I AM in the first intake in the last batch of the Provisional Pre-U 1 Admission Exercise (PAE), which from next year will be no more.

I have been in JC only a week, and I have found several benefits.

First, we can experiment with different co-curricular activities (CCAs) and find our forte. Second, we can gauge subject combinations on level of difficulty. Third, we can familiarise ourselves with the campus.

Finally, we can take time to adjust to changes in the education system, such as lectures and tutorials, which contrast with classes in secondary school.

I feel that future batches of students will lose this invaluable opportunity. I understand the PAE has been cut to shorten administrative processes, so students can start school immediately.

Despite this, the benefits of the PAE outweigh other matters.

Joel Tng Wei Hao