Sometimes, I think that homeschooling the primary school years in Singapore is a lot easier than homeschooling post PSLE.
Compulsory Education Act and PSLE
In Singapore, due to the Compulsory Education Act, all citizens must sit for PSLE the year he/she turns 12, unless he/she has received an exemption from the authorities. Although many will disagree with me, I feel that it does help to keep me accountable. What I disagree with is the higher benchmark homeschoolers are held to, compared to public school children. We have to achieve an aggregate score that is basically an Express Stream score. It is unnecessary stress for everyone. And expressed or not, your child does feel the pressure to clear it, because… friends and relatives.
Post PSLE
Post PSLE, there is no longer any Law that constrains or dictates our choice and mode of education. This means that there is total freedom (and confusion?) for those who choose to continue to homeschool after clearing PSLE.
However, most of us, well-trained by the System, automatically assume that the O and A-Levels route must be the way. And when told that there are no longer any rules governing us, we still tend to gravitate towards what is familiar and known. But there are other options.
So Many Options?
Except that there aren’t as many as we think there are, depending on what the end goal for our children’s education is.
In reality, there are only many options if one is willing to truly think out of the box and not follow the crowd. If the end goal is entry into a local institution of higher learning, there aren’t that many options.
Why?
Because our local polytechnics and universities still very much prefer Singaporean students to apply with qualifications that are endorsed and dictated by our Ministry of Education (MOE), i.e. O and A-Levels certification and preference is given to them. Sure, they do welcome citizens with other qualifications but it is just a more difficult route. Your child just has to shine a little brighter, know what I mean?
After all, just to get a student concession card to travel at discounted rates on public transport requires one to declare that one is homeschooling with the intention of taking N/O/A Levels or IB. No other form of certification is accepted. :::insert eyeroll:::
But I digress.
Giving Post PSLE FAQs a Home
The purpose of this post is to consolidate some frequently asked questions (FAQs) I have been getting the past few years about homeschooling past PSLE in Singapore. Then I can just point people to this post. I will try to update this post as and when I get new information.
As you read, please note that I am not prescribing any route to you or suggesting that one route is better or worse than another. And if you want to know more about homeschooling in Singapore, I have a general Homeschool FAQ post. Otherwise just search for “Homeschool” in the Search Box on the blog for more posts. Links to other related posts on homeschooling can be found at the end of this post as well.
Our Experience
A little information about myself for those who are not familiar with me or our family.
You can find out more in About Me on the Home Page of Building Up Moms.
My husband, Henson and I have 7 children. All of them were/are homeschooled. Two have finished Grade 12 and graduated from our homeschool. One is finishing up this October/November. The rest are at various stages of progress. There are two more who have yet to sit for PSLE. It has been a l-o-n-g road since we started officially in 2004 when the Lord called us to homeschool.
Our oldest was offered a place at both NUS and NTU for Mechanical Engineering. He took up NUS’s offer and will start school in August 2019 as he is currently serving out his NS duties. Our second will try for a place at NUS and NTU, while our 3rd, is planning to go the polytechnic route. This is the status as it stands and I have no idea what the rest of the children will do.
Before we get into the FAQs, please bear in mind the following:
#1. Husband and wife must have unity in this decision to homeschool. Whichever route you choose, there will be obstacles, difficulties and stress. But when husband and wife are united, there is power in that unity.
#2. Remember your WHY in homeschooling. Remembering the WHY helps heaps when troubles and doubts come, and they will come. And keep your end goal in mind as you make decisions along the way.
#3. Check, check, check! Always check that the information you have, even mine, is current and relevant. Never go by anecdotal stories and hearsay. Local and foreign institutions change their policies all the time. It is your responsibility to check that your information is accurate and current.
#4. Timing and deadlines are different for boys vs girls because of NS. All Singaporean boys are required to serve NS. And there are certain rules pertaining to when they must serve. That does affect their homeschooling journey somewhat. I address this in Section B below.
#5 We use Abeka Academy in our Homeschool. Our experience with homeschooling post PSLE, this far, is with using an online video streaming curriculum by Abeka Academy. Things will be different if going the O and A-Levels way or the iGCSE route (the international version of O and A-Levels). Go to Abeka Academy for more information. Our experience with GCE O-Levels is when the older 2 children sat for O-Levels Chinese and Higher Chinese. (For O and A-Levels, you register with Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board as a private candidate.)
