Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Access MRT

The launch of the long-awaited MRT from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to Taipei City meant that first-time travellers to Taiwan no longer have to scratch your brains or search the internet for guides to Taipei City, and frequent travellers can now use your EasyCard (悠遊卡) to conveniently get around Taoyuan and Taipei City.

1. Taoyuan International Airport to Taipei City

• The easiest way to get to Taipei City is to alight at Taipei Main Station from Taoyuan International Airport Terminal 1 and 2.
• Taipei Main Station runs on Tamsui–Xinyi Line, Bannan Line and Songshan–Xindian Line.

2. Two kinds of trains

Named commuter and express train services, the two trains will arrive from different MRT platforms.

• The commuter train service is blue in colour, and stops at 23 stations, catering to travellers between Taipei, New Taipei and Taoyuan. 
• The express train service is purple, and serves mainly as a bridge for travellers between Taipei to Taoyuan International Airport, making a total of only 5 stops (6 stops, when Taoyuan International Airport Terminal 3 is launched).

3. Stations

There are 23 stations in total, spanning from Taipei, New Taipei to Taoyuan.

The express train service only stops at the stations highlighted in purple.

• Taipei Main Station     台北車站
• Sanchong     三重
• Erchong     二重
• New Taipei Industrial Park     新北產業園區
• Xinzhuang Fuduxin     新莊副都心
• Taishan     泰山
• Fu Jen University Hospital     輔大醫院
• Taishan Guihe     泰山貴和
• National Taiwan Sport University     體育大學
• Chang Gung Memorial Hospital     長庚醫院
• Linkou     林口
• Shanbi     山鼻
• Kengkou     坑口
• Airport Terminal 1     機場第一航廈
• Airport Terminal 2     機場第二航廈
• Airport Terminal 3     機場第三航廈
• Airport Hotel     機場旅館
• Dayuan     大園
• Hengshan     橫山
• Linghang     領航
• Taoyuan HSR Station     高鐵桃園站
• Taoyuan Sports Park     桃園體育園區
• Xingnan     興南
• Huanbei     環北
• Laojie River     老街溪
• Zhongli Railway Station     中壢

4. Duration from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei Main Station

5. Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Train Timetable

• First train — 6am
• Last train — 10:58pm 
• Frequency — one train every 15 minutes

6. Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Train Fare

• Varies from NT$30 to NT$160, depending on your departure (~SGD $1.40 to $7.60)
• Travelling from Taipei Main Station to Taoyuan International Airport Terminal 1 or 2 costs NT$160 (~SGD $7.60)
• There are also 30, 60, and 90 days concession passes for frequent travellers

7. Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Train Carriages

• You can charge your phones from selected seats on Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT
• Reading lights and a tray table to make your travel as comfortable as possible
• Free WiFi (TyMetro) provided

8. Other ways to get from Taipei City to Taoyuan International Airport

You can still take the bus, high speed rail, taxi or private airport transport to Taoyuan International Airport following my 2017 Taipei - Taoyuan travel guide.

All information is accurate as of 2 May 2020.

Did you know that other than Taipei MRT stations, Taoyuan Airport, and train stations' luggage storage centre — with costs ranging from NT10 per hour to NT70 per day — there are FREE lockers in Taipei city, operated by SOGO departmental stores, located just minutes away from prominent MRT stations?

I did an online search before writing this post. While most blogs document the lockers in Taipei MRT stations and Taoyuan Airport, various train stations' luggage storage centre or the new initiative Lalalockers (with Lalalockers, you can store your luggage with store owners for greater convenience) there are little to no recommendations about the SOGO's free lockers for luggage storage in Taipei.

To be honest I was initially sceptical when I first read about them in Taiwanese forums. Free luggage storage with no terms and conditions? Sounds too good to be true. I had expected to be pressurised to buy something in SOGO in exchange for the luggage storage services, or show proof of purchase before I can store my luggage with them.


Imagine my surprise when I realised the free lockers, tucked into a small corner, were unmanned! There was even ample space for me to unpack and repack my luggage so I could fit everything into the locker.

As you can tell from the size, the biggest locker should a piece of 24-inch luggage comfortably. I used a 20-inch one and still had ample space above to fit my soft toy LOL.

Instructions for the free lockers

Don't worry even if you're a non-Chinese speaker as there are instructions in English as well. It's pretty straightforward and fuss-free. If you're afraid of forgetting which locker you used, just snap a photo of your locker with the locker number after locking it like I always do!


