Last Updated: 09 Oct 2024
Curriculum for secondary schools
Starting from the 2024 Secondary 1 cohort, the Normal (Technical), Normal (Academic) and Express streams will be removed. Under Full Subject-Based Banding (Full SBB), students will be posted through Posting Groups 1, 2 and 3 respectively instead and have greater flexibility to offer subjects at different subject levels as they progress through secondary school.
Schools that only admit students from one Posting Group, such as those that offer the Integrated Programme or Crest Secondary School and Spectra Secondary School, will not be able to implement Full SBB as they offer a whole-school approach to implementing specialised programmes, designed to cater to specific student profiles. Nonetheless, students in some of these schools may be able to benefit from aspects of Full SBB such as subject-level flexibility, where feasible.
Visit the microsite to learn more about Full Subject-Based Banding (Full SBB).
Students will generally start off in Secondary 1 (S1) with subjects at a subject level based on their overall PSLE score, or at a more demanding level based on their performance in individual PSLE subjects. In some instances, students may have flexibility to offer some subjects at a less demanding level from S1.
At the start of S1
Eligible students can offer English Language, Mother Tongue Languages, Mathematics and Science at a more demanding level based on their PSLE Achievement Level (AL) for each of these subjects.
| Eligibility criteria to offer English Language, Mother Tongue Languages, Mathematics and/or Science at a more demanding level | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Indicative level of most subjects at start of S1 | PSLE standard grade | PSLE foundation grade | Option to offer at |
| G2 |
AL 5 or better | - | G3 |
| G1 | AL 5 or better | - | G3 or G2 |
| AL 6 | AL A | G2 | |
Beyond the start of S1
Students may also offer the subjects above at a more demanding level based on their performance in secondary school. Students may reach out to their secondary schools and teachers for more details.
From Secondary 2 (S2), students will also be able to offer Humanities subjects (Geography, History, and Literature in English) at a more demanding level. The criteria for taking Humanities at a more demanding level will be based on students' aptitude for and interest in these subjects at S1.
| Eligibility criteria | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Humanities subject level at S1 | Humanities subjects | School-based assessment | Option to offer Humanities at a more demanding level from S2 |
| G2 |
|
Aptitude and interest for specific subject |
G3 Geography, History and/or Literature in English (i.e., can offer one or more Humanities subjects at a more demanding level) |
| G1 |
|
Aptitude in English Language and G1 Humanities |
G2 Geography, History and/or Literature in English (i.e., can offer one or more Humanities subjects at a more demanding level) |
At the start of Secondary 1 (S1)
For students who offered English, Mathematics and/or Science at Foundation level at PSLE, but are otherwise eligible to take most of their subjects at G3 when entering secondary school, they may choose to take these subjects at a less demanding level (i.e., G2), in consultation with their secondary schools.
Students who face exceptional difficulties coping with their Mother Tongue Languages (MTL) will have the option to offer G1 or G2 MTL. At the start of S1, students can offer MTL at a less demanding level based on the following criteria:
| Indicative level of most subjects at the start of S1 |
(standard MTL) PSLE grade |
(foundation MTL) PSLE grade |
Option to offer at |
|---|---|---|---|
| G3 | AL 6 | AL A | G2 |
| AL 7-8 | AL B-C | G2 or G1 | |
| G2 | AL 7-8 | AL B-C | G1 |
Beyond the start of S1
Students may offer subjects at a less demanding level, based on their performance and schools’ holistic assessment, to calibrate their academic load.
Schools will also have the discretion to allow students with difficulties coping with MTL to offer MTL at a less demanding level, based on holistic considerations.
Students who offer subjects at a less demanding level may subsequently offer the subjects at a more demanding level as they gain greater competence and confidence in the subjects.
The increased flexibility empowers students to take greater ownership of their learning according to their subject-specific strengths and interests.
Common curriculum subjects
In their mixed form classes, students will spend around one-third of their curriculum time taking a set of six common curriculum subjects:
These subjects give students more opportunities to interact and learn with classmates of different strengths and interests.
Teachers will adopt a range of teaching approaches to meet the different learning needs and pace of their students in the same form class.
Subjects offered at G1, G2 and G3
English Language, Mother Tongue Languages, Mathematics, Science, and Humanities subjects will be offered at G1, G2 and G3.
Students will be grouped in different classes based on their subject level for each subject.
The following curriculum policy changes will also be implemented from the 2024 Secondary 1 (S1) cohort:
| Subject | Details |
|---|---|
|
Mother Tongue Languages (MTL) - replacement of MTL 'B' with G1 or G2 MTL |
Students who face exceptional difficulties coping with learning MTL will have the option to offer G1 or G2 MTL. With the greater flexibility afforded by the MTL offerings at G1, G2 and G3, MTL 'B' will be discontinued in secondary schools starting from the S1 cohort in 2024. |
|
Social Studies Normal (Technical) [SS(NT)] - replacement of SS(NT) with G1 Humanities |
Students will be able to offer G1 Humanities as a non-examinable subject at the lower secondary levels, in lieu of the current SS(NT). |
| Computer Applications (CPA) - discontinued with teaching of digital competencies incorporated into other subjects and programmes | Lower secondary CPA, which is currently only available for students taking the N(T) stream, will be discontinued. Teaching of digital competencies will be incorporated into other subjects/ programmes for all lower secondary students. |
Compulsory subjects
The compulsory subjects at upper secondary are:
- English Language
- Mother Tongue Languages (MTL)
- Eligible students may offer HMTL instead of MTL
- Humanities
- G1 Humanities will comprise Social Studies and one Humanities Exposure Module (HEM) in Geography, History or Literature in English.