Now, on to your questions.
A) Admission to Local Universities
#1. Is the high school program from Abeka sufficient for admission into local universities?
No. They need to have SAT and 3 SAT Subject Tests results as well. Please see:
We apply under Singapore citizens/SPRs with International Qualifications. Click on American High School Diploma at each link to find out more if you are using an American curriculum.
#2. The listed criteria for NUS/NTU is High School Diploma + SAT + SAT Subjects + Higher Chinese. So, we need to have Higher Chinese?
Yes. That is what is stated. They also said that they will accept applicants without Higher Chinese at O-Levels on a case-by-case basis. BUT the child is still “required to fulfil the MTL requirement during their course of study” unless granted exemption by MOE. IOW no escaping from Chinese!
See Admissions Criteria: Singapore Citizens/SPRs with International Qualifications for more details.
#3. Does the student need to take more rigorous subjects from other online schools eg Calculus and APs?
It is not so much the rigorous part that is the issue but the recognition of those qualifications. Some years back, NUS used to accept AP results as well as SAT + SAT Subject Tests results. But their policy has since changed. AP is now offered in addition to SAT and SAT Subject Tests results. Not as a stand-alone.
This means that one may use his AP score to beef up his resume, in addition to the SAT and SAT Subject Test scores. Anecdotally I have heard of one child who was accepted into NUS without SAT Subject Tests but had the relevant AP tests. But unless it is stated officially, I would be wary of using AP scores to apply in lieu of SAT Subject Tests.
#4. What about extra qualifications. Is the high school diploma from Abeka/Bob Jones University all that is needed to satisfy the High School Diploma part of the criteria? Or should we get an external agency (eg NARHS) to document all courses and participation in events during high school years?
That is what is stated officially on their websites.
BUT – any extra documentation or accreditation is ALWAYS helpful. Remember we are applying under Singapore Citizens/SPRs with International Qualifications and therefore, comparatively, the allocated spaces for us is smaller compared to spaces for A-level holders. So my advice always is, try to get as high a score as possible or as many accreditations as possible, including CCAs, without killing yourself or your child.
#5. Do we need certification from NARHS?
I am not familiar with the North Atlantic Regional High School (NARHS), so I cannot comment on that. But officially, a High School Diploma + SAT + Higher Chinese is all that is required.
B) Admission to Overseas Institutions
You will have to do your own research on each individual institution’s requirements. SAT is generally accepted by most institutions But the scores required and the subjects selected are dependent on the course/s and institution one has chosen. Again, do not go by word of mouth. Always check and keep oneself up-to-date on the each institution’s admission requirements.
C) Questions on Boys and NS
Boys who are Singapore citizens are required to serve NS by the age of 18. They are usually called up for medical checkups and physical examinations about a year before they turn 18 and they usually enlist within 6 months of turning 18.
Some parents prefer that their child to finish up and graduate from their homeschool before he is called up at 18 in order to be placed with boys who have completed A-Levels. (*) But others don’t want to rush to complete it.
Based on mere observations and stories, they may now be categorised according to fitness rather than academic qualifications. (*) For example, my son is in PES B2 where the boys are downgraded because of high myopia or some other injury. His cohort has a mix of diploma and A-Level holders.
#1. My son is born in January. Does he have to complete SAT and high school diploma before 18yo?
As mentioned above, this is totally up to you and your son.
Completing SAT and having a high school diploma places him on an equal footing with the A-Level student. Not having it will see him categorised at his highest recognised academic qualification he has thus far. e.g. PSLE O Levels, etc.(*)
So, if you prefer that he is placed with the A-Level boys, then he should strive to get his High School Diploma before enlistment. But if you don’t mind then he can finish at his own pace. (*)
(*) Update:
I have heard, although UNCONFIRMED, that the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) no longer groups boys according to their academic qualifications. So there may be no rush to complete Grade 12 and SAT unless he wishes to enrol in a local polytechnic and defer NS to after graduation. More on this below.
#2. Will SAF allow him to defer till the end of his 18th year (like other JC students)?
