Direct School Admission

Apply for DSA at Mayflower Secondary School and join us in Aesthetics, Sports, or Effective Communication for the 2027 academic year.

Last updated 8 July 2026

Admission to Sec 1 in 2027

Mayflower Secondary School DSA flyer showing student activities in arts, languages, performing arts, and sports.

Direct School Admission (DSA) is a Ministry of Education (MOE) initiative designed to give selected schools greater flexibility in student admission so that a more diverse range of student achievements and talents can be recognised.

Mayflower Secondary School is conducting the DSA exercise to admit Secondary One students for Aesthetics, Effective Communication and Sports for the academic year 2027.

We are looking for students of calibre who possess talent with outstanding achievements in one or more of the following areas.

Chinese Orchestra – (Bass / Percussion / Plucking)
Concert Band
Choir
Modern Dance
Chinese Dance
English Drama
Public Speaking (English)
Debate (English)
Chinese Language (Public Speaking)
Malay Language (Public Speaking)
Basketball (Boys)
Taekwondo
Table Tennis
Football (Boys)

Successful DSA applicants will have the opportunity to represent the school in the Singapore Youth Festival (Aesthetics), National School Games (Sports), Debating and Public Speaking competitions.

Centralised DSA-Sec Application Process

Application for DSA-Sec can be submitted through the online DSA-Sec Portal. The application is free-of-charge and will be open from 6^th May 2026, 11am to 2^rd Jun 2026, 3pm. For more details, please refer to MOE website – www.moe.gov.sg/dsa-sec (opens in new tab).

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

Students who are successfully admitted to the school via DSA are expected to honour their commitment to the school, and participate in the activities related to the talent they are selected for from year 1-4/5.

Performing Arts Domain

Performing Arts Domain DSA criteria and selection process by talent area

Talent Areas	Selection Criteria	Selection Process
Chinese Orchestra (Bass/ Percussion/ Plucking)	Applicants should preferably fulfil one of the following: a) have represented in SYF Arts Presentation. b) have represented in local/overseas Arts Competition.	Shortlisted applicants Will be invited for a performance audition and interview carried out in-person at Mayflower Secondary School from 6th July to 28th August Will be notified in advance of the date and time of the audition and interview. Should arrange for loan and/or bring their own instruments View the Performing Arts Domain Performance Task and Requirements here.
Concert Band
Choir
Chinese Dance
Modern Dance
Drama (English)

Sports Domain

Sports Domain DSA criteria and selection process by talent area

CCA	Selection Criteria	Selection Process
Basketball (Boys)	Applicants should preferably fulfil one of the following: a) have represented in Singapore Primary School Sports Council National School games, Zonal or National competitions. b) be a member of Junior Sports Academy (JSA) or school team.	Shortlisted applicants Will be invited for a performance trial and interview carried out in-person at Mayflower Secondary School from 6^th July to 28^th August Will be notified in advance of the date and time of the audition and interview. Should be suitably attired for physical activity and arrange for loan and or bring their own equipment where possible. View the Sports Domain Performance Task and requirements here (opens in new tab).
Taekwondo
Table Tennis
Football (Boys)

Academic Domain

Academic Domain DSA criteria and selection process by talent area

CCA	Selection Criteria	Selection Process
Chinese Language	Applicants should preferably fulfil one of the following: a) have participated in English/Chinese/Malay Language Oratorical/Public Speaking/Debating competitions at the Zonal/National level. b) be a member of the English/Chinese/Malay Language Oratorical/Debate/Speech and Drama/Cultural society within or outside school.	Shortlisted applicants will be invited for a performance trial and interview carried out in-person at Mayflower Secondary School from 6th July to 28th August will be notified in advance of the date and time of the audition and interview. View the Academic Domain Performance Task and requirements here.
Malay Language
Debating (English)
Public Speaking (English)

Please note that meeting all the criteria does not guarantee the student will be shortlisted/given an offer.

Applicants who do not have prior experience may also apply. The school will assess applicants based on selection criteria, which may include assessing the potential of the applicants.

General Academic Ability Tests such as the General Ability Test (GAT) and the Higher Ability Selection Test (HAST) are not required in the selection process.

You will receive notification from the school by 30^th July 2026 of the exact date and time of the performance audition and an interview, if your child has been shortlisted to undergo Direct School Admission (DSA) selection. The in- person performance audition and interview will be conducted at Mayflower Secondary School for all talent areas. All applicants will receive their application outcomes by 28^th August 2026.