There are four SOGOs around Taipei, but only two that offer the free lockers for storage. the lockers are usually tucked away in a quiet corner so look out for that hint of lime green, or ask the shopkeepers. If you're utlising SOGO's free lockers, it'll be nice to purchase something from the stores as well :)

SOGO Fuxing Store (SOGO復興館)

Address: 

No.45, Sec. 4, Zhongxiao E. Rd., Da’an Dist., Taipei City 106, Taiwan
(106台北市忠孝東路三段300號)

Level: 

Basement 3

Operating hours:

9am to 9:30pm daily | 9am to 10pm on eve of public holidays

SOGO Zhongxiao Store (SOGO忠孝館)

Address: 

No.300, Sec. 3, Zhongxiao E. Rd., Da’an Dist., Taipei City 106, Taiwan
(106台北市忠孝東路四段45號)

Level: 

Basement 2

Operating hours:

9am to 9:30pm daily | 9am to 10pm on eve of public holidays

Buying tickets to Anne Frank House online is not for the faint-hearted. The ticket sale is insane! Tickets open up 2 months prior and the first time I checked, all 60 days were SOLD OUT — probably due to the recent renovations at Anne Frank House which requires all travellers to purchase their tickets online. During this period, they do not accept walk-ins and you won’t see snaking long queue that’s common outside the museum.

I had to “queue” to enter Anne Frank House ticket sale website, much like a concert.

Thankfully, with the help of some seasoned travellers and locals, I snagged a pair of tickets yesterday.


Some tips on how I snagged two tickets to Anne Frank House online:

1. Tickets go on sale exactly two months before, at Singapore time 3pm (that’s 8am in Amsterdam).
2. Friday, Saturday and Sunday are predictably the most popular days.
3. The museum releases more tickets over time. So if your desired day is “sold out”, keep checking the website. Sometimes they only release unsold tickets on the day before or the day itself.
4. Alternatively, book the “Introductory Program” that’s available 2 weeks before your desired date. The Introductory Program sells slower.

Good luck!

You can get your Anne Frank House tickets on their official website.

When I travelled to Taipei recently, I discovered that some bus terminals have been moved due to the recent renovations at Taipei Main Station and most online guides I found on Google aren't updated to reflect the change so here's an 2017 updated guide on how to get to Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) from Taipei City. The five main ways are highway airport bus, Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR or HSR), Taoyuan International Airport MRT, taxi, and private airport transfer.

1. Bus


Get to Taipei Main Station (blue and red line), then follow the sign that says TRA / HSR, not Taipei Bus Station. Taipei Bus Station, Taiwan's largest bus transfer station, is where you can buy bus tickets to other places in Taiwan (Taitung, Yilan etc).

If you're asking for directions, remember to mention that you're going to Taoyuan International Airport, not just Taoyuan or they might lead you to the bus interchange for a bus to Taoyuan City.



Travellers used to take buses from the west side of Taipei Main Station but it has now been changed to the east side. To get to the bus, you have to find the East 3 exit (東3出口). The exits are really nearby each other though, so all you have to do is find the east side of Taipei Main Station and you'll be able to spot a large ticketing banner.


The queue is usually for boarding the bus to Taoyuan International Airport. Go straight to the ticketing booth to get your tickets to Taoyuan International Airport then join the queue.


Before boarding, you'll be issued a luggage number when you store your luggage at the trunk of the bus. The trunk is separated into Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 so make sure you know which terminal your flight is at. Generally, Terminal 1 is the main terminal and terminal 2 is for free-fledged carriers like Singapore Airlines, EVA Air etc.

Cost
NT125 (SGD $5 to $6, depending on the exchange rate)

Duration
45 minutes to 1 hour, subjected to traffic conditions

Frequency
To book
Buy on the day itself, at the station. You're not allowed to buy advance tickets at the station.

2. Taiwan High Speed Rail

(KKday)

Similar to Japan's Shinkansen, Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) — as the name suggests — has trains that can run up to 330km/hour, providing travellers a quick way to make transfers from city to city. I've personally only taken buses and private airport transfers so I cannot vouch for THSR but from what I heard from my colleagues, THSR popular with tourists who wish to get to the Taoyuan International Airport quickly.

Note that you still have to take a shuttle bus from Taoyuan HSR Station to Taoyuan International Airport. The shuttle bus ride costs NT30 (around SGD $1.50) and it takes about 20 to get to the airport.

Cost
NT160 (SGD $7 to $7.60, depending on exchange rate. SGD 6 if you purchase your tickets online)

Duration
30 minutes

Frequency
To book

• Taiwan High Speed Rail (From Taipei) E-ticket

3. Taoyuan International Airport MRT


The MRT line that will bring travellers from Taoyuan International Airport to Taipei City, Taoyuan International Airport MRT (purple line), will be launched on 2 March 2017.

• Everything you need to know about Taoyuan International Airport MRT before its launch on 1 March 2017.

