I took up the scholarship, stayed there for a month and a half and in the midst of my bridging, decided to come back.
But before I explain on how to get the scholarship, pros and cons of the ASEAN Scholarship, and what to expect from it, allow me to explain what it is first.
Basically, the ASEAN Scholarship is for students from around the ASEAN region, including Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia. There are 3 scholarships to apply for, namely the Secondary 1 scholarship, the Secondary 3 scholarship, and the Junior College Scholarship.
No matter which scholarship you apply for, if you are accepted, Singapore will pay for your education in Singapore up till the end of your Junior College education.
I think that about sums it up.
HOW TO GET THE SCHOLARSHIP
The whole application process is really easy because for starters, all you have to do to be shortlisted is fill in an online form. Some years, I heard that they can get over 13,000 applications online. Even if you’re not sure about the scholarship, I recommend you apply for it anyways because basically, what the form asks for is your extra-curricular activities, your results, etc.
In the application, I suggest you list down the more important and impressive activities, instead of a long list of tiny things. Space is limited (the last time I filled up the application), so make sure you try to have as wholesome an application as possible. If sports is your thing, highlight on that, but include a few performances or charity contributions as well. Good results are important, of course, so ensure that the results you’re listing out are at least Bs. Don’t lie, because they will ask for verification if you get to the interview.
After you’ve been shortlisted from this application, Singapore will send a letter to your house and email you to attend the scholarship application test.
I took mine in Sunway Pyramid in a gigantic hall. I think I was pretty much stunned by the sheer amount of people who came for the test. And it was only the KL batch. There were exams conducted in Penang as well!
I remember feeling pretty intimidated, looking at all the seemingly smart people with their glasses and their thick textbooks to ‘revise’ from, whereas I was pretty much dressed in casual clothes and equipped with three pencils, one pen, and an eraser.
At the test, they give out three tests, which are an English test, a Mathematics test, and an IQ quiz. I’m not sure what the last one is for, because the test basically gives you a bunch of random shapes and you have to try to pick out a pattern from it. Did I mention they give you about 100000 questions and 3 minutes to answer?
Okay, no. That’s a lie.
It’s more like 40 minutes and 50 questions, but I’m not too sure. I’m pretty sure the results of that test doesn’t matter though, because I distinctly remember circling random answers because I didn’t have enough time.
The math test, in short, is gruelling. It’s torturous, and it serves to make you feel as stupid as possible. The questions are ridiculously advanced (for Malaysians), and half the time you’re sitting there staring blankly at the question as the person sitting besides you scribbles furiously on their paper, looking like they know exactly what they’re doing!!!!
Ahem, in my case, at least. (AHA, BUT THAT PERSON NEXT TO ME DIDN’T GET THE SCHOLARSHIP AHAHAH.)
Basically, try to answer as many questions as possible for the math test, because a lot of the time, the questions they give are really elaborate questions, but if you analyze it long enough, you’ll be able to notice some sort of way to at least partially answer it.
So in regard to a reader’s question about is it going to be hard, yes, it is. But, I found it exceedingly difficult, and so did the other scholars, but we ended up in Singapore anyways, so don’t worry too much about that.
For the English test, I found it really fun! The paper is really unlike our Malaysian papers cause they’re those comprehension text ones, much like the English paper you’d take for ICAS.
I think, if your math is awful, English really is your last chance at getting the scholarship. They have to mark over 3000 essays and from these essays, they’re choosing the people they’re going to hand over a large chunk of their money to. Try to be as unique as possible in your essay, yet don’t come across as random. Creativity is key, but don’t derive too far from the topic.
I still remember my essay question. They told us to write about an ability we’d like to master. I wrote about the ability of stealth, and mentioned careers like private investigator, and ninja.
During the interview, the interviewer pointed out the private investigator thing, which I think proved that they were interested in offering me the the scholarship because of my essay. They also proceeded to insult my math, but more on that later.
After the exam, its pretty much waiting for about a month, and if you’re chosen for the interview, they’d send you a letter and another email. From the thousands of those who got shortlisted for the exam, under a hundred people are chosen per country for the interview.
A mistake I made was that I didn’t bring enough verification documents to prove that what I stated in the online application was true. A woman will ask you for these documents before the interview and trust me, it’s really embarrassing to say that you didn’t bring those documents. I saw those at the interview bringing in files and files of certificates and photographs of their achievements, and looking at notes as to what to say! Whereas I sat there.. and read a story book.
I think the important thing about the scholarship interview, or any interview for that matter, is to come across as genuine. If you are truly interested in the scholarship, they can tell. If you’re a naturally excitable person, don’t try to force yourself to be subdued. Just be yourself, but more professional. There’s no point in memorizing scripted lines for they might come across forced. What you can do however, is to get your siblings or parents to ask you mock interview questions to get a feel of it.
Well, I felt like the scholarship interview wasn’t very scary. There were four people in the room and for me, only one man was asking the questions. Throughout the interview, my sanity was questioned and my math was insulted.
Firstly, they asked me if I “was in touch with reality” due to my essay. I told them that I was a creative person. Secondly, they asked me ‘how well do you think you did in your math?’ Honestly, I thought I did horribly. But then again, it could be a trick question and they could have been wanting to test my confidence. In the end, I went with the honest approach. “Quite badly,” I said, laughing nervously. “So, you know that’s a problem ahh,” he said to me, marking something down in the large folder he had.
What they will do during the interview is try to unnerve you as much as possible. They will pick holes as your answers and they will try to confuse you, scare you from Singapore, and basically gauge how much you want the scholarship. This is why it’s very important to think before answering. There’s no rush. I know a few scholars with interviews that lasted a mere 15 minutes, whereas mine took almost double the time.
-
tl;dr: You start off with an online application, followed by a test, followed by an interview.
