Frequently Asked Questions

1.

Is there a broader range of Cut-Off Point (COP) for DSA students? If I am applying for DSA Sports, will my child's results for P5 and P6 (SA1) be one of the criteria?

DSA students do not need to meet the school's PSLE COP for admission. However, students need to qualify for the Express course in order to join Cedar Girls’. This means that they would need to have an AL score of between 4 and 22.

The indicative AL score for Cedar Girls’ is between 4 - 9 for the O-Level Programme and 4 - 8 for the Integrated Programme. When choosing a secondary school, parents are advised to take into consideration the pace and rigour of learning at the school and ensure that it is suitable for their child. Students' P5 and P6 results are taken into consideration during shortlisting.

2.

How many vacancies are open for each DSA category? How many applications do you get on average for each category?

The number of DSA vacancies offered by schools varies from year to year based on projected school enrolment and also the school's assessment of applicants. We seek your understanding that we are unable to share this data. Based on data for the previous two years, we received more than 300 DSA applications each year.

3.

If my daughter is given a place in the Integrated Programme (IP) for DSA, will she be switched to the O-Level Programme if she has not done well for her PSLE?

Students will be offered either IP or the O-level Programme at the point of the confirmed offer. The school will honour the confirmed offer after the selection exercise. Hence, if the student’s PSLE AL score does not meet the school's Cut-Off Point (COP) for IP, the student will still be allowed to stay in IP. However, the student would need to meet the Express course COP which is 22.

4.

Is it possible to switch from the O-Level Programme to the Integrated Programme if a student meets the cut-off point for the Integrated Programme but was offered the O-Level Programme for DSA?

Students may appeal for a transfer when the posting results are out provided that their PSLE AL score meets the cut-off point. The application can only be considered if the school has a vacancy. Students are advised to honour the programme that they have committed to when they accepted the confirmed offer.

5.

Are DSA students allocated to one class or will they be placed in different classes? Would they be given extra academic support (if need be) to catch up on studies in view of the additional time spent on training and competitions?

Students admitted via DSA will be allocated into a class just like any student who is admitted via the Secondary 1 central posting exercise. There is no class dedicated to DSA students. We provide all necessary support to help our students to flourish, regardless of their mode of admission. Most of our DSA students have done well and have comparable performance to our non-DSA students.

6.

If my daughter enters Cedar Girls’ via DSA Sports but is unable to continue in Year 2, would she be allowed to change CCA?

If the student joins Cedar Girls’ via DSA Sports, the expected commitment to the CCA is for four years. However, should she be unable to continue due to valid medical reasons, the possibility of allowing a change of CCA could be considered.

7.

What is the selection criteria for the Talent Development Programme for Social Innovation?

The school’s DSA-Social Innovation programme is looking for P6 students who have a love for community work and a passion to innovate through exploration and experimentation. On top of these qualities, they should espouse the value of empathy. Students who are not part of the DSA programme can still aspire to be part of the Talent Development Programme in Year 3 should they exhibit the disposition for it.

8.

Does one need to be a student leader for DSA-Social Innovation (DSA-SI)?

Holding a leadership position in primary school is not a core criteria for DSA-SI. There is also no leadership position in DSA-SI as it is not a CCA.

However, being a primary school student leader would mean having experience serving the school community or having opportunities to participate in service learning or VIA projects. Thus, such students should have the skill sets to lead and influence others to come up with solutions to address community needs which is key to Cedar Girls’ SI Programme.

9.

If my daughter enters Cedar Girls’ via DSA-Social Innovation (DSA-SI), is there an enrichment programme that she needs to commit throughout her four years in the school?

She would need to commit to the DSA-SI Talent Development Programme throughout her four years in Cedar Girls’ Secondary School.

10.

What is the Cut-Off Point (COP) for Cedar Girls’ Secondary School?

The indicative AL score range for 2021’s PSLE cohort is 4 to 9 for the O-Level Programme. Hence the COP for the O-Level Programme is 9.The indicative AL score for 2021’s PSLE cohort for Integrated Programme (IP) is 4 to 8. Hence the COP for IP is 8.

11.

Is it compulsory for Integrated Programme students in Cedar Girls’ to go to Victoria Junior College? Is it possible to go to a different junior college?

Students in the Integrated Programme are required to proceed to Victoria Junior College, provided they meet the promotion criteria.

12.

Is Cedar Girls’ affiliated to Victoria Junior College (VJC)? Would students in the O-Level programme be eligible for bonus points for school affiliation?

Our O-Level Programme is not affiliated with VJC. Thus, there is no affiliation point deduction for entry to VJC. Students in the O-Level Programme can choose from all junior colleges, including VJC for their post-secondary education. 

13.

