This page is only applicable to 4 Exp, 4NA and 5NA students.

The Polytechnic Early Admissions Exercise (Poly EAE) is an aptitude-based admissions exercise that allows students to apply for and receive conditional offers for admission to polytechnics prior to receiving their final grades. It allows the polytechnics greater flexibility to select and admit students based on their aptitudes and interests, apart from academic grades, thus allowing a wider range of talents to be recognised. 

Polytechnics will have the discretion to determine their modes of assessment, such as portfolios, interviews and aptitude tests, where relevant and appropriate. Polytechnics may also consider participation in relevant co-curricular activities (CCAs), Advanced Elective Modules (AEMs), Applied Learning Programmes (ALP) and Applied Subjects, as well as participation in activities such as work attachments and sustained involvement in projects that are related to the course students are applying for.

Students should note the following key information for the poly EAE:

• Students who have accepted the offer and met the admissions criteria for the Polytechnic course upon the release of the GCE O-Level Examination results (for 'O' level students) will not be eligible to participate in the Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE) or other Polytechnic Admissions Exercises. These students will be informed of the enrolment procedures by the respective polytechnics of their offered course during the polytechnic enrolment period.

• O-Level students who are interested in a JC pathway and wish to gain direct admission to a JC can participate in the DSA-JC Exercise, which is conducted at around the same period as the Poly EAE. However, each student is only allowed to accept one offer to a single JC or polytechnic course. If students are found to have accepted offers from both the Poly EAE and DSA-JC Exercise, they will be disqualified from both the Poly EAE and the DSA-JC Exercise unless they cancel either of their offers before the end of the Offer and Acceptance Stage.

Step 1: Explore your interests and develop your strengths 

• Advanced Elective Modules; Applied Subjects; Applied Learning Programme

• Work attachments; community / volunteer work

• Course-related school / personal activities; course-related achievements and projects, CCAs

Step 2: Research on the polytechnic courses you are interested in and related careers in the sector

• Conduct online research, e.g. polytechnic websites

• Talk to your teachers, ECG Counsellors, family/relatives

Step 3: Prepare for your application

Prepare your write-ups 

• Short-write-up of 600 characters on why you want to enter the course. Give clear and concise descriptions of your interests, passion and relevant skills, experiences and activities you have participated in.  

Prepare relevant documents 

• Portfolios (where relevant to course applied for), e.g. samples of creative work done  for design courses

• Other examples include evidence of experiences / involvement in course-related activities, CCA records, course-related certificates / awards

Prepare for interviews