Once you make it past the interview, you’re there! You’ll get a call from a very solemn-sounding man, and within a few weeks, you’re going to have to pack and head off to Singapore for the next few years of your education.
-
Part 2 on the Pros & Cons of the ASEAN Scholarship will be up soon.
Any questions? Anything I missed out? Other scholars wanna share their own pathway to the scholarship? Let me know!
"Ahem, in my case, at least. (AHA, BUT THAT PERSON NEXT TO ME DIDN’T GET THE SCHOLARSHIP AHAHAH.)"
ReplyDeleteEh so mean lah Tiff!!! What if his or her English paper was the one that ruined his/her determining factor! :(
What if he/she is crying in pain & agony cause his/her parents cannot afford good education liao!!! What if he/she reads this ONE FINE DAY :O And then is reminded of how he/she never got it! :O
Okay I digress. BUT YEAH.
Well, the scholarship application process basically proves (from what you've typed) that they really don't give a crap about how bad our mathematics can be :P But the waiting process, gosh. It manifests nascent hope when you get past ONE round then don't get past the next :/
:D
the person next to you is probably non bridging yknow...which means he/she is smarter.. :O
ReplyDeleteeither way the IQ test is also realy important from what i heard because i think that's how they gage how fast you can catch up later on
SG is so good to foreign talents lol~
ReplyDeleteI'm never been in any interview before.. but this sure sounds really hard to me, especially the IQ test..
ReplyDeleteChia Chien Teng: Ahahah, like Wen said, that person could actually be a scholar who was wayyy smarter and didn't need bridging who is probably lol-ing at my stupidity. :P
ReplyDeleteAha, besides, if their math is good, they won't need to take math bridging, but go for English bridging instead. :D
Hmm, I think one of the important things about waiting for scholarships like these is to not make it everything. If you didn't get it, they won't inform you, so basically, don't keep hoping or it'd be really depressing. Aha, I think I kinda let myself forget that I had applied and when I did, it was pretty much a pleasant shock.
wen: HAHA. Indeed, and that person's probably like, stoopid bridging scholar. Ahaha. It was my bitterness talking. PERSON WHO SAT BESIDE ME, NO OFFENCE INTENDED! :D
IQ TEST COUNTS!? HAHAHA WHAT!? AHHAHAAH! HAHAHAH! Ohmygoodness, but to compensate for lack of time, most of us just randomly circle the answers.. D: I probably got in on LUCK! AHAH. How demoralizing.
Kelvin: MALAYSIA SHOULD BE PROUD OF LOCAL TALENTS LAH OMG KASJLKASJ.
fzikuz: Ohmygoodness, never?! Never an interview?! Ahha, the IQ test really is the thing to worry the least about cause it's really impossible to prepare so you can revel in the fact that everyone else feels just as unprepared. :P
Wooh* i'm a parrot.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous: Yay! Hello, parrot! :)
ReplyDeleteThe IQ test is known as General Ability test which they test how fast you can catch up with the studies and adapt to the environment. The interview, to me, is quite scary ;)
ReplyDeleteHahha, "THAT PERSON NEXT TO ME".. isnt it Dylan..
ReplyDeleteHmm.
Math requires you to study ahead of what your school is teaching you, if possible, know everything in your textbook before the exam.
Graphs, important? Its a high mark question..
tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr tldr
ReplyDeletethats reli thoughtful...
ReplyDeleteAnonymous: Ahha, oh right!! General Ability! That was what it was called! Aha, thank you. :)
ReplyDelete.: AHAH! No lahh! :D That boy was in front of me. :) Ahh, yeahh! Good point. But, I don't think I remember much about the graphs thing. Ahh, shoot. I think it was a lot of trigonometry.
.: AHAH. Later you apply for some scholarship/interview thing ah and like, you'll regret being tltr!! :D
ur malay fren: Ahahah, why thank you.
*panda strikes back! - way of returning comments*
ReplyDeleteLOlz!! feminine XD hahaha yeah my new layout is indeed feminine, I guess I just needed a change from green and pink it is. It'll be more Panda-y in the future! I need to do something about the header :D hehhee
Aww man, you forgot Philippines! tsk tsk! hahaha kidding! XD But yes, we do indeed have these and I wanna kick myself for not applying back then (man I feel soo old). But that's that. Now I'm going to France instead of Singapore! haha XD Good luck to those applying! That process sounds like our college entrance exams here minus the interview. The test of my university was soo touughh and yes, maths were UGH! but I passed! whoot XD lolz.
Good luck to future scholars :D
Tiffany Khoo: There are non-bridging ppl too, you know. Oh ya, during the interview, they try to find your weaknesses and ask you about it. In my case, it was my school results. Anyway, good luck for those who aspire to become scholars!!!
ReplyDeleteThey didn't ask me how I did in my tests lol. They just asked me whether the tests are hard enough. Of course I didn't say they were quite a breeze for me.
ReplyDelete'cause my English isn't very good, so they asked me what I can do to improve my English. ;)
ReplyDeletetiff k: Ahha, oh well! France is a beautiful county! Have no regrets there! :D
ReplyDeletethe one from Borneo: Aha, thanks for sharing that. Ah, yes, I'll be talking about Bridging and non-bridging in my next post! :D
Anonymous: ahaha, I think they asked me about my test because I had a clear weakness in math. Quite a breeze ah? WAH. Ahaha, that's really impressive cause I found the math so difficult.
Anonymous: Aha, oh oh, I think they asked me if I could work harder on my math too. :D
Tiffy, I'm linking this post to 2 of the KDU form 5's who're interested in ASEAN... You probably explained to some extent how JC scholarship would be like... XD
ReplyDeleteZi Kuang: AHA, Hey! The allowing you to call me Tiffy thing isn't a permanent thing mannn! Ahha, okay sure! Ain't gonna complain about free publicity. :)
ReplyDeletehi Tiffany! Thanks for sharing your experience. My name's Susan and I come from Indonesia. I am going to sit for my ASEAN scholarship interview next week. Any tips for me? And... one more thing. I would appreciate it very much if you could share some of the questions being asked by the judges on your interview. Pleasee.. Lol :D Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSusan: Hello, Susan. :) Hmm, well, let's see. Since you're Indonesian, Math shouldn't have been an issue for you. Generally, they ask you about what you have written on your application online that they found interesting.. I noticed that they don't really ask the same questions, but as a commenter has mentioned, they try to pick on your weaknesses. Just remember to keep calm.