Cost
NT$160 (SGD $7 to $7.60, depending on the exchange rate)

Duration
Frequency
Every 5 minutes

4. Taxi

If you're in a group, getting a taxi might be a logical choice. I typically don't go for a taxi despite the convenience because I don't fancy the tedious booking process. Firstly, you'll have to call a specific number and they have different numbers for different fleets of taxi. Then you have to provide your address, usually in Chinese. Taiwan's addresses are also filled with different numbers — misread one and your driver will be on an entirely different road.

Although Taiwanese are a friendly bunch and your hotel receptionist / Airbnb host will usually be more than glad to help you with this, I prefer not to trouble them so I usually book private airport transfer online prior to travelling.

Cost
Generally NT1000 to NT1200, excluding highway tolls (SGD $44 to $57, depending on exchange rates

Duration

To book

• Terminal 1: +886-3-3982832 
• Terminal 2: +886-3-3983599

5. Private Airport Transfer

I prefer booking chartered transport to getting a taxi only when I've reached Taiwan because I like having the assurance that someone's going to pick me up for sure. Besides, I'll be able to key in my address beforehand and the driver can contact me should he not understand the English address I keyed in.


I previously utilised the Taoyuan International Airport Private Transfer to/from Taipei for 3 when I travelled alone, and used it once again with two other colleagues when we were in Taipei for work. My other colleagues who travelled in a bigger group tried Taoyuan International Airport Private Transfer to/from Taipei for 8.

Both services were quite typical — the driver picked us up at our stated destination, helped us with our luggage and got us to our destination.

Cost
$40 to $55, depending on your flight arrival / departure time

Duration
To book

• Taipei to Taoyuan International Airport Private Transfer for 3
• Taipei to Taoyuan International Airport Private Transfer for 8

I first discovered Couchsurfing while editing an article on budget accommodation for my company's travel blog. Since Japan is infamous for its expensive accommodation and I'm travelling solo this time, I decided to try Couchsurfing for the first time in my first Japan destination, Osaka. After I tried Couchsurfing, a lot of my peers, most of whom are fellow avid budget travellers, asked me about my experience and I thought I could share my Couchsurfing experience on my blog.

What is Couchsurfing?

Screenshot from Couchsurfing dashboard

Couchsurfing is a website that connects travellers to locals. You can get an authentic experience in a local's home while on your travels, host travellers who are coming to your country or meet up with travellers in the city you are/will be in.

Couchsurfing is completely free, although you may wish to bring a souvenir or two from your country as a gift, and people are doing it because they love travelling, meeting new people from around the world or hearing stories from different travellers. Think: hitchhiking, but for accommodation. You can find out more on Couchsurfing's About Us page.

Is Couchsurfing Safe?

It's the same with Airbnb — there are risks involved have an discerning eye when choosing your hosts or the people you're meeting and you'll do fine. Check out their Couchsurfing profiles, read their reviews, get to know them more before meeting them, and don't ever exchange personal information.

My Couchsurfing Experience (in Osaka, Japan)

About two weeks after putting up the date I'll be in Osaka, I had 4 hosts offering to host me in their city, all of which could speak English and had decent amount of reviews on their Couchsurfing profile.

1. A couple in their mid-fifties
2. A small family of three
3. A man in his twenties
4. A man in his thirties

Now I would prefer staying with the couple or the small family — pretty self explanatory — unfortunately their houses were out of central Osaka. As someone setting foot in Osaka for the first time, I didn't want to deviate too far from the city, especially when I only had a day in Osaka.

My second choice was the guy in his twenties because, I presume, we would have more conversation topics since we don't have much of an age gap. Unfortunately, he didn't have an extra room to offer me and I wasn't too comfortable with sharing a room with a guy I don't know.

I went with the man in his thirties in the end because he had the most amount of positive reviews on his Couchsurfing profile (50+ of them) and his place was 10 minutes away from Nishi-Umeda, which was pretty near to transfer stations like Hommachi, Shinsaibashi and Namba Station.

Messages sent on Couchsurfing's website

After a few message exchanges on Couchsurfing, we exchanged numbers to continue the conversation on WhatsApp, where we set a meeting time and place. That was pretty much the end of our communication till the day of my flight where my Couchsurfing host sent me a message to confirm our meeting.

The journey from Kansai International Airport (KIX) to our meeting place near his apartment at Nishi-Umeda Station took a little longer than expected because I was confused about getting out of Osaka's airport, had to purchase my Osaka Municipal Subway card, figure out the stations and lug my >20kg up and down Osaka's merciless stairs.

My Couchsurfing host was forgiving about my tardiness even though I was thoroughly embarrassed because I was already asking for a huge favour by staying in his place! He brought me to his apartment, gave me instructions how to get in, showed me my room and his place, taught me what every button is for and which buttons to avoid because we know Japanese toilets and bathrooms are insanely complicated.

