Secondary School Rankings: How to Choose A Secondary School [2021]

Some children have performed very well while others could manage to stay above or near average. Do all have the same post-PSLE options for further studies in Secondary School? Of course not!

Every anxious parent and child who just went through PSLE exams are struggling with the same questions; “What are my options?”, “Which secondary school shall I pick?”, “I want to pursue my higher studies in a particular school. Will I get admission there with my score?” and many more.

If you are one such individual or parent of a child struggling to find the best Secondary school for your child, this blog post is for YOU.

With the hope that it would help you make the best choice, we have gathered certain data that can guide you as you begin your new academic journey. Your academic career largely depends on the choice of school. Hence, it is pivotal to pick the best.

But, is it available for one and all equally? The answer is ‘NO’.

You may wish for your child to be admitted to a certain school, but whether you’ll get it depends upon your PSLE total Achievement level score. Due to immense competition in education, the AL score plays the major role in your decision. This cut-off limits your choice for a secondary school.

As a general consideration, the lower the AL score of a secondary school, better is its rank and the more succcessful your child will be in academic terms. If you attained a good AL score, you have a wide range of choices available and of course, you can pick the school that is best for you.

While there are children who manage to get the school of their choice, yet others remain indecisive due to variety of reasons, some of which can be location, curriculum, fee structure, whether the school is for boys or girls or co-ed and many more that can further limit their choice of Secondary School.

If you have difficulties choosing the right school for your child, keep reading further and you may find some help in hand-picking the best option for yourself.

Secondary School Cut-Off Points [2021] based on PSLE Achievement Level Score

The Ministry of Education (MOE) in Singapore keeps on changing policies, or they amend existing. During this year, they have introduced new cut-off points for admission into your preferred secondary school. Effective next year, the students who will be taking be PSLE will receive Achievement Levels (AL) instead of grades.

These levels will range from 1 to 8 in each of the four subjects that your child has. The sum of all these subjects will be the final score and the final AL of your child.

To understand more, we have a dedicated post on how to calculate the AL score for your child here (complete with a visual guide!).

The New Secondary Cut-Off Points (COPs)

The COPs will differ every year. However, we can divide them into a few categories. First will be the government and government-aided schools. The second will be autonomous schools, and the third will be independent schools.

Let’s explore the different COPs for each school category.

#1. Government And Government Aided Schools

These schools are the backbone of the education system in Singapore. They offer an excellent education at a fee that does not break the bank of the citizens. You will find that these schools provide various subjects, electives, and other development programs for the students.

Here is the indicative AL COP range for different courses from last year’s PSLE:

• Express (Integrated Programme [IP]): 7 to 9
• Express (O-Level): 8 to 22
• N(A): 22 to 25
• N(T): 26 to 30

Of course, this is subject to change in the coming year, but this is what you can expect the range to look like.

#2. Autonomous Schools

These schools are another subset of the government and government-aided schools. They provide a wide range of electives and programs so that the children's learning experience can be broadened. They want to help children work on their skills and develop new talents.

Here is the indicative AL COP range for different courses from last year’s PSLE:

• Express (IP): 7 to 9
• Express (O-Level): 8 to 16
• N(A): 22 to 25
• N(T): 26 to 29

#3. Independent Schools

Last but not least, we have independent schools. They develop their own curriculum and program to cater to the students' needs that enroll in their schools. Such schools are much more diverse than the types of schools stated above.

Here is the indicative AL COP range for different courses from last year’s PSLE:

• Express (IP): 6 to 8
• Express (O-Level): 8 to 10

All these COPs will vary from year to year. That is because the COPs are dependent on the results of the PSLE and the preferred school choices of that year’s S1 Posting Exercise.

In the first half of 2021, the MOE will provide the indicative AL COPs for individual secondary schools. The COPs will be based on the 2020 PSLE results and the school choices during the S1 Posting Exercise of 2020.

This has been done to encourage parents to look beyond the COPs when deciding on their child's secondary school education. They want parents to consider other factors so that they can cater to the students' needs in the best way.

What is the range of AL scores?

Under these new AL COPs, the PSLE score will range from 4 to 32. However, four will be the best score possible. Before, the scoring system was based on T-scores. These scores had more than 200 possibilities.