Are students not offering Higher Mother Tongue Languages (HMTL) in primary school allowed to pursue them in Cedar Girls’?

All students who are eligible to offer HMTL will be informed by MOE. If a student is not eligible, she will offer MTL in Year 1, and her suitability to take up HMTL the following year will be reviewed based on her results and teacher’s recommendation at the end of Year 2. However, all IP students are required to read HMTL in Year 1 and 2. Students may switch from HMTL to MTL at the end of Year 2 based on their aptitude and interest.

14.

Is Malay Special Programme (MSP) / Chinese Special Programme (CSP) offered by Cedar Girls’? What are the requirements to apply for these programmes?

Cedar Girls’ Secondary School offers both MSP and CSP. When a P6 student is offered the option to take a 3rd language when choosing secondary schools, she can choose either MSP or CSP. She can offer these subjects as long as she has not taken either Malay or Chinese respectively at the PSLE.

15.

Would a student be able to pursue the Art Elective Programme (AEP) or the Music Elective Programme (MEP) since they are not offered in Cedar Girls’?

The school does not offer AEP or MEP in-house. Students would have to attend lessons at the designated AEP / MEP centres such as NJC or TKGS once a week if they successfully enrol in the programme after the selection test.

These centres may change from year to year.  Details of the application will be shared with students when they join the school. This process takes some time and successful applicants usually begin lessons from Term 2 onwards.

16.

Would students in the O-Level Programme be able to switch to the Integrated Programme?

Cedar Girls’ offers insertion of students to the Integrated Programme at Year 3. Students in the O-Level Programme who meet the criteria for transfer can express their interest to switch to the Integrated Programme at the end of Year 2 by submitting their application.

17.

What happens when a student is unable to cope in the Integrated Programme?

The school has an O-Level programme.  A student will have academic counselling by teachers to determine the best option for the next step forward.  The student could be transferred to the O-Level Programme in Cedar Girls’ if this is found to be a suitable option for her.

18.

What happens to a student in the Integrated Programme (IP) who does not meet the passing criteria at the end of IP4?

Over the years, the vast majority of IP students have been able to matriculate to Victoria Junior College as the school has put in place various programmes and academic counseling to support them.  IP students who do not meet the promotion criteria at IP4 can consider options such as remaining at Cedar Girls’ to take IP4 again or transfer to the O-Level Programme the following year. Alternatively the student may apply for Polytechnic courses with her IP4 results.  The school will involve parents in discussion to reach the best outcomes for the student.

19.

My daughter is very shy. How will she be able to make friends and be comfortable? 

What happens if my daughter is having trouble making friends who care about her?

Year 1 starts with an orientation programme to help students make new friends and understand how secondary school works. Year 2 and Year 3 student leaders assigned to the Year 1 classes orientate the new students to the new environment and develop bonds and friendships through hands-on activities and games. In addition, each Year 1 student will have a senior as her buddy throughout the year.

At the same time, the Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) and Digital Literacy programmes equip the students with knowledge and skills for smooth transitioning to secondary school. To further support the well-being of all our students, including our Year 1s, opportunities have also been created to allow form teachers to get to know their students individually through dialogue sessions.

20.

Where can I find more information about the various CCA programmes that are available in Cedar Girls’?

Please refer to the CCA page on our school’s website for more information.  click here

21.

How many CCA days are there in a week? What time do the CCAs end?

Most CCAs have an average of two sessions per week, Frequency may increase during competition season. CCA starts from 3.45pm and ends at 6pm.

22.

How many CCAs can a student participate in?  Can a student take up more than one CCA?

Students are strongly encouraged to participate in only one school-based CCA so as to ensure a good balance of time for various commitments (e.g. talent development programmes, student leadership programmes). A student may participate in up to two CCAs if she is able to manage her commitments well.

23.

Can a student be accepted into a CCA even if she has no talent in it but just a strong interest?

There are four main CCA categories: Clubs and Societies, Physical Sports, Uniformed Groups, Visual and Performing Arts.

Each CCA develops different skill sets and caters for both talent development and broadening of learning experiences. Students without prior experience in a CCA may be allocated the CCA if she has indicated a strong interest for the CCA. However due to resource constraint, each CCA can only take in a limited number of students. Students are strongly encouraged to keep an open mind when selecting CCAs. They are strongly encouraged to attend some of the hands-on practice sessions conducted before CCA Selection Day, and avoid selecting from only one CCA category.

24

Are students allowed to choose any CCA?

Yes, students are allowed to choose any CCA that is offered in Cedar Girls’. In the CCA selection process, students will be given a number of choices to indicate their areas of interest. The allocation of CCA depends on the vacancies available in the CCA, students' interest and aptitude. Students who join the school through DSA Sports are expected to honour their commitment to the CCA and join the Sport CCA to fulfill their DSA commitment.