What not to do before a 7am flight: drink till 3am

After I was done unpacking / repacking my luggage, it was about 2pm. My Couchsurfing host sent me to the door and we agreed on a meeting time at night. I started exploring Osaka, and returned to my Couchsurfing host's apartment at our agreed timing, about 9pm.

I actually went to the wrong apartment because a lot of Osaka's buildings look similar and had to trouble my Couchsurfing host to put on his winter wear so he could look for me outside *face palms*

I didn't have the opportunity to interact much with my Couchsurfing host because I only had one night in Osaka and I spent the most of my day out exploring Osaka but I'm glad my first experience with Couchsurfing was a positive one. I have to admit I was a little scared given my petite frame and the fact that I was travelling solo for the first time but my host was funny, warm, polite and accommodating.

After wandering through Osaka for a day

Couchsurfing Tips

• Always have a backup plan in case your host decides to back out because they are not obligated to be responsible for your accommodation plans.
• Some female solo travellers choose to only meet up / host / stay with other female couchsurfers
• Don't be afraid to reject someone you're not comfortable with meeting / hosting
• I felt really bad that I didn't have time to talk to my Couchsurfing host, so I think it'll be great if you can buy a gift for your host in case you don't have time to chit-chat. At least your Couchsurfing host has a piece of your country to remember you by!
• Take photos of your Couchsurfing host's apartment in case you get lost like me

  Lastly and most importantly,

• Be alert at all times and listen to your sixth sense.

All in all, Couchsurfing is definitely a great alternative for budget travellers as long as you're careful and selective of who you meet :) Here's to staying safe while travelling solo!

(This blog post is based on my true opinion from my personal experience, and is in no way sponsored.)

-

Japan Solo Travel (January 2017)

Tokyo Summary and Getting Around Tokyo | Tokyo Imano Hostel Review | Tokyo Pokemon Centre & Shibuya Crossing | Tokyo Lockers and Shinjuku Gyoen Garden | Tokyo Harajuku (Shopping, Food, Daiso) | Tokyo bills Omotesando (Tokyu Plaza)

Hakone One Day Itinerary | Hakone Tozan Railway and Cable Car | Seeing Mt Fuji at Owakudani | Hakone Ropeway and Sightseeing Cruise | Trekking to see Hakone Shrine and Mt Fuji

9 Hours Narita Capsule Hotel Review | Tokyo Narita Airport

For some private family reasons, my mom wanted me to change my name so began a process of finding a lawyer, getting paper work done etc. I haven't announced my new name anywhere yet other than formally changing my work email but I've been slowly making the changes on my various social media accounts, which some of you have noticed. Here's an official blog post documenting this huge change in my life, and a guide on how to change your name in Singapore, in case anyone is interested.


I never had a Chinese name in my IC and I didn't like the way my name was written in my IC either. The initial plan was simply to add my Chinese name into my official name but due some family issues, along with the fact that I never particularly liked my English name, I removed it officially.

I actually toyed with the idea of changing my English name instead of removing it but I supposed that would bring inconvenience to the people around me if they have to call me by a new name. Currently, most of my friends already call me by my Chinese name or simply my surname so that's not a huge problem.

Without a new English name on my official documents, I can still always go by my English name if the situation calls for it and my colleagues in Singapore still call me by that, which I'm fine with because I guess that's easier than having to awkwardly call me by my Chinese name.

My former Chinese name was 白宜靜, which I grew really fond of because I always felt I shared special affinity with some people with that name, however delusional that sounds hahaha, so I chose to retain the pronunciation and only had the middle character changed.

I now go by Pek Yi Tsing (白怡靜). which makes Pekyj irrelevant since it's technically Pekyt now hahaha, but hanyu pinyin wise I'm still Pekyj. Tsing instead of Jing because I didn't like how yijing looks with too many dots hahahha and also to reflect my Hokkien roots, which I've always been proud of.

Strictly speaking, 靜 would translate to ceng in Penang Hokkien (which I speak) but I'm not a fan of the initials since it would be similar to one of my ex's wth hahaha. I briefly contemplated Yi Zeng since that's how ceng sounds like anyway but thought the name looks a little too masculine for my liking so I ended up going with the alternative spelling of the Hokkien version of Jing, which is Tsing.

So there you go, a boring explanation. It feels like I'm running away from the law going through invisalign treatment, LASIK (will write about this another day) and now, name change in a span of two years, and I'd love to write an exciting story of how I'm hiding from the law as well, but I'm afraid the reason behind my name change is surprisingly straightforward and mundane.

How to change your name in Singapore?

The process was astonishingly simple and quick.

