“Students want to look as cute as possible, but it was hard to do that with school rules. So we decided to sell white or green hair ties to give students more options instead of just using black rubber bands,” says the former St Margaret’s Secondary student.
The hair accessories business lasted just 10 months until she had to prepare for her O-level exams. But it sealed her decision to study business and apply to Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) via the early admissions exercise (EAE).
“Since I already knew I wanted to get into a business course, I might as well secure a place through the EAE,” says the 19-year-old. She is now a third-year diploma student in business studies.
The EAE is an aptitude-based admissions exercise that allows students to apply for and receive conditional admission offers to polytechnics before receiving their final grades.
According to the Ministry of Education, applications and admissions via the polytechnic EAE have remained relatively consistent over the past three years. About 13,500 students applied for the polytechnic EAE in 2023 for admission in 2024, and 5,500 received an offer.
The EAE is open to graduating O-Level students, final-year Nitec and Higher Nitec students from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE). Polytechnics have the flexibility to select and admit students based on their aptitude and interest.
For more information on the EAE, go to eae.polytechnic.edu.sg or check out the websites of the polytechnics.
Lasalle College of the Arts is offering this admission route for the first time in 2024 for all 11 of its diploma programmes for the August 2025 intake. The programmes include diplomas in fine arts, design, media arts and performing arts. Applications close on May 24.
The Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (Nafa) also accepts students via EAE. More information is available on the websites of the two arts institutions.
How to boost your chances through write-ups and interviews
The EAE is a holistic assessment of what an applicant has done so far. This means students should go the extra mile and find opportunities and activities related to their field to be considered favourably, says Ms Jeanne Liew, principal of Republic Polytechnic (RP).
She adds that the EAE route is suitable for students who know their interests or what they want to pursue as their career.
“They must possess the passion, aptitude and positive attitude towards a field related to their desired polytechnic course,” says Ms Liew.
She adds that in the last three years, RP has seen a year-on-year increase in the total number of O-level applicants who put RP as their first choice.
The application consists of two components: a 600-character course-specific write-up to assess the applicant’s aptitude and interest for his or her selected course, and an optional 1,000-character write-up about one’s talents and achievements.
Ms Liew strongly encourages students to do the optional write-up.
“Showcase non-academic achievements to boost one’s chances. This could include leadership roles, community involvement programmes, national awards, businesses or an IT programme that they have developed,” she says.
NP’s deputy principal, Ms Looi Mei Fong, advises students to approach both write-ups as if they were pitches.
“The stronger the evidence presented, the easier it is for us to shortlist the applicant for an interview,” she says.
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Students shortlisted for an interview would need to prepare a portfolio showcasing relevant works, certificates or documents.
They should also familiarise themselves with the assessment criteria and stay updated on industry trends. For example, if a child is keen on a diploma in information technology, he can read up news on artificial intelligence (AI), generative AI or careers in the information and communications technology industry.
“This will allow him to engage in a meaningful conversation with his interviewers,” says Ms Looi.
The assessment modes could range from taking an aptitude test to delivering an individual pitch to a group interview to assess teamwork or emotional intelligence.
They may need to respond to scenario-based questions or complete an activity to demonstrate their analytical, critical thinking and communication skills, as well as their awareness of current affairs.
For instance, applicants for the diploma in biomedical science may encounter questions that give them the opportunity to discuss research in diseases and drugs that have been in the news.
“While students will not be expected to have technical knowledge, those who are able to discuss such news with confidence are more likely to stand out,” says Ms Looi.
Mr Sng Choon Leng, director of academic affairs at Temasek Polytechnic, says interviewers are keen to find out about applicants’ interest in a course and how they had pursued this passion.
For example, students could share if they had read up on related topics, participated in training courses, or done some part-time work or community service.
RP’s Ms Liew adds: “Don’t be shy to share about past events and activities that you participated in.”
Miss Jolene Chong, 20, graduated in May with a diploma in applied AI and analytics from Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP). She shared during the EAE interview that she was involved in freelance work during her secondary school days, developing websites from scratch for clients from a job portal.
Miss Jolene Chong, 20, who graduated in May with a diploma in applied AI and analytics from Nanyang Polytechnic, entered the institution through the early admissions exercise. PHOTO: NANYANG POLYTECHNIC
“It gave me something else to talk about beyond my leadership experience, and also showed my interest in the field,” she says.
Her preparations for the interview paid off.
“I asked about one of the projects that the school was developing and the interviewers seemed impressed,” adds Ms Chong.
She topped her diploma programme with a 4.0 GPA and will be studying computer science at the National University of Singapore.
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How parents can guide their child
Parents play an important role in helping their children discover and nurture their aptitudes and passions, says Mr Wee Hau Yap, acting director at the department of academic services at Singapore Polytechnic.
He encourages parents to familiarise themselves with the EAE process, eligibility criteria and available courses to better advise their child.
Parents can also initiate conversations with their child to help him or her discover which way he or she learns best.
Mr Russell Chan, principal of NYP, says parents should ask if their child prefers applied learning or theoretical learning, which is the key difference between a polytechnic and junior college education.
He also suggests that they attend the parents’ seminars held by polytechnics.
“Every polytechnic has its unique selling point and culture. Visit them to experience the feel of the institution and various schools within, and ask questions about the syllabus, teaching model and culture,” says Mr Chan.
He added that four out of the eight NYP Distinguished Award winners at the 2024 graduation ceremonies joined the polytechnic through the EAE.
At NP, five out of the 10 top graduates in 2024 entered via the EAE.
NP’s Ms Looi says parents could consider if their child has the right skills and inner drive to succeed.
“Delve deeper into your child’s motivations, as this will sustain them on their journey towards their dream careers,” she adds.
If a child already has an idea of what he or she wants to pursue, parents can help him or her narrow down his or her options and match them to specific diploma courses.
Ms Looi says it is important to look beyond the course names, to read the course descriptions and module details, and to understand how they will learn.
“Some courses offer a project-based curriculum, while others provide longer, real-world experiences outside of campus,” she says.
Mr Nur Aziman Rostam, 23, entered RP through the EAE and recently graduated with a diploma in sport coaching. He had the chance to do a six-month internship as an assistant football coach from October 2023 at the Bangkok FC Academy in Thailand.
Mr Nur Aziman Rostam guiding a young trainee during his assistant football coach internship at the Bangkok FC Academy in Thailand. PHOTO: COURTESY OF NUR AZIMAN ROSTAM
“Coaching in Bangkok was a very enjoyable experience and I learnt a lot from international coaches about planning each training session,” he says.
He credits his father, Mr Rostam Mohd Hashim, 56, a driver, for introducing him to a variety of sports since he was young.
“My dad triggered my love for sports. I started with soccer, then badminton and canoeing,” said Mr Aziman, who represented Singapore in handball at the SEA Games and Asian Men’s Handball Championship.
He studied fitness training and sport management at ITE before his mentor at the school suggested that he apply to RP.
Despite his busy schedule of studies, part-time work and national handball team duties the past few years, Mr Aziman says he is excited to move closer to his dream of becoming a handball coach.
Mr Nur Aziman Rostam (centre, foreground) taking part in the Men’s Handball Competition at the 2022 SEA Games in Vietnam. PHOTO: NUR AZIMAN ROSTAM
Currently waiting for national service enlistment, he says: “Training six times a week was tiring, but I told myself to trust the process and work towards my goal.”
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