- G2/3 Humanities will comprise Social Studies and choice of one elective in Geography, History or Literature in English or Literature in Mother Tongue Languages (offered at G3 only).
- Mathematics
- Science
- Students offering predominantly G1 subjects at upper secondary must offer at least one of the following subjects – Computing and/or Science.
Elective subjects
Students have the flexibility to take elective subjects, such as Additional Mathematics, Art, and Design & Technology, at subject levels suited to their interests and strengths. Schools will consider their students’ learning progress and developmental needs when guiding them in their subject choices.
The following curriculum policy changes will also be implemented from the 2026 Secondary 3 (S3) cohort:
| Subject | Details |
|---|---|
|
Social Studies Normal (Technical) [SS(NT)] – replacement of SS(NT) with G1 Humanities |
Students will be able to offer G1 Humanities as a non-examinable subject at the upper secondary levels, in lieu of the current SS(NT). At upper secondary, G1 Humanities will comprise Social Studies and one Humanities Exposure Modules (HEM), in either Geography, History or Literature in English, of student's choice. Students offering G2 and G3 Humanities at upper secondary will continue to offer Social Studies and a Humanities Elective of their choice, for example in Geography, History or Literature in English. In addition, upper secondary students who are interested, can also continue to opt for another G2 or G3 Humanities as a full Humanities subject (i.e., Full Geography, full History, full Literature in English). |
|
Computer Applications (CPA) – renamed as G1 Computing |
Upper secondary CPA, which is currently only available for students taking the N(T) stream, will be renamed as G1 Computing. Students offering predominantly G1 subjects at upper secondary must offer at least one of the following subjects – Computing and/or Science. G1, G2 and G3 Computing will be offered as an elective subject to upper secondary students to allow more students to further develop their interest and competencies in computer education. |
Other programmes – Applied Learning Modules (ApLM)
ApLM are elective modules in applied areas, conducted by the Polytechnics, ITE and private vendors. Starting from the 2023 Secondary 2 to Secondary 5 cohorts, all students will be allowed to particate in these modules and each student is allowed to participate in up to 3 ApLM throughout their secondary education.
From the 2027 graduating cohort, students will sit for the new Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate (SEC) examination, comprising different papers for each subject level. Students will receive an SEC that reflects the subjects and subject levels that students offer.
This is similar to the A-Level examination, in which students take subjects at H1, H2, and H3 levels; and the PSLE, where students take subjects at standard or foundation levels.
Students will offer a more diverse combination of subjects at different subject levels by the time they complete secondary school. MOE has thus reviewed the admissions criteria for post-secondary pathways to recognise a wider profile of learners and provide students with more options, while ensuring students have the necessary fundamentals to thrive in their chosen pathway.
Option of a fifth year in secondary school
The option of a fifth year in secondary school will continue to be available for eligible students to pace their learning and take subjects at a more demanding level to access more post-secondary pathways.
No change to Junior College (JC) admission criteria
The existing JC admission criteria will be retained to ensure that students have sufficient academic foundation to access the A-Level curriculum.
Changes to polytechnic pathway
The Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP) is a 1-year programme that presently offers eligible N(A) students a practice-based preparatory pathway to a polytechnic education. MOE will expand the PFP to allow for a wider profile of learners, offering a different combination of subjects at different subject levels, to access the PFP.
Starting from the Academic Year 2024 intake, the PFP will be expanded to allow a wider group of students to benefit from a practice-based preparatory pathway to a polytechnic education, while ensuring that they are able to cope with the curriculum, by:
- Relaxing the grade requirement of two 'Best' subjects in ELMAB3 (English Language, Mathematics, Best 3 subjects), from G2 Grade 3 to Grade 4.
- While retaining ELMAB3 (English Language, Mathematics, Best 3 subjects) at a raw aggregate score of 12 points of better (excluding CCA bonus points); and the subject requirements for English Language and 'Relevant' subjects.
Starting from the Academic Year 2026 intake, admissions to the PFP will be restructured to a cluster-based approach. Students in the PFP will enter one of three key broad clusters: (i) Sciences (ii) Design, Engineering & Technology or (iii) Humanities, Art, Media and Business, before posting to a specific diploma course based on their interest and PFP performance.
Starting from the Academic Year 2028 intake, the PFP will be expanded to also allow students taking G3 subjects, or a mix of G2 and G3 subjects to access PFP by mapping their G3 grade to the G2 equivalent – thus removing the current stream-based admission which is limited to today’s N(A) students.
MOE is also reviewing the polytechnic Year 1 admission criteria. Details will be made available in due course.
Changes to Institute of Technical Education (ITE) pathway
ITE is transitioning all its Nitec courses to the enhanced three-year curricular structure leading directly to a Higher Nitec certification. ITE will continue to monitor the outcomes of this implementation, and is on track to complete the transition by Academic Year 2026.
Starting from the Academic Year 2028, the admission requirements for direct entry into Year 2 for all Higher Nitec courses will be set at G2. This means that students taking a combination of G3 and G2 subjects can apply for direct entry into Year 2 of Higher Nitec, as long as their ELMAB3 aggregate score is 19 points or less.
There are a variety of school-specific opportunities in secondary schools. Learn more about these opportunities and whether your child is eligible for them.