1. Decide on your new name
2. Find a lawyer to get your deed poll done up.
3. Book an appointment with your lawyer to sign your deed poll (if you're below 21, you'll need the signatures of BOTH your parents even if they're divorced)
4. And you're done!

After which, you'll have to

• You then have to apply for new IC (you can do so online and it took them only 3 days to process mine)
• Inform the Immigration so that you'll get a new passport (your new passport will only have a 8 months validity, don't ask me why)
• Bring your new documents to banks, your company's HR etc. to settle all the paperwork

The name change was simple and quick, it was all the paperwork that I had to settle days before my LASIK that worried me endlessly. But now that almost everything's done with, I can finally announce my official new name, which I've been rather excited about!

I am now contactable at tsingpekyj@gmail.com :)

I'm even exaggerating when I say Universal Sudios Singapore has been my second home for years — with its affordable student season pass priced at S$88 (usual one day pass price for adults: S$74), it's not hard to see why USS was my favourite hangout as a student. But what I didn't know was how I could get the student season pass at a discounted price, way cheaper than it's usual price. Life hack courtesy of my BFF who's as cheapskate as me. If you're an adult, here's how you can get your pass for a discount too!


First, you have to understand the two usual ways of purchasing the RWS' Student Attraction Season Pass (be it Universal Studios Singapore, SEA Aquarium or Adventure Cove):

1. You go to the ticketing booth, ask for the student season pass directly and pay S$98 OR
2. You purchase a one day pass at S$58 ~ S$75, enjoy yourself in USS and at the end of the day, you request to upgrade your day pass to a season pass for an additional S$14 at the visitor's center.

Leveraging on the second option, my BFF got her USS student season pass for approximately S$11 cheaper in two simple steps. That's one movie ticket, y'all.

1) Buy your USS tickets online

USS tickets are cheaper online so grab your tickets online first. Another plus point is that you don't have to queue up at ticketing booths if you've already gotten your tickets online.

I recommend purchasing your USS tickets from authorised distributors like the one my BFF used.

• USS tickets from Voyagin (with instant confirmation)
• USS tickets from KKday

If you're getting more than one ticket, you can consider searching for USS tickets on Carousell as well. Tickets on Carousell start from $58 and you can negotiate with the seller! However, do note that as sellers on Carousell are not authorised distributors so USS deserve the rights to disallow the upgrade.

The safest way, in my opinion, is to still use authorised distributors online.

2) Upgrade to student season pass before you leave USS

You'll be required to pay S$14 to upgrade to a USS student season pass.

Membership privileges as a season pass holder

As mentioned, my BFF got her USS tickets from online travel platform, a tried and tested method by her — I can't guarantee if this discount works with other tour providers because they don't all provide the same e-tickets. Your best bet, if you aren't a risk-taker, is getting tickets from Voyagin.


Go forth and enjoy your unlimited entries to USS for six months!

• Click here to get USS tickets from Voyagin (with instant confirmation)
• Click here for USS tickets from KKday

Drop me an email at tsingpekyj@gmail.com if you have any enquires regarding this post :)

---

Article last updated on 12 March 2019.

Okay, I have answered at least 300 questions on my askfm about JPSAE (not even kidding) and I still have another 120++ questions that are unanswered. It doesn't help that most people are self-entitled and rude!!! :( I'm not obligated to do this okay, I'm taking time and sacrificing my sleep because I'm nice like that. *flips hair wtf*

Jokes aside, I'm just really thankful to Ngee Ann Poly that I got to live my dreams and I thought the least I could do was to give back to society. But I'm so tired of repeating myself for those who refuse to scroll through my answers or even Google for a simple answer so I'm just gonna consolidate the most frequently asked questions and link people here from now on.

Do note that whatever has been said here does not represent any schools or websites and I am merely speaking from personal experiences or my general knowledge of JPSAE. Please don't bring my blog to MOE or whichever poly you're applying for and go, "but she said this!!!" I just felt the need to put this disclaimer because people can be unbelievable sometimes.

1. What did you put in your portfolio?
Basically, include the achievements that you talked about during your jpsae application, any extra achievements that you think they should know, your o level results slip, and secondary school report/result slips. Also, go read my post and watch my video. (link)

2. What did the lecturers ask you?
Read my post and watch my video. (link)

3. Can I apply for JPSAE if I am *blabla* points away from the cut off point?
So long as you meet the requirements for JPSAE, you can apply. JPSAE doesn't care about your points whatsoever. As long as you have what it takes, the course will accept you. Anyway, I was 5 points above from Mass Comm's cut off point of 10 and I'm still here so yup!

4. What did you write in your 500 characters essay?
"I frequently top the class in English & overall results. I received the Edusave good progress award & my writing was published in The Little Red Dot. I was the chairman of my class, in charge of designing & updating my class blogs & class tees, & received an A for Project Work, proving that I get along well with my peers. I performed at the SYF Opening Ceremony as part of the choir. Being a journalist has always been my dream & this course will allow me to pick up skills needed in the industry."

