Question (on original citizenship test): When did Singapore gain independence?

"I would ask: When did Singapore become independent? Who was our first Prime Minister and our first President? Who wrote the national anthem and what does its title mean? And who wrote the pledge?"

- M. Eswaran, 15, Teck Whye Secondary School

Question: Why do you want to live here?

"I would ask them why they want to live here, and whether they would encourage their friends overseas to move here too. I would also ask them to compare Singapore with the country they lived in previously, and whether it is their own decision to come here."

- Gowri Kanagarajah, 13, Bukit View Secondary School

Question: Would you bring your family here?

"I think when foreigners bring their families to live here, there is a higher change that they will stay in Singapore for good."

- Gan Junjie, 14, Zhonghua Secondary School

Question: Would you defend Singapore?

"Will this foreign-born person be willing to defend the country in times of crisis? The answer would let us know how much they are willing to sacrifice, and whether they would really treat Singapore like their own country."

- Roy Lee Jun Hui, 14, Zhonghua Secondary School

Question: Do you love this country?

"We should test their knowledge of Singapore, including things like what the stars and red and white colours on the flag each represent. We should also ask what sort of 'Singapore spirit' they have, because to be a citizen of a country, one should love it wholeheartedly."

- Marissa Yeo, 14, Secondary 2, Tanjong Katong Girls' School

Question: What do you feel when you say the pledge?

"I would ask what they honestly feel when they hear or sing the national anthem, recite the pledge or see the flag. Do they feel a strong sense of pride and belonging? I believe this is what differentiates a citizen from a non-citizen."

- Hameed Misbahuddin Rowther, 15, Henderson Secondary School

Question: What could hurt racial harmony?

"If a person wants to become a Singaporean, then they must know about racial harmony so that they can get along with the different ethnic groups here. We could ask them to think of things that might ruin a racial harmony, or to name important shared values."

- Gillian Tan, 16, Bukit Batok Secondary School

Question: Why do you want to become a Singaporean?

"I would be kiasu and bombard them with 10 pages of question. There would be an essay question on why they want to become a citizen; tests of general knowledge like 'When did Singapore gain independence?', and, just for fun, 'Where can you find the best carrot cake?' "

- Lai Si Ying, 15, Holy Innocents' High School

This article was first published in IN DEPTH, a publication of The Straits Times on Sept 29, 2008.