FAQs

Questions

Answers

What is the DSA exercise timeline like?

The actual dates for DSA 2026 have not been released yet, please look out for MOE's announcements in early May. For reference, you may look at the DSA 2025 timeline:

For DSA 2025 exercise, the online MOE application portal was opened from 7th May (11am) to 3rd Jun (3pm). For RVHS, the shortlisted applicants were informed of their DSA test via email on specified dates in July and August by 11 July (Friday). All applicants were notified of the outcome of their application via email between 25 August and 4 September 2025.

Can my child apply for more than one category during the DSA exercise?

You can apply for up to two talent areas in the same school.

What information do I need to submit together with the application form?

You have the option to give additional information regarding the level of competence of your child in the selected talent area in a text box provided on the application form.

When will I know if I have been shortlisted for the test / audition / trial / interview?

All applicants will be informed if they have been shortlisted and will be provided with the details via email by 11 July (Friday).

When will I know if I have been offered a place?

All shortlisted applicants will be notified of the outcome of their applications between 25 August and 4 September 2025 via email.

I received more than one DSA offer. When must I decide which to accept?

You will have to indicate your preferences in ranked order for up to three schools during the School Preference Submission Exercise via the online MOE DSA portal.

What is the minimum AL score needed for my child to be shortlisted for DSA trial / audition? Does RV only accept DSA students with AL1 in all subjects?

The DSA scheme provides students with an alternative route to gain admission to RVHS. All applicants will be assessed for their talents during the trials or auditions, and ability to cope with the IP curriculum based on strong and consistent academic performance particularly in P5 and P6.

Must my child obtain a good grade for Chinese Language so as to be considered for shortlisting?

As a SAP school that believes in bilingualism, we will assess your child’s ability to cope with our RVIP Chinese Language Programme in the shortlisting process based on the results provided in the application.

Does my child need to take Higher Chinese Language in primary school in order to apply for a place in RV?

While Higher Chinese Language (HCL) is not a prerequisite for admission to RVHS, all students in RV must take Higher Chinese Language from Sec 1 to 4.

Where can I find the list of CCAs for DSA?

The 2025 DSA CCA list is available on our school website . The 2026 DSA CCA list will be published once the DSA Exercise commences.

Is there a DSA quota for each CCA or on the whole?

There is no fixed quota. The objective of DSA is to identify talent, taking into consideration the student’s interest and long-term development potential.

If my child gets into a secondary school through DSA-Sec, what obligations do they have?

If your child is admitted to a secondary school through DSA, they are not allowed to:

• Submit school choices during the Secondary 1 (S1) posting process.

• Change their CCA if it is the chosen talent area

• Transfer to another school. They must commit to their chosen school for the duration of the programme.

In accepting a DSA offer, your child is expressing a commitment to study in that school and develop their talent in the chosen area. Your child should honour this commitment.

If choice of CCA is important, your child should avoid applying for admission via DSA due to the aforementioned conditions.

If my child is offered admission to a secondary school through DSA, does he need to meet the school’s cut-off-point for S1 posting?

No, your child does not need to meet the school’s Cut-off point under Secondary 1 Posting. To be successfully admitted to a school through DSA, your child's PSLE results must qualify them for the Posting Group offered by the school.

For students admitted via DSA, do they have more training / practice sessions than the others?

No, for sports, they will train thrice a week and for the performing arts, they will train twice a week, just like the rest of their teammates.

Would my child be at a disadvantage during the DSA exercise for being a non-Singaporean?

Your child’s nationality does not matter in the DSA exercise. Our assessment is based on talents and ability to cope with the rigour of an IP school.

What are the selection criteria for talent areas in performing arts?

Students should display a strong aptitude in the talent area they applied for. Auditions and interviews will be conducted to assess their suitability in that talent area.

If my child has learnt only ballet and modern dance, and not other dance forms, and has been in the dance team but quit ballet in P6 due to the heavy workload, can she still apply for dance DSA and does she need to be the key dancer in her CCA?