On the other hand, the AL COP will only have almost 29 possible scores. Doing so will reduce the differentiation between students as they don't want to instill differences between children from an early age.

According to the new system, many of the students will now have the same scores. That is why the one thing that will be considered the most will be the order of preference of secondary schools that you will submit.

That is why you need to make an informed decision and think hard about the secondary school you want your child to get into.

Here is the list of the 2021 AL scores for each school

 

School	Exp	NA,NT
Raffles Institution	4-6	–
Raffles Girls’ School	4-6	–
Methodist Girls’ School IP	4-6	–
ACS (Independent)	4-7	–
CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School IP	4-7	–
Nanyang Girls’ High School	4-7	–
Hwa Chong Institution	4-7	–
Singapore Chinese Girls’ School	4-8	–
Cedar Girls’ Sec Sch	4-8	–
Dunman High School	4-8	–
St. Joseph’s Institution	4-8	–
Temasek Junior College	4-9	–
Cedar Girls’ Sec Sch	4-9	–
River Valley High School	4-9	–
Anderson Sec Sch	4-10	21-27
Swiss Cottage Sec Sch	4-11	21-26
Nan Chiau High School	4-11	–
Outram Sec Sch	4-22	22-30
National Junior College	5-7	–
Catholic High School	5-8	–
Victoria School	5-8	–
CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School	5-8	–
Singapore Chinese Girls’ School	5-9	–
St. Joseph’s Institution	5-10	–
Ngee Ann Sec Sch	5-12	21-26
Tanjong Katong Girls’ School	5-13	–
Methodist Girls’School (Secondary)	6-8	–
Victoria School	6-9	–
ACS (Independent)	6-9	–
Catholic High School	6-9	–
Nan Hua High School	6-11	–
ACS (Barker Road)	6-11	21-26
CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh)	6-10	21-30
Chung Cheng High School (Main)	6-11	–
Bukit Panjang Government High School	6-11	21-26
Crescent Girls’ School	6-11	–
Chung Cheng High School (Yishun)	6-11	21-27
Fuhua Sec Sch	6-13	21-28
Yishun Town Sec Sch	6-13	21-27
Riverside Sec Sch	6-14	21-27
Teck Whye Sec Sch	6-22	21-29
St. Andrew’s Sec Sch	7-10	21-26
Maris Stella High School	7-12	–
Temasek Sec Sch	7-13	21-27
Edgefield Sec Sch	7-14	21-27
Gan Eng Seng School	7-15	21-26
Whitley Sec Sch	7-22	21-29
Fairfield Methodist School	8-11	21-27
Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School	8-11	21-28
Commonwealth Sec Sch	8-12	21-28
Presbyterian High School	8-13	21-27
Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Sec Sch	8-13	21-24
Xinmin Sec Sch	8-14	21-27
Clementi Town Sec Sch	8-14	21-28
Jurong Sec Sch	8-16	21-28
Greendale Sec Sch	8-18	21-27
Yuan Ching Sec Sch	8-19	21-28
Serangoon Garden Sec Sch	8-22	21-28
Yuying Sec Sch	8-22	21-28
