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Last Updated: 03 Oct 2024

Secondary 1 (S1): How to choose schools

3. Learn how posting works

Before you decide on the schools, it is important to understand how posting works.

Academic merit (PSLE score) is still the first criterion for posting. Students are posted to secondary school based on:

  • PSLE results according to the eligible Posting Group.
  • Choice order of schools.
  • Vacancies available at the chosen schools.

Students with better PSLE scores will be considered first for vacancies in their chosen schools. When there are 2 or more students with the same PSLE score vying for the last available vacancies in a school, tie-breakers will be used.

What if 2 students have the same score?

If there are 2 or more students with the same PSLE score vying for the last available vacancies in a school, tie-breakers will be applied in the following sequence:

  1. Citizenship status with priority given in the order of:
    1. Singapore Citizen
    2. Permanent Resident
    3. International Student
  2. Choice order of schools
  3. Computerised balloting

Note: Balloting will only take place when students vying for the last available vacancies in the school have the same PSLE score, citizenship and choice order of schools.
Why does the choice order of schools matter when there is a tie-break?

Choice order is considered to recognise the different considerations that families have when choosing secondary schools, such as the school’s ethos, culture, programmes, CCAs, distance between the school and home. We hope to encourage families to think more deeply about the schools they are choosing and which ones are best suited for their child based on their strengths and interests, while taking reference from the school's previous year's COP listed in the SchoolFinder.

For example, Bryan and Mary are vying for the last available vacancy in School A. They:

  • Have the same PSLE score.
  • Are both Singapore Citizens.
  • Bryan listed School A as his first choice and Mary listed it as her third choice.

In this case, Bryan will be posted to School A as he had ranked School A higher than Mary in his choice order of schools.

Is it possible that my child will not be posted to the school despite choosing it as one of the school choices and meeting the school's COP?

Yes, it is possible. This happens when there are other students with the same PSLE scores vying for the last available vacancies in the school.

If there are 2 or more students with the same PSLE score vying for the last available vacancies in the school, their posting will be determined according to the tie-breakers.

What if there are no vacancies at any of my child's chosen schools?

Students who cannot be placed in any of their chosen schools will be posted to a school with remaining vacancies, based on their official registered address. Do note that they might not be posted to a school near their official registered address due to limited vacancies available.

If you have changed your residential address in your NRIC, you should update your child’s primary school by the end of October.

Do students taking Higher Chinese Language (HCL) have priority for admission to Special Assistance Plan (SAP) schools during posting?

Students who obtained Distinction, Merit or Pass in HCL and have a PSLE score of 14 or better (i.e. PSLE score ≤ 14) will be eligible for posting advantage when applying to SAP schools.

If multiple students with the same PSLE score apply for the same SAP school, those with better HCL grades will be allocated a place ahead of other students. This applies before the tie-breakers.

Things to consider
Next section: Understand the PSLE score ranges