Confused about G1, G2, and G3, and what this means for your child studying in Singapore?

Many parents in Singapore are more familiar with the secondary school pathways that we grew up with — the Express, Normal (Academic), and Normal (Technical) streams. These were not flexible pathways: Students attended lessons only with others in their stream, and they couldn’t adjust their subject difficulty levels according to their abilities. This resulted in other issues, such as a lack of confidence or loss of motivation in students, especially for those who were not in the Express stream.

This is why we now have the G1, G2, and G3 subject levels for secondary school students. It was fully implemented in Singapore schools in 2024, along with a system that is known as Full Subject Based Banding or Full SBB. Read on for a simple explanation on what these are, so that you can better understand the new system for secondary schoolers in Singapore!

What are G1, G2, and G3 subjects in Singapore secondary schools? What does G stand for?

G stands for “General.”

The G1, G2, and G3 subject levels are mapped from the subject levels under the old secondary school system. The G1 level is the equivalent of Normal (Technical) in the past, while G2 is mapped to Normal (Academic), and G3 is mapped to Express.

For a quick way to remember this: G1 is the least demanding level, and G3 is the most demanding level. These levels are not exclusive, and students can move upwards or downwards as needed.

How are students assigned the G1, G2, and G3 subject levels?

Based on the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) results, students will be assigned to Posting Group 1, 2, or 3. The Posting Group will determine how many subjects they will take in Secondary 1, as well as the difficulty level for most (or all) of their subjects.

Here’s how this works: Students in Posting Group 1 will take all or most of their subjects at the G1 level, while those in Posting Group 2 and 3 will take all or most of their subjects at the G2 and G3 level respectively.

From recent documentation that we have seen, your child’s Posting Group will be listed on their PSLE result slip, as well as the Eligibility Letter that they will receive together with the results.

Under the new system, many students will have the flexibility to take some subjects at a different level. If your child is eligible, you will receive a notification at a later date.

How will G1 and G2 students know if they can take subjects at a more demanding level?

This question applies only to students in Posting Groups 1 and 2.

After the Secondary 1 Posting Results are released, the school will send a notification of offer via the Parents Gateway app, to parents whose children are eligible to study one or more subjects at a more demanding level in Secondary 1. This will be based on the child’s AL score for the corresponding PSLE subject. (See an example of this process from a local secondary school.)

You and your child can decide whether to accept or reject the offer, and there will be a deadline to submit your response.

Beyond Secondary 1, your child’s subject levels can be adjusted based on your child’s performance and the school’s recommendation. Do check with the school about when and how they will assess and decide on this.

How will G2 and G3 students know if they can take subjects at a less demanding level?

This question applies only to students in Posting Groups 2 and 3.

If students have the option of taking their Mother Tongue Language at a less demanding level in Secondary 1, the parents will be notified via Parents Gateway. (See an example of this process from a local secondary school.)

For other subjects, please consult the school for advice.

How does Full Subject Based Banding or Full SBB work?

Full Subject Based Banding or Full SBB was fully implemented in Singapore secondary schools in 2024.

Not all secondary schools in Singapore will have Full SBB. There are local secondary schools that only admit students from one Posting Group, such as those that offer the Integrated Programme (IP) or Crest Secondary School and Spectra Secondary School. These schools can’t implement Full SBB, because they run specialised programmes for specific student profiles.

However, if your child is posted to a local mainstream secondary school, they will definitely be under the Full SBB system.

With Full SBB, there are four core subjects that Secondary 1 and 2 students will take, at their respective levels of G1, G2, or G3:

• English Language
• Mother Tongue Language (MTL)
• Mathematics
• Science

The Full SBB curriculum for Secondary 1 and 2 also includes humanities subjects:

• G2 and G3 students will take three humanities subjects — History, Geography, and Literature in English — at their respective levels.
• G1 students will take a Humanities subject, which consists of a Social Studies component and Humanities Exposure Modules.

For details on lower and upper secondary subjects, please refer to the Ministry of Education’s Full SBB guide.

As a parent, it’s worth remembering the two key advantages of the Full SBB system. The first advantage is the flexibility to take different subjects at different levels. Before the start of Secondary 1, students will be assigned subject levels based on their PSLE results. However, if they want to be challenged by a steeper learning curve, or need to scale back to something gentler, these options are now available in consultation with the school.

The second advantage of Full SBB is integration, where students of differing academic abilities are given more opportunities to interact and build friendships. This is accomplished through six common curriculum subjects, where G1, G2, and G3 students will attend lessons together:

• Design & Technology
• Food and Consumer Education
• Art
• Music
• Physical Education
• Character and Citizenship Education

We know that some parents are worried about the impact of these “mixed classes,” but we believe that the ability to form diverse friendships is a soft skill that will be useful beyond the schooling years.

For more information on Full SBB, please refer to the Ministry of Education’s official guide or try their interactive walkthrough.

Want to chat with other parents about secondary school academics? Join the conversation on the KiasuParents Forum!