The Provisional Admission Exercise (PAE), colloquially known as the first three months among Singapore students, refers to the interim exercise/period whereby graduating secondary four students in Singapore can choose to join a junior college for Term 1 in the following academic year, before the official release of the GCE 'O' level results. Students use the score of their respective secondary school internal preliminary examinations to apply under the programme.
Culture
Most school orientation is longer during the PAE, compared to the start of the actual JC school term. These students usually make use of this period of time to socialise and enjoy themselves during this period; Their load of schoolwork greatly reduced, and cases of skipping classes are pretty common. This is in stark constrast to the pressure-cooker stress that students usually undergo during in a normal school term. Junior colleges in Singapore also make use this period to organise many activities, with fun as an emphasis, in order to entice students to stay in their respective institutions after the PAE. This is particular true is the junior college is not prominent for its academic-orientated performance.
During this period in JCs, these students are allowed to wear their respective secondary schools uniforms. It is for this reason that a culture of gate-crashing, or crashing has grown, where trips to junior colleges other than the one students are assigned to are organised. Technically speaking, this is considered to be an act of transpassing and illegal. However, most teachers in JCs condone these acts, with a few even encouraging them, with the intention of allowing students to have a 'feel' of the visiting college and consider it as a choice after the release of the 'O' level results. It is also common to see these students, in particular girls, to exchange their school uniforms of different schools.
Shortcomings and demise
The programme has come under constant fire by schools and parents for its shortcomings. Critics claim that some secondary schools give an unfair advantage over their students, by either inflating grades for the internal preliminary examinations or making them easier. Students who decide to remain in the JCs after the PAE are awarded bonus 'loyalty' scores. School administrations struggle to cope with the admission procedures of two student batches in an academic year. It is also argued that in many cases, lessons have to be retaught as many students do not remain in the same college after the PAE - some left for other JCs or polytechnics.
The Ministry of Education has originally announced the consolidation of a single admission batch for junior colleges by 2006, but due to administrative problems this has been extended to 2008. This means that the last year of the PAE will run on year 2007.