ReplyDeleteGood luck! :)
Thanks Tiffany! I'll remember what you said. :D
ReplyDelete-Susan-
Hi Tiffany, my name is Itsawat Paphangkorn and I just went for the interview. My interview session didn't even last for 10 minutes. Screwed!
ReplyDeleteItsawat Paphangkorn: Aha, Benz!! Don't scare off the prospective scholars! Wow, your interview was short.. Maybe they liked you really quick..
ReplyDeleteHi. I will do the selection test for secondary 3 next day. Can you please help me? What kind of math question they give? What are the math lessons/ chapters I need to study hard? What kind of questions they will give you at both English and Math? What kind of preparation should I do? Thanks a lot. Please help me:D
ReplyDelete@Henry For English, there isn't much you can study for. Maybe read some vocabulary? But it's the essay that's important there so get creative! :) for math on the other hand, I recommend you read some form 4 math books or do some practices. A lot of the questions that came out are pretty advanced so if you cant get hold of form4 math books, then at least get familiar with the whole form 3 syllabus. :) good luck!
ReplyDeletethanks for your fast respond. quite suprised actually. thanks2. but for math, i don't understand form 3 & 4 syllabuses as I live in Indonesia. Howver, i have learned singapore sec 1&2 syllabuses. will it help me? is it olympiad questions? whcih topics will dominate the test:
ReplyDelete#probability
#mensuration
#geomethry
#statistic
#arithmetic problem
#function&graphs
#others?
thanks alot!
@HENRY: OHH! Indonesia.. Ahaha generally.. Indons are very very good at math.. I think your syllabus should be about the same as Singapore's.. Ah yeah. Form 1 & 2 Singapore syllabus should be fine.. Ahah.. Its probably English that you need to focus on.. I'm no expert but hope that helps.. Ah, I don't think the questions repeat each year so I can't say which are more likely to come out.
ReplyDeleteWow! Thanks again for your reply!
ReplyDeletewell, but it mightnot suit me. I'm not very good as others. But, I heard somewhere that the patterns of the question is almost the same each year. so, can you help me whcih will likely to dominate in your test before:
#probability
#mensuration
#symmetry and congruence
#geomethry
#statistic
#arithmetic problem
#function&graphs
#others?
and could you do the math test >90% that time? is it olympiad questions? can you give me tips how to win it?
i'm afraid i won't. anyway, how about being friends since now? I'm henry, 15 yrs old, born in surabaya anyway... today is our independence day ::yaay::!
Hello, I'm applying for the Secondary 1 scholarship and I have been shortlisted for the interview next Tuesday. Any tips? Plus, normally what secondary schools will the students be posted to?
ReplyDelete@HENRY ahh, I'm sorry. Don't really remember what came out. It seems so long ago.. :/ ahh.. I know there were graphs..
ReplyDeleteThe paper's pretty comprehensive, if you've taken the spore syllabus, I suggest you look through sample papers. :)
Aha, well, I'm Tiffany. Nice to meet you. :)
@Jen Khai hey there. :) tips ah? Uhh.. Ahah, be calm, stay cool. I guess all I can help I've said in the post..
ReplyDeleteBe sincere in what you say, I guess.. And don't be nervous.. Just pretend you're talking to a parent's friend or something.. :)
Ahh..
Schools?
I was posted to commonwealth secondary school, some get Victoria's institution.. Some get xinmin secondary school, others get cedar.. Aha, they'll send you a list if you get the scholarship. Don't worry. :)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi, I'm sobree. I'm applying for this year Asean Scholarship. I'm from Indonesia. I liked your post. Really helpful for preparing my test for this sunday.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, for english test. Is there any minimum sentences or paragraph ? How much paragraph did you write ?
@Mohammad Sobree Hello, sobree. Ahhaa, I don't think there is. I remember my title being very open. It was just, write this this this. I think there was a minimum word requirement, but I don't remember it now. I know the time they gave wasn't very long though and a lot of people I know didn't have enough time. :)
ReplyDelete@Tiffany Khoo Is it random or it will be based on your results? Thanks in advance.
ReplyDelete@Mohammad Sobree I did the test in Malaysia. They gave us 30 minutes to write 200 words. Yes, 200 words. I don't think my essay was very great cause I wasn't able to think of great content in such a short time. My advice is to think for 5 minutes before you start writing. Good luck
@Jen Khai it's based on your interview. They try to pick the school which best fits your character so if you get selected for the interview, be yourself or you might end up somewhere you really aren't suited for. ;) best of luck.
ReplyDeleteCan you please teach me how to answer the question like reason to apply for scholarship, how to overcome homesickness, why do i deserve the scholarship and what is my plan to achieve through scholarship. Thank you very much in advance.
ReplyDelete@Tiffany Khoo So, they gave a little time then.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, do you know how much Indonesian people being accepted at last year scholarship ? Oh, and at interview, is it a final decision for someone being chose or there still be elimination ?
@Jen Khai You made it to interview aren't you ? Congratulation. Wish me luck for this sunday test :)
@bubble Ahahaa, I can't do that! It's YOUR reason for wanting to go.. :)
ReplyDelete@Mohammad Sobree they don't choose like that. It's done depending on your ability. If you're good, they'll accept you regardless of how many people have been accepted from your country. I think there were quite a lot. There were 3 in my school. After interview, it's the last one.
