Direct School Admission (DSA)

2025 DIRECT SCHOOL ADMISSION – SECONDARY (DSA-SEC) EXERCISE

Introduction

Tampines Secondary School (TPSS) extends a warm invitation to Primary 6 students to apply for direct admission into the school for academic year 2026, before the Secondary One Posting Exercise.

We welcome students who are talented in any of the following areas:

Admission Criteria 

Please note that meeting all the criteria does not guarantee the student will be shortlisted/given an offer. 

Applicants who do not have prior experience may also apply. The school will assess applicants based on the selection criteria, which may include assessing the potential of the applicants

Selection Process

Application for DSA-Sec can be submitted through the online DSA-Sec Portal. The application is free-of-charge and will be open from Wed 7 May 2025, 11am to Tue 3 Jun 2025, 3pm. For more details, please refer to MOE website – https://www.moe.gov.sg/secondary/dsa

Parents and students are encouraged to choose schools wisely based on the student’s aptitudes and strengths, bearing in mind the schools’ academic and non-academic requirements, and the programmes available to develop the area of talent.

Unless otherwise stated, DSA selection interviews are conducted in-person at Tampines Secondary School. Details for each selection interview will be shared with shortlisted students in due course.

The interview panel will include a School Leader, a TPSS DSA coordinator and teacher I/Cs or instructors (where relevant). Thereafter, all applicants will be informed of the outcome (i.e. ‘Confirmed Offer’, ‘Wait List’ or ‘Unsuccessful’), via email or phone call by Thu 4 Sep 2025.

In addition to a 10-minute interview (group/individual) for each shortlisted applicant  , the following modes of selection are also used.

a) For Dance-related Talent Areas

• Performance of a prepared item, such as a 1min dance solo featuring any genre that can be done within a classroom space. Students may perform dance(s) learnt in school (e.g. CCA, LLP) or self-choreographed pieces and should be in suitable dance or PE attire.

b) For Drama – English

• A prepared solo performance lasting 1 to 2 minutes (e.g., a monologue). Students may present a scripted, devised, or improvised piece, which may have been learned during school lessons or co-curricular activities (CCAs). 

c) For Music-related Talent Areas

• A 2-5min performance on voice/instrument in your Talent Area (if student has access to the necessary instrument and if solo performance is possible), or

• A 1-2min performance of pieces/songs learnt in primary school Music lessons, CCA, or self-learnt songs/pieces, using voice or instruments available.

d) For Visual Arts

• Create impromptu artworks with supplied materials using a theme or a set of instructions in the given duration. 

e) For STEM – Creative Engineering and Modelling

• Open-ended challenges, using accessible materials, to assess aptitude for design thinking and creativity.

f) For Football

• Demonstration of individual skills and movements that showcase agility.

Key dates

The table below contains a summary of key dates for the application and selection stages of the DSA-Sec process (more information can be found at MOE’s website here):

Please note that successful DSA-Sec candidates who took the PSLE are NOT allowed to participate in the S1 Posting. . However, if they are eligible for third language and/or Posting Group options, they may enter these options during the School Choice Submission period via the S1 Posting Portal. Successful DSA-Sec candidates are also NOT allowed to transfer to another school after the release of the PSLE results.

Students who are successfully admitted to the school via DSA are expected to honour their commitment to the school, and participate in the activities related to the talent they are selected for from year 1-4. 

Unsuccessful DSA-Sec candidates will be notified of the outcome and to participate in the S1 Posting to submit school choices.

Parents and students are encouraged to choose schools wisely based on the student’s aptitudes and strengths, bearing in mind the schools’ academic and non-academic requirements, and the programmes available to develop the area of talent.

Contact Details

For clarification, please contact:

Thank you.