While a dance background in any genre is beneficial, it is not a requirement. Previous experience as a lead dancer in school CCAs is not necessary, as selection is based primarily on your child’s performance during the audition. All successful candidates will receive training in both Chinese and contemporary modern dance styles.

My child is in Hip Hop in primary school, can my child apply for DSA dance?

Yes, having any dance skills would be an advantage but do note that in RV Dance society, the dancers do not take hip hop or street dance at the secondary level. Street Dance CCA is offered at the JC levels.

What competencies are you looking for in a student applying for Concert Band or Chinese Orchestra? Is there a particular instrument you will give preference to for DSA? For example, is the CCA short of certain instrument players so more priority will be given to these students?

The school will assess a student’s musicality, which is the ability to perceive and reproduce differences in the aspects of music including pitch, rhythm, and harmony. Basically, it is the ability to be able to reproduce music in addition to creating music (musical creativity). At the application phase, past achievements, competition involvement and academic requirements will be taken into consideration for shortlisting. For Chinese Orchestra, the school will consider all musical instruments excluding guzheng and violin. For Concert Band, the school will consider all musical instruments excluding piano and violin.

If my child gets accepted for Drama through DSA, does it mean he/she has to do drama as a subject in RV?

Your child has to take up Drama as his/her CCA if he/she accepts the offer to come into RV via Drama.

Will my child be guaranteed a place in the school team if he comes in via DSA?

The school team is selected only prior to the team registration for the National School Games. Generally, most DSA students qualify for the school team due to their talent, ability and sustained commitment to training.

What are the requirements to qualify for the various DSA sports?

Students should display strong aptitude in the talent area they applied for. Trials and interviews will be conducted to assess their suitability in that talent area.

Can we apply for DSA even though we are not in the school team or if our primary school does not have that particular sport?

Yes, you can still apply for DSA.

How do I prove that my child is a captain of the school team?

The primary school should have recorded your child’s Leadership and Achievements in the CCA Certificate.

How do we apply for DSA leadership?

Must the child hold a key position in the school prefectorial board?

Your child’s primary school CCA record should reflect that he/she holds a key position (head prefect, vice-head prefect, or EXCO member) in the school prefectorial board. For DSA leadership, we are specifically looking for a greater leadership capacity. Being in a key leadership position is a signal that the student has been recognised to have the capacity to be stretched and developed, hence chosen, among their peers whom they work together, to be the representative of the prefectorial board.

What will be the development plan for the child if he/she is accepted through DSA leadership?

Upon entering RV, the child will be in our Student Leadership Development Academy and Students' Council and be part of leadership projects and initiatives.

What are the selection criteria for robotics?

Prior knowledge of Python programming is highly recommended as it is an accessible and beginner-friendly language. Students who are well versed in other common programming languages, such as C++ or Java, may also apply. The school will provide appropriate Java and C++ IDEs for students who choose to use these languages during the trial. Block-based programming languages are not accepted.

What do you look for in students who apply for DSA Science Investigation?

For Scientific Investigation, students should have a deep passion in science and innovative problem-solving skills. They should also demonstrate a natural curiosity in Science through their performance in science inquiry tasks. Besides academic excellence in Science in school-based exams, students' involvements in related competitions and enrichment activities (e.g. Primary School Science Club programmes and science / innovation research projects) are good evidence in the student portfolios, which they need to present during the DSA trials, to highlight their interests in these domains.

Is CCA compulsory in RV?

CCA is compulsory for all secondary school students.

How are students selected for the CCAs? Are certain CCAs made up of DSA students only?

Students with the right aptitude for particular CCAs are matched to them. There is no CCA that is made up entirely of DSA candidates.

Are external CCAs (eg water polo or tennis) recognised by the school and will the child be awarded CCA points?

If the student's involvement in a sport is under the National Sports Association, we will award CCA points.

Can my child take up more than one CCA?