ReplyDeleteOoo, maybe I just getting a little nervous about competition I might get. After all, maybe there are more than 500 who follow this test.
ReplyDeleteSo that mean Interview also determine the result of scholarship.
@Tiffany Khoo thx for your quick responds.
ReplyDelete@Mohammad Sobree Good luck!
Hi Tiffany, I'm just wondering, is the interview held only once in Malaysia? Or is the interview held in different places, for example, in KL, Penang and Sarawak?
ReplyDelete@Mirabel if I'm not mistaken, interviews are at sarawak & Penang as well. :)
ReplyDelete@Mirabel I'm a Penang applicant and went to the interview earlier this week. And I'm pretty sure interviews are conducted at Sarawak too.
ReplyDelete@Tiffany Khoo The interview was kinda relaxing O_o Surprisingly, they asked me which school did I prefer to study in...Thx for all your help.
@Jen Khai Aha at least no one insulted you. :P ahh, I hope you get the scholarship then. :) it was my pleasure to help.
ReplyDelete@Jen Khai
ReplyDeleteHas the Sarawak interview session started yet? Because I tried reading and posting comments online but no one has mentioned it. Probably you heard something?
@Mirabel
ReplyDeleteSorry, haven't heard a thing about it...Recom.org is a useful forum... Well, the KL applicants on that site haven't received the letter yet, but you may never know...
Anyway, don't lose faith....sometimes the letter may come when you least expected. Like me for instance. Previously, the interviews were conducted on weekends, so I would always wait on the postman on Saturdays, because the letter would come one week before the interview. Anyway, one day I got impatient and called Mr Ng Eng Joo(actually my mother did) and he said that I was shortlisted. That moment, was one of the happiest of my life. (Probably happier days are to come) The next day, the letter came. (LOL)
Phew, what a long post....good luck!
Sorry for disturbing u again. but i would like to ask whether i need a broadband, i mean, in hostel and school or is there wifi area? thank u so much in advance^^
ReplyDelete@Tree
ReplyDeleteHey there.
Well, depending on the hostel you get, you could either get really bad wifi, really good wifi, wifi everywhere or wifi only at certain places.
As the whole hostel shares wifi, and if you really want fast internet, then sure, get your own wifi. When I was in my hostel, I didn't find it necessary, but if you do, wait till you get to Singapore first and look at the condition of your hostel.
Then, when you register for your phone number, you can get broadband as well (depending on the plan, of course.)
All the best!
Hi there, I'm Mun Kit from Malaysia, currently in Form 4, and I wonder should Form 4 students apply for Secondary Three or Pre-U?
ReplyDelete@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteAha, well Mun Kit.. If you apply now for sec 3 and get it, when you're 17, you'll be put into a class where everyone else is 15.. If you apply for pre-U, the chances of getting in are very low.. I suggest you wait a year and apply next year for pre-u. Unless of course, you don't mind being in a class of young people. :)
Hello Tiffany, I am currently in Form II and I would like to know if you were offered these schools in the list when you were awarded the scholarship.
ReplyDelete#1 Raffles Girl's school
#2 NUS High school of Math And Science
@Tan
ReplyDeleteIf I remember correctly, RGS yes but NUS no. Regardless, they don't let you choose your school.
@Tiffany Khoo
ReplyDeleteThey don't let you choose your school even if you got a list of possible schools?
@Tan
ReplyDeleteNope, they assign schools to you. Unless you got the Merit award, then you get to choose your school, but it isn't a full scholarship.
Er hi Tiffany, I'm Yue frm Penang. I'm 16 this year and I'm applying for the Asean scholarship secondary three. hw much percentage tat a candidate is possible to get short-listed for th selection test ? My results are good, but my average mark of mathematics is only 88.25. will it influence my performance? thx =)
ReplyDelete@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteHmm, that I do not know. But as long as you're an A student, I think the chances are quite high. Just show that you do other things too. :) good luck! :)
Thx Tiffany. =) do you think it's worth for a form 4 student to apply for asean secondary three scholarship?
ReplyDelete@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteI think it depends on the individual. If you don't mind being 17 with a bunch of 15 year olds, I say go for it. :) cause either way, graduating from Singapore is still impressive regardless. I have friends there who were in Sec 3 at 17 and they enjoy themselves. :)
Hi there. Can I know what questions will be asked during the interview?? thank you :D
ReplyDeletehi..Tiffany. Are the wardens in the hostels strict? and hw bout the condition of the hostels: hw many people in a room..etc
ReplyDeleteIs there orientation? if there is, is the orientation hard? What do you have to do?
ReplyDeleteHey Tiffany, er... did they ask you to pass an essay together with the aplication.THX.
ReplyDelete@Jess
ReplyDeleteAhaha I think it's independent to the interview. Cause for me, they asked me stuff about my paper.
@glen
ReplyDeleteAha, ahh, it depends on the different different wardens. Certain hostels have different times, certain hostels have different wardens.
@Jack
ReplyDeleteYes, there is. Orientation is really fun, well at least for me. :) That was a few years ago so I don't really know what's happening now though.
@Nigel
ReplyDeleteNope, aha, if I remember correctly.
can i noe roughly how tough the math test.? about form6 lvl or goes beyond dat? do you have any sujjestion to prepare for this particular section? thx
ReplyDelete@Nicol
ReplyDeleteI found it very challenging, but don't be discouraged because my math isn't very strong. The test is basically O Level syllabus so I suggest you do some research on that. They want to test how on par you are with their syllabus.
Good luck!
Hi, there! I'm Cindy from Limbang, Sarawak. I'm short-listed for the ASEAN Scholarship secondary 3selection-test and I'll be sitting for it next week! Can I know the syllabus for the maths paper and is it hard? Do you have any suggestions in preparing that? What is the General Ability paper about? Thx.^^
ReplyDeleteP.S I'm quite lousy at maths.