Northland Sec Sch	8-22	22-28
Peicai Sec Sch	8-22	22-29
St. Margaret’s Sec Sch	9-11	21-27
CHIJ St. Joseph’s Convent	9-13	21-27
Zhonghua Sec Sch	9-13	21-27
Tanjong Katong Sec Sch	9-14	–
Dunman Sec Sch	9-14	21-27
Evergreen Sec Sch	9-15	21-27
Pasir Ris Crest Sec Sch	9-17	21-28
Sembawang Sec Sch	9-22	21-28
Woodlands Sec Sch	9-22	21-28
St. Patrick’s School	10-14	21-27
Bowen Sec Sch	10-16	21-27
West Spring Sec Sch	10-17	21-26
St. Gabriel’s Sec Sch	10-17	21-28
Ahmad Ibrahim Sec Sch	10-17	21-28
Jurong West Sec Sch	10-18	21-28
Geylang Methodist School	11-15	21-26
St. Anthony’s Canossian Sec Sch	11-15	21-27
Bukit Batok Sec Sch	11-15	21-28
CHIJ St. Theresa’s Convent	11-13	22-29
CHIJ Katong Convent	11-15	21-30
Pei Hwa Sec Sch	11-16	21-26
Ang Mo Kio Sec Sch	11-16	21-28
Queensway Sec Sch	11-17	21-27
Compassvale Sec Sch	11-18	21-27
Pasir Ris Sec Sch	11-18	21-28
Naval Base Sec Sch	11-20	21-28
Yishun Sec Sch	11-20	21-28
Canberra Sec Sch	11-22	21-29
Westwood Sec Sch	11-22	21-28
St. Hilda’s Sec Sch	12-15	21-28
Mayflower Sec Sch	12-17	21-28
North Vista Sec Sch	12-18	21-27
Christ Church Sec Sch	12-19	21-28
Orchid Park Sec Sch	12-19	21-28
Peirce Sec Sch	12-19	22-29
Zhenghua Sec Sch	12-20	21-27
Juying Sec Sch	12-21	21-28
Northbrooks Sec Sch	12-22	21-28
East Spring Sec Sch	12-22	22-28
Unity Sec Sch	13-18	21-28
Bedok View Sec Sch	13-18	21-24
Tampines Sec Sch	13-19	21-28
Seng Kang Sec Sch	13-19	21-27
Deyi Sec Sch	13-17	21-30
Woodgrove Sec Sch	13-20	21-27
New Town Sec Sch	13-20	21-25
Bedok Green Sec Sch	13-20	21-26
Changkat Changi Sec Sch	13-22	21-25
Loyang View Sec Sch	13-22	23-28
Beatty Sec Sch	12-18	21-27
Bukit Merah Sec Sch	9-22	21-28
Bartley Sec Sch	13-22	21-28
Woodlands Ring Sec Sch	14-19	21-28
Bedok South Sec Sch	14-19	21-28
Bukit View Sec Sch	14-19	21-30
Admiralty Sec Sch	15-20	21-28
Montfort Sec Sch	15-20	21-28
Manjusri Sec Sch	15-21	22-28
Damai Sec Sch	15-22	21-28
Broadrick Sec Sch	7-22	21-30
Bendemeer Sec Sch	8-22	21-29
Fajar Sec Sch	8-22	21-30
Boon Lay Sec Sch	8-22	21-30
Marsiling Sec Sch	9-22	21-30
Dunearn Sec Sch	9-22	21-30
Kranji Sec Sch	10-14	21-27
Holy Innocents’ High School	10-15	21-26
Hua Yi Sec Sch	10-16	21-29
Hai Sing Catholic School	10-16	21-28
Kent Ridge Sec Sch	10-19	21-30
Springfield Sec Sch	10-22	21-28
Assumption English School	10-22	22-29
Hillgrove Sec Sch	14-19	21-28
Meridian Sec Sch	15-19	21-27
Punggol Sec Sch	15-20	21-27
Hougang Sec Sch	15-20	21-27
Regent Sec Sch	15-21	21-25
Yuhua Sec Sch	14-22	21-30
Jurongville Sec Sch	16-20	21-30
Serangoon Sec Sch	16-21	22-28
Yio Chu Kang Sec Sch	16-21	22-28
Guangyang Sec Sch	16-21	21-29
Queenstown Sec Sch	16-22	21-28