No. They are called up according to their date of birth and usually within 6 months of turning 18. Deferment is only allowed if the child is taking A-Levels or if he has been accepted into our local polytechnic(**). No other reasons are accepted. Hence the big furore over Joseph Schooling and Ben Davies (athletes seeking to defer enlisting in order to further their sports careers).
#3. What about deferring NS to after graduation like other polytechnic students? (**)
From what I have observed, if he has been accepted into our local polytechnics and wants to defer NS until after graduation, he needs to show MINDEF that he has been offered and has accepted a place in a polytechnic or is currently studying there. (**) Otherwise, he will have to enlist when he turns 18.
Also, from what I have heard so far, MINDEF only allows deferment if the boy is enrolled in our local polytechnics (***). I am not sure if they allow deferment if he is enrolled in a diploma programme issued by other institutions.
#4. Is this the timeline for boys born in January?
16yo: finish 12th grade >>> 17yo: take SAT & SAT subject tests + apply to university >>> get a place by July
No. This timeline is IDEAL only IF your son wants to enter polytechnic first then enlist in NS. (**)
[Please read Important Update (**) below.]
A few things to note.
- NS can only be deferred for polytechnic students.
Therefore, the child needs proof that he has been accepted by a polytechnic or is currently attending a polytechnic. (See ** Update below) - The application period for homeschoolers opens as early as mid-November for Singapore Polytechnic to as late as January for Nanyang Polytechnic – as of now.
- Results of application are only known in March/April.
With these things in mind, if a January-born boy is called up anytime between January to March to enlist, he would not have gotten any offer letter from the poly! Hence the need to rush to finish up Grade 12 and SAT the year before he turns 18 in order to apply to poly and receive a letter of offer if he makes the admission criteria.
Of course, if the letter from MINDEF only comes in June and he gets his letter of offer from the poly in March or April, he has no need to worry. But… we won’t know when the child will be called up. So…. It can be rather stressful.
If, however, the boy is applying to universities only, there is no rush at all. He will just have to serve out his NS duties before he starts university. In fact, he can take his own time during NS to sit for SAT and apply to universities multiple times if he so wishes to.
(**) IMPORTANT UPDATE dated 18th August 2018:
After this post went out, a mom {thank you Paulin!) contacted me to kindly let me know that my information is inaccurate. A child with an American High School Diploma is considered on equal footing as a child who has completed A-Levels. This means that he HAS to enlist when he turns 18 because all Singaporean boys who have completed their A-Levels and are 18 or older must enlist. Yes, even if he is currently studying in a polytechnic. :::eyeroll:::
What the boy then needs to do is write a letter of appeal which, we all know takes a long time to be approved or not. Then he has to wait and see if he will be cleared to continue his studies. Honestly, this throws me off and I am wondering what the consequences are if MINDEF does not allow the deferment?
(***) Update:
At least one boy deferred his NS enlistment while studying for his diploma in a private institution.
D) SAT
#1. Should my child take online courses or any other classes which are graded by a teacher who is familiar with SAT test taking because I have no experience with SAT personally?
If funds and time permits, this is always helpful because there is another pair of eyes and another level of expertise to help you both.
For the record, my older two did the tests on their own but we are currently testing out Prep Scholar with my 3rd child. I will update our experience in time to come.
#2. What is the latest month/age that he can finish his 12th grade in good time to prepare for SAT subject tests before he gets conscripted?
See Section B above for more details on timing.
Generally, if the plan is to apply to universities, there is no hurry. As mentioned in Section B, the “hurry” only appears when
- he wants to defer NS to go poly first and
- he wants to enlist with the A-Level holders, which may no longer hold. See *Update under Section B, Question #1.
#3. When should my child take the AP, SAT and SAT subjects?
Most people recommend taking SAT and SAT Subject Tests at least twice since the child tends to do better the second time. The dates are available on the College Board website.
Generally, SAT dates are March/May/October/December for International Students, and SAT Subject Test dates are May/June/October/November/December.
For application to polytechnics which can happen as early as mid-November (Singapore Polytechnic), then results need to be received before then. So one could take SAT in March, May, and/or October. For SAT Subject Tests, May, June and/or October.
Application to universities often commence in October and last until February. So you can plan accordingly, depending on how many times you would like your child to sit for the tests.
