PSLE AL Scores, Cut-Off Points & Sec School Posting Groups
Everything you need to know about AL Scores, Cut-Off Points (COP) & Sec School Posting Groups.
Most parents are familiar with the fact that MOE has shifted from the previous T-score system to the AL-score system. What does this mean for students? We covered these in detail during our PSLE Excellence Webinar series, and you can watch the recording here.
Fewer Scoring Bands, More Competition
Previously, PSLE scores could go up to 300, making it easier to differentiate students. Now, with only 29 possible total scores, more students will end up with the same PSLE score, making competition tighter. This also means that more secondary schools will have the same cut-off points (COP). We’ll cover this in more detail in future seminars & newsletters, but how you rank your six school choices matters more than ever.
Cut-Off Points (COP)
MOE just released the 2024 PSLE COP – you can use MOE’s SchoolFinder tool to explore different secondary schools and their COP entry requirements.
Will COP of schools change from time to time?
Yes it may, but usually within a small range (typically ±1 point). However in years with a larger cohort, such as the Dragon Year intake in 2024, we may see more significant shifts in COP for some schools. While we can’t predict exact changes, historical trends show that larger cohorts tend to result in more competitive cut-off points.
For Direct School Admission (DSA), what are the COP requirements?
For students applying via DSA, COPs do not apply in the same way as they do under Secondary 1 Posting. Instead, students offered a DSA place in the school will be successfully admitted, as long as they meet the minimum PSLE score for the Posting Group offered by the school. For example, if the school only admits students through Posting Group 3, the student’s PSLE score must qualify for Posting Group 3.
What should we take into consideration for school selection?
We’ll be covering this in more detail in our future seminars & newsletters, but important considerations would include your inclination towards programmes such as IP, IB and O-Level, convenience based on your residential location, CCAs offered in the school, school culture and learning environment.
Will SEAB make the papers harder this year to lower the COP?
The truth is, there’s no fixed pattern. Exam difficulty isn’t something we can predict or control, but what we can control is how we prepare for the exams. A well-planned study approach will always be more beneficial than worrying about external factors. A tip from Moses: His take is to always prepare, both mentally and in actual preparation, for a hard exam. Before each exam he takes, he reminds himself that it’s meant to be hard and challenging. And if it turns out to be easier than that, we can be pleasantly surprised 🙂.
Posting Groups
With Subject-Based Banding (SBB), students no longer fall into the traditional Express, NA, or NT streams. Instead, they enter secondary school under Posting Groups. For example, if you enter via Posting Group 3, it means that most of the subjects taken will be at the G3 level.
If my Posting Group is 2, but I did very well for English, can I choose to take English at the G3 level?
Yes, with the introduction of SBB, this is now possible. While you will take most of your subjects at the G2 level, you can take English at G3 (more demanding level) if you meet the AL score requirement for the subject at PSLE (of AL 5 or better).
At the PSLE score band of 21-22, why is there “Posting Group 2 or 3”?
If you got a PSLE Score of 21-22, you can choose between Posting Group 2 or 3. It’s important to note that you must apply to all 6 secondary school choices with the same posting group, you cannot mix groups.
Do posting groups affect the examination you take in Secondary 4?
Yes. If you are enrolled in the Integrated Programme (IP/IB), the 6-year programme means you do not need to take O/N-Levels at Secondary 4. If you are in the O/N-level route, starting from 2027, all secondary school students will sit for the new Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate (SEC) examinations. In the SEC examination, you will sit for the subjects at G1/G2/G3 levels.
Let us know in the Telegram discussion here if you have any burning questions on COP, Posting Groups and more!
Have questions or specific topics you’d like us to cover? Drop us a message, we’d like to help out where we can.