 

Subject Banding Criteria

Recently, an eligibility criterion was also released for subject-based banding. It will allow the students to choose subjects at a variety of difficulty levels in secondary school. It will be based on their AL score.

Secondary schools with Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical) courses will implement the new scoring system and the subject banding criteria. The students of this school will be eligible to take the same subjects at a more challenging level in Secondary 1 (S1).

However, this eligibility will be based on their AL scores for their individual subjects. These include:

• Mathematics
• Science
• English Language
• Mother Tongue Language

If a student has an AL score of 5 or more, they can take the subject at Express Level. On the other hand, students with an AL score of 6 or better in a standard subject or AL A in a Foundation level subject can take it at the Normal (Academic) level.

The MOE has introduced these new guidelines so that students can have the opportunity to take challenging subjects based on their previous performance in school. Doing so will allow them to work on their skills and talents even further.

The earlier COP of 2020

If you are looking for previous year's COP, this is the 2019 PSLE Cut-Off Points intake and the corresponding list:

 

1. Hwa Chong Institution , 259
2. Raffles Girls' School (Secondary), 259
3. Methodist Girls' School (Secondary) , 258
4. Nanyang Girls' High School, 258
5. Raffles Institution, 258
6. Dunman High School, 256
7. National Junior College, 256
8. CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls' School, 255
9. Anglo-Chinese School , 254
10. Catholic High School, 254
11. Methodist Girls' School (Secondary) , 254
12. Cedar Girls' Secondary School , 253
13. CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls' School, 253
14. River Valley High School , 252
15. Singapore Chinese Girls' School, 252
16. Singapore Chinese Girls' School , 252
17. Victoria School , 252
18. Catholic High School , 251
19. Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) , 250
20. Cedar Girls' Secondary School, 250
21. Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary) , 250
22. St. Joseph's Institution , 250
23. Temasek Junior College , 250
24. Anderson Secondary School, 247
25. CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh), 246
26. Victoria School , 246
27. Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) , 245
28. Bukit Panjang Govt. High School , 245
29. Nan Hua High School, 245
30. St. Joseph's Institution, 245
31. Nan Chiau High School , 244
32. Chung Cheng High School (Main) , 242
33. Crescent Girls' School, 242
34. Fairfield Methodist School (Secondary) , 242
35. St. Andrew's Secondary School, 242
36. St. Margaret's Secondary School , 242
37. Swiss Cottage Secondary School , 242
38. Chung Cheng High School (Yishun) , 240
39. Anglican High School, 239
40. Commonwealth Secondary School , 239
41. Yishun Town Secondary School, 239
42. CHIJ St. Theresa's Convent , 238
43. Ngee Ann Secondary School , 238
44. CHIJ St. Joseph's Convent , 237
45. Maris Stella High School, 237
46. Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Secondary School , 236
47. Zhonghua Secondary School , 236
48. Fuhua Secondary School, 235
49. Presbyterian High School , 235
50. Tanjong Katong Girls' School, 235
51. Xinmin Secondary School , 235
52. Clementi Town Secondary School, 234
53. Riverside Secondary School , 234
54. Temasek Secondary School, 234
55. Holy Innocents' High School , 233
56. Kranji Secondary School, 233
57. Tanjong Katong Secondary School , 233
58. Dunman Secondary School , 231
59. Edgefield Secondary School, 229
60. St. Patrick's School, 229
61. Ang Mo Kio Secondary School, 228
62. Bukit Batok Secondary School , 228
63. Geylang Methodist School (Secondary) , 228
64. Jurong Secondary School , 228
65. CHIJ Katong Convent, 227
66. Evergreen Secondary School, 227
67. St. Anthony's Canossian Secondary School, 227
68. Bowen Secondary School , 226
69. Gan Eng Seng School, 226
70. Hua Yi Secondary School, 226
71. St. Gabriel's Secondary School , 226
72. St. Hilda's Secondary School , 226
73. Pei Hwa Secondary School , 224
74. West Spring Secondary School , 224
75. Hai Sing Catholic School , 223
76. Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School , 222
77. Mayflower Secondary School , 222
78. Deyi Secondary School , 220
79. Queensway Secondary School , 222
80. Pasir Ris Secondary School , 2119
81. Unity Secondary School , 219
82. Pasir Ris Crest Secondary School, 217
83. Woodlands Ring Secondary School, 217
84. Bedok View Secondary School , 216
85. Chua Chu Kang Secondary School, 216
86. Beatty Secondary School , 215
87. Yuan Ching Secondary School , 215
88. Compassvale Secondary School , 214
89. Kent Ridge Secondary School , 214
90. North Vista Secondary School, 214
91. Orchid Park Secondary School , 212
92. Bukit View Secondary School, 211
93. Peirce Secondary School, 211
94. Zhenghua Secondary School, 211
95. Bedok South Secondary School, 210
96. Greendale Secondary School , 210
97. Hillgrove Secondary School , 210
98. Meridian Secondary School, 210
99. Woodgrove Secondary School , 210
100. Jurong West Secondary School , 209
101. Montfort Secondary School , 208
102. Tampines Secondary School , 208
103. Christ Church Secondary School , 207
104. Yishun Secondary School, 207
105. Seng Kang Secondary School , 205
106. Admiralty Secondary School , 203
107. Naval Base Secondary School, 203
108. Hougang Secondary School, 202
109. Punggol Secondary School, 201
110. Regent Secondary School , 201
111. Jurongville Secondary School , 197
112. Westwood Secondary School , 196
113. Greenridge Secondary School , 195
114. Canberra Secondary School, 193
115. New Town Secondary School, 193
116. Juying Secondary School , 192
117. Peicai Secondary School , 189
118. Queenstown Secondary School , 189
119. Assumption English School , 188
120. Bartley Secondary School, 188
121. Bedok Green Secondary School , 188
122. Bendemeer Secondary School , 188
123. Boon Lay Secondary School , 188
124. Broadrick Secondary School , 188
125. Bukit Merah Secondary School, 188
126. Changkat Changi Secondary School , 188
127. Damai Secondary School , 188
128. Dunearn Secondary School , 188
129. East Spring Secondary School , 188
130. Fajar Secondary School , 188
131. Fuchun Secondary School, 188
132. Guangyang Secondary School, 188
133. Junyuan Secondary School, 188
134. Loyang Secondary School , 188
135. Manjusri Secondary School, 188
136. Marsiling Secondary School , 188
137. Northbrooks Secondary School, 188
138. Northland Secondary School, 188
139. Outram Secondary School, 188
140. Ping Yi Secondary School , 188
141. Sembawang Secondary School , 188
142. Serangoon Garden Secondary School , 188
143. Serangoon Secondary School, 188
144. Springfield Secondary School , 188
145. Tanglin Secondary School , 188
146. Teck Whye Secondary School, 188
147. Whitley Secondary School , 188
148. Woodlands Secondary School , 188
149. Yio Chu Kang Secondary School, 188
150. Yuhua Secondary School , 188
151. Yuying Secondary School , 188