25.

Are Uniformed Group (UG) CCAs compulsory?

It is compulsory to join at least one CCA but students have choices and it is not compulsory to join a uniformed group. The UGs that Cedar Girls’ offers are NPCC, NCC, Red Cross Youth and Girl Guides.

26.

My daughter is passionate in a sport that is not offered in Cedar Girls’ Secondary School.  Nonetheless, she is keen to go to the school.  Can she pursue the sport as an external CCA?

It is compulsory for students to have a school-based CCA, which is a CCA offered in Cedar Girls’. Should she wish to further represent the school in the external CCA in her own capacity, we will definitely look into the possibility of supporting her. However parents need to be mindful of the high commitment required from the student should she decide to join an external CCA.

27.

How is Social Innovation integrated into the regular school curriculum?

The Social Innovation Programme at Cedar Girls’ seeks to nurture in our students the value of empathy and the ability to innovate and solve problems with a user-centric approach. Knowledge of Social Innovation and Design Thinking skills are taught during curriculum time. Planning and completion of projects may continue during the students’ own free time. The curriculum is carried out over one semester and it culminates in a group presentation.

Please refer to the page for Social Innovation on our school’s website for more information. click here

28.

What is the commitment for the Talent Development Programme for Social Innovation?

There is a structured curriculum for the Talent Development Programme that takes place once a week outside of curriculum time.

29.

What are the school hours? Are there Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs) on Saturdays?

School starts at 7.40am every day except for Wednesday (odd week only), when students report at 9am. Lessons end between 1.30pm to 3.30pm.

There may be CCAs on Saturdays such as competitions or external events.

30.

What is the procedure for drop off and pick up for parents who drive their children to school?

Parents may drive in to drop off or pick up their child at the foyer. However, parents are not allowed to park their cars or wait for their daughters in the school.

31.

Does the school provide school bus services in the morning?

There is a one-way school bus transport covering these areas from 2022:-

Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Bishan, Hougang, Pasir Ris, Punggol, Sengkang, Simei, Tampines, Upper Changi and Yishun areas. The areas cover will be decided based on demand and supply.

This service is provided by Hiak Chuang Bus Service Pte Ltd. 

32.

How much are the school fees?

Cedar Girls’ Secondary School is an autonomous school, so our fees are similar to other autonomous schools. From 2023, the fees are:-

SC - $28, PR - $523, FAS - $13, Malay student (as in NRIC) - $23, IS - $933 (ASEAN) & $1,793 (non-ASEAN).For more information, please visit:-

School fees | MOE

33.

Are the school terms and holidays in secondary school the same as in primary school?

The school terms and holidays are the same as primary schools' for Term 1 to Term 3.  However, in Term 4, secondary schools which are used as O-Level examination centres end about 4 weeks earlier than primary schools.

34.

What is the proportion of students in the GCE O-Level Programme in Cedar Girls’?

We have an equal proportion of O-Level Programme students and Integrated Programme students. Each year, there are about 150 O-Level students and IP students, making a total of 300 students per cohort.

35.

What is the class size in Cedar Girls’ Secondary School?

We have four classes in the O-Level Programme and four classes in the Integrated Programme for Year 1 and Year 2. There are usually around 36 to 38 students per class in Year 1 and 2. For Year 3 and Year 4, we have five classes in the O-Level Programme and five classes in the Integrated Programme. There are usually about 30 students per class in Year 3 and 4 depending on the subject combination.

36.

How many days, on average, would my daughter have to stay back in school?

Students may be involved in after-school activities, such as their CCAs or talent development programmes. CCAs usually take place about 2 to 3 times a week while Talent Development programmes may take place once a week.

37.

How is technology used to support teaching and learning at the school?

Technology is used to enhance teaching and learning. For example, multimedia objects such as animations are used to help students understand concepts, and online discussions are used to allow students to improve their ideas and build on their understanding.

In Cedar Girls’, teachers use Google Classroom and SLS as the main learning management platforms. The school is on the Personalised Digital Learning Programme (PDLP) and students have lessons to build digital literacy skills.

38.

Does my daughter need to buy a laptop or mobile device as part of the school programme?

Cedar Girls’ is on MOE’s Personalised Digital Learning Programme (PDLP). Students would purchase a learning device through the school using their Edusave. More details will be released when students are enrolled in the school.

39.

We just bought a new laptop.  Does this mean that we would need to buy another device?

The device which the students would be using in school would only be for learning, and would be under the school device management system to better control students’ usage of the device in school and at home.  Edusave may be utilised to purchase the device. More details will be released when students are enrolled in the school.

40.

Are students allowed to bring and use mobile phones in school?

Yes, however all electronic devices are to be kept in the locker during lesson time unless instructions have been given for it to be used for teaching and learning.