Are you a first-time PSLE parent? Or have you been too busy to read up on the new PSLE scoring system, which was implemented in 2021?

Read this guide to find out how your child’s PSLE score will be calculated, and how these scores will affect your child’s secondary school pathway.

How is the PSLE score calculated now?

To understand PSLE scores, you will need to be familiar with the term “AL,” which stands for “Achievement Levels.” How do these Achievement Levels or ALs work?

For each PSLE subject, your child will receive a raw score of 1 to 100. This will then be converted to an AL grade of 1 to 8:

You can also check these scores using the Ministry of Education’s PSLE score calculator.

To get your child’s PSLE score, total up your child’s AL scores for the four PSLE subjects — English, Mother Tongue Language (MTL), Maths, and Science.

• Example 1:  If your child scores AL1 (90 marks and above) for all four subjects, they will have the highest possible PSLE score of 4 (1 + 1 + 1 + 1).
• Example 2: If your child scores AL5 (65 to 74 marks) for all four subjects, they will have a PSLE score of 20 (5 + 5 + 5 + 5).
• Example 3: If your child is taking four Foundation subjects and scores A for everything, this is equivalent to an AL6 per subject, and a PSLE score of 24 (6 + 6 + 6 + 6).

What PSLE score do you need to qualify for secondary school?

Your child’s PSLE score will determine the difficulty level of the subjects that they take in secondary school. Students now are no longer grouped into “academic streams.” Instead, they are assigned “posting groups.”

Based on your child’s PSLE score, they will be posted into Group 1, 2, or 3:

In order of difficulty, subjects taken at the Group 1 or G1 level would be the least demanding, whereas subjects taken at the Group 3 or G3 level would be the most demanding.

What’s the difference between the posting groups that we have now, and the academic streams that we had before? There is flexibility in the new system of posting groups. Let’s say a child is in Group 2 or G2, but is very strong in Maths. In Secondary 1 or 2, they will have the option to advance to the next level — i.e. take Maths at the Group 3 or G3 level — while taking the rest of their subjects at the Group 2 or G2 level.

What about students with a PSLE score over 30, who are not eligible for any posting group? Such students will be offered the option to repeat the PSLE, or progress to NorthLight School or Assumption Pathway School with their principal's endorsement.

What is the average PSLE score for students under the new PSLE scoring system?

The Ministry of Education does not release information about average PSLE scores for each cohort. If you would like to know how most students are performing, here are some statistics:

• In 2024, most of the PSLE cohort — about 98.5% — qualified for secondary school.
• In previous years, under the old system, most students — about 70% of the cohort — qualified for the Express stream (now G3).
• For the 2024 Primary 6 cohort, about 65% of students assigned to G1 and G2 could take at least one subject at a more demanding level.

What are the top secondary schools in Singapore, and what PSLE score is needed to get in?

First, there is a difference between the top secondary schools (i.e. the hardest secondary schools to qualify for), and the secondary school that will be the best for your child.

If you and your child are aiming for the hardest schools to qualify for, it’s worth reflecting on why these schools suit your child. Do think about whether it is just the prestige factor that is attractive — if your child is unable to thrive in a so-called prestigious school, it will affect their self-esteem and motivation to learn.

At the time of publishing, the latest PSLE score ranges for secondary schools have not been released. Based on 2023 PSLE cut-off points, Methodist Girls’ School (IP), Raffles Girls’ School (IP), and Raffles Institution (IP) were the hardest to qualify for. All three schools had a cut-off score of 6 points for 2023, as well as 2022.

However, when Singapore parents chat about the “best” secondary schools, they are not just referring to these three schools. In the local setting, secondary schools with a single-digit cut-off point or COP are considered the best in the country, because they cater for top-performing PSLE students. In other words, students who get into these schools via their PSLE score generally have a score of 4 to 9. Typically, these are also schools that offer the Integrated Programme (IP), a six-year programme preparing students for the GCE A-Levels or the International Baccalaureate (IB) exams, without having to take the GCE O-Level exams in Year 4.

In order to get a PSLE score of 4 to 9, there are several options. Your child can aim to:

• Score 90 and above for every subject, ensuring the best PSLE score of 4.
• Score 90 and above for three subjects, giving leeway for a weaker subject, typically the Mother Tongue Language (MTL).
• Ensure that grades don’t fall below 85 or AL2 across four subjects, and try to keep one or two subjects above 90 or AL1.

This is attainable for some children, without too much extra effort on their part. For others, they may manage to keep up such scores only with tutoring support. Anecdotally, we also know that many bright children don’t fare well in exam situations, and have received a double-digit PSLE score even with extensive tutoring.

This drives home the point that the PSLE score is just a score for one exam. The recent changes to our education system are intended to help children learn at their own pace, without unhealthy comparisons and unrealistic expectations. However, the real change begins at home — if you can be honest with yourself about your child’s abilities, it’s easier to open your mind to a wider set of secondary schools, where your child can potentially flourish.

Want to see the cut-off points or COPs for different secondary schools for the 2024 intake? Read our guide!