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Raffles Institution

Year 1 Direct School Admission

The DSA-Sec exercise is an initiative by the Ministry of Education (MOE) that allows students to seek admission to a secondary school based on a diverse range of specific academic and non-academic talents and achievements that they can demonstrate beyond the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).

Last updated 20 April 2026
Three smiling male students in white uniforms hold a green and black school flag above their heads outside a large building.

The DSA-Sec exercise is an initiative by the Ministry of Education (MOE) that allows students to seek admission to a secondary school based on a diverse range of specific academic and non-academic talents and achievements that they can demonstrate beyond the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).

Primary 6 (P6) male students who are keen to join Raffles Institution (RI) in Academic Year 2027 may apply for the DSA-Sec through the following talent areas:

Domains and Talent Areas offered in RI

Please refer to this table for the 2026 DSA-Sec Talent Areas offered in RI

LANGUAGE & STEM

LEADERSHIP

PERFORMING ARTS & VISUAL ARTS

SPORTS

  • Communication

  • Malay Language

  • Mathematics

  • Science

  • Leadership and Character

  • Music

  • Visual Arts

  • Chinese Orchestra

  • Choir

  • Concert Band

  • String Ensemble

  • Badminton

  • Basketball

  • Cricket

  • Cross Country

  • Hockey

  • Rugby

  • Sailing

  • Shooting

  • Softball

  • Swimming

  • Table Tennis

  • Tennis

  • Track and Field

  • Water Polo

2026 Process Overview

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2026 Selection Criteria and Process

Please refer to this table for the selection criteria and process. Applicants are advised to visit this webpage regularly for any updates.

Domain

Selection Criteria

Click on the link(s) for full information

Selection Process for Shortlisted Applicants

# For all applicants

Language & STEM

Language & STEM Criteria & Schedule

Communication

1.       Submission of Audition Video

2.       Interview


Malay Language & STEM

1.       Selection Test

2.       Interview


Leadership and Character

L&C Criteria & Schedule

1.       Submission of Personal Statement#

2.       Group Activity and Interview


Performing Arts & Visual Arts

Music Criteria & Schedule

1.       Submission of Portfolio#

2.       Music Theory Test

3.       Audition and Interview


Visual Arts Criteria & Schedule

1.       Submission of Portfolio#

2.       Selection Test & Interview


Performing Arts Criteria & Schedule


1.       Submission of Portfolio#

2.       Performing Arts Trial

3.       Interview

Sports

Sports Criteria & Schedule

1.       Sports Trial

2.       Sports Interview


IMPORTANT NOTES :

  1. Application for DSA-Sec can be submitted through the online DSA-Sec Portal. The application is free-of-charge and will be open from 06 May 2026, 11:00 to 02 June 2026, 16:30. For more details, please refer to MOE website – www.moe.gov.sg/dsa-sec.

  2. Meeting all the criteria does not guarantee the student will be shortlisted/given an offer.  Additionally, due to different profiles of applicants, selection/shortlisting trends may differ year on year.  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.

  3. Parents/guardians and applicants are requested to take note of the criteria and dates for each talent area’s selection test/trial/interview. This would help avoid scheduling conflicts in the event that an applicant is shortlisted.

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

  5. Students who are successfully admitted to the school via DSA are expected to honour their commitment to the school for the duration of the 6-year Integrated Programme and participate in the activities related to the talent they are selected for from Year 1-4.

  6. Students who are admitted to a secondary school through the DSA-Sec cannot submit school choices during the Secondary 1 (S1) posting process. 

  7. As the primary mode of communication is via email, parents/guardians are reminded to regularly check both the inbox and junk/spam folders of the main contact email address provided in the DSA-Sec Portal throughout the DSA period for important updates, announcements, and instructions.

  8. For FAQs on DSA-Sec admissions at Raffles Institution, please visit our school website, or click on the following link: Frequently-Asked Questions


Useful MOE Weblinks

Please refer to this table for the useful MOE weblinks.

(MOE) DSA-Sec Main Webpage


https://www.moe.gov.sg/dsa-sec



(MOE) Instructions on Application

(Mainstream students)


https://go.gov.sg/dsa-sec-application



(MOE) Instructions on Application

(Non-Mainstream Students)


https://go.gov.sg/nmsdsa-sec-application



(MOE) Direct to DSA-Sec Portal

(Mainstream Students)

*goes live on 6 May 2026, 11:00

https://go.gov.sg/apply-dsa-sec



(MOE) Direct to DSA-Sec Portal

(Non-Mainstream Students)

*goes live on 6 May 2026, 11:00

https://go.gov.sg/apply-dsa-sec-nms



(MOE) DSA-Sec iFAQs


https://go.gov.sg/dsa-secfaqs