Applicants must meet the following:

• At least 16 years old (born in 2007), and
• Secondary 4 Express pupils studying in a local MOE mainstream secondary school and will be taking the Singapore-Cambridge GCE ‘O’ Level examinations in 2023, or
• Secondary 5 Normal Academic pupils studying in a local MOE mainstream secondary school and will be taking the Singapore-Cambridge GCE ‘O’ Level examinations in 2023
• Students who are enrolled in their current school via the 6-years IP programme are not eligible to apply

The application is open to Singaporeans, Singapore Permanent-Residents, and Foreigners who meet the eligibility criteria stated in the first question of this section.

• You are not eligible to apply via the DSA-JC exercise as you will not be taking the local GCE ‘O’ Levels examinations.
• If you are born in 2007 (16 years old) and will be completing Grade 10 by December 2023, you may apply via the Non-DSA category. Learn more about the Non-DSA Application Process.

As you are applying for admission to Year 5, which is the first year of IB, you must have advanced skills in the art form that you are applying for. Please refer to the Preparation Notes and Checklist for the details.

To gain admission into SOTA via DSA-JC, shortlisted applicants must satisfy the following criteria:

1. Receive a Confirmed Offer for the final outcome of their Talent Academy application
2. Exercise their option and submit the acceptance form to SOTA during the Acceptance Stage
3. Qualify for the Junior College stream based on their ‘O’ Level examinations results

The art forms available for admission to Year 5 are:

IBDP track

• Dance
• Literary Arts
• Film
• Music (Performance)
• Theatre
• Visual Arts

IBCP track

• Dance
• Music (Performance); or
• Music (Composition)
• Theatre
• Visual Arts

Applicants may apply to up to TWO (2) art forms only. Applicants may apply for ONE (1) IB track only.

Applicants only need to submit ONE (1) application for BOTH artforms.

Applicants may apply for up to TWO (2) art forms only.

No. Applicants may only apply to ONE (1) IB track only.

No. You may only apply for ONE (1) instrument (including ‘voice’).

• Application is done online via the TA Portal. You will need to register for an account before you can log in to complete the application form.
• You must download the Preparation Notes and Checklist relevant to the art form that you are applying for to find out what you need to prepare for your portfolio submission, as well as the supporting documents required for submission.
• If you are applying to TWO (2) art forms, you only need to submit ONE (1) application. Choose the 2 art forms when prompted. You will not be able to go back and amend your choices once you have confirmed your selection(s).
• You will not be able to apply for a second art form if you have already chosen and confirmed an art form or have submitted an application for the first art form.
• You will not be able to cancel/withdraw your application once you have confirmed your selections.
• It takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete the entire application for one art form, provided that the supporting documents and portfolio submission have been prepared in advance.
• Applicants are advised to submit their applications early, as the TA Portal may experience slower connectivity due to high traffic towards the close of the application period.
• Incomplete applications will be disqualified. Appeals for late submissions will not be considered.
• Please refer to the DSA-JC How To Apply tab for more information on application process and the timeline to take note of.

We regret that we are unable to provide in-person support. Please email us at [email protected] for assistance.

You may refer to the YouTube Help page for assistance.

You may refer to the Google Support page for assistance.

There are many free online websites you can use. Below are a few suggestions. Please note that SOTA is not affiliated to any of these sites. The links below will bring you to an external website not hosted by SOTA.

• Convert word document to PDF document (Link 1 or Link 2)
• Compress / Resize PDF documents (Link 1)
• Merge individual pdf documents into 1 document (Link 1)

No. All auditions, assessments, and interviews must be done during the TA dates indicated. All TA schedules will be arranged by SOTA and no change of dates is allowed. Please refer to the DSA-JC How To Apply tab for more information on the application process and the timeline to take note of. We regret that due to the nature of the audition activities, no auditions will take place outside of the TA window.

Log in to the TA Portal and:

• check the status of your shortlisting outcome, and
• download your TA Schedule to find out the TA dates/days that you are allocated to. Do note that these may take place over multiple days.
• check the ‘Announcement’ tab to learn more about your TA Schedule
• If you are shortlisted for 1 art form you will need to complete the following:
  • An art form audition or presentation and interview
  • Group activities
  • A panel interview
  • Online questionnaires
• If you are shortlisted for 2 art forms you will need to complete the following:
  • Two art forms auditions or presentations and interviews
  • Group activities
  • A panel interview (same interview for both shortlisted artforms, only required to take this ONCE)
  • Online questionnaires (same questionnaires for both shortlisted artforms, only required to take this ONCE)
• Shortlisted applicants must complete all their scheduled activities within the stipulated time. Absence during any part of the TA will disqualify the application.

No. All TA schedules are arranged by SOTA and no change of dates is allowed. Please refer to the DSA-JC How To Apply tab for more information on the application process and the timeline to take note of.

All applications are carefully reviewed and considered by the selection panel according to a rigorous process. As such, the decision of the selection panel is final. The school reserves the right not to release the results and/or the reasons for non-selection of applicants. To ensure the continued rigour of the selection process, we regret that we are not able to provide any feedback.

You must log in to the TA Portal to check the status of your final TA outcome. Please refer to the DSA-JC How To Apply tab for more information on application process and the timeline to take note of.

• You must exercise your option and submit the acceptance form to SOTA during the Acceptance Stage
• Qualify for the Junior College Stream based on your ‘O’ Level examinations results

Yes. Absence during any part of the TA will disqualify the application. Shortlisted candidates must attend and complete all their scheduled activities. There will not be any make-up auditions.

We understand your request for feedback in order to help you improve in your artistic journey. The school maintains strict confidentiality about the audition procedures and criteria for the Talent Academy, to ensure and maintain the authenticity of performances and portfolios at future auditions. As such, we regret that we are unable to share any feedback.

Regrettably, no. The school evaluates the candidate's artistic talent and potential based on the admission criteria and a rigorous assessment process during the Talent Academy (TA). Candidates are assessed via solo auditions or portfolio presentations depending on the art form, as well as group workshops, exercises and interviews. Admission to the school is highly competitive. As such, we are only able to offer candidates who have performed consistently well across the assessed areas. The school would have carefully reviewed each applicant’s TA assessment and therefore, the decision is final.

No, you may not apply again after 'O' levels as SOTA does not admit Year 5 pupils via the JAE exercise.