| # | DSA-Sec Talents | Shortlisting Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coding | • Displays strong computational-thinking skills and passion in coding/robotics but no specific requirement to be trained in any particular coding language. • Has participated in local or international coding-related competitions (e.g. National Junior Robotics Competition, First LEGO League, National Robopreneur Carnival). • Good to support with, if any: - Portfolio of coding-related projects - Relevant certificates and achievements |
| 2 | CCA: Chinese Orchestra | • Demonstrate strong performance in the respective talent areas or strong aptitude in the respective talent areas. • Consistently displays exemplary conduct. • Good to support with documentary proof, if any, of relevant training, experience and exposure to music. |
| 3 | CCA: Badminton | • Demonstrate strong performance in the respective talent areas or strong aptitude in the respective talent areas. • Should preferably have represented their primary school or taken part in national/zonal competition(s). • Should preferably attained “Team” achievement of Top 4 or “Individual” achievement of Top 8 placing in National Inter-Primary School competition. • Consistently displays exemplary conduct. • Good to support with documentary proof, if any, in the respective talent areas: - Of relevant training, experience, and exposure - Participation in competitions - Achievements • Be medically and physically fit. |
| 4 | CCA: Basketball (Boys only) | |
| 5 | CCA: Volleyball (Girls only) | |
| 6 | CCA: Wushu |
DSA-Sec Talent Shortlisting Criteria
Part One: Selection Process
All shortlisted students will be invited to the school for a selection test, an audition or trials. Students will be assessed on their ability to play the game or instrument, as well as their potential. Do note that you only need to attend ONE of these selection tests.
Students should come prepared with their instrument, equipment and/or sports attire or school uniform. They should report to the school’s general office and will be directed to the respective venues.
The details for the selection tests, auditions and or trials are as follow:
| Talent Area | Date (Day) | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coding | 27 Jun (Tue) 06 Jul (Thu) |
3.30 to 4.30pm 3.30 to 4.30pm |
Computer Labs Computer Labs |
| Chinese Orchestra | 20 Jul (Thu) 25 Jul (Tue) |
3.30 to 6.30pm | Auditorium |
| Badminton (Boys and Girls) |
27 Jun (Tue) 05 Jul (Wed) |
4 to 5pm | Multi-Purpose Hall (MPH) |
| Basketball (Boys only) |
30 Jun (Fri) 05 Jul (Wed) |
4 to 5pm | Indoor Sports Hall (ISH) |
| Volleyball (Girls only) |
30 Jun (Fri) 06 Jul (Thu) |
2 to 3pm 4 to 5pm |
Indoor Sports Hall (ISH) |
| Wushu (Boys and Girls) |
07 Jul (Fri) 11 Jul (Tue) |
2.30 to 5pm 4 to 5.30pm |
Indoor Sports Hall (ISH) Multi-Purpose Hall (MPH) |
What to expect during auditions, trials and selection tests?
Coding
(i) Applicants are expected to do a Multiple-Choice Question test which assesses aptitude in computational thinking skills. Programming language will not be assessed. Chinese Orchestra
(i) Applicants are required to prepare a 1-3min piece of their choice for the audition.
(ii) Applicants are advised to bring their own instruments (if any) as they are more familiar with it.
(iii) However, if they do not have an instrument, especially bulky ones like the bass/cello, they can borrow it from our school. Contact the teacher-in-charge to make the necessary arrangements ahead of time.
Badminton, Basketball, Volleyball:
(i) Applicants are to turn up in sporting attire (appropriate t-shirt, sporting shorts and comfortable sports shoes) as well as bring along their water bottles.
(ii) Badminton players are to bring their own rackets.
(iii) Be prepared to play the game.
(iv) Assessors will be looking at applicant’s ability to play the game and the potential for coaching.
Wushu
(i) Applicants are to turn up in wushu training attire (any t-shirt, wushu pants and wushu shoes).
(ii) Be prepared to showcase basic moves, splits, jumps etc.
(iii) Prepare up to two routines that they are most confident in. Applicants will be asked to showcase half of the routines.
(iv) Applicants can bring their own weapons if they are showcasing that routine. If they do not have their own weapons, they should inform teacher in-charge beforehand so that he or she can have them prepared.
Part Two: Interview
Successful applicants from the selection process will be required (they will be notified) to attend an interview session.
Dates: Last week of July till entire of August (Estimated, to be confirmed)
Venue: Ngee Ann Secondary School Conference Room
Time: From 3 pm onwards
Enquiries
For more information about our programmes and CCAs, please visit our school website.
For other enquiries, please direct your email to, with subject heading as “DSA matters: General” or “DSA matters: Specific talent area” to nass@moe.edu.sg.