More considerations

Pupils who are in the top 30% of the PSLE cohort wishing to enter in SAP secondary schools will be given bonus points, or if they take the Higher Chinese subject. 

Though the same programs can be offered by a variety of schools, you may want to look into other contributing factors before arriving at the final decision.

Most of the schools in Singapore are either government schools or government-aided schools. Then, there are others like independent schools, specialized schools and specialized independent schools (SIS). 

Fee structure of a school is a big deciding factor. Most of the government and government-aided schools provide education at a subsidized fee. 

Government and government-aided schools follow the National curriculum as determined by the Ministry of Education (MOE). Autonomous schools have the liberty to choose their curriculum, programs and activities.

Fee structure of these autonomous schools is on a higher band as they charge the autonomous fee above the subsidized fee. 

Independent schools, as the name suggests have the independence to select their curriculum, set up special programs and activities. Hence, you can expect their fee to be higher even than the autonomous schools. 

Under the MOE financial assistance scheme, the monthly fees in Government and government-aided schools is maximum S$25, while in that of autonomous schools, it is S$43. And in independent schools, it can range from S$300 – S$600. 

There are certain schools that best suited for students with deep interests in sports, arts, applied learning, Mathematics and Science:

1. NUS High School of Mathematics and Science
2. School of Science and Technology
3. Singapore Sports School
4. School of the Arts

Specialised schools are the ones which take up students who could not manage to qualify for any secondary course. They are then educated by a hands-on-learning method by experienced teachers. Two such schools are:

1. NorthLight School and
2. Assumption Pathway.

Other specialized schools that can be taken up by students interested in the technical stream are:

1. Crest Secondary School
2. Spectra Secondary School 

These schools have a practice-based approach to learning where necessary skillset and training can be obtained.

Curriculum offered by the schools is yet another contributing factor to this major decision. What a child wants to take up as a career depends on the course he/she picks and the quality of education.

