Successful DSA-SEC Admissions In 2025 ~ Ms Eryn Tan

31 Jan 2025
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DSA-SEC Admissions In 2025 - 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 Eryn Tan 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 2024: 


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

The most important personal attributes are to be confident, disciplined and focused. 


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

The DSA preparations by StepUp were very useful. Those training sessions were essential to my successful DSA application. 


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

The dance journey and training at StepUp has helped a lot for my portfolio making. Participating in the RAD Ballet exams, CSTD Jazz exams, Recitals and Competitions also built my experience and stage confidence along the way, contributing to the success of my DSA application. 


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

I decided to take up DSA as I have been dancing since age 4. I felt that it would benefit me by securing a spot in a Secondary School that I would really want to attend and continue in dance as a CCA. 


5) Who would you recommend DSA-Sec to and why? 

I would recommend DSA to those who are interested in dancing and those who wish to continue dance in Secondary School. 


6) What was the toughest part of the DSA-SEC application?  

I think the toughest part of the DSA journey is the preparation of learning the new dance with the extra hours of practice while at the same time, dealing with extra school work and preparation for preliminary exam. 


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

I believe there is no need to, as the dance training and DSA preparations by StepUp had prepared me well. 


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 Chung Cheng High (Yishun). 
 
My average AL was within a 3% differential from the requirements of Chung Cheng High (Yishun). 


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

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