Singapore Education Grading System: How It Works and What It Means for Students
The Singapore education system is divided into these 5 stages:
- Preschool
- Primary School
- Secondary School
- Pre-University
- University
In Singapore, each level of education, like primary, secondary, junior college, and university, has its way of assessing students. In the preschools, there are no exams, so there are no grades. In the primary school, students grades are based on the exams. Then you are in secondary school. In secondary school, students’ grades are focused more on specific subjects. Junior college has its own grading system. At university, grading systems are according to advanced studies.
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Structure Of the Education System
The structure of the education system in the state incorporates from preschool to national primary school examinations in the school stage.
Such examination will determine the next stage for which a student would be eligible such as either a normal secondary school, a specialized school, or an express school that furnishes O level certificate in four or five years of certification.
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The examination is followed by another exam that determines the admission of the student in pre-university education, that is GCE O level known as the annual general certification education ordinary level.
The next stage which is post-secondary education ordinarily takes one to three years and incorporates schooling, junior colleges, polytechnics, or institutes of technical education which ordinarily takes one to three years.
The structure of such an education system is governed by the Ministry of Education known as MOE which develops and supervises the state school receiving taxpayers’ funding. There is a difference in the extent of autonomy, admission policy, and tuition structure of public and private schools. It is noteworthy that 20% of the annual budget is contributed to education in the state.
1. Primary Level Grading System (PSLE – Primary School Leaving Examination)
When college students are on the give up of primary 6, he/she can sit for the PSLE that determines the location in secondary college streams.
Grading: Since 2021, PSLE has adopted the Achievement Level System, additionally known as the AL System. Grades are given on a scale from AL1 to AL8. In which AL 1 is the highest and AL eight is the bottom, and these grades are given in every subject.
- AL1: 90 and above
- AL2: 85–89
- AL3: 80–84
- AL4: 75–79
- AL5: 65–74
- AL6: 45–64
- AL7: 20–44
- AL8: Below 20
These AL ratings in subjects (English, Maths, Science, and Mother Tongue) will decide the secondary faculty circulate, like Express, Normal Academic, or Normal Technical.
2. Secondary School (O-Level and N-Level)
Let’s first understand what O-Level and N-Level are. These are the national exams given by students at the secondary level.
O-Levels mean ordinary-level students taken at the end of secondary 4. It determines where students can move to junior college, a polytechnic, or other post-secondary options.
N-Level exams are usually for students who want to go into normal academic and normal technical or it helps them to decide if they want to take O-level next year. It is usually a less difficult exam than O-Level. It is those who want more practical, vocational training options.
O-Levels (Ordinary Level)
Grading:
- A1, A2: Distinction
- B3, B4: Merit
- C5, C6: Pass
- D7, E8: Below pass
- F9: Fail
N-Levels (Normal Level)
Grading:
- Grade 1 to 5: Pass
- Grade U: Ungraded (Fail)
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3. Post-Secondary Education
Postsecondary education is the education that you can do after finishing secondary school, like secondary 4 or 5. If you want to be prepared for jobs or further studies, this education comes after secondary school.
Here are some main options:
- Junior college (JC): This is a 2-12-month application for those students who need to visit universities. It particularly makes a speciality of getting ready college students for superior-level exams or academic topics.
- Polytechnics: This is a 3-year software that in most cases focuses on realistic capabilities within the subject, like a commercial enterprise, engineering, healthcare, and so on. Polytechnic college students are capable of visiting work after they finish their schooling, or they can preserve their research at universities.
- Institute of Technical Education (ITE): In this example, students who need to paint in mechanics, electrical work, and so on., or majorly train in vocational and technical training, can pick ITE. It gives sensible skills that lead directly to jobs.
Grading:
- H1 and H2 Subjects (higher level subjects):
- A to E: Pass grades
- S: Sub-pass (below E but above fail)
- Ungraded (U): Fail
- H3 Subjects: Graded on a Distinction, Merit, Pass, Fail scale.
4. Tertiary Institutions
Schools or colleges that provide post-secondary education with higher education are known as tertiary institutions. After finishing secondary school and post-secondary education (such as junior college, polytechnic, or ITE), students go here.
Universities: These establishments provide higher education and bachelor’s degrees. If students wish to get degrees in fields like science, business, the arts, engineering, or law, they enrol at universities. Typically, a university education lasts three to four years.
Although polytechnics are frequently regarded as post-secondary, their higher diploma programs can also be included in university education. After graduating from polytechnics, some continue their education at universities.
Polytechnics
- GPA (Grade Point Average) system is used.
- 4.0: Distinction
- 3.5–3.9: Merit
- 3.0–3.4: Credit
- Below 2.5: Pass
Universities
NUS, NTU, and SMU are universities of singapore that use GPA or CPA ( Cumulative Average Point). Grading often ranges from 5.0 or 4.0 (highest) to 2.0 or below (lowest), depending on the institution.
The honours classification depends on cumulative scores:
- First Class Honors: Typically a GPA ≥ 4.5 (on a 5.0 scale).
- Second Class Honors (Upper/Lower) and other classifications follow.
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5. Unique Aspects
- IP (Integrated Programme): Students skip O-Levels and proceed directly to A-Levels or International Baccalaureate (IB).
- IB Diploma: Graded on a 45-point scale, with scores from 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest) for subjects and up to 3 bonus points for the Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge.
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Hope you have understood the grading system of Singapore.
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