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Look beyond cut-off points, PSLE scores when choosing secondary schools: Principals at ST Forum

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In short

Five principals delivered these insights at The Straits Times Post-PSLE Forum held on Oct 31 to help families navigate secondary admissions. They stressed that parents should assess unique school offerings, co-curricular activities, and overall cultural fit by attending open houses and speaking directly with current students. Additionally, the panel advised against gambling on institutions where students fall short of cut-off points, as the Ministry of Education's tie-breaker rules could jeopardize lower-ranked choices. Families were ultimately encouraged to maximize all six available application choices strategically.

Key points

  • Families should evaluate daily travel time, student maturity, and specialized school offe…: Families should evaluate daily travel time, student maturity, and specialized school offerings when deciding on placements.
  • Applying to institutions with cut-off points above a student's score carries substantial…: Applying to institutions with cut-off points above a student's score carries substantial risks under existing tie-breaker rules.
  • Attending campus open houses to engage with current and former students provides essentia…: Attending campus open houses to engage with current and former students provides essential insight into an institution's culture.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

- Five principals said parents should not choose secondary schools only by PSLE cut-off points or scores.

- Principals said PSLE results may not show true ability, especially if tuition helped.

- They advised families to use all six school choices wisely, attend open houses, and speak to students.

AI generated

Explore the PSLE Companion microsite for more insights and tips.

SINGAPORE - Choosing the right secondary school after the PSLE should not be based solely on a school’s cut-off points or the child’s score, said five secondary school principals on Oct 31.

Instead, parents should make practical considerations like travel time, and whether the school’s unique programmes and co-curricular activities (CCAs) cater to the child’s interests.

Speaking at The Straits Times Post-PSLE Forum on Oct 31, Goh Soon Hoe, principal of Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School, said: “If the PSLE result was attained through sheer force of tuition, then maybe that AL (aggregate level) score may not be a good representation of what a day-to-day life in secondary school education is all about.”

Goh was one of five principals on…

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