Hi! I thought the interview was really fun! Hahaha. Anyway, the interviewer didn't ask me about the tests. Hahaha.
ReplyDelete@Cindy Lai
ReplyDeleteIt's like an IQ test. :)
The syllabus is O Levels. And if you're prepared, I don't think it'll be tough.
@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteYay! I hope you get the scholarship you wanted! :)
Thanks! I'm already studying in Singapore this year anyway that's why I dropped a comment :D
ReplyDeleteHey Tiffany, this is Chien Xen from Perak :) I just did the Asean Secondary Three test today, and I came across your article. Very insightful :) but I'm really worried for the math.
ReplyDeleteI didn't manage to do around 4-5 of the questions out of 33.
Ergh! So I'm now banking on mostly on my English for the scholarship (IQ test I didn't manage 4 questions). Is it enough?
@Chien Xen
ReplyDeleteI'm not working with MOE so I really can't say. But based on my experience, I had a lot more problems with my math paper than you did.
I think it really depends on how well you did your English. For the IQ test, not completing 4 or 5 isn't too bad because I know scholars who didn't finish 8 questions but still got the scholarship.
@Tiffany Khoo
ReplyDeleteAlright then. Thanks a lot :)
Hey Tiffany! (: I couldn't get to know if anyone has received the notification to go for the interview but right now it's August already so I'm getting a lil anxious HEH. Last year when was your interview? Then at least I'd know when to stop waiting... :/
ReplyDelete@Chien Xen Hi, I'm Indonesian n I'll sit for 2012 ASEAN Secondary 3 Scholarship for Indonesia Selection Tests in General Ability, Mathematics and English at August 19th. I'm very worried about the English test as I'm sure it'd be very hard.. Can you tell me the topics that I need to revise on for the English and Math? I never learn O level's syllabus or such. But if it's necessary, I'm prepared to learn it intensively. Also, will the test be in English or in mother language? Tq..
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi tiffany,My name is Pauline and I'm going to sit for the Asean Scholarship for secondary 3.I'm Cambodian.I found that your advice was very helpful but since Ã'm cambodian, i don't really understand what does form 4 mean??Can you give me some suggestion??
ReplyDeleteHi Tiff
ReplyDeleteI'll be taking the interview in 2weeks for sec3 scholarship
Do they ask questions on general knowledge or myself and what I want to do in life? Or do they just stick to hammering us on our weakness?
Also do you know of ppl who did say just one year and quit?
Thanks
C
@RuiXi
ReplyDeleteAha hey, sorry for the late reply! But if you're really anxious to know (and I can't remember when, heh) you can call MOE to check. :)
@Angelina
ReplyDeleteAha, Math is not a problem for Indonesians as your syllabus is roughly similiar to Singapore's, if I'm not mistaken. :) and, everything will be in English!
@linism
ReplyDeleteAddressed it in the email! :)
@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteAha alright, firstly, the interview is different for each person, but from what I know, it generally is regarding you, not general knowledge. :)
And yeah, I do. I actually have a friend who enrolled in my school this year after he terminated his scholarship.
@Anonymous are you from Malaysia?
ReplyDeleteThanks, just wondering what are the penalties if one should quit, like in the middle of the scholarship? any idea?
ReplyDelete@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteMore about termination here:
http://www.tiffanykml.com/2009/11/asean-scholarship-termination_26.html?
Hey, I'm from Penang, and I was wondering if the results for those short-listed for interview are out yet? Because I called MOE, and they said that the letter would come ONE WEEK before the interview, and my friend got her letter already!! I didn't get anything, does that mean I'm out? :( And she said that the interview was scheduled on 29th of August so is there any chance that I'll get a letter within these few days? Or that's that and I'll need to wait anotehr year? Thanks a lot!
ReplyDelete@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteHey don't worry about it, my letter came a day after my friend's. But, I suggest you call MOE and ask them
If you got it or not.
And note to all I am in no way working with the MOE so I really don't know a lot about what's going on with the results, etc. I do however, suggest you telephone the MOE for updates about your personal application
dear all,
ReplyDeleteyou can join singapore / asean scholarship preparation (whether for secondary school / junior high / senior high school)with me just open my website: http://www.akonglesprivate.webs.com/
just call me at 62-21-93056562 (akong in jakarta)
Hey, I'm 14 now and I don't think i was shortlisted for the interview in August.. So if I go for the scholarship again next year, and if i DO get it, when I get there, would I be 16 years old studying Sec 3? That would suck. ._.
ReplyDeleteHello, how often are the parents of scholars allowed to visit their children? Can it be a few times a week?
ReplyDeleteHello. Tomorrow is the selection test for secondary 3. I want to ask something, do we have to wear our school uniform to the test? Or is it okay to wear casual? Thank you..
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Tiff! This has really helped me out. I'm currently in f5 and will be going for the interview next week. Wish me all the best!
ReplyDeleteHi tiff, ill be going for the scholarship interview next week.I'm form 5 this year. I'm wondering whether it is necessary to write down and prepare answers for hot-topics or just go with my guts and do it by impromptu. My mum keeps nagging me about it and it kinda makes me worried. So what do you think is the best choice here? prepare or no to prepare? thanks a lot for your blog which was very helpful. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot. I'm going for the interview in a week and I'm dead nervous. Thanks for the tips. I'm sure they'll prove to be useful...
ReplyDeleteHi.how was the general ability test? they ask u about the ASEAN or kind of what? oooh congrats for u,u get the scholarsip ;) -Nadhifa. note: im frm indonesia and i will take this test tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous: Aha, that isn't a problem because most of my friends are at that age taking secondary 3. Plus, in Singapore, they dont have Secondary 5 so you finish at the same age as your Malaysian counterparts.
ReplyDeleteTan: That's depending on the boarding hostel. Heh, sorry can't help you there.
Aulia: Casual. :)
Jess: Aww, heh. You're welcome. :) All the best!!
