From primary to secondary to university: Singapore's main pathways

How the PSLE is scored, how Secondary 1 posting groups work, the secondary system from 2024 and the SEC in 2027, the post-secondary routes and the new admissions exercise from 2028, and how international students apply at each step.

Verified 2026-10-31 Changes often

The main local route is six years of primary school, the PSLE, secondary school, post-secondary study and then university or work. The rules have been changing, so this follows MOE and SEAB pages as of 31 October 2026. How international students get in at each step is in the last section.

How the PSLE is scored

The PSLE is taken at the end of Primary 6 in four subjects: English, Mother Tongue, Mathematics and Science. MOE’s page says the current scoring was introduced in 2021.

Achievement Level	Mark in one subject
AL 1	90 and above
AL 2	85 to 89
AL 3	80 to 84
AL 4	75 to 79
AL 5	65 to 74
AL 6	45 to 64
AL 7	20 to 44
AL 8	below 20

The four levels are added for the PSLE score, from 4 to 32, where 4 is the best. Foundation subjects map as grade A (75 to 100) to AL 6, B (30 to 74) to AL 7 and C (below 30) to AL 8.

Secondary 1 posting groups (from 2024, no streams)

From the 2024 Secondary 1 cohort MOE removed the Express, Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical) streams. Students are placed into three posting groups by PSLE score, which also guide the subject levels they start at (G1, G2 or G3).

Posting group	PSLE score	Indicative level at the start of Sec 1
Group 3	4 to 20	G3
Group 2 or 3	21 to 22	G2 or G3
Group 2	23 to 24	G2
Group 1 or 2	25	G1 or G2
Group 1	26 to 30, with AL 7 or better in English and Mathematics	G1

Group 3 students take all subjects at G3. Group 2 and Group 1 students take most subjects at G2 and G1, and may take English, Mathematics, Science or Mother Tongue at more demanding levels if they did well at the PSLE. Students can adjust levels at suitable points.

From N- and O-Level to the SEC (2027)

Timeline on MOE’s page: the Full Subject-Based Banding pilot began in 28 secondary schools in 2020; the first Primary 6 cohort used the new PSLE scoring and Secondary 1 posting in 2021; roll-out to more schools ran from 2022 to 2024.
The 2027 cohort is the first to sit a common national examination and receive a common national certificate, the Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate (SEC). It combines and renames the N(T), N(A) and O-Level examinations. Students sit each subject at G1, G2 or G3, graded in the same structure as N(T), N(A) and O-Level respectively.
SEC results are released in January of the following year.

Post-secondary options

Junior colleges (JC) and Millennia Institute (MI): a two-year course at a JC and a three-year course at MI, leading to the A-Level or the International Baccalaureate Diploma depending on the school. MOE says two JCs offer the IB Diploma.
Polytechnics: full-time, practice-oriented diploma courses with industry internships; graduates may be considered for university on their diploma.
Institute of Technical Education (ITE): full-time Higher Nitec courses. MOE says all courses move to the enhanced three-year structure by 2026, with two linked industry attachments totalling nine months.
Arts and sports: the School of the Arts (SOTA) and Singapore Sports School (SSP) offer the IB Diploma, and SSP also offers a business diploma with a polytechnic; LASALLE and NAFA offer arts diplomas and degrees.

Who applies how: changes in 2027 and 2028

Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE): for the 2026 GCE O-Level cohort, covering JCs, MI, polytechnics and ITE. MOE’s page says eligibility depends on citizenship. For the 2027 cycle, O-Level results are expected 13 to 15 January 2027 (tentative), applications open at 4pm on results day and run for 6 calendar days, and posting results are expected at 9am on 2 February 2027 (tentative).
Post-Secondary Admissions Exercise (PSE): from 2028, all candidates who sat the SEC apply for JCs, MI, polytechnics and ITE through this exercise. Applicants may combine results from up to two examination years, and the net aggregate score remains the primary posting factor. From 2028 the JC and MI admission criteria also change.
Talent-based routes such as DSA-JC still run before the SEC examinations.

How international students enter at each step

Target	How to apply
Government primary (Primary 1)	International Primary 1 registration; priority goes to citizens and permanent residents and a place is not guaranteed
Government Primary 2 to 5, Secondary 1 to 3	AEIS and S-AEIS; see AEIS
Junior colleges, Millennia Institute	Apply directly to the school in December, subject to vacancies and the school’s criteria
Polytechnics, private schools, universities	Apply directly to each institution, outside MOE’s exercises

Common mistakes

Using “Express, Normal (Academic), Normal (Technical)” to understand secondary school from 2024.
Reading the PSLE score as higher is better: it runs from 4 to 32 and a lower number is better.
Assuming the JAE is open to international students: its page only says eligibility depends on citizenship; MOE’s international page says to apply directly in December.
Assuming the 2028 PSE works like today’s JAE: rules change, so check each year’s announcement.

Next steps

Put every stage side by side in Singapore’s education system at a glance.
For the way into government schools, read AEIS.
Check your case with the age and grade chart and the planner.

FAQ

How is the PSLE score calculated?

English, Mother Tongue, Mathematics and Science are each converted from the percentage mark to an Achievement Level (AL) from 1 to 8, where AL 1 is best. The four are added to give a PSLE score from 4 to 32, where 4 is best. Foundation grades A, B and C count as AL 6, 7 and 8.

Are students still in Express, Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical)?

No. From the 2024 Secondary 1 cohort those streams were removed. Students are placed into Posting Groups 1, 2 or 3 by PSLE score and take subjects at G1, G2 or G3.

What is the SEC and when does it start?

The Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate replaces the N(T), N(A) and O-Level examinations. The first sitting is in 2027, with results in January of the following year.

Can international students apply to junior colleges through the JAE?

The JAE page only says eligibility depends on citizenship; it does not address international students. MOE’s international-student page says to apply directly to the junior college or Millennia Institute in December, subject to vacancies.

How do international students apply to polytechnics?

MOE’s international-student page lists polytechnics, private schools and universities as places you approach directly, outside MOE’s exercises. Check each institution’s conditions.

Sources

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