The three pathways for the courses are:

1. Express: O-level and IP. O-level is a 4-year programme which ends with GCE-O level exams. And Integrated Programme (IP) students do not have to sit for GCE O-level exams. They study for 2 further years making IP a 6-year programme. After IP exams, students have the choice to go for GCE A-Levels, the IB Diploma or the NUS High School Diploma towards the end.
2. Normal Academic: It is a 4-year programme for students appearing for GCE N(A)-Levels. It can be a 5-year programme for students who study further for GCE-O levels. 
3. Normal Technical: It is a 4-year programme culminating at GCE N(T)-Level exams.

English Language, Mother Tongue Language and Mathematics are the compulsory subjects for all tracks. Students enrolled in the Express or Normal Academic Track have to study humanities and science. And students in the Normal Technical Track are required to study Computer Applications and Social studies. 

One other pathway is to embark on the international syllabus IB or IGCSE which also offers a route to a local or foreign university. You can read up in our Ultimate Guide to International (IB) Schools in Singapore.

The next deciding factor for the selection of a secondary school is the child’s interest. Ultimately, the best career is the one that can be enjoyed at work. If you have an interest in arts, music, sports or language, then you should develop it further.

For that, your criteria for the choice of secondary school can be the special programmes offered by certain schools in your area of interest. Some such programmes are the Art Elective Programme (AEP), Music Elective Programme (MEP) and Third Languages.

For those who are interested in Sports have certain choices and one of them could be The Singapore Sports School that can hone your sports skills if you wish to be a professional Sportsperson.

AEP and MEP can be availed at some other schools like Ngee Ann Secondary and St Andrew’s Secondary.

And the final contributing factor is the location of the school and availability of boarding or travelling facilities. For that, you can check each school’s prospectus or website or inquire at their helpline number. 

Planning Secondary School Choices With New COPs

Many parents wonder how they will decide on choosing a secondary school for their child. The new COPs that have been introduced means that you will have to look beyond the scores. You need to take a holistic approach and consider other factors before making a list of school options in order of your preference.

Here are some things you need to take into account before you make an informed decision:

#1. The Travel Distance

Yes, that is right. Even travel distance is essential when it comes to choosing the right school for your child. That is because school buses are readily available and easily accessible for Primary Schools.

However, this isn't the case for secondary schools in Singapore. That is why you need to consider the school's route as well before you decide to put it on your list. No one wants to spend too much time traveling, dropping, and picking their kids up.

So, consider the route, look at travel options, and then decide whether you want that school to be on your list or not.

#2. Subjects Offered

Not every secondary school offers all subjects. Some may provide science courses, while others may provide humanities courses. Some schools will not let you take certain subject combinations.

So, think about what you want for your child and what you want them to study during their time at secondary school. Choosing the right school defines the future roadmap for your child.

Make sure you choose a school that offers the program you want your child to study later on. It will help them build a solid base that they can continue to work on in the future.

#3. Visit Schools When They Have Their Open House

Almost all secondary schools offer an open house so parents can physically come and see the school. Doing this allows them to have a broader sense of the environment and culture.

If you want to know more about a school, you should visit their open house before making your decision. It will help you understand if it is the right fit for your child, as you will talk to the teachers and understand their teaching styles.

You need to understand your child's learning style and then make choices accordingly so that they can be somewhere that suits them the best. Going to the open house and talking to teachers will help you understand what is more suitable.

#4. Have A Discussion With Your Child

Don't decide without consulting your child first. They will be the ones who will be going to school, and they need to have some say in where they want to go.

Let your child voice his/her opinion, and then you can provide your insights as well. Doing this will help you have a healthy discussion with your child whose needs will be your priority.

They will feel included, which will help them look forward to secondary school experience. Many parents don't consider involving their children in such decisions. Still, it would be best if you gave them this sense of autonomy early on so that they can have better decision making abilities in the future.

Final Words

That was your complete guide to the new AL COPs indicated by the MOE and what you need to do to choose the right secondary school for your child. The stage of transitioning from primary to secondary school is an important one in every parent's and child's life.

It is up to you to make the transition easier for your child and include them in their education decisions. Instilling this sense of responsibility early on will help them in the future. Follow this guide to make your list of preferred schools so that your child can experience the best secondary school that suits their needs well.

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