Successful DSA-SEC Admissions In 2024 ~ Ms Katriel Sim

20 Jan 2024
All About Dance Dance Examinations Direct-School Admissions (DSA-SEC)
DSA-SEC Admissions In 2024 - Our Student's Success Stories
 

In an academically driven society as Singapore where every parent's primary concern with school-going children is their educational results, we have encountered first-hand when dance is often sacrificed for extra tuition classes when a student's academic results need improvement. However, we are of the humble opinion that dance actually offers students an outlet to engage in an activity that betters their mental and physical wellbeing, leaving them recharged for their academic pursuits.


In recent years, our nation's leading education authority - Ministry Of Education has been pushing for a broad-based multifaceted learning approach as evidenced by the introduction of the new Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) scoring system - Achievement Level (AL) since 2021 and the introduction of Subject-Based Banding (SBB) in Secondary Schools from 2024 onwards. Thus, pursuing dance while striving for academic excellence at the same time is now a very viable option through MOE's DSA-SEC admission programme that takes into account a student's talent in Dance when they are vying for a spot in their preferred Secondary School. For our full in-depth review of this topic, please visit this link: https://stepup.sg/blog/DSA-SEC-How-Dance-Can-Complement-Your-Child-s-Admission-Into-Their-Preferred-Secondary-School.
 
In this article, we will be celebrating the achievements of Ms Katriel Sim who managed to receive a confirmed offer from her preferred Secondary School through DSA-SEC via the talent area of Dance. Read on to find out more of her personal insights with regards to her successful DSA journey in 2023: 


1. What are the most important personal attributes in a student for success in DSA using dance?

Discipline and confidence are definitely important attributes needed. To do well in dance, one needs to put in extra hours of practice. As I prepared for the DSA auditions, I had to practise my dances repeatedly to ensure that I knew the steps very well and was able to execute them with confidence. 


2. How have the DSA preparations at StepUp contributed to your success in DSA?

Ms Ada has guided me very well throughout my dance journey over the years. During lessons, she taught me numerous techniques which I could showcase during my auditions. For example, she has always emphasised the proper way to do a jete leap. When the interviewer asked me to demonstrate the leap during my audition, she was very impressed and complimented me. 


3. How has the dance journey at StepUp contributed to your success in DSA?

The choreography that Ms Ada came up with for my dance exam was something I could refer to when I was preparing for my audition as I could just adapt and refine the steps to suit the requirements laid down by the schools.


4. Why did you decide to take up DSA-SEC?

I really have the passion for dance, and I know that I will choose dance as my CCA even if I enter a Secondary School using my PSLE results. As such, I applied DSA Dance for 2 schools, Nan Chiau High and Chung Cheng High (Yishun) Schools. While I know DSA is not a shortcut, it helped to reduce some stress and anxiety during PSLE itself after I knew I was given Confirmed Offers by both schools. 


5. Who would you recommend DSA-SEC to and why?

I would strongly recommend it to all my juniors who really love and enjoy dance just like me. It is also a great bonus to students who get anxious easily during their PSLE Exams.


6. What was the toughest part of the DSA-SEC submission?

The choreography and sourcing of songs were time-consuming. I also had to put in extra hours of practice to work on my techniques, bearing in mind that it was the same period of time leading up to the Primary 6 Prelims Exams. For Nan Chiau High, where parts of the interview were conducted in Mandarin, I also had to practise answering questions fluently in both languages.


7. If you could redo the entire DSA-SEC submission again, what improvements would you undertake?

I would start preparing my dances and portfolio earlier so that it would not be a last minute rush as some schools may only notify you of the audition dates a week in advance. 


8. What was the differential between your average Achievement Level (AL) from Primary 4 to the actual PSLE results, and the AL cut-off score required by Nan Chiau High School?

My average AL was within a 0% differential from the requirements of Nan Chiau High School.


Thanks to Katriel for sharing her DSA-SEC journey and inspiring our juniors at StepUp with her success story! 

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