5. I have no achievements whatsoever but I really want to get in to the course. What should I do?
Any CIP? Ever topped the class in anything? Why do you want to get in? Talk about your passion and how the course can aid you in your future career path!

6. Any tips for the interview?
Stay calm, be confident, smile, look good, dress smart. First impressions matter more than you think they do. Do your research on your desired course and know what you're saying during the interview.

7. When was your interview? / When did you get the call?
In my year (batch of 2012), the results release date was 10 January 2013, I got the call and email on 18 January and my interview was on 22 January.

8. Do you think I can make it through JPSAE if I *blabla achievements*? / What are the chances of me getting in?
I have no say in this; it really depends on your achievements - how big are they and how are they related to your course - plus how you fared for your interview. Plus your chances of getting in are dependent on many factors like the number of people applying for your course, your portfolio, what can you give the course should they accept you.

9. What do I do if I don't have any testimonials to bring to the interview?
I didn't have any either so don't worry too much about the testimonials. In fact, my interviewers didn't asked about it at all.

10. Will the school call if my application gets rejected?
No, the school only calls up those who have been shortlisted for interviews.

11. I don't have any leadership position, will I still make it through JPSAE?
Meh, I didn't even go for my CCA so don't worry about that LOL. As I said, if they see the potential in you, you will get the course.

12. Did you photocopy your portfolio/results slips or gave them the original?
I made a photocopy in case they want to keep my portfolio but my interviewers didn't ask about my portfolio at all which was rather surprising. I'm not sure if any lecturers keep any of the portfolio but it's always better to only give them the photocopied versions.

13. How should my portfolio look like?
I didn't have a front page at all lololol. I just put everything into a clear A4 protector and went for the interview. It'll be great if you can have a front page lest they ask for your portfolio because first impression counts!

14. Am I allowed to choose two different courses from the same polytechnic / two different courses from different polytechnics / two same courses from different polytechnic?
Yes, you can do that.

15. What do you think was so special about your application that got you into Mass Comm via JPSAE?
If I have to pinpoint one thing, I'd say it's the fact that I started advertising on my Twitter and blog when social media marketing wasn't that much of a huge deal yet. I was part of the growth and I am well-versed in online media, which, I think, impressed my interviewers.

16. What did you wear for your interview / what should I wear for my interview?


This was what I wore but thinking back, I wouldn't recommend it. My skirt's too short and denim is probably too casual, plus my top was a crop top. I'd say it's better to dress up rather than down - I'd rather wear a formal business attire compared to jeans. But of course, this is just my opinion and I am not a lecturer so I don't know what do they really think.

---


That's all for now and I'll keep on adding in new questions that I get asked a lot.

For any other questions that you have but are unlisted here, feel free to ask me at my askfm. I'll try to answer them as soon as possible!

Good luck, everyone! :-)

Update: Just got the news that Joint Polytechnic Special Admissions Exercise (JPSAE) has been merged with Direct Poly Admission (DPA) to form Early Admissions Exercise (EAE).

I think majority of my readers are around my age and some slightly younger. Naturally, I've received questions on O Level exams, results, JAE, JPSAE, DAE etc. But one questions I've received a lot is: "How did you know what course to pick?" or "How did you know you've made the right choice coming to Mass Comm?"

There are so many different diplomas being offered in the five polytechnics and new ones are constantly popping up. Students are spoilt for choice nowadays so how do they know what's right for them?

I can't speak for others, but for me, I chose Mass Communication in Ngee Ann Polytechnic purely based on my passion. I think the first step to finding finding your perfect dream course is to know what you LOVE doing and can imagine yourself doing for the rest of your life.

Let me tell you this - poly life is tough. Forget about all those teachers who told you O Levels are the hardest you'll ever work - poly will push your limits. I cannot even begin to explain how many times I've broken down due to the stress and the never-ending work.




 Yup, busy busy busy. But still nothing compared to Year 2.



Nope, no such thing as busy weeks in Year 2. Hell weeks are the new typical weeks in Year 2 looks like and it is fucking hell. I don't remember sleeping more than four hours every day and I even went a few nights without sleeping. Trust me, when you're here sometimes you'll even forget how your bed feels like and you'll never take sleeping for granted again.

But why am I still here? Why are my coursemates still hanging on?

Passion.

I can't emphasize on how important that is. Yes, I'm exhausted but I'm tired and happy. I'm happy slogging my guts out and I can't imagine myself doing anything else.

I decided and knew this was the course for me at 14 and now I'm less than two weeks shy of being 19. I think I'm very lucky that this passion in me never died and the media continues to intrigue me as much as it did almost 5 years ago.