ReplyDeleteJason: Aha, I did it impromptu. I guess it depends what kind of person you are. If you are comfortable going in unprepared, then I say go for it.
Me, myself, and I: Ahaha all the best and don't worry! :) You're welcome.
Anonymous: Thanks. It is kinda like an IQ test. Mentioned it in the post. ><
Ya, it's true!! When I did the test, it's quite similar but I just couldn't understand all the english terms, for example: Isosceles. The english is not bad lah, but the level of vocab is definitely higher than Indonesian's curriculum. :s
ReplyDelete@Angelina
ReplyDeleteAha, that means that two sides of the triangle are of the same length. Well, I hope you did well anyway! :)
Hey, I have another question here. Since I'm applying for the pre-university scholarship, what are the basic information I need to know? You don't think they'll be asking me about the universities there do you? Or do I need to read some info about singapore itself?
ReplyDeleteGoing to have my interview next Monday. So, how to answer the questions in my own way that shows my personality? Kindly give me some tips. Appreciate it =)
ReplyDeleteHey, it's me again. Just wanted to ask you, after the interview, how do you know if you get selected? Will they call you? Mail you? If I don't get selected, will they still inform me? Tq very much =)
ReplyDelete@Jess
ReplyDeleteSince i saw your post, i couldnt help replying back :) I asked the interviewer when will the results be out and they told me is about end of september. As for how they contact, it will be either call, mail or both. If you're not shortlisted, most likely they wont notify you. Hope my answers help you out :)
@Jason
ReplyDeletehere are some faqs if u have somemore questions :)
http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/scholarships/asean/faq/
@Jason
ReplyDeleteThanks for your reply =) Oo.. so they probably won't notify me if I don't get it? Okay thx alot
@Jess
ReplyDeleteYea :) if you get, they will notify you by post. Hope you get it.
hey tif, your blog is great! however I still want to ask you. I'm going to have the interview test less than 2 weeks from now. what will they ask in the interview? and for how long? I'm kinda worried about the interview. is it hard? and were there many people who weren't accepted after the interview test at your year? thanks :)
ReplyDelete@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteIf I'm not wrong, in my year, there were over a hundred people interviewed but less than 50 were accepted. Each interview is different for each person.. Even the time is different. :)
Thanks a lot tif! :)
ReplyDeleteHey, hey, if any of you who see this post so happen to be an applicant for the pre-university scholarships, have you guys received any mail of call from them? Two of my form one friends have already received their news but I haven't :( If any one of you have any news, please DO tell me!! Thanks alot! ^^
ReplyDeleteI also haven't got any reply :) I think should be by october because the interviews are still going on, i think. Well, we just have to be patient and wait. :)
ReplyDeleteMy interview is tomorrow and I'm quite scared of it ;w;
ReplyDeleteI'm not confident with my English. very. much. Writing is good enough for me, but speaking? it's a no-no.
And during the interview, I have to talk directly with the interviewers. aaaa.... I'm so nervous.... ;w;
I applied this scholarship because my parents asked me to. In reality I don't really want to take it.. so... I can't really show that I'm interested in studying there. aaa... ;w;
wish me luck
Jess, Jason, Anonymous :
ReplyDeleteGood luck to all three of you! :)
Anonymous, aha if you don't really want the scholarship, then don't be too worried. :P all the best!
well it's me again and thanks for replying, it eases me now xD
ReplyDeleteI want to ask several questions,
How did you feel when you took the test? Did you really hope to pass and get the scholarship? Was it you own wish taking the scholarship or was it your parents?
Thanks before :3
Anonymous
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I didn't really want the scholarship. Parents encouraged me to go but I felt nervous about the test & interview nonetheless.
Rather mixed feelings cause wasn't intending on going, but when I got it, it was like.. Should I miss this chance or not?
So bottom line - parents wanted it, I didn't mind.
I feel the same as you. After giving it much thinking, I want to try my best so my parents will be happy.
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned they can tell if you're interested or not and it made me more nervous xD. But if you could make it, I might too.
Thanks, and one more question (sorry if I asked too many). Were you fluent in speaking English that time?
English has always been the only language I feel at home with so I would like to think that I'm fluent, aheh.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry about it, k? :) all the best!
I'm still nervous but I think you save my life xD. thank you very much.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for your reply, Jason. All the best to you too :D
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for your good luck Tiff ^^ Really appreciate it!
Btw, to anonymous: Good luck to you too xD
@anonymous hello, i wanna ask you something. are you from indonesia? thanks :)
ReplyDeleteJust out of curosity, where are all of you from? It will be kinda cool if we were from different countries :)
ReplyDeleteHey Tiff! Thanks a lot for your information. Very useful :)
ReplyDeleteI've just got my interview test few days ago, and when will they tell me if I'm accepted or not? If I'm accepted, will they call me or send me email? I'm not accepted, will they tell me?
Thanks tif :)
LOL TIFFANY!
ReplyDeleteI was searching for stuff to comfort myself that my Pre-U 1 results DON'T MATTER SO MUCH and found your guide to applying for the Asean Scholarship. LOL. Okay.
Good job (:
Anonymous; heh, not sure how it works anymore. But when I got it
ReplyDelete- they gave me a call. :)
ReplyDeletePei Yun;
Omg what are you talking about? Aren't your results super super super super good?! :P
Jason: Haha.. I believe we're both from the same country since our interview dates were almost the same. From Malaysia here :)
ReplyDeletehey tiff, I'm from Indonesia and i took my interview a couple days ago.
ReplyDeleteHow long did you have to wait after the interview to get the acceptance call.
Tiffany: Yea :) I'm from Subang so i know where is KDU :p we are like 30 minutes apart maybe? haha
ReplyDeleteOops, wrote wrong haha :) what a silly blunder that was. Sorry Jess, so where are you from in Malaysia then?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous: not sure how it works in Indonesia. You should check with MOE. :)
ReplyDeleteJason: ahaha, funny boy. :) oh, how old are you now? What school do you go to?
