Students can apply for direct admission to junior colleges (JC) and polytechnics through the Direct School Admission Exercise to JC (DSA-JC) and the Direct Polytechnic Admission (DPA) Exercise, commencing from 23 June 2008 and 9 July 2008 respectively.

For the DSA-JC Exercise, each JC will admit students according to its own merit-based admission criteria (academic and/or non-academic criteria), based on the students' personal qualities and the areas of focus (such as leadership, science, music, sports) that the JC would like to emphasise.

Students admitted via the DSA2 JC Exercise will have to meet the criteria for admission to a JC, for example their GCE 'O' Level or equivalent results must meet the prevailing JC admission eligibility criteria.

For the DPA Exercise, the polytechnics will take into account students' abilities, talents and interests in the specific courses that they are applying for.

Applicants will also have to meet the prevailing polytechnic admission criteria, i.e.:

(i) obtain a net ELR2B21 score of not more than 26 points for the GCE 'O' level examinations; and

(ii) meet the Minimum Entry Requirements (MER) for their respective polytechnic courses.

If an applicant accepts an offer through DSA-JC or DPA, and is successfully posted to the institution, he will not be able to take part in the Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE) or Joint Polytechnic Special Admissions Exercise
(JPSAE).

The closing date for the exercises is 3 October 2008.

Successful applicants can confirm places in a JC or polytechnic prior to taking their GCE 'O' level examinations or equivalent assessments.