Northland Primary School Firm Foundations, Future Learnings

“PSLE T-Score, DSA & Sec 1 Posting Process”

(11 January 2017)

Northland Primary School Firm Foundations, Future Learnings

Outline of Session

I) PSLE & T-Score

II) Secondary Education Landscape including DSA

III) Secondary 1 Posting Exercise

Northland Primary School Firm Foundations, Future Learnings

Purpose of PSLE A Certification Exam

– Certifies the standards of achievement by grades e.g. A*, A, …U

A Placement Exam– Places students into different courses in secondary

schools according to their academic achievement (at that point of time).

A Posting Exam– Enables posting to secondary schools by merit &

preference, thus fairly.– PSLE needs to reflect relative achievement level

of students among their peers.

What is PSLE Aggregate Score?

It is a sum of scores

What are these scores? Are they

raw scores?

Can raw scores be used?

NO !

Why Not?

• Different subjects have different levels of difficulty

• So are the spread of marks from the average mark, i.e. the standard deviation (spread of marks)

MEASURE OFS P R E A D

Narrow Wide

DOLLY

I scored 85% in both English and Mother

Tongue !

H U R R A Y !

Dolly scores 85% in both EL and MT

85%

EL

EL ave= 60

MT

MT ave= 80

Her performance in MT is very close to that of other pupils

She did much better in EL as compared to other pupils

0 100

A need for standardisation of the raw scores

Transformed Score or T-Score

T-Score

ave = 60

EL MT

ave = 80

50

85% 85%

T-Score converts average mark of each subject to a common score of 50 points. It also converts other marks taking into consideration the extent to which they differ from the average and the size of spreadof the marks around the average

What is T-Score?• It gives the relative position of a

pupil’s performance compared to the performance of all the other pupils in that subject

• The raw mark obtained in the exam only shows how good the pupil is in that subject (not how good he is as compared to others)

How is T-Score calculated for each subject?

where X: pupil’s mark for the subjectY: average mark (mean) scored by all

pupilsZ: spread of marks around the average

mark (standard deviation)

ZY)-(X1050T +=

Example:

• Pupil’s mark (X) in exam = 50.0• Average mark (Y) scored by

all pupils = 68.0• Spread of marks (Z) around

the average mark = 14.0

T = 50 + 10 (50 - 68.0)14.0

= 37.14

How is the AggregateScore calculated?

By adding the T-Scores ofthe 4 subjects

Example:

Subject Total Mark T-ScoreEL 200 105 34CL 200 152 51

Maths 100 67 53Science 100 58 47

Aggregate Score: 185

Finally,

all pupils are ranked according to their Aggregate Scores

PSLE Aggregate Score

- Sum of the T-Scores of a student in all 4 subjects,

- ‘T’ stands for Transformed.

- T-Score of each subject for a student is obtained by a mathematical formula to normalise (or standardise) the raw score of that subject of the student.

- The sole purpose is to convert each of the raw scores of the 4 subjects to a common ‘currency’ before adding them up to obtain the aggregate T-Score.

FAQ: T-SCORES & GRADES

Is it possible for a pupil with 3A* and 1A to be ranked lower than another pupil who has only 1A* and 3As?

Yes, it is possible

FAQ: Does EL have double weighting?

No, each of the 4 subjects (EL, MT, Math & Science) carries the same weighting after being transformed to T-Score

Secondary One Posting

“What are the Education Options available after Primary School?”

1 Mainstream Secondary Schools

2 Specialised Schools

3 IP (Integrated Programme) Schools

4 Specialised Independent Schools

Mainstream Secondary Schools

Offers Express, Normal (Academic), Normal (Technical) streams

a) Express Courseb) Normal CourseNormal (Academic)Normal (Technical)

1

a) Focus on hands-on learning and practical knowledge b) Training to prepare students for ITE education

subsequentlyc) Training for ITE Skills Certification (ISC)

Students at Assumption Pathway School learning to serve macaroons at the training restaurant

Specialised Schools2

Specialised Schools for Normal(Technical) Students (SSNT)

Crest Secondary School and Spectra Secondary School

Students will benefit from skills-based, practice-oriented learning

Non-merit based Not on first-come-first enrolled basis

a) An integrated Secondary and JC educationb) Secondary school students can proceed to sit for their

A-Level or equivalent diploma without taking the GCE O-Level examination

c) Students can enrol for IP at Sec 1 or Sec 3d) Allow students who are academically strong to benefit

from engaging in broader learning experiences

Integrated Programmes Schools3

For students with certain aptitudes in Math, Science,Technology, Sports or Arts:

a) Singapore Sports Schoolb) NUS High School of Maths & Sciencec) School for the Arts (SOTA)d) School of Science & Technology (SST)

May offer either the GCE O- or A-level, or Specialised Diplomas (eg IB)

Specialised Independent Schools4

School Factors1.Does the school offer programmes, CCAs and niche areas which will bring out the best in the student?2.How does the student commute to school?

