PSLE, Secondary Posting and the Integrated Programme Explained

Singapore does not publish results by school, so the decisions families face are about understanding the system rather than reading league tables.

PSLE scoring

At the end of Primary 6 students sit the Primary School Leaving Examination in English, Mother Tongue, Mathematics and Science. Each subject is graded in Achievement Levels from AL1 (best) to AL8, and the four levels are added to give a PSLE score from 4 to 32, with lower being better. The scoring is criterion-referenced: a student's level depends on their own marks, not on how others performed.

Secondary posting

Under Full Subject-Based Banding, secondary schools no longer have separate Express, Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical) streams. Students enter one of three posting groups based on their PSLE score and take subjects at G1, G2 or G3 level according to their strengths, moving between levels by subject. Posting is by score and then by choice order, with tie-breakers for citizenship, choice order and ballot.

The Integrated Programme

IP schools offer a six-year route from Secondary 1 to the A-Levels or International Baccalaureate, skipping the O-Levels. It suits students who are academically strong across the board and want time for broader learning. Entry generally requires a low PSLE score; some IP schools also offer the O-Level track. This site lists every IP school.

Direct School Admission

DSA-Sec lets students gain a place based on talents such as sport, the arts, leadership or specific academic strengths before the PSLE results are released. Applications open in Primary 6 and include selection trials or interviews.

Choosing within the system

With no published results, look at programme features: IP, Special Assistance Plan, autonomous status, subject offerings, CCAs and distinctive programmes, all listed on each school's profile here, plus proximity, affiliation with a primary school and culture on open-house visits.