For many families, PSLE results day is a huge emotional moment – relief, pride, worry, maybe all three at once. Before anything else: almost every child will have a place to move on to. In recent years, over 98% of Primary 6 students have been eligible to progress to secondary school each year. (CNA)
This post walks you through the main education paths after receiving PSLE results, and how to think about what’s best for your child – not someone else’s.
1. First, understand what the PSLE score actually means
Under the current PSLE system, each subject is given an Achievement Level (AL) from 1 to 8 (AL1 is best). Your child’s PSLE Score is the sum of their four ALs, ranging from 4 to 32, with 4 being the best. (rafflesgirlspri.moe.edu.sg)
Secondary 1 (S1) posting is based on:
- Your child’s PSLE Score
- Their six school choices and posting group
- Tie-breakers if needed (citizenship, school choice order, and ballot) (rafflesgirlspri.moe.edu.sg)
From the 2024 Sec 1 cohort onwards, the old “Express / Normal (Academic) / Normal (Technical)” labels are gone. Instead, students are posted to schools through Posting Groups 1, 2 and 3, and will take most subjects at G1, G2 or G3 levels. (Ministry of Education)
- Posting Group 3 (PG3) ≈ used to be Express
- Posting Group 2 (PG2) ≈ used to be Normal (Academic)
- Posting Group 1 (PG1) ≈ used to be Normal (Technical) (peicaisec.moe.edu.sg)
The important mindset shift:
Your child is not “Express” or “Normal” anymore. They are a learner who can take different subjects at different levels, and move up when they’re ready. (Ministry of Education)
2. Main path: Secondary school under Full Subject-Based Banding (Full SBB)
From 2024, all schools with academic streams run Full Subject-Based Banding. That means:
- Students enter via Posting Groups 1–3, but
- They can take some subjects at a more demanding level, and others at a less demanding level, based on how they’re coping. (Ministry of Education)
For example:
- A child in PG2 (mostly G2 subjects) who is strong in Mathematics may be allowed to take Math at G3 from Sec 1. (Ministry of Education)
From 2027, students will sit for a common Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate (SEC), rather than separate O-Level and N-Level exams. (Ministry of Education)
What this means for parents
When choosing a school, focus less on “Is my child Express-standard?” and more on:
- How supportive is the school in allowing movement between subject levels?
- What kind of learning environment, teachers and CCA culture will help my child grow?
- Can my child handle a heavier load of G3 subjects, or would a mix of G2/G3 be healthier?
The same PSLE score can still lead to very different experiences, depending on the school’s culture and how well it fits your child.
3. The Integrated Programme (IP): Through-train to JC or IB
Some students with strong academic performance may qualify for schools offering the Integrated Programme (IP).
The IP is a 6-year programme where students:
- Skip the national exam at Sec 4 (now the SEC / previously O-Levels), and
- Go straight to A-Levels, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, or the NUS High School Diploma at the end of Year 6. (Ministry of Education)
Typically, the IP is designed for academically strong students – about the top 10% of each Primary 6 cohort. (thelearninglab.com.sg)
Pros of the IP path
- More time for deeper learning, research projects, leadership, and enrichment instead of teaching towards a Sec 4 exam. (Ministry of Education)
- A more broad-based education that can benefit independent, self-driven learners.
Things for parents to consider
- IP is academically intense and fast-paced; not every bright child enjoys this style. (thelearninglab.com.sg)
- There is no Sec 4 national exam “safety net” – students who find IP unsuitable may transfer out, and MOE data suggests around 6–7% of IP students leave before completing the six years. (The Straits Times)
Ask yourself:
- Is my child naturally independent, or do they still need close structure?
- Would they thrive with more project work and self-directed learning, or feel overwhelmed?
A very strong PSLE score doesn’t automatically mean the IP is the “best” choice – it just opens another door.
4. Specialised and niche secondary school options
Depending on your child’s interests and strengths, there are other paths after PSLE besides a mainstream secondary school with Full SBB. These usually require good PSLE results and/or Direct School Admission (DSA) earlier in the year, but some may still matter at decision time.
Examples include:
- School of the Arts (SOTA) – for students with strong talent and commitment in the arts.
- Singapore Sports School (SSP) – for student-athletes serious about long-term sports development.
- NUS High School of Mathematics and Science – for students with deep interest and talent in STEM.
