Top 5 Ways to Ace Your EAE Application

Early Admissions Exercise (EAE) applications take place this month. If, for some reason, you are not confident about getting into your dream poly course with your O-Levels or Nitec results, this is going to be your best bet to secure that spot in the poly course you really want. You see, the EAE is not about academic results but rather interviewers look for people who have the interest and aptitude for these courses!

Polys can admit up to 15.0% of their total intake via EAE, and the best thing is, you only need to meet the minimum entry requirements (MER). Yass!

Want to ace your EAE application? Take note of these points.

1) 600-Character write-up (Aptitude and Interest)

The 600-Character write-up includes spacing and punctuation, so keep your piece short and sweet. When you get to the exclamation mark at end of this sentence, we�d already have used 215 characters in this paragraph!

So, yeah, you don�t have a lot of space. So you want to be sure to express your interest in the field associated with the poly course you want, and try to substantiate this with evidence. So, write about any relevant CCAs you are involved with/the events you have participated in. Maybe, it could be some kind of experience or work attachment that furthered your interest? 

If you have played a key role in any of the CCAs, experiences or events, be sure to mention them too.

Have none of the above? Impress the reader with your knowledge and recount any experiences you that show your interest in the area.

Listen to our exclusive talk on scoring your 600-Character summary from 21 � 27 June. 

2) 1000-Character write-up (Talent & Achievements)

Although the 1000-character write-up for Talent & Achievements is optional, it helps if you can fill in this section with any awards and competitions you have won (even Merit or Consolation is fine). Did not win anything but have represented your school or country? Put it down. 

Be sure to also state any leadership roles you have held.

3) The order of your choices matter 

Photo by Nick Morrison on Unsplash

Place your choices based in order of preference. Your first choice should be the course you are really interested in, followed by your second most preferred one. Your choices do not have to be related as you may have diverse interests, but be sure to make sure your 600-character write up for each choice reflects accordingly.

You may be called up for interviews for all three choices, but you will only be offered one course.

So you were called up for an interview? What should you do?

4) Bring a relevant portfolio

Your portfolio doesn�t have to be related to art or design. It can consist of certificates in a related field of interest. Attended an AEM before? Bring the certificate along. Taken an IT or drone course? Created your very own website, online business, or short video? Show the interviewers what else you have done.

5) Arm yourself with knowledge and be prepared to show and tell

Read up on the course curriculum so you know exactly what you are applying for. Be prepared to verify what you said about why you�re interested and can you demonstrate your skills on the spot? Different courses require different aptitudes, so some course interviews may be a group interview to see how you behave and interact in a group.

For example, in Social Work, you need to show that you can empathise with others and are self-aware. Lack of eye contact, or making very vague comments are not going to fly far.

For engineering courses, such as Aerospace courses, you may be asked to elaborate on your participation or attendance in aviation related events, or relate the latest news on aviation.

For ITE applicants, telling your interviewers that you are studying a related ITE course is not enough. You need to tell your interviewers why you are interested in the course, and why they should pick you out of the rest of applicants!

Interested in a science course?  An interviewer from our School of Chemical & Life Sciences tells us it is important to show you have collaboration skills, apart from passion and interest. They also look at whether you can explain your views in a clear and concise manner, as this is important in science.

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Aced your EAE application and received a conditional offer? Congratulations! But this is not the end!

Photo by Lacie Slezak on Unsplash

The final thing you will need to do is to STILL Study Study Study! Yes, passing the interview and accepting your EAE offer does not mean you will get it. It�s just a conditional offer, until you take your exams and meet the MER of the course you are applying for, and obtain a net ELR2B2* score of at least 26 points. To find out your course MER, click here.

YES. EAE places have been revoked before because the minimum requirements were not met! Don�t be that person next year! Be sure to put in enough effort into your studies.

The good bit is that current students who have come in through the EAE say that they were better able to concentrate without the added pressure. Some of them eventually aced their exams anyway!

So good luck and all the best!

Find out more about our 44 EAE courses here.