Do note that while you can take up to 3 SAT Subject Tests in one sitting, you cannot take BOTH SAT and SAT Subject Tests together. Also, for NUS, the stipulation is that one must take the 3 SAT Subject Tests in 2 sittings and within 12 months.
#4. How do we prepare for SAT and SAT Subject Testing?
Your child could do it on his own, using free resources like Khan Academy or sign up for SAT prep classes offered locally (Google “SAT Prep classes”) or attend online classes offered by companies like Prep Scholar, Or he could just buy the recommended books by College Board, or guidebooks by Barron’s and/or Princeton Review and do the practice tests on his own.
To save money, you may wish to buy these books from Book Depository as it offers free shipping and occasionally, storewide discounts.
E) Homeschooling With Younger Children
#1 I have 4 younger children so I cannot watch the Abeka videos with my eldest son. How do you keep abreast with your child/ren’s progress?
When my oldest started with Abeka, I had 6 younger children to care for and prepare PSLE for. So I totally understand the stress level.
I did not have the time nor the inclination, truth be told, to sit through the lessons with him. Instead, to familiarise myself with the programme, I watched a few lessons on my own – after I had put the children to bed.
Once I knew how the lessons were conducted and what was required of them (the Video Manual helped a lot), I left him to handle the lessons on his own. With Abeka, you would know that they had not been paying attention because there were weekly quizzes. They should not get more than one question wrong.
Get Organised!
However, when I started adding more children to the mix, I had to get organised fast. To keep track of what’s due when I set up a planner where I list out the required tests/quizzes/etc they are supposed to hand up each lesson. And I had to discipline myself to check their work no less than 3x/week. Or some of them will “forget” to hand in their essays.
I would advise that you focus on teaching them to be independent AND trustworthy. i.e. we should not need to watch over them by the time they are 13. The keyword is “should” because some children just are and some need constant reminders.
A note: regardless of which curriculum one chooses to use, as their teacher, the onus is on us to check their work. We just MUST. We cannot assume they will do it.
F) Abeka Academy
#1. Why choose Abeka, American High School Diploma and SAT?
I have written at length why we chose to go with Abeka + SAT instead of AP or O/A-Levels route in
Choosing our High School/Secondary School Curriculum.
Click on the link and read the details.
#2. Did your children just follow the Abeka high school program or took other external courses to beef up the application?
We only used Abeka. I had/still have no time to add on other stuff for them.
But I know of many who join and participate in organisations such as the National Youth Achievement Award (NYAA), Scouts or Royal Rangers to collect awards/points to beef up the CCA component. I would really have loved to get my children, especially the boys, involved in these activities but I had no time or energy to do so. So I am trusting that God will fill in these huge gaps for us!
#3. Why not AP?
I did explore AP at the start. See my post on Choosing High School/Secondary School curriculum for our reasons.
In a nutshell, it was too much for me to handle plus it is expensive. And recently, it became even more expensive because RI, which used to be a venue for the exam no longer allows non-RI student to do so. I was told that the cost of taking one subject is $500! Plus the AP prep classes for each subject costs above US$400! It just wasn’t financially prudent for our family to go this route.
And that’s it for now.
More Questions?
Please let me know if you have more questions which I did not answer.
To end, I will say, again: homeschooling is not easy or cheap. But with God, all things are possible and He has never failed us. We may not get what we want but we
“…we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
And do remember that,
“He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.: 1 Thessalonians 5:24
So if He has called/nudged/pushed you to homeschool even the secondary school years, you can do it because of His grace is all you need!
If you would like to chat further, you can comment below or fill-up the form at Contact Me.
Related Posts
After Grade 12 Then What? Homeschooling The Secondary School Years and Beyond
Homeschool FAQs
Considering Homeschooling?
PSLE Preparations
When NS Comes A-Calling: Our Family’s Experience
Helpful Links
National University of Singapore (NUS) Admissions Criteria for those with International Qualifications
National Technological University (NTU) Admissions Criteria for those with International Qualifications
Abeka Academy
College Board to register for SAT, SAT Subject and AP Tests
Prep Scholar for online SAT tutoring
National Atlantic Regional High School (NARHS)
National Youth Achievement Award (NYAA)
Royal Rangers
Book Depository to buy SAT and SAT Subject Test Guidebooks. Free shipping!