Tiffany: I would take that as a compliment :) I'm same age like you. i'm from SMK USJ 4 (if you ever heard of it :D)
ReplyDeleteJason;
ReplyDeleteAha, I suppose it rings a bell. *shifty eyes* Oh, and if I haven't said this yet, good luck in getting the scholarship. :) Why Singapore?
Tiffany: thanks again :) Why Singapore huhhhh. Well, honestly, i never even thought i would have the chance to attend for the interview. Since my sister (smarter than me) could not get it last time, I did not put my hopes up and just applied for the experience of it. So i was quite in shocked when i got the email for it. :P
ReplyDeleteAhaha I guess you're smarter than you thought, eyy? :) And! You totally didn't answer the question, aha. Did you apply for other scholarships as well?
ReplyDeleteI'm the previous anonymous xD.
ReplyDeleteI went to the interview and messed quite bad but I still hoped to pass ;w;
@manda : yes, I'm from Indonesia
Tiffany: Maybeeee :) haha and well, i don't have an exact reason why i chose singapore. Just something i applied out of curosity and experience :P And yea, i applied for both sunway and taylors also :)
ReplyDeleteJason: Oh did you get interviews for those as well? Ahh, I really regret having not applied for more scholarships. Most, if not all, of the deadlines have passed..
ReplyDeleteTiffany: Yea, i got the interviews for those 2 as well. :) Felt much better than asean anyways. And, don't worry so much, there are always other scholarships :) So just do well in SPM and you will be fine.
ReplyDeleteAhahah, oh I hope so. Oh, I've got a friend who applied for Sunway as well. Well, my my. Tables have turned, you're the one reassuring me now. Aha, good luck for SPM and all the other miscellaneous things that require luck.
ReplyDeleteTiffany: Haha :P good luck to you too. I have faith that you can do anything that you like :)
ReplyDeleteHi Tiffany, I've just accepted the offer for the secondary 3 scholarship this year. When will they tell you what school and hostel you're posted to if you aren't bridging? Thanks
ReplyDeleteHi. Your posts have been really helpful :) thanks so much! I've been offered the scholarship. yay. when do they tell you what school and hostel you are going to be posted to? thanks
ReplyDeleteHey Tiff, in my first final year exam, i got a 86 percent average. In the second, i got a 81.53 percentage. I am a very involved person in extra-curricular activities and have won many national awards. Do you think i stand a good chance to get the Asean Form 3 scolarship?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous: ooh! Congratulations. I'm sorry, I'm not sure! Because they sent me a letter along with the contract.
ReplyDeleteSaeshan:
ReplyDeleteYes, of course! Don't worry, that's really good. It all depends on how you do in the entrance exam. All the best, alright!! :)
Thanks! In your year, what were the schools that they offered?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous: Sorry, I just saw this! They didn't actually give us a full list, and I don't remember much, but Cedar Girls', Commonwealth Secondary, etc.
ReplyDeleteHi. Just received the email for sec 3. I got posted to nanyang girls boarding hostel. Which school will I probably be posted to?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous:
ReplyDeleteWell, I think I've got a friend there who ended up at MGS, a girls' school. But I can't be too certain. Just go there and wait to find out. :) That's half the fun!
Hi. Thanks. Do you think it's worth going to Singapore under this scholarship if you're already in one of the best schools now?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous :
ReplyDeleteThat really depends. As you won't be sure about the school you'll get in Singapore, you can't really compare. Honestly, the education in Singapore is amazingly world-renowned so it really depends on what your priorities are. My other blog post on ASEAN has a pros and cons list so
You might want to take a look at that. :)
Is there any other schorlarship that is available for a 15 years old dude like me ?? :)
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for the late reply but I hope google helped! :)
DeleteWhat kind of preparation will you suggest for me , Tiffany ? I've just applied for asean scholarship . Hope you can help me . Thank you :)
ReplyDeleteHey sorry for the late reply! I think I've covered everything in the comments and posts so hope that helped! :)
DeleteHello Tiffany! Thanks for sharing your experience :)
ReplyDeleteI'm going to take this scholarship next year, so I'm preparing now :)
Can you give me some tips? I'm from Indonesia by the way :)
Thanks once again =3
Just be yourself and hope for the best! :) and be sincere! Haha, I've covered everything I remember about it in the posts and comments already so hope that helps enough.
Deletemay i ask the reason why you came back?
ReplyDeleteIts a combination of random injuries I kept getting, the cons I listed out in another post, and my family. :)
DeleteHello Tiffany, I applied for sec3 scholarship. Do you think a student that scored 6A4B1C for form1 final examination and 6A1B for UPSR will be shortlisted for the selection test?
ReplyDeleteI'm not too sure. I guess it depends on your extracurriculars as well. Good luck though! I think as long as there's an improvement, your chances are still alright.. But I think they're more inclined towards As and the occasional B. don't give up tho!
DeleteOkay. This is the list of co-curricular activities i sent in the application form.
ReplyDeleteActivity LvlOfParticipation Position YEAR
1. Chinese Orchestra School member 2010
2. Chess Club Class member 2011
3. Scout class member 2012
4. Basketball class Secretary 2012
5. Maths/Science Society Class Chairperson 2012
6. Prefectorial Board School Secretary 2012
(afternoon session)
Are these activities considered okay or average? Do you think i still have a higher chance? :/
Hmm, you look well rounded. Like there's Sports and Leadership and Music as well so that seems good. Haha, to be honest, I really don't have any authority on this subject at all. Till now, I don't know exactly why I was chosen. All I can say is that keep your chin up, pray you get the test and go on from there. If you don't however, I could suggest you involve yourself in some charity, state/national/international events, and work on those grades and you'll be sure to be a shoo-in the next time you apply! :) I had friends who applied for Sec 3 scholarship in Sec 4 and they still went to Singapore.
