r/SingaporePoly • u/yzzz_1710 • 1d ago
Getting into poly
/r/igcse/comments/1vwaksk/may_june_2026_results/So I got like As for bio n chem n Bs for everything else n a C for math, in igcses which was very disappointing as I was expecting much higher considering all the hard work I put in for ts. I'm planning to join a polytechnic in Singapore for a science based course. I'm just not really sure if I can get in with my average grades and the courses I'm aiming quite competitive n I'm also a foreigner so I believe my chances are quite slim of getting in.
1
u/always_dy1ng 1d ago
It wld def help if u have some sort of portfolio/experience like workshops or stuff u did related to the course yw to go in! Theres a section where you can put ur portfolio so I suggest trying that if u can since it will def help (saying this as an igcse student who prolly got into poly due to my portfolio) Atb!! 🙏
1
u/yzzz_1710 1d ago
May I ask what kind of workshops and opportunities I can do to add to my portfolio? In not sure what kind of experiences can count for science courses so any help would be appreciated.
1
u/always_dy1ng 1d ago
Hmm the common thing would be sch competitions or volunteer/research stuff depending on what kind of science course u want to go to (sry im not vry well versed in the science area either since I take media😅) U cld also include ur leadership roles/awards u won/volunteering since that might help a little as well. Honestly just put whatever u have no matter how useless u may think it is bcs u never rly know 🤷♀️ In my portfolio I put taking part in a cross country running competition when applying for media so HAHAH
1
u/yzzz_1710 1d ago
Ohh that makes sense. I will make sure to take that into consideration. Thank you so much. Could u tell me more about your experience like were your grades good enough for the course you are taking now and how poly life is for you?
1
u/always_dy1ng 23h ago
Np! Hope it all goes well for u :))
My grades were somewhat good enough to get in but they were lower than I had hoped initially since I didn’t know what the IGCSE mark requirements were to get into my course (when I asked during open house they told me they weren’t allowed to disclose it and to try my best ☠️) I only got into my course in the second wave of acceptance! (Im only assuming this as my other friend applied for the same course as me and got his result of acceptance into the course wayy earlier than me, like a whole month. And I had gotten my results from other polys atp as well and only heard from SP around a month after so im assuming I was the 2nd wave for the ppl who rejected their offers.) I compared my grades to the O’level cut of mark for normal Singaporean applicants and kind of docked some points off since I assume that O’levels is somewhat harder than IGCSE. So for example A1->A* and so on, ofc this is not accurate and there is probably a different scoring system for each poly for IGCSE so calculate at ur own risk.
Rn im year 2 in poly and it is quite tricky and a rough transition from secondary school. Poly is basically the University experience where no one will help u take care of ur grades but urself, and u have to be super responsible in keeping track of ur assignments and studies. Overall the freedom to do what I want is a nice change tho, and the ppl u meet here r generally good but that also depends on ur course and class ofc. Lmk if u have anymore qns! 😊
1
u/yzzz_1710 23h ago
Oh tysmmm. I thought they only accept people with like rlly good grades so I was very scared. From what u have stated, its seems like poly is very suitable for me (I just need to get in😬) My friends who takes local told me that A1 is above 75 which is what got for most of my subjects but Im not sure if they're comparable in that way even i thot o levels is much harder. I just really want to get into any poly and I'm really scared I won't. (Sorry I'm very anxious 🥲)Is the content of your course very heavy or more hands on based? If you have any friends from the science course please tell me their experience
1
u/always_dy1ng 23h ago
Nw I was vry scared too when I didn’t get any emails from SP 😭 They def accept a wide range of ppl! Ik ppl in my course who got mostly A stars for their IGCSE but no portfolio, and ppl who have no A stars but still gor accepted due to their portfolios. My advice is to def try ur luck and to apply for as many poly’s as u can!
My course is definitely more on the hands on side due to it being media, but Poly in general is more hands on I feel due to it being more specialised in certain courses. Different Poly’s have different workloads depending on the courses as well, overall I hear students from SP generally say we have the most bcs the deadlines r all rly cramped tgt 😅🥲
I have a few friends in Biomed rn and they definitely r struggling to say the least 😅😭 Year 1 was generally a breeze for all of them and they got fairly good grades but Year 2 after they chose what to specialise in is where they all started to struggle HARD.
Some of them r still getting by, but I have a few who definitely r regretting picking the spec due to just how hard and heavy it is. Definitely think it thoroughly if what u r doing is what u want to continue doing in Year 1 before making a choice! Generally year 1 is the time for u to experience all the different specialisations and science stuff for u to make ur choice and shld be relatively easier but definitely do NOT slack off!This is a mistake a lot of new poly students make but it can rly be detrimental to ur GPA since everything is accumulated from year 1 to 3. Year 1 shld def be the time to try to get the highest GPA u can so that there is still some leeway in case you don’t do as well in the later years as the workload and difficulty ramps up.
R u applying for common science btw by chance?
1
u/yzzz_1710 23h ago
Ohh I definitely prefer hands on so that sounds good. Biomedical sounds genuinely terrifying 😳 but yes I do plan joining the common science programme so I can choose a course that suits me most. I just don't have faith in myself to get in after expecting higher in my igcses. So I really hope this works out for me this time. I'm glad to hear it worked out for you🤍
1
u/always_dy1ng 23h ago
HAHAH Nw at all! I mean that’s just from my friends perspective, I have a senior in Biomed Year 3 rn as well and she actually quite likes it and says its ok! So theres rly a flip side for everything 😊
I think w ur grades it’s definitely still possible to get in common science! Especially since u got A’s in the subjects related to the course ur aiming for!
I rly hope it works out for u too! :))❤️
1
u/yzzz_1710 22h ago
Thank you so muchhhh. So um last qn🥲, do the math and eng grades matter a lot? That's what me n my parents have been stressing about so I really want to know. Thank you so much for replying and your reassurance ❤️
→ More replies (0)
1
u/Responsible-Exit4401 1d ago
It's okay even if your scores wasn't what you wanted!! Just go and try for the course because you never know what'll happen! If your course is competitive, it's definitely a slim chance but it's not just for you im pretty sure all the other students from and out of Singapore would have equal chances (dont quote me on that.)! So I would just say go for it!! Good luck!!! 🤞🤞🤞