For further clarifications, please contact Mrs Lucinda Leong, HOD PE/CCA (DID: 65940158, Email: cheam_phaik_tin@moe.edu.sg (opens in new tab)).

Selection Process (Performing Arts Talent Domain)

There will be a short interview after the audition. All auditions and interviews will be carried out in-person at Mayflower Secondary School from 6th July to 28th August. The following are the audition requirements for the different areas:

Performing Arts audition requirements by talent area

Performing Arts Talent Area	Performance Task Requirements
Chinese Orchestra (Bass/ Percussion/ Plucking)	Perform two contrasting pieces of music on applicant’s main instrument. Each piece of music should be with a minimum 1 minute duration. Memorisation is required for the two music pieces presented at the audition. Aural testing will also be conducted. NB: Applicant should arrange with his/her primary school for the use of any required instruments for the audition. Only the use of Mayflower Secondary School’s percussion instruments may be arranged.
Concert Band	Perform a musical piece of applicant’s choice on his/her main musical instrument. Applicant will also be tested on his/her embouchure, pitching and rhythm during the audition. NB: Applicant should arrange with his/her primary school for the use of any required instruments for the audition. Only the use of Mayflower Secondary School’s percussion instruments may be arranged.
Choir	Sing a 1-2 minute song of appliciant's choice. Applicant will undergo an aural test during the audition.
Chinese Dance	Perform a chosen dance segment lasting at least 1 minute with accompanying music. Applicant should bring along the accompanying music in MP3 format for his/her audition. Applicant may be asked to perform a demonstrated brief dance sequence. Applicant may also be asked to demonstrate his/her technical capacity.
Modern Dance	Perform a chosen dance segment lasting at least 1 minute with accompanying music. Applicant should bring along the accompanying music in MP3 format for his/her audition. Applicant may be asked to perform a demonstrated brief dance sequence. Applicant may also be asked to demonstrate his/her technical capacity.
Drama (English)	Perform a memorised 1.5-minute long monologue of applicant’s choice Be fluent in spoken English language.

Selection Process (Sports Talent Domain)

There will be a short interview after the trial. All trials and interviews will be carried out in-person at Mayflower Secondary School from 6th July to 28th August. The following are the trial's requirements for the different areas:

Sports talent area performance trial requirements

Sports Talent Area	Performance Task Requirements
Basketball (Boys)	Perform simple aerobics to show hands, legs and body coordination. Perform technical skills o Dribbling, passing, shooting Play a 3v3 half-court game.
Taekwondo	Perform a full poomsae routine at applicant's current belt level. Perform various structured target kicking to demonstrate kicking repertoire, power, speed and accuracy. Applicants displaying proficiency in both Poomsae and Kyorugi categories will be given extra considerations during evaluation.
Table Tennis	Perform the following tasks on a table tennis table with a partner: o Stroke with a partner both forehand and backhand strokes for 1 minute, demonstrating correct forehand and backhand continuous hit stroking or looping. o Serve 10 balls using downspin. Serve another 10 balls using topspin. o Game performance in a table tennis game
Football (Boys)	Perform a set of given football drills o Footwork, Dribbling, juggling, shooting o For goalkeeper – additional ball handling drills will be given Game performance in a small-sided football game

Selection Process (Academic Talent Domain)

There will be a short interview after the trial. All trial and interviews will be carried out in-person at Mayflower Secondary School 6th July to 28th August.

The following are the trial requirements for the different areas:

Academic talent area performance trial requirements

Academic Talent Area	Performance Task Requirements
Debating (English)	Present a 5-minute argument on a given topic (Preparation time: 10 mins) Be fluent in spoken English Language Answer fluently and confidently in the Q&A segment based on the argument presented.
Public Speaking(English)	Present a 3-minute speech on a given topic (Preparation time: 10 mins) Be fluent in spoken English Language Answer fluently and confidently in the Q&A segment based on the speech.
Chinese Language	Public Speaking Present a 3-minute speech on a given topic (Preparation time: 10 mins) Be fluent in spoken Chinese Language Answer fluently and confidently in the Q&A segment based on the speech.
Malay Language	Public Speaking Present a 3-minute speech on a given topic (Preparation time: 10 mins) Be fluent in spoken Malay Language Answer fluently and confidently in the Q&A segment based on the speech.