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APPLICATION FOR 2007 SPERS-Secondary Schools (2007 SPERS-Sec)

The 2007 SPERS-Sec would commence on 1 August 2007 and end in late December 2007. RS can apply for the SPERS-Sec Eligibility Phase from 1 August 2007.   

2007 SPERS-Sec Eligibility

RS (Singapore Citizen and Singapore Permanent Residents) children, who have lived overseas and are currently not attending our local schools or do not have a place reserved in any secondary school in Singapore (under the Leave of Absence Scheme or otherwise) are eligible to participate in the SPERS-Sec Eligibility Phase.

SPERS-Sec is applicable for RS seeking admission to Secondary One, Two and Three only.  Eligible RS may apply to sit for the papers at the level appropriate to their local age cohort (e.g. RS who is 12+ of age as at 1 Jan 08 may apply to sit for the papers for Secondary One level.) The permissible age range is shown below:-

Age requirement for 2007 SPERS-Sec:

Pilot Overseas Location, Shanghai, People's Republic of China (PRC)

This year, MOE will also offer the conduct of SPERS-Sec Papers in a pilot overseas location - Shanghai, PRC. To ensure that the overseas fee is affordable and reasonable for the candidates and also for optimal resource utilisation, a minimum of 20 candidates have to be registered at the overseas location for the pilot to proceed. This is also to ensure that there is sufficient overseas demand before we conduct the pilot. If less than 20 candidates register, the pilot will be cancelled.

Applicants who have registered for the SPERS–Sec Papers (Shanghai, PRC) will be notified through email by 4 Sep 07 if the SPERS-Sec Papers (Shanghai, PRC) are confirmed to proceed. In the event that the SPERS–Sec Papers (Shanghai, PRC) are cancelled owing to insufficient demand, RS can opt to take the SPERS-Sec papers in Singapore or to withdraw from the exercise. RS who withdraw  may still apply to MOE for assistance for general school placement outside of SPERS-Sec where they may have to sit for school-based papers.

Regardless of whether the papers are taken overseas or locally, all SPERS-Sec candidates will be treated equally, in terms of assessment and placement.

2007 SPERS-Sec Eligibility Phase – Key Events and Dates

The key events and dates for the 2007 SPERS-Sec Eligibility Phase are appended below:-

* subject to minimum candidature

2007 SPERS-Sec Eligibility Phase – Fees

The fees for the 2007 SPERS-Sec Eligibility Phase are as follows:-

2007 SPERS-Sec Eligibility Phase – Timetable

The SPERS papers, comprising of English and Mathematics, will be conducted on 16 Oct 07 (Tuesday). The venue in Singapore is Singapore Expo, Hall 2, 1 Expo Drive, Singapore 486150. The tentative venue in Shanghai is the Singapore Consulate-General, 89 Wan Shan Road, Shanghai 200336. More details will be sent to applicants subsequently.

2007 SPERS-Sec Eligibility Phase – Registration  

RS are required to register between 1 Aug and 2 Oct 07 to take the SPERS-Sec papers in Singapore, and between 1 Aug and 28 Aug 07 to take the SPERS-Sec papers in Shanghai, PRC. RS should complete the 2007 SPERS-Sec Application Form and submit it either via postal mail, hand, email or by fax. 

RS can choose to submit the completed 2007 SPERS-Sec Application Form and the fees as follows:-

Submission By Postal Mail or Hand

Submission By Email or Fax

RS can submit a scanned copy of the completed application form (with signature) to SEAB via e-mail at SEAB_Contactus_operations@seab.gov.sg or via fax at 6272 0156. The RS can send in their cheque/bank draft separately via postal mail to SEAB.  RS are encouraged to send in their application early with the application forms reaching SEAB or MOE CSC by 28 Aug 2007 if they wish to sit for the SPERS-Sec papers in Shanghai, PRC or by 2 Oct 2007 if they wish to sit for the SPERS-Sec papers in Singapore. 

Please note that incomplete applications will not be accepted.

2007 SPERS-Sec Eligibility Phase - Reporting for SPERS-Sec Papers 

All successful candidates applying to sit for the SPERS-Sec papers in Singapore will receive an official notification from the Singapore Examinations & Assessment Board (SEAB) within one week of your application (latest by 8 Oct 2007). Applicants who have registered for the SPERS–Sec Papers (Shanghai, PRC) will be notified through email by 4 Sep 07 if the SPERS-Sec Papers (Shanghai, PRC) are confirmed to proceed. As postal mail from some countries may take more than three weeks to arrive in Singapore, RS are advised to apply early for SPERS-Sec. All successful applicants would receive the official notification, which would include the candidate’s SPERS-Sec Entry Proof (with Index Number), Verification Slip, SPERS-Sec Eligibility Phase Regulations and timetable.