DeleteOkay . Thank you :D
ReplyDeleteI'm will be sitting 4 d exam next week. do you have any idea tat d math is in objective or subjective? i'm only 14 n are applyin for 2013 secondary , so do u think i will stand any chance 2 be shortlisted 4 d interview coz my english is damn lousy i only gt 80+ everytime.......( i'm a malaysian)
ReplyDeleteWhen I took the exam, the papers were subjective questions. :) and they offered bridging which is extra classes for English and math to help those who weren't as proficient. However, I heard that recently the system has been abolished. I'm not sure about that though but just do your best!
Deleteoh okay thanks..... will they hav d bridging on spot or when u're selected? thanks again..
DeleteHi im from indonesia i thought asean scholarship is much harder in indonesia rather than in malaysia, do you know how much indonesian will get the scholarship? And for the english test we have to advanced in vocabulary or grammar? And for the math test is there any trigonometry or logarithm? Hehehe and this scholarship make you repeat the sec 3?
ReplyDeletewhat if my CCAs are only these :
ReplyDeletered cross
home industry
traditional music art
english club
korean language
chinese language
which in all i'm just the member (means no leadership) + no sports ==
(i'm the last anon)
ReplyDeletemy national exam score was 39,35 out of 4..
do u think i have a chance if only seeing the CCAs and score (though there are some other things)?
Hey, all! While I appreciate all the comments, I should remind you that I don't work for the MOE and have really no clue as to whether one qualification is good over another. What I do know is that everyone stands a chance. I've shared my experience and what I had for CCAs but the last I heard, the scholarship has been taken over by someone else different than when I was there so my information may be outdated and inaccurate. What I suggest to all of you is to do your best and pray for the best. :) If you're worried about your results or CCA, then work harder or participate more and apply again! Even if you are worried, give it a shot anyway because like I said, it doesn't hurt to try! :) I hope this helps!
ReplyDeleteoops haha sorry i was just so nervous :p seems like i've been thinking about it too much
ReplyDeletethx anw :D
do we have to send in our school grades the past two years? thanks
ReplyDeletehi i want to ask we have to repeat the sec 3 right? which is our friends are continuing high school while we still in sec 3 do you still accept that? and when we enter the university we likely much older than everyone and how abt you, after you decided to come back then you continue your high school in malaysia?
ReplyDeleteI believe it's something personal you have to think about before you accept the scholarship. :) I continued back as usual in Sec 4 when I returned.
DeleteMay I ask when we have Mathematics test,it is objective or subjective?
ReplyDeleteSubj.
DeleteMay I ask when we have Mathematics test,it is objective or subjective?
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for sharing your thoughts and experience...I sat for the exam before years ago and it was challenging...hopefully I would be able to put your advises to good use for this saturday(exam)..thanks again...and everything matches my experiences...didn't manage to enter the interview previously though...anyway...thanks again for the current infomation:)
ReplyDeleteHaha, good luck and I hope you do well! :) :)
DeleteThanks Tiffany...it was rather an exhiliarating experience yesterday...thanks for the wishes once again:)
DeleteHi, I am JH from Penang. I got a letter from MOE. They told me to go to Sunway Carnival Mall to have the tests next Saturday. I am so nervous right now. May I ask how it is in the hall? I can't stand cold temperatures. Should I bring a jacket? How can I prepare for the IQ test? Reading Mensa will help? Thanks a lot.
ReplyDeleteHey, JH. When did you receive your letter? Besides, when is your test? 16th or 23rd? there is about 10 friends of me that have applied but only one has received the letter for selection test. We dont think that it is so difficult to be short-listed right as we are top 30 in our form. Getting nervous now
DeleteHaha, I thought it was cold, but heck, that was years ago. Bring everything just in case, of course.
DeleteHi,Tiffany!Will it be really difficult for secondary 1? Kinda tensed up... Any advice?:D
ReplyDeleteHaha, read a lot, don't think too much and practice your math!
DeleteSure will!Thank you very much,Tiffany! You're AWESOME!:D
DeleteHey Tiffany! Is there a possibility that an applicants not short-listed for selection test. My class is first class in my school and my school is one of the top in Ipoh. However, only one of my friends has successfully received a letter so far and according to the letter he received, the test falls on this COMING Saturday. 4 more days and I haven't received mine. IS that means I have no chance anymore? :/
ReplyDeleteOf course that's a possibility. Being from a top school isn't going to guarantee you a scholarship, or even a short-listing. However, I received my letter later than my friends so you never know. But if you don't get it, better luck next time! Don't be disheartened! If you're worried that you didn't receive your letter by error of mail, try giving them a call. :)
DeleteI'm applying for the secondary 1 scholarship and do I need to revise which grade's math?Secondary 2 or 1?(I'm a Malaysian and i'm in standard 6):)
ReplyDeleteSingaporean Sec 1.
DeleteHi tiffany, I'm going to take the selection test this coming saturday and although I'm good in english(in grammar and speaking) I can't help but feel nervous 'cause I'm not too good in writing. I mean, the essays i write are usually composed of ''non-bombastic'' words... unlike a few friends of mind who are able to string a bunch of high-sounding words.
ReplyDeleteSo I reckon I have to win it by creativity...that is if I have any.
Do you think tossing in ''difficult'' words necessary to produce an essay that'll impress them? Thanks in advance ;)
Uhmm, a question? When you went for the scholarship exam, were you wearing your school uniform? Or does 'casual clothes' just mean...not your school uniform? If you could answer this immediately, I would appreciate it because I will be going for the exam this Sunday, which is just THREE DAYS away!
ReplyDeleteHey Tiffany.Would the topic for the essay be the same as other states(Malaysia)?Thanks a lot.
ReplyDelete