5 years ago, I was just this rebellious ahlian who knew nothing beyond wanting to be able to chase my dream. Today, I'm chasing my dream and I'm more than halfway through it. I can't be more grateful :')

At 14, I was unmotivated and hardly ever felt passionate. There were only three things I was interested in (and still love) - history, North Korea and reading/writing. It's a known fact that I love writing and reading but not many people know that I actually adore history and have great interest in North Korea!

I started reading about War World 2 and Hitler when I was eight. I knew all the little known facts about Hitler and the little nuggets of info about WW2 that even my friends who took History didn't know about even though I didn't take history as an O level subject.

But getting a history diploma/degree is kinda redundant because what can I do with it? Be a teacher? I'll be strangling kids within a week.

And then there's North Korea, which is just as intriguing. I've read up so much on North Korea that I can answer almost any question about this reclusive country. I'd love to share my knowledge of North Korea but I don't want to bore anyone to death.

Anyway, I wasn't as interested in North Korea back then as I am now but even if I was, there's no diploma for North Korean studies in Singapore and flying to Seoul to get a degree for this is impossible because I don't even speak that language!

The above two were also not viable career choices so I was left with my love for reading and writing. I already owned a blog at that point and this was during the rise of online advertising, which I thought was an amazing concept.

I Googled a little about English diplomas in Singapore and viola! Media and Communication in Singapore Polytechnic came out. Dug a little deeper and found Mass Communication in Ngee Ann Polytechnic, which is the most established media course in Singapore. So that's how I decided to be here.

I dare to say that ignoring the obstacles I faced and following my dreams was the best choice I've ever made with regards to my studies and one of the best decisions of my life. I'm constantly facing stress but at least I'm never filled with regrets.

I hope my little story inspires some of you out there to make a choice and follow your passion. I've always believed that being passionate can get you further than grades can so I hope all of you out there find the courage to chase your dreams and do what you like!

You can ask me anything else at ask.fm/pekyj :))

P.S. Heard that Joint Polytechnic Special Admissions Exercise (JPSAE) was merged with Direct Poly Admission (DPA) to form Early Admissions Exercise (EAE). I supposed the interviews are almost the same anyway.

People always ask me why do I like returning to my secondary school that much when I couldn't wait to get out just a year ago. My answer is this: I feel indebted to the school. I am where I am today because of the school; because of the great and patient teachers who never stopped giving their best, because of the amazing friends I made there who were willing to sacrifice their sleep during the holidays just to make sure I have a portfolio ready for the interview to my dream course.

If not for my Maths teacher, I wouldn't bother to work hard, try to prove her wrong, and pass Maths in the end. If not for my Chinese teacher, I would have never gotten a B3. My English teachers were the ones who cultivated my love for writing; without them, I probably would have abandoned my blog long ago. My Science teachers who never gave up on me even though my Science was beyond horrendous. There were just too many teachers that made a positive impact in my life and I am eternally grateful.

From a young age, my mom has always taught me to 饮水思源 (literally: when you're drinking water, remember the source) and that is why I never hesitate to give study tips whenever somebody asks me (even though I may not be very good at it) or encourage my juniors. To me, it's like giving back to the school what the school gave me. And I want to keep doing that.

On a side note, here's a vlog I made after I received numerous questions about did I mug for O Level and how to score well for Maths/English. It's my first time doing a vlog and it turned out to be too long-winded but oh well, I tried my best. I might do another vlog if the response is good and if I have the time. Anyway, I won't say that I'm the best person to answer these question but I am really honoured that you guys are asking me these questions :') Love y'all!

You can say that after Science, Chinese is my most hated subject. I cannot understand nor read Chinese and my spoken Chinese is just as horrible. It takes a lot of effort for me to even speak in Chinese, much less proper Chinese. Friends who know me personally would know that I am terrible at this language.

During Chinese examinations, I am almost always asleep because I can't freaking read the script, except for the name, class, date part. Oral is just as difficult for me, especially the reading aloud part. I can't read, so I'll usually only get 2/10 for that portion, which is probably just sympathy marks LOL. The picture discussion and conversation parts don't go too well for me either since I can't express myself in Chinese. You would think that the listening comprehension will at least help me but no. I have short attention span so I can't focus during the examination and I usually miss out the key points.

Below is proof of my horrible Chinese (and everything else actually LOL) results from my Secondary 3 year:


During the Adam Khoo study camp, I realised that I have wasted enough time, and started freaking out because I realised how close to O Level I was. It was then that I decided to turn my life around and started studying.



In just a year, I bounced from a F9 to a B3 for Chinese O Level. I scored a fucking B3.
How did I manage to do that?

