Worried about your child’s prospects after the Primary School Leaving Examination?

It’s inevitable that one might have expectations about the outcome of the PSLE, i.e. your child’s grades. In different families, “doing well” or “doing badly” can mean entirely different things. For a child who has been thriving in primary school, a disappointing performance could be one that doesn’t allow them to qualify for the Integrated Programme (IP) or a dream secondary school. For families with struggling learners, the fear may be that a child will fail to qualify for the G2 or G1 pathway, with limited options for progression.

As parents, what we do and say to support our children at this juncture could be crucial to their self-esteem and motivation in the teen years. 

On Results Day, these are the outcomes that children will face:

1. Disappointing results: This would be the situation that everyone dreads, but it’s also where your parenting matters most. Your overall message should be that this is not the end of the world, as there will be new experiences, new friends, and new opportunities to look forward to. 
2. Expected results: Celebrate and proceed according to plan!
3. Better-than-expected results: Celebrate and enjoy the wider range of choices!

Whatever your child's score, be mindful not to preach or lecture, as nothing can be changed. Give your child a hug, and even if you feel the situation is dire, remind yourself that your child has completed a milestone, and that in itself is worth celebrating.

Read on for more concerns that parents may have after Results Day, and how best to deal with them.

My Child Can’t Qualify For G1 

Under the current PSLE system, students who are not eligible for any of the posting groups will have to repeat the PSLE, or progress to NorthLight School or Assumption Pathway School. If this should be the case for your child, please talk to your child’s principal or teachers as soon as possible, as they would be the best people to advise you on your next steps.

Sometimes, a poor showing at the PSLE is not solely due to a child’s learning issues — the family’s situation may have contributed as well. But if the home environment has been fairly stable, do take heart that NorthLight and Assumption Pathway are by no means the end of the road for your child. For instance, 45 percent of Northlight’s students eventually move on to the Institute of Technical Education, and from there, some have gone on to the polytechnics as well. 

My Child Can’t Qualify For Their Preferred Pathway or Posting Group

Kids and parents do get upset when they realise that a certain pathway is out of reach, be it the IP, G3, G2, or G1. 

But regardless of the placement outcome for your child, please know that there is flexibility within our education system — this is something you can highlight to your child. 

If your child wishes to set an ambitious goal for the year ahead, by all means, show your full support. Schools will monitor the progress of students, and those who do well may be given the opportunity for lateral transfers, or to do selected subjects at a higher level. 

For instance, secondary schools that offer the IP do provide entry opportunities to Secondary 2 students. Competition is usually stiff, but it’s still a chance to gain entry. At the same time, students who are in the G2 or G1 posting groups may be allowed to do selected subjects at a higher level, if they perform well.  

In order for your child to thrive, it's also best to be realistic about their optimal pace of learning. If they learn better at a gentler pace, there is no need to chase after the “prestige” of being in the G3 pathway. Instead, use the secondary school years to develop sound study habits and build a firm knowledge foundation — your child can still go on to thrive in a tertiary institution after that. 

My Child Qualified For G3 With A Borderline Score

Sometimes, parents whose children have narrowly qualified for the G3 pathway view this as a mixed blessing, as they may not be happy with the selection of schools open to their children. 

When discussing secondary schools, do consider your child’s feelings. Qualifying for the G3 posting group is something worth celebrating. Even if the selection of schools is small, there is still a choice. Visit the school websites (or open houses) with your child, talk to students and teachers, and turn this search into a positive adventure for you and your child.

My Child Is 1 Or 2 Points Shy Of Qualifying For Their Dream School

A near miss can be painful, and the sad fact is that some children would have done extremely well for the PSLE, but still feel as if they have failed to measure up in some way. If this is your child’s situation, please help your child to maintain a healthy perspective, and celebrate a job well done! 

Bear in mind that how you react will also shape how your child deals with setbacks in the future. If you focus on what could’ve been, it’s not helpful for your child, and diminishes what they have achieved. 

Be honest with yourself: is it your child that is disappointed, or is the disappointment originating from you?

Another potentially stressful scenario is if your child fails to make the cut for their affiliated school. Affiliated schools often have close-knit communities, and it is hard to leave that protective bubble. In some schools, the principal will hold a meeting for affiliates who have not met the cut-off, so that students and parents can form a support group, and perhaps even agree on an alternative school to apply for. 

As parents, your job is to help your children adapt to change. Find ways to get them excited about a new environment, and share your own stories of change and having to make new friends from scratch. Some kids will want to work towards returning to their affiliated school eventually, but for others, they may thrive and shine in their new school, so it’s really about keeping an open mind.

Want to talk to other parents about PSLE 2025 and choosing secondary schools? Join the conversation on the KiasuParents forum!