Singaporean secondary schools are generally renowned for offering high-quality standards of education. Admissions into these schools are typically intensely competitive, with high cut-off marks based on Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) grades. That said, this article presents a condensed compilation of the top 10 secondary schools in Singapore based on the cut-off for 2022 intake. But before that, we will first take a broad view of the Primary School Leaving Examination before entering into its presentation proper.
So, what is the Primary School Leaving Examination?
The Primary School Leaving Examination, PSLE, is an examination conducted by the Singaporean Ministry of Education for pupils who have completed