2007 SPERS-Sec Eligibility Phase – Paper Format 

The two papers under the Eligibility Phase (English and Mathematics) will assess the literacy, numeracy and reasoning ability of the RS.

2007 SPERS-Sec Mathematics Paper

Candidates sitting for the SPERS-Sec Mathematics paper will be given 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete. The paper comprises two parts. Use of calculator is not allowed.

Part 1            Multiple-Choice Questions                      40 items

Part 2            Short-answer Questions                          20 items

                     Open-ended Questions                           10 to 15 items

For short-answer questions, candidates have to show the method of solution (working steps) clearly and write the answer in the space provided. Any unit required in an answer is provided and candidates are expected to give the answer in that unit.

Open-ended questions generally require longer and/or more complex method of solution as compared to short-answer questions. For open-ended questions, candidates have to show the method of solution (working steps) clearly and write the answer in the space provided.

2007 SPERS-Sec English Paper

Candidates sitting for the SPERS-Sec English paper will be given 2 hrs and 10 minutes to complete. The paper comprises two parts.

Part 1               Writing (50 marks)

Two topics are set for Sec 1, and four topics are set for Sec 2 and Sec 3. 

Candidates choose one topic and write a composition on it. 

Sec 1 students will write 200 – 300 words.

Sec 2 students will write 250 – 350 words.

Sec 3 students will write 300 – 400 words.

Part 2               Comprehension and Language Use (50 marks)

                        Compulsory Multiple-Choice Questions

Comprehension (based on two passages)                        15 items

Comprehension Cloze (based on two passages)               15 items

Vocabulary                                                                    10 items

Grammar                                                                       10 items

2007 SPERS-Sec - Preparation

RS are expected to know and be familiar with the Singapore syllabus of the subject at the level preceding the level of the SPERS-Sec paper.  For example, if you are seeking admission into Secondary 2, you will be tested on the topics covered in Singapore schools in Secondary 1.  You may refer to the following MOE website http://www.moe.gov.sg/cpdd/syllabuses.htm  for more information about the subject syllabuses.

2007 SPERS-Sec School Option Phase

All participants in the SPERS-Sec Eligibility Phase should receive a 2007 SPERS-Sec School Option Form from MOE in late November 2007. The SPERS-Sec School Option Form would include a list of schools the RS is eligible to seek admission to.

As delivery schedule to overseas is uncertain, the 2007 SPERS-Sec School Option Form will only be sent to either the email account or the local postal address provided by the RS in the 2007 SPERS-Sec Application Form. All RS are therefore urged to provide a valid email address when completing the SPERS-Sec application form to ensure fast and effective communication and notification.

RS are invited to indicate his/her choices (with a maximum of 6 school choices) by completing the School Option Form and submitting to MOE by 26 Nov 2007 through one of the following means :

RS may verify whether their completed School Option Form had been received and captured correctly by MOE, by visiting the MOE Website http://www.moe.gov.sg/esp/eduinfo/. If there are any discrepancies, RS should contact MOE CSC at DID +65 68722220 anytime before 26 Nov 2007, 1700 hrs Singapore time to clarify. MOE will not be able to update any discrepancies to the School Option Form after this deadline.

2007 SPERS-Sec School Posting Phase

MOE will conduct a posting exercise for RS seeking admission to secondary schools, taking into account their performance at the Eligibility Phase, their school choices, and the available vacancies in the schools. In instances where the RS may not be successfully posted to any of the schools that he has opted for, MOE will assign him a place in a secondary school with a vacancy near his home.

Release of Posting Results

Tentatively, the posting results will be released as follows :

a.         For Secondary 1            -          19 Dec 2007. 

b.         For Secondary 2 & 3     -           12 Dec 2007.

Candidates should visit the MOE website http://www.moe.gov.sg/esp/eduinfo/ to view their posting results.  Candidates can access their posting results using their NRIC Number/BC Number or Entry/Re-entry Permit Number (for new permanent residents).  

Reporting to School

All candidates are to report to the school that they are posted to on 21 Dec 2007 for registration. In the event the RS does not approach the school by 4 January 2008 to effect admission procedures, the place may no longer be available for the RS.  MOE and the school will have full discretion on whether to admit another student to the school.

Appeals

Candidates who choose not to accept the place offered during SPERS-Sec may approach other schools with vacancies directly for consideration.

2007 Schedule for SPERS-Sec

The 2007 Schedule for SPERS-Sec is appended below for reference. 

  * applicable only to RS registering for SPERS-Sec Papers (Shanghai, PRC).

FAQs for Secondary School Placement Exercise

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