Tips for a winning EAE portfolio

• Showcase your relevant work samples and projects:
  A good portfolio provides concrete evidence of your aptitude through "work samples" or projects you are most proud of. For design-related courses, this includes a diverse range of works like sketches, digital art, photography, or even 3D models. For technical fields like Engineering or ICT, you should include screenshots of apps you've built, coding projects, or even physical prototypes you have tinkered with in your spare time.

• Evidence of proactive learning and interest outside of your academics:
  Demonstrating that you have gone beyond the school syllabus is crucial. This includes evidence of attending Applied Learning Modules (ApLMs), workshops, or skills-based training related to your chosen field. You can also include "just-in-time" exploration items, such as a collection of tech articles you have read, summary of online courses or a write-up of your thoughts on industry trends to show that you are well-informed about your future career/course.

• Proof of character and soft skills:
  Polytechnics look for students who embody specific "DNA" traits, such as leadership, teamwork, and empathy. Your portfolio should highlight leadership roles in CCAs or class committees and involvement in community service or volunteer work. For certain courses, like Veterinary Technology, including letters of support or references from places where you volunteered (e.g., animal shelters) can significantly strengthen your application by validating your commitment and empathy.

• Formal recognition and achievements: You must include foundational documentation such as academic certificates, awards, and CCA achievements, competitions, etc. These serve as official proof of your performance and personal development. The sources suggest that even if you only have a few pieces of work, showcasing them alongside your certificates helps build a narrative of your growth.

• In summary, a good EAE portfolio is like a professional "lookbook" of your journey; it shouldn't just list what you have done, but rather prove that you have the passion, the skills, and the right character to thrive in your dream course.

• You can use an activity sheet or e-portfolio that you had developed since Sec 1 to keep track of your activities. Include all your activities in school or outside of school.

• You can review all your activities in your e-portfolio and pick up your relevant key highlights to include for a EAE portfolio/resume/write up (refer to tips for a good EAE portfolio above for examples of key activities to include).

• Your activity list that you compiled in your e-portfolio or activity list can be: 

> a starting point: to build a powerful EAE portfolio or write up that highlights your skills, strengths and character traits and tells your unique story. These can be used for EAE or future studies.

> Wayfinding: Clues to discover who you are. What are your interests? What energises and excites you? Do you see a pattern of what you enjoy? 

> Take action: Review your activities to see what skills or experiences are missing, then take action to explore those interests and build new, powerful highlights, or strengthen your story for a course you desire. 

> Ask for help!

1. Spot gaps in your activity list

Review your activity list for missing areas — such as leadership, creativity, service, teamwork, or work samples. Don’t overlook smaller or informal experiences, including family commitments that show responsibility, initiative, or growth.

2. Summarise and state impact

Summarise what you did, skills, character built and impact (e.g. data points, numbers, feedback, personal growth, impact to others)

3. Be intentional in how you rank your activities

Identify the purpose of your EAE portfolio and order your activities that you are most passionate about and related to the course you are applying.

4. Your activities reflects your personal passions

Your chosen activities to showcase should shed a light not just on what you have accomplished, but what you will bring to the school / course given both your past experiences and your desire to contribute in your own unique way.

• Consider your purpose when you select the activities - are you wayfinding or taking action to strengthen your portfolio for a particular purpose (e.g. application for EAE, DSA or future university?)

• The key is to choose activities that align with your passions and goals.

• Choose activities that you enjoy and can commit to, rather than doing many superficially

• Building a genuine and impactful profile matters more than just joining many activities.

• Depth, leadership, consistency, and impact matter more than just many activities

• Include activities using LEAPS domain (Leadership, Enrichment, Achievements, Participation, Service) and highlight activities from categories relevant for your purpose. Examples of categories below, please consider which ones might be relevant to the course you are interested in:

• Competitions: Writing contests, science olympiads, STEM challenges, debate

• Arts and Creativity: Look for opportunities at community centers, art schools, cultural organizations, or local libraries, private lessons. Examples include music, art, film making, theater production, dance and graphic design.

• Music: Musical instruments

• Science and Technology: Activities like robotics, or coding, hackathons can be found through your school, ApLM or online courses.

• Community Service: Volunteer opportunities are often available through your school, religious institutions, and community centers. 

• Sports: School teams, local sports clubs, and community centers offer opportunities to get involved in team or individual sports, and fitness clubs.

• Leadership: Find these activities in schools, youth organizations, etc.

• Work: Temporary work 

You can use a google site for your EAE e-portfolio.  

If you face any difficulties with Google Site when doing your portfolio, please feel free to contact Mr John Lim or Ms Brenda Lee. 

Here's the link to the google site template. You can replicate using the Step-By-Step guide here.

1. Go for internships, job attachments, learning journeys, APLM.

2. Attend courses/workshops/enrichment programmes organised by your schools (e.g. self directed learning modules) or external courses - see links below.

3. Participate in competitions

4. Volunteer for community services, school events

5. Here are some examples of free online / microlearning courses to gain certifications and build experience for your EAE portfolio relevant to the course you are interested in.

a) Cordy.Sg 

Customises activities, courses and competitions based on your area of interest.

b) RP Microlearning

• Science:

• Business:

• Digital Media:

• Hospitality:

• Personal development (for interview skills):

• Technology:

• Urban Solutions:

c) IT course: https://www.codecademy.com/

d) Udemy courses online https://udemy.com