Students who can cope with the school’s academic and main CCA demands may take up another CCA. We have students who have demonstrated the ability to handle a diverse range of commitments in CCAs and Academies.

How many training sessions are there per week and how long is each session?

There are three training sessions per week for sports CCAs. Generally, training sessions are held on Tuesdays, Fridays and one other weekday. Each training session is 3 hours long, from 3pm to 6pm. Performing Arts CCAs are held on Tuesdays and Fridays, except for Chorale which conducts CCA on Wednesdays and Fridays. More practices are arranged only when there is a need to prepare for a competition or a performance. In such instances, parents and students will be notified at least two weeks in advance. Our students’ well-being is our priority, hence during the post-season and end-of-year examination period, CCA sessions will be phased down.

What opportunities are given to students in the performing arts CCAs?

Besides the biennial SYF performances, students in the performing arts CCA have many platforms to perform such as our annual Arts Fest performances, Reverie. In addition, the Performing Arts CCAs perform in many internal and external school events ranging from Honours Day to performances at the Istana. Under the guidance of our experienced instructors, they also get to take part in competitions and when they are at their apex, they may be sent for external MOE courses such as the conductor’s course, to hone their skills.

Can my child join more than one CCA if he or she gets into RV via CCA DSA?

Your child has to remain committed to the CCA that he or she got in via DSA, so it must not coincide with the training schedule of the other CCA that your child would like to join.

In what ways is RV’s Integrated Programme unique?

* The Cultures of Thinking (CoT) framework is infused into the various programmes so as to develop our students’ critical thinking skills.
* Inquiry-approach, research-based, process-oriented CID Curriculum
* We offer Bicultural Studies Programme (Chinese) and SAP Scholarship
* We have six talent academies - Science  Leaders Academy, Humanities and Social Sciences Leaders Academy, Mathematics Leaders Academy, Bicultural Leaders Academy, The Eco-Sustainability Leadership Academy and Student Leadership Development Leaders Academy to stretch our students’ potential

As an IP school, students are exposed to varied learning experiences and opportunities through its six-year seamless programme where they do not sit for the O-Level Examinations and instead, take the GCE A-Level Examinations in JC2.

Are the GCE A-Level subjects taught in RVHS?

As an Integrated Programme school, our students go through a seamless 6-year educational journey, hence the GCE A-Level curriculum is taught in RV.

How does RV perform in the GCE A-Level Examinations?

RV students have been performing above the national average in the GCE A-Level Examinations and the school has been consistently value-adding to the students’ A-Level performance. Our graduates are enrolled in local and overseas universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial college, London School of Economics, UC Berkeley, Harvard, Stanford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Peking University, Tsinghua University, Fudan and other renowned universities. This shows the dedication and support of our teachers to ensure that our students do well in the examinations.

If my child is not able to cope with the Integrated Programme after the 1st year, what other options are there for my child?

What is the drop-out rate?

As a school, we provide our fullest support to our students. This caring and enabling environment comprises the form teachers, subject teachers and Year Masters, who monitor students' progress and collaborate to help students reach their fullest potential. Coupled with strong home-school partnership, we are confident of helping our students to do well in the GCE A-Level Examinations. Students who asked to leave RV typically do so because they want to pursue a course that is not offered in the A Level curriculum.

Note: DSA students are not eligible to transfer to other secondary or IP schools after acceptance of the Confirmed Offer.

Will my child be at a disadvantage since there are no O-Level classes in RV?

Will my child be left with only a PSLE certificate if he is unable to finish the 6-year programme?

Being able to proceed directly to the A-Levels is an advantage for our students as they get more time and opportunities to develop core competencies over six years through our customised programmes.

After completing their Secondary 4 education, all students will obtain an IP Certificate which is issued by MOE to reflect their academic status.

Note: DSA students are not eligible for any transfer to other secondary or IP schools after acceptance of the Confirmed Offer.

Does RV place more emphasis on the Chinese Language than on English Language?