Disclaimer: the objective of this blog post was never to boast. I'm doing this post as I received many questions about how did I score B3 even though my Chinese is... Disastrous. I'm no teacher, I'm just a student sharing what I've learnt and what I've done. If you want opinion from someone with better Chinese and years of experience, you should definitely speak to your Chinese teacher.

For those who are lazy to read the rest of the post, the magic trick is actually to memorise. Memorise every single shit given to you. Then again, if you're lazy to even read this post, you're probably not hardworking enough to go through the whole struggle. ಠ_ಠ There's no shortcut to success.

Oral, reading/picture discussion/conversation:
Again, the reading part is based on your skills and there is nothing much you can do to improve except maybe read the dictionary O.O But even if you do not know the words, just act like you do!!! Just make up some words and maybe they will give you some marks for your fluency and tone.

Picture discussions and conversations are made easier when you remember PIGS. Parents, Individual, Government, Society. Whenever you mention something, think of what the PIGS (it sounds funny LOL) would do/think. Does the kids' parents disapprove of their behavior? Will you, yourself, do such a thing? What can the government do to prevent such a situation from happening again? Would the society look down on a certain group of people?

Ask yourself questions, and answer them! If a tricky question is thrown to you and you need more time to think, have the teachers repeat their question so that you can use the time to think! Or you can just tell them politely that you need some time to ponder over the question. Your answer should be as politically correct as possible because after all, this is not a debate, but an examination with teachers who are probably more conservative.

Oh, and give lots of opinions!!! Many forget about giving opinions in picture discussions after stating what they see in the picture. Try to not miss out any detail in the picture, even the most minute ones. I'm pretty sure there's another acronym for the conversation but I can't remember now and I think it's similar to PIGS.

Listening comprehension:
Just try to focus and understand the passage even though you may not understand anything wtf. And please remember a 2B pencil and eraser!!! I freaked out pretty badly before the examination because I didn't bring any pencils or eraser -___- Believe me, you do not want to freak out just before an examination.
 
Paper one, situational writing/composition:
For situational writing, I had a template and I basically memorised everything. So during the examination, I just change the words here and there to fit the situation. Yeah, it sounds like I'm cheating hahahaha but whatever, IT WORKS OKAY! Writing has always been something I enjoy and something that comes naturally to me, but writing in Chinese... HAHAHAHA, not so. Since I'm unable to express myself in proper Chinese, I memorised all the good phrases (好词好句) that my teacher gave me. I also have a standard starting and ending paragraph to aid me.

Initially, I was doubtful that those methods would work but desperate times call for desperate measures right? Besides, I was already failing Chinese, there's nothing more I can lose. I am so so so grateful that despite being lousy at this language, I have good imagination (at least I'd like to think so - don't burst my bubble!!!) so I still score pretty well when it comes to content, which helps me a lot. By the way, ALWAYS choose the narrative writing if your Chinese is as weak as mine. I wouldn't recommend doing the bao zhang bao dao, especially if you have no idea what the question is asking for.

Paper two, comprehension:
Okay, the first part of paper two is actually the choosing of some words that look/sound the same to form a story. I'm sorry, but there's absolutely no cheat method (that I know of) for this. I usually just choose the words that look the most complicated HAHAHA. Since I cannot read the Chinese words, what I'd do is read the questions, look at what the question is asking for, find the familiar words in the passage, and

1) for multiple choice question, look at the words around it and try to find the same words in the answers. That's usually the correct choice.

2) for open-ended questions, copy down the whole paragraph, in which the familiar words are found, onto my answer sheet. Yes, it is tedious, but it is still better than leaving any blanks in your paper, right?

Opinionated questions are more complex because there is no standard answer but here's a tip: as long as you answer yes/no, with a simple explanation (anything will do!!!), you get some marks.

Positivity (as mentioned in this post) helps a lot too. Before the results, my Chinese teacher asked me what's my desired results for Chinese and I answered B3. He then replied that I have to prepare to re-take the exam and work very hard. But I stayed positive and believed in myself. I remember on the results day, my teachers were beaming at me and I cried tears of joy while telling my mom my results.

I was so overwhelmed, and my friends were so happy for me. It was a great feeling. I hope this is the kind of feeling you guys reading this post will get :) Of course, without my patient Chinese teachers, Mai Laoshi, Zhang Laoshi and Su Laoshi, I would have never gotten to where I am today. If not for them, I couldn't have possibly passed Chinese. So thankful for all of them.

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask me anything here!
Have a nice day ahead, everyone!

P.S.: While writing this post, I forgot some of the components in the Chinese exam paper so I visited the MOE's website and they led me to a file, which I supposed would help BUT WRITTEN IN CHINESE. It didn't help at all in the end HAHAHA.