More akin to the ancient “master-apprentice” approach to training and education, polytechnics are where academia and industry meet.

Here, students get hands-on knowledge hard-wired into their muscle memory as well as access to specific skill sets relevant to their jobs, teachers that practice what they preach and valuable work attachments with industry partners.

So if you’ve always found yourself much more adept at learning with a tool or controller in your hands, you just might be a kinesthetic learner. Needless to say, a polytechnic would provide you with the perfect environment to thrive and to fully realize your potential.

There are many ways to get into a polytechnic of your choice. Here, we distill 3 ways to secure a place with one even before you sit for the O-Levels.

Early Admissions Exercise (EAE)
Polytechnics recognize that for many professions, a solid body of work as well as relevant interests can be just as important as academic performance. The Poly EAE is an aptitude-based admissions exercise that allows students to apply for and receive conditional offers for admission to polytechnics prior to receiving their O-Level grades.

The programme is open both to graduating O-Level students and final year students from Nitec and Higher Nitec courses.

With many polytechnics in Singapore participating in Poly EAE, you should focus on displaying how much of a natural talent you are and how involved you are in activities that fit with your chosen path.

You should ideally have a clear grasp of the course and career that you would like to pursue and then compile a relevant body of work (portfolio, accolades, competitions) that displays your abilities. Be sure to include any Co-Curricular Activities that may increase your chances of proving how much you belong in that field of study.

Typically, the application stage for O-level students commences sometime in June, with selection rounds stretching from July through to August.

For those successful, a conditional offer will be given to you by the last week of August. You have up till the 1st week of October to decide if you want to accept the conditional offer, or proceed with the rest of the cohort in using their subsequent O-Level results for polytechnic applications.

Since this is a conditional offer, successful applicants are still required to meet the minimum baseline criteria for polytechnic admission as well as the minimum entry requirements for your chosen course. Often this simply involves a net ELR2B2 aggregate score of no more than 26 points. Thus receiving the EAE offer still holds significant merit.

Direct Entry Scheme to Polytechnic Programme (DPP)
For secondary 4N(A) students looking for a guaranteed place in a polytechnic without sitting for the O levels in Secondary 5, the Direct Entry Scheme to Polytechnic Programme (DPP) is another good alternative.

Tailored specifically for dexterous students who prefer a more hands-on learning approach, the DPP allows you to undergo a two-year Higher Nitec course at ITE before mapping over to the corresponding polytechnic diploma course at the end of it.
To apply for it, you would need to have sat for the GCE N-Level examinations and obtain an ELMAB3 of 19 points or better among other course-specific requirements.

Students have to use the GCE N-Level results to apply for the DPP. Once the DPP posting results are out, you have until the end of December to indicate acceptance of the offer. You can submit up to 12 DPP course choices with your application.

Polytechnic Foundations Programme Admissions Exercise (PFP)
You’ve probably heard of the foundation year, a common practice used by Institutions of Higher Learning to prepare students for the course that they will be pursuing. The PFP is one such alternative for students to secure an advance placement in a local polytechnic without sitting for the O-Levels.

Simply put, the PFP is a one-year programme to prepare polytechnic-bound N(A) students for entry into their relevant diploma courses. This is a clear alternative to the Sec 5 year, and allows successful applicants to apply with their GCE N-Level results.

This one-year track prepares students for a real experience of their pre-selected diploma course. Upon successful enrollment with the programme, you will have to pass all modules and assessments (tests, coursework…etc) for that foundation year. Doing so will enable you to progress ahead into the first year of your diploma course.

The PFP is generally an interactive and stimulating environment with games and hands-on activities. The curriculum is practice-oriented and based on the track of the diploma course.

The programme is also a way to get accustomed to your future poly mates and forge relationships that will last through to your diploma and beyond.

To qualify for it, you will need a raw aggregate ELMAB3 score of 11 or better at the GCE N-Level examination, and must meet certain subject-specific requirements.

Application typically commences the 1st week of January, with results coming out by the 3rd week.

Do note that securing the course of your choice with the PFP still hinges on placement availability and merit.

Conclusion
There are many roads that lead to the course you desire. Options such as the DPP, EAE, and the PFP provide students with great alternatives to gain entry into local polytechnics of their choice even before completing or siting for their O-Levels. By applying to and securing an early place through one of these alternatives, you may just find furthering your studies to be a more enriching experience than you thought possible.