Direct School Admission (DSA)
Find out how DSA-Sec works, who can apply, and how to prepare your child for admission to secondary school based on their talents and interests.
Direct School Admission for Secondary Schools (DSA-Sec)
Primary 6 (P6) students can seek admission to certain secondary schools before taking the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE). DSA-Sec provides a pathway for students to gain admission based on their interests, aptitude and potential, beyond their performance at the PSLE.
Is DSA-Sec right for your child?
DSA-Sec is not a pathway that suits every student. To determine if it is an appropriate pathway for your child, you are encouraged to discuss with your child and make this decision together, carefully considering your child's strengths and interests, and the school's programmes and their ability to develop specific talents.
If your child is admitted through DSA-Sec, they must honour this commitment for the duration of the programme. They will not be allowed to submit school choices during the Secondary One (S1) Posting Exercise, or transfer to another school after the release of the PSLE results.
Who can apply?
P6 students can apply for DSA-Sec based on a wide range of talents, including sports and games, visual, literary and performing arts, debate and public speaking, science, mathematics and engineering, languages and humanities, uniformed groups, and leadership.
2026 DSA-Sec Application [Closed]
The application window for 2026 DSA-Sec ran from 6 May to 2 June 2026 and has now closed. If your child applied, refer to the key dates below for the next steps.
2026 DSA-Sec application key dates and milestones
Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
6 May - 2 Jun 2026 | Application window (closed) |
By 28 Aug 2026 | Attend interviews, auditions or trials if shortlisted. Receive DSA-Sec outcome from schools. |
19 - 23 Oct 2026 | Submit up to 3 preferences via DSA-Sec Portal by 4.30pm on 23 Oct 2026. |
24 - 25 Nov 2026 (Tentative) | Receive school allocation results, released alongside PSLE results. |
If your child was not successful in the DSA-Sec application, they will take part in the S1 Posting after the release of PSLE results.
How to prepare your child for DSA-Sec
If your child is currently in Primary 5 or below, now is a good time to start preparing. Here are some things you can do:
Discover your child's strengths and interests.
DSA-Sec covers a wide range of talent areas, from sports and the arts to science, leadership and more. Encourage your child to explore their interests through school CCAs, external programmes, and competitions.
Build a record of achievements.
Secondary schools will have access to your child's Co-curricular Activities, Values in Action involvement, and school-based achievements from P4 to P6, as well as their P5 and P6 academic results. Encourage your child to participate actively and meaningfully in school activities.
Research schools early.
Different schools offer different programmes and have their own selection criteria. Start exploring schools using MOE's SchoolFinder and visit individual school websites for more details on their DSA talent areas.
Look out for the application window.
Based on the 2026 cycle, the application window typically opens in early May and closes in early June. Schools' websites are usually updated with DSA information by late April, so keep an eye out then.
Where to find out more information on DSA-Sec?
You may visit MOE website for the latest information on DSA-Sec. You can also visit your preferred secondary school's website for more details.