Direct School Admission Exercise 2025

Direct School Admission Exercise 2025

To know more about our DSA talents and life in BBSS, click here.

Introduced in 2004, the DSA scheme seeks to promote holistic education and provide students with an opportunity to demonstrate a more diverse range of achievements and talent when seeking admission to a secondary school.

At Bukit Batok Secondary School (BBSS), we believe that every child is unique and has innate abilities to be developed. Our school values, mission and vision, represent our collective passion, dreams and aspirations, and guide us in how we work with our parents, community and partners to realise the full potential of our students. We endeavour to build a culture of self-directedness and abundance mentality amongst staff and students. Our students are firmly at the heart of our work and we seek to develop the whole child by providing meaningful and connected learning experiences that will allow every BBSSian to develop the right values, competencies and skills to do well in the 21st century.

DSA to Bukit Batok Secondary School

We are looking for promising Primary 6 students who demonstrate talent in the following 3 groups of talent areas that are open for DSA. 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.

Group 1 (Sports & Games)

Talent Area

Criteria Eligibility for DSA

Selection Processes for DSA

Softball (Girls)

  1. Demonstrate passion to further develop and do well in this game.

  2. Able to commit to at least 2 training sessions per week, which include:

(i) Skills

(ii) Game play

(iii) Fitness and Conditioning

  1. Having the experience to play at a competitive level would be an added advantage.

  2. Physical Fitness: Candidates should have good physical fitness, including good stamina, agility, speed, and coordination. They should also show a willingness to engage in regular training and a commitment to maintain their fitness levels.

  3. Sportsmanship and Attitude:

Candidates should exhibit a positive attitude towards training and competition, and demonstrate a willingness to learn, take feedback, and work cooperatively with their teammates. They should also show good sportsmanship, respect for rules and their opponents, as well as a commitment to fair play.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to participate and assessed in the following:

  1. Skills assessment pertinent to the sport

  2. Physical Fitness Test

  3. Face-to-face Interview

  4. Personal disposition in terms of confidence, keenness to learn etc…

Basketball (Boys)

Rugby (Boys)

Cross Country

Candidates should:

  1. Show passion in running and have the desire to excel.

  2. Constantly strive to improve and take one’s ability to the next level.

  3. Be able to commit to at least 2 training sessions a week:

(i) 1.6km run time:

  • Boys: below 7 minutes 30seconds

  • Girls: below 8 minutes 30seconds

Or

(ii) Be a finalist in National Primary Schools Track and Field Meet in any of the following individual Track events:

  • 100 m, 200m, 300m, 600m, 1500m or hurdles

Shortlisted candidates will

  1. Participate in a 1.6km run or a Beep test.

  2. Participate in an interview and display confidence and keenness to strive for persistence.

Group 2 (Performing Arts)

Talent Area

Criteria Eligibility for DSA

Selection Processes for DSA

English Drama and Debate

Candidates should:

  1. Be confident and eloquent.

  2. Be able to work independently and collaboratively.

  3. Be willing to take up production and acting roles in drama, and debate.

  4. Have experience in drama productions, stage performances and/or competitive debating.

Note: Experience in emceeing would be a bonus

Selected candidates will be invited to participate in a live audition in which candidates will perform the following:

  1. Present a One-minute speech on self-introduction.

  2. Present a 1.5-minute drama audition.

  3. Present a 1.5-min crossfire debate (group)

Selected candidates should be able to demonstrate confidence, eloquence, stage presence and engagement with audience

Chinese Orchestra

Candidates should meet at least one of the following:

  1. Demonstrate strong talent and interest in Chinese Orchestra.

  2. Have a minimum of 2 years playing experience in CO instruments like Dizi, Suona, Yangqin or Erhu etc.

  3. Participated in Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation or any other public performances would be an advantage

Achievements/awards in international/regional/national competition would be an added advantage.

Achieved quality grade in music examination for any specific instrument would be an added advantage.

Selected candidates will be invited to participate in a live audition in which candidates will perform the following:

Play musical pieces on the instrument (2-3 minutes).

Malay Dance

Candidates should meet at least one of the following:

  1. Demonstrate strong talent, commitment and interest in Malay Dance.

  2. Be a member of Malay Dance CCA in primary school in either contemporary or traditional.

Participation in Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation or any other public/school performances would be an advantage

Selected candidates will be invited to participate in a performance task in which candidates will:

  1. Present a live performance on a prepared dance item based on traditional/contemporary music (2 - 3 minutes).

  2. Demonstrate the knowledge of basic traditional Malay dance genres such as Zapin, Inang and Joget.

  3. Demonstrate confidence in speaking when delivering the dance synopsis before the performance (2-3 minutes).

  4. Demonstrate knowledge, passion and stage presence through audience engagement.

Group 3 (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics STEM)

Talent Area

Criteria Eligibility for DSA

Selection Processes for DSA

Robotics Club

Candidates should:

Have minimum 2 years of experience in Robotics Club.