As an SAP school, we strongly believe in the importance of both languages, given the global landscape that demands proficiency in both languages and bicultural sensitivity in order for us to engage with the rest of the world. By placing equal emphasis on both languages, our students will have a competitive edge when they graduate as they can be the bridge between the East and the West.

Does my child need to take Higher Chinese Language (HCL) in P5 and 6 in order to be admitted into RV?

Students who took both English and Chinese at the PSLE can opt for SAP schools. They need not have taken HCL in primary school.

Students who obtained Pass, Merit or Distinction in HCL are eligible for a posting advantage when applying to SAP schools.

When multiple students with the same PSLE score apply to an SAP school, those with better HCL grades will be given priority. This applies before the tie-breakers.

The cut-off point (COP) of SAP schools include the HCL grade of the last student posted to the school, if applicable.

Is there any support for students who struggle with the Chinese Language?

Yes, we have after-school programmes to support the students’ learning of the Chinese Language. In addition, our school has various enrichment programmes to ignite their love for the language.

When do the students sit for the GCE "O" Level HCL examination?

Students will sit for the GCE "O" Level HCL Examination in secondary 4.

Does RV offer any other mother tongue languages?

We offer other mother tongue languages to our JC students only.

Can a student participate in more than one of the six Talent Academies?

We do not limit students' capacity and interest. With the right aptitude, membership in more than one Academy is possible and encouraged.

How are students selected for competitions?

We select candidates based on their aptitude and capabilities for competitions.

If my child is very proficient in English Language, will there be opportunities to further develop and challenge his/her skills?

We support students' learning and interest areas, and we have different talent programmes ranging from speaking to writing, and prepare them for competitions.

Does RV have weekly weighted assessments for different subjects throughout the academic year?

We have bite-sized assessments to assess students' understanding and they are spread out across the term so that they can pace their revision.

If my child takes the Art Elective Programme in another school, can my child take fewer subjects in RV?

No, your child will still be taking the same core subjects as the rest so that they can keep their options open when it comes to choosing their subject combination in Secondary 3.

Is there any promotion criteria from Sec 1 to JC 2?

Just like any other school, there is a set of promotion criteria that students need to meet in order to be promoted to the next level.

How does MOE's posting work?

Please visit this site to find out more.

When will posting results be released?

The posting results will be announced by MOE in early December and once they are released, schools will post the relevant information on their websites.

What are the school hours like in RV?

School begins at 8 am from Tuesday to Friday, with a later start time of 9:00 am on Mondays. Lessons typically end around 2:30 pm, although the exact timing may vary depending on the student's level and subject combination. On some afternoons, students may attend supplementary classes or enrichment programmes.

How many students are there in each class?

On average, we have about 30 to 35 students in each class.

Does RV offer bus services to 3rd language centres?

The school provides transport for all third language students.

Does RV offer bus services?

No, we do not provide bus services as the school is conveniently located near Boon Lay MRT station with excellent public transport connectivity, including multiple bus routes serving the area.

Are there any scholarships that students can apply for?

Our school has the Tham Tuck Meng Scholarship for Sec 1 students.

Can my child transfer out of RV after 4 years?

The IP is a six-year programme. Students are expected to fulfil their commitment to the school for the full duration, and transfers to other schools are strongly discouraged. In particular, transfers to other IP schools are not allowed, unless under exceptional circumstances.

Does RV accept transfer students from other schools?

Parents may call the school at the end of the academic year to check if there are any vacancies. If there are, parents may apply and the student will sit for the aptitude tests.

How many Secondary 1 students do you admit every year?

The cohort size varies every year.

Can International students apply to study in RV?

International students (IS) who want to join RV at Secondary 1 to 3 will have to apply through MOE. Please refer to MOE’s webpage on admissions for international students. For Secondary 1 DSA application, IS will have to obtain a registration number from MOE first before participating in RVIP DSA exercise. They will also have to pass MOE AEIS for their DSA results to take effect.