Personal Considerations1.What are the strengths, interest and learning style of the student/child?

When Choosing a school consider …

Academic ConsiderationsHow does the student’s PSLE results compare to the previous year’s Sec 1 posting aggregates of the school?

Admission Into Secondary 1

2 ways of seeking admission into Sec 1:

a) Sec 1 Posting Exercise (refer to Secondary 1 Information Booklet and Secondary Education Booklet)

b) Direct School Admission (DSA)–Sec Exercise

Direct School Admission (DSA)Introduced in 2005, the DSA scheme is MOE’s commitmentto holistic education.

DSA schools have the autonomy to admit students usingcriteria other than PSLE results, but keeping to principles oftransparency and meritocracy. This allows for a morediverse range of student achievements and talents to berecognized.

Obtain more info on DSA admission by checking theschools’ websites. Application deadline for each DSAschool may differ.

For more information: http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/admissions/dsa-sec/

Direct School Admission (DSA)The DSA-Sec Exercise is NOT a centralised posting exercise.

Students successfully allocated to their DSA-Sec schools will :- NOT be allowed to participate in the annual S1 Posting Exercise

to opt for secondary schools. - NOT be allowed to transfer to another school after the release

of the PSLE results. - Successful DSA students are expected to honour their

commitments to their posted DSA schools for the duration of the programme admitted to.

- Similarly, successful Singapore Sports School (SSP) DSA students are not allowed to transfer to another school, other than their posted secondary school offered to them under the S1 Posting Exercise

Tentative Timeline for 2017 DSA-Sec Exercise

By Secondary Schools

1 July -31 AugustStage 1 – Selection StageSelection Stage + issuance of letters to all applicants (Confirmed Offer, Waiting List or Rejected)

Tentative Timeline for 2017 DSA-Sec Exercise

By Primary Schools

26 October

26 – 30 October (3pm)

Receive School Preference Forms

Stage 2Exercise School Preference for those who have received 1 or more offers via DSA-Sec internet System (DSA-Sec IS)

Tentative Timeline for 2017 DSA-Sec ExerciseBy MOE

Late NovemberStage 3DSA results release

Late December Reporting at Sec School

Secondary 1 Posting ExerciseConducted for all candidates immediately after the PSLE results are released (late Nov)a) Students who have confirmed DSA offers need not

participate in this exercise. ( But if they are offered 3rd

language they have to log in to exercise their choice.)b) Students will be given the S1 Option Form to indicate up

to 6 secondary school choicesc) Students to indicate their choices either by submitting a

physical copy of the S1 Option Form through theirPrimary School or online through the Secondary OneInternet System

http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/admissions/secondary-one-posting/

Secondary 1 Posting ExerciseTime-line Remarks

Oct Distribution of Sec 1 Posting Booklets and Secondary School Education Booklet

Late Nov Release of PSLE results

Late Nov Submission of Sec 1 Option Form

Late Dec Release of School Posting Results

Posting Process• When the PSLE results are released, all students will

be ranked according to their Aggregate Scores:• Example:

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6thPupil P (285) Sch A Sch B Sch C Sch D Sch E Sch FPupil Q (270) Sch A Sch B Sch C Sch X Sch Y Sch ZPupil R (263) Sch B Sch D Sch W Sch X Sch Z Sch Y

• P will be considered first, then Q, then R, not their choices• For P, MOE will try to admit him/her to 1st choice school, if not

possible, then 2nd choice, if not then 3rd choice and so on. Then MOE will look at Q….

until schools have filled up their vacancies

Rank all PSLE pupils by their PSLE Aggregate Scores285

270

263

240 and below

By Merit :

FULL

270

263

By Choice

285

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th

FULL

Un-posted Students

If a student cannot get into any of the schools of his 6 choices

Posted to a school within the same Postal District that still has vacancy

Posted to a school in a neighbouring Postal District that still has a vacancy

Posted to a school anywhere in Singapore that still has a vacancy

Key Messages1. Singapore’s education system is broad-based

to ensure holistic development but yetflexible and diverse to meet the needs ofeveryone.

2. Find the best fit education pathway to suitthe student’s needs, abilities and learningstyles.

3. There are multiple pathways to success.

Northland Primary School Firm Foundations, Future Learnings

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Firm Foundations, Future Learnings