Once the A-Level results are released, these questions will follow: Which courses are still possible? What do the university admission profiles really mean? And what to do if results fall short of expectations?
For Singapore universities, teens can use a rank point calculator to gauge their chances of getting into popular universities like NUS, NTU, and SMU. But do make sure the calculator tool that you use has been updated for 2026.
It is also important to remember that meaningful post–A-Level options extend beyond these three institutions. Here’s where you can find information about the six autonomous universities in Singapore and their admissions criteria, also known as the Indicative Grade Profile or IGP.
The Indicative Grade Profile (IGP) is not a cut-off and not a promise of admission; it describes the most recent intake.
Tight bands (e.g. AAA/A at both ends) suggest most admitted students were academically very similar.
If results are disappointing, parents can help by giving space, asking what support is needed, and breaking next steps into manageable parts.
Alternatives can include other universities, polytechnic pathways, or retaking as a private candidate (with a clear plan).
How to Read a University’s Indicative Grade Profile (IGP)?
What does a university’s Indicative Grade Profile (IGP) tell us?
The answer is this: the IGP is not a cut-off, and it is not a promise of admission. It is simply a record of how students in the most recent intake were distributed academically.
Once this is clear, the IGP becomes easier to interpret.
What the IGP actually tells you
The most reliable insight you can extract from the IGP is how tight or how wide the academic range of admitted students was.
A tight range means that most students admitted had very similar academic profiles. A wider range means the intake was more academically varied.
The lower-end score is not a cut-off
One common mistake is treating the lower percentile in the IGP as a hard cut-off. It isn’t.
When a programme shows AAA/A at both the 10th and 90th percentile, it does not mean that only AAA/A students were admitted. By definition, up to 10% of the intake fell below that profile. A student with AAA/B could well have been among them, but we do not know if this actually happened, how often it happened, or under what circumstances.
This uncertainty is why the IGP should be used as a context-setting tool, not a gatekeeping one. It tells us what was common among admitted students, but not what was theoretically possible in exceptional cases.
How to interpret tight grade bands
When both the lower and upper percentiles are AAA/A, the key point isn’t just that “this course is hard to get into.”
What it also tells us is that almost everyone admitted looked the same academically.
In universities such as NUS, courses like Law, Medicine, Dentistry, and several computing programmes fall into this category. Based on recent data, academic weakness has been uncommon among successful applicants to these programmes.
Students should therefore think about admission chances as well as fit, i.e. “Can I thrive in an environment where nearly everyone has a very strong academic profile?”
When the lower end starts to drop
Some programmes still show AAA/A at the top, but the lower percentile drops slightly to AAA/B or AAA/C.
At NUS, programmes such as Pharmacy, Business Administration, and Food Science and Technology tend to fall into this category. These should not be treated as safe choices, but the data suggests that “perfection” was not universal among admitted students.
A different picture emerges when the lower percentile falls to ABB/C, BBB/C, or even CCC/C. This pattern appears in programmes such as Engineering, Nursing, Architecture, and design-related courses.
This does not mean these courses are easy. It means that admitted students were more varied academically.
Many students might see these courses as safety options. For students who scored very strongly but are genuinely interested in these fields, choosing these programmes should not be seen as wasting an opportunity. It’s important to choose a course that aligns with your interests and strengths, rather than prioritising exclusivity.
Interviews and tests do not replace grades
Another misconception is that interview- or test-based programmes care less about grades. In reality, some interview-based courses still have extremely tight academic ranges, while others show wider variation.
The IGP looks backward, not forward
A good reminder: the IGP describes what has already happened. It does not account for:
shifts in demand
changes in cohort sizes
policy adjustments
This is why the IGP should always be read alongside university announcements and relevant education news, rather than used as a standalone predictor of future outcomes.
How to Deal With “Bad” A-Level Results?
When might one feel that their A-Level results are disappointing?
Anecdotally, we know that many local teens wish to get into the “Big 3” universities in Singapore, namely NUS, NTU, and SMU. With this in mind, teens might feel dejected if they don't meet the IGP standards of these universities.
Even if your teen seems generally resilient, dealing with such disappointment can be painful. If this should happen, here’s how you can be there for your teen:
Give space for recovery: “I know this isn’t what you were aiming for. But we don’t need to think about this today. Let’s take a day or two, then we’ll look at what’s next.”
Ask what your teen needs: “How are you feeling? How would you like me to support you?”
Affirm their worth: “These results tell us how the exams went. They don’t tell us about your strengths, or what you’re capable of in the long run. Those are different things.”
Discuss next steps: “Now we’ll do three things: check what courses you qualify for, look at alternatives, and decide which ones are worth applying for. One step at a time.”
Introduce flexible thinking: “We might need to adjust your original plan. This doesn’t mean giving up, but it means finding another way to get where you want to go, or reassessing what you want.”
For context, about four in five A-Level and International Baccalaureate graduates will enrol in Singapore’s six autonomous universities every year.
If your teen is unable to secure a place in a local university with their A-Level results, and there are budget constraints that prevent your teen from pursuing a private or overseas education, the polytechnic route might be worth considering. According to past figures, about 200 A-Level graduates have taken up diploma studies every year. Interested A-Level holders should check the polytechnic websites for application information.
For male students who need to serve National Service, this will be an additional factor to weigh. Some have opted to take a diploma course after completing their two-year conscription.
There is also the option to retake the A-Levels, but readmission into junior colleges happens on a case-by-case basis. It can be daunting to be a private candidate without access to school resources. One option is to look for specialist tutors like Ask Mr Chan, where they focus on just one subject such as Chemistry. Check if they have a track record for helping students to bounce back from poor results. But bear in mind that your teen also needs to be fully aware of what they can do differently for a better outcome.
Here’s a tip from the educators at Ask Mr Chan: Whatever the results, parents should anchor Results Day with calm encouragement and a forward-looking plan. It may help your teen to read stories about those who overcame disappointing A-Level results. Better still, look for real-life examples of such individuals in your social network, and connect them with your teen.
Start a conversation on the KiasuParents forum.
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