Today's Sec 3s are the first batch to sit the new SEC exam. Sec 2s and P6s will sit it too.
The SEC replaces the O, N(A) and N(T) Levels.
Each subject is taken at its own level.
All subjects, at all levels, on one certificate.
SEAB says overall exam standards stay the same.
Source: MOE and SEAB
Is the first batch at a disadvantage?SEAB says the overall exam standards stay the same.
SEAB says there is no change in the overall standards of the exams under the SEC. What changes is the name, how subject levels are set, and how the JC and poly entry scores are worked out.
Source: SEAB
When are the 2027 exams?Maths papers: October to November 2027. Results: January 2028.
- Before the written papersOrals, listening comprehension and Science practicals
- September 2027English Language and Mother Tongue written papers
- October to November 2027All other written papers, including Maths
- January 2028Results released, on one certificate
Source: SEAB. Exact dates are set by SEAB.
Aiming for JC?5 subjects count, all at G3, and Maths must be G3 at A1 to D7.
JC entry score (called L1R4): all 5 subjects at G3
Lower is better: an A1 counts as 1, an A2 as 2, a B3 as 3, and so on. The old O-Level JC score, L1R5, counted 6 subjects.
- JC entry score of 16 or less for a junior college
- 20 or less for Millennia Institute (MI), which offers a 3-year A-Level course
- G3 English: A1 to C6
- G3 Maths or G3 A-Maths: A1 to D7
- Mother Tongue: A1 to D7 at G3, 1 to 5 at G2, or A to D at G1
Maths and Mother Tongue are treated differently. A student who takes Mother Tongue at G1 can still apply to JC, if they get A to D. A student who takes Maths at G2 cannot, even with a top grade 1. To keep the JC route open, stay at G3 Maths.
The cut-off of 16 counts 5 subjects, so it can't be compared directly with the old L1R5 numbers, which counted 6.
Source: MOE
Aiming for poly?At least 4 of the 5 subjects must be at G3. Only one can be at G2.
or G3
Poly entry score (called ELR2B2): at least 4 of 5 at G3
The score adds up English Language, 2 Relevant subjects for the course, and the 2 Best other subjects. Lower is better.
- English, the 2 relevant subjects and the best other subject (B1) must be at G3, and count at their G3 grades.
- The 2nd-best other subject (B2) can be at G2 or G3. Either way it is scored on the G2 scale: A1 to B3 = 1, B4 to C6 = 2, D7 = 3, E8 = 4.
- If both best subjects are G3, the better grade is B1, and the other is mapped to G2 for B2.
- G3 grade 9 and G2 grades 5 and 6 can't be used.
- The score must be 22 or less (Diploma in Nursing: 24 or less).
| Subject | Grade | Counts as |
|---|---|---|
| English (G3) | A2 | 2 |
| Relevant subject 1 (G3) | A1 | 1 |
| Relevant subject 2 (G3) | B4 | 4 |
| Best other subject, B1 (G3) | A2 | 2 |
| 2nd-best other subject, B2 (G3) | C6, scored as G2 grade 2 | 2 |
| Poly entry score | 11 |
Why 22, when it used to be 26? The 2nd-best subject is now scored on the shorter G2 scale, so the new and old cut-offs can't be compared directly. 22 does not simply mean poly is 4 points harder.
Important: only the 2nd-best subject is converted to G2. For English, the relevant subjects and B1, an A1, A2 and B3 still count as 1, 2 and 3.
Source: MOE
How do the new grades work?G3 is graded A1 to 9, G2 is graded 1 to 6, G1 is graded A to E.
| Level | Grades | On the certificate if |
|---|---|---|
| G3 | A1, A2, B3, B4, C5, C6, D7, E8, 9 | E8 or better |
| G2 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 | 5 or better |
| G1 | A, B, C, D, E | D or better |
Used for some admission scores only: the poly B2 subject, and ELMAB3 (the score for Year 2 of Higher Nitec and the Polytechnic Foundation Programme).
| G3 grade | G2 grade |
|---|---|
| A1, A2, B3 | 1 |
| B4, C5, C6 | 2 |
| D7 | 3 |
| E8 | 4 |
| 9 | 5 |
| G2 grade | G1 grade |
|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | A |
| 4 | B |
| 5 | C |
| 6 | D |
Source: SEAB and MOE
JC needs G3 Maths at A1 to D7. Mother Tongue at G1 can still get a student into JC, but Maths at G2 cannot, even with a top grade 1. For poly, each course's relevant subjects must be G3.
Which posting group is my child in?Your child's PSLE score sets the posting group and the starting level in Sec 1.
| PSLE score | Posting group | Usual starting level |
|---|---|---|
| 4 to 20 | Group 3 | G3 for all subjects |
| 21 to 22 | Group 2 or 3 | G2 or G3 |
| 23 to 24 | Group 2 | G2 |
| 25 | Group 1 or 2 | G1 or G2 |
| 26 to 30 | Group 1 | G1 (only with AL7 or better in English and Maths) |
If your child's score fits two groups, you choose one, and it applies to all your school choices. If no choices are submitted, your child is placed in the more demanding group.
Source: MOE
Can my child take Maths at a higher level?Posting Groups 1 and 2: yes, if your child did well in PSLE Maths.
Students in Posting Groups 1 and 2 may take English, Maths, Science or Mother Tongue at a more demanding level if they did well in that subject at PSLE. MOE does not publish one cut-off for this, so ask the secondary school.
Why it matters: your child sits the SEC in Sec 4. JC needs G3 Maths at A1 to D7, and G2 Maths does not qualify, even with a grade 1.
Source: MOE
- Sec 1: G3 Maths
- Sec 4: G3 E-Maths and A-Maths
- 18 years teaching Maths · nearly 1,000 students
- The Matrix Method™: clear concepts and methods, not just drills, with step-by-step worked solutions
SourcesOfficial MOE and SEAB pages, as at October 2026
- SEAB, Secondary Education Certificate: seab.gov.sg
- MOE, Post-Secondary Admissions Exercise: moe.gov.sg
- MOE, JC and MI admission criteria: moe.gov.sg
- MOE, Polytechnic diploma admission criteria: moe.gov.sg
- MOE, What are posting groups: moe.gov.sg
- Always check the official pages for the latest details. "Our advice" is Matrix Math's own advice, not official MOE advice.