Have experience in building Lego Mindstorms EV3 and Spike prime sets and is fluent in Python Programming.

Have experience in Python Programming, AI, or mobile Application Programming (any one area)

Have participated in robotics-related projects in school/externalevents OR have represented school in robotics-related competitions at internal/national level

Selected candidates will present a portfolio (slides) demonstrating the following:

A project done in (Python, AI, Mobile app programming)

To showcase their creative and logical approach to computational thinking (e.g. explaining the IF and IF-ELSE programming function, a Flowchart or computational thinking and problem-solving approaches).

To collaborate as a team, present solutions used to overcome problems and issues faced together.

STEM

Candidates should

Exhibit the following qualities:

Problem solver

Reflective

Innovative

Team player

Perseverance

Demonstrate knowledge, interest and passion in STEM.

Recount their past experiences relevant in their application for DSA STEM.

Shortlisted candidates will:

Submit a personal statement (maximum 300 words) detailing the candidate’s active involvement in STEM activities.

Prepare an e-portfolio of work related to STEM with supporting documents such as photos of exhibits, prototypes, certificates etc. Submit this e-portfolio together with the personal statement to bbss@moe.edu.sg with the title DSA STEM application.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview in which they will be required to solve some problem-based tasks.

Note: Students admitted through DSA STEM must participate in STEM related projects and competitions.

Note for all applicants: Meeting all the criteria does not guarantee that the student will be shortlisted/given an offer. Achievements at the national/international level would be an advantage. Applicants may key in relevant information via the MOE DSA Application Portal.

All applications are to be made via the MOE DSA Application Portal. 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.

Information on DSA will be available in local media on 6 May 2025. For more information on the DSA-Sec, please visit the MOE DSA-Sec website

(www.moe.gov.sg/dsa-sec).

Application Procedure

You have from 11am on Wednesday, 7 May 2025 to 3pm on Tuesday, 3 June 2025 to submit your child’s application. Follow these steps to apply:

Log in to the http://www.moe.gov.sg/dsa-sec with your SingPass.

Find out how to register for a Singpass and 2FA if you don’t have one.

You can indicate up to 3 choices and 3 talent areas.

You may indicate up to 2 talent areas for the same secondary school. If you are keen to apply for the 2 talent areas offered by our school, you must indicate both talent areas as separate choices.

You may provide information for up to 10 non-school based activities and achievements which are related to your child’s chosen talent areas.

There is no need to submit any supporting documents during application. Your child’s primary school records (for example, P5 and P6 academic results, CCA, school-based activities, achievements or awards) will be automatically shared with the schools.

Enter your contact details correctly. This allows the schools to contact you if your child is shortlisted for the selection process. Meeting all the criteria does not guarantee your child will be shortlisted/given an offer.

You can update, withdraw and re-submit your application during the application period.

If you are unable to apply online, approach your child’s primary school for assistance

Schedule

Process

Date / Time

Application Opens

7 May 2025 (11am)

Closing date for submission of application online through the DSA-Sec portal

3 June 2025 (3pm)

Notification of short-listed applicants for interview (by phone call, email or post)

From 30 June 2025 to 29 August 2025

In- person selection/interview sessions at BBSS

From 30 June to 4 September 2025

Notification Letter (Outcome of application)

25 August to 4 September 2025

School Preference Submission by students

7 October to 31 October 2025

Notification of DSA-Sec admission results (on the same day as the release of the PSLE results)

Late November 2025

Students will be assessed on both their demonstrated and potential abilities to ensure that they benefit from the curriculum offered at BBSS. You will receive notification from the school by 29 August 2025, if your child has been shortlisted to undergo Direct School Admission (DSA) selection/ interview sessions at BBSS. All applicants will receive their application outcomes between 25 August and 4 September 2025.

Successful applicants will join BBSS in January 2026.

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 throughout their years in BBSS.

Enquiries

·     Contact the General Office at 6379 9413. (Monday to Friday - 8.30am to 5.00pm)

·     Email us at bbss@moe.edu.sg. Please indicate "DSA Enquiries" in the subject field.

*updated as of 29 April 2025

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