11-05-2025
Application for direct school admission to secondary schools, JCs opens from May 7
SINGAPORE – Students who wish to apply for direct admission to secondary schools and junior colleges (JCs) may do so from May 7.
Those who wish to apply for early admission to the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) can start doing so from May 20. Application for early admission to polytechnics starts on June 2.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) said on May 6 that the Direct School Admission (DSA) scheme allows students to enter secondary schools and JCs based on their interests and aptitudes, beyond their performance at the national examinations.
Students will be considered by the respective schools they have applied for. Schools can admit up to 20 per cent of their students through the DSA, said MOE.
According to checks by The Straits Times, 142 secondary schools and 20 JCs will be participating in the DSA exercise.
Students applying for DSA must still sit the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) or O-level examinations.
If a DSA offer is made to them by their selected school, students have until the indicated deadline to accept the offer, which will be before the release of the national examination results.
For students moving on to secondary school, they will be guaranteed a place in their selected school, provided they accept the offer and their PSLE result meets the minimum requirement for a posting group that the school admits students from.
MOE posts students to secondary school through three posting groups: PG1, PG2 or PG3. PG1 roughly corresponds to the previous Normal (Technical) standard, PG2 to Normal (Academic) standard and PG3 to Express standard.
Similarly, those who apply to JCs will be guaranteed a spot provided that their O-level results meet the minimum requirements for admission.
Once students accept a DSA offer, they will not be eligible to participate in the Secondary 1 posting exercise or Joint Admissions Exercise. They are also not allowed to transfer to another school after obtaining their examination results.
Primary school pupils and their parents may submit DSA applications via from 11am on May 7 to 3pm on June 3.
Applicants need to fill in only one online form, and can select up to three choices of school and talent area offered by the school. Applicants can indicate the same school up to two times in their application.
Students applying for DSA to JCs can go to for more information, or visit the JCs' websites for the application period, procedures and selection criteria, as these vary between schools.
The Early Admissions Exercise (EAE) is applicable for those wanting to further their education in an ITE or polytechnic.
Under the EAE, applicants are considered based on their aptitude and interest in a specific course, as well as relevant work experience for working adult applicants. Applicants may need to submit portfolios or undergo interviews and take aptitude tests as part of the selection process.
Graduating secondary school students who would like to enter ITE can go to for more information on the application procedure and entry requirements for the courses they are interested in.
Applications will open from May 20 to 26.
Meanwhile, graduating O-level students who would like to enter polytechnic can submit their EAE application from June 26 to July 2, while final-year ITE students can submit their EAE application from June 12 to 18.
Applicants can find more information on the application procedure and entry requirements at
Those successful will be given an offer by the chosen ITE or polytechnic before receiving their final examination results. They must meet the minimum entry requirements for the selected course in order for the offer to be confirmed.
Those who accept a place via the EAE cannot participate in other ITE or polytechnic admission exercises.
Working adults can also apply for EAE to enter ITE or a polytechnic. They must be Singapore citizens or permanent residents, and have at least two years of relevant work experience.
EAE applications for working adults into ITE and polytechnic will open from May 20 to 26 and June 2 to 29 respectively.
Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction
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