- Schools with specialised programmes (e.g. media, applied learning, STEM innovation) under MOE’s list of schools with specialised curriculum. (Ministry of Education)
These options work best when:
- Your child’s interest is genuine, not just parental aspiration, and
- You are prepared for the time and emotional commitment (e.g. training, performances, competitions).
5. For students with lower PSLE scores: What if my child struggled?
Every year, there are students whose scores fall on the lower end – and they still move on and do well in life.
Under the current system:
- Students who meet the minimum requirement (usually PSLE Score of 30 or better, with at least AL7 in English and Math) can still be placed in a secondary school in Posting Group 1. (rafflesgirlspri.moe.edu.sg)
- Those who do not qualify for any of the posting groups may be offered places in specialised schools such as Northlight School or Assumption Pathway School, or they may be allowed to re-attempt PSLE depending on MOE’s guidelines and the school’s assessment. (essentialeducation.com.sg)
If your child’s results are lower than expected, conversations could focus on:
- “How can we help you rebuild confidence in learning?”
- “Which environment would help you feel safe enough to try again?”
- “What are you good at outside of exams – practical skills, people skills, creativity, sports?”
The secondary school years are still a time of huge growth. Many late bloomers only find their footing in Sec 3–4 or in ITE / polytechnic.
6. Choosing a school: Beyond cut-off points
MOE publishes each school’s PSLE score range (first and last student posted in each posting group) as a reference – not a fixed “ranking”. (Ministry of Education)
Instead of only chasing the “best” COP, consider:
- Fit with your child’s profile
- Will your child be in the middle of the cohort, or struggling at the bottom?
- Do they need a more nurturing environment, or do they enjoy healthy competition?
- School culture and strengths
- CCAs that excite your child
- Student leadership, service-learning, sports or arts culture
- Support for students who need more help (e.g. learning support, counselling)
- Practicalities
- Distance and travel time
- School hours and co-curricular commitments
- Siblings’ schools, caregiving arrangements
A useful family exercise:
- Shortlist 8–10 schools using SchoolFinder and PSLE score ranges, then
- Narrow down to 6 choices that balance aspirational, realistic, and safe options. (Ministry of Education)
7. How parents can support emotionally (not just logistically)
Acknowledge feelings first
Before talking about school choices, give space for your child to react to their results – joy, disappointment, or confusion are all normal.
You might say:
“I can see you’re feeling ___ about your results. That’s okay. Whatever the number, we’ll figure out the next step together.”
Separate the child from the score
Gently remind them:
- “This score reflects your performance in one exam, at one point in time.”
- “It does not measure your kindness, creativity, sense of humour, or potential.”
Research on motivation and resilience consistently shows that children do better when parents emphasise effort, strategies and growth, not just outcomes. (essentialeducation.com.sg)
Focus on next steps, not comparison
Instead of “Why didn’t you get into X school?”, try:
- “What kind of school environment do you think you’ll enjoy?”
- “Which CCAs or programmes sound exciting to you?”
This shifts the conversation from shame to possibility.
8. Summary: Many paths, one child
After PSLE, your child might:
- Enter a mainstream secondary school through Posting Groups 1–3,
- Start a Full SBB journey where subject levels can be adjusted over time,
- Join an Integrated Programme school,
- Attend a specialised school that matches a strong talent or interest, or
- Take a more customised path if they need more time and support.
Your role as a parent isn’t to pick the most “prestigious” path, but to help your child find a sustainable, healthy onewhere they can grow academically, emotionally, and as a person.
If you’d like, I can next help you:
- Interpret a specific PSLE score (e.g. 18, 23, 27) and
- Sketch out realistic school and pathway options for your child’s profile.
References
Ministry of Education. (2023). Full subject-based banding (Full SBB). (Ministry of Education)
Ministry of Education. (2025). FAQs: PSLE scoring and Secondary 1 posting. (Ministry of Education)
Ministry of Education. (2025). Curriculum for secondary schools: Schools offering Full SBB. (Ministry of Education)
Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board & Ministry of Education. (2023). PSLE results: 98.4% of students can progress to secondary school. Channel NewsAsia. (CNA)
Ministry of Education. (2023). Integrated Programme (IP). (Ministry of Education)
The Learning Lab. (2024). Integrated Programme vs O-Level. (thelearninglab.com.sg)
Bukit Timah Tutor. (2025). What is the Integrated Programme (IP) in Singapore? (Bukit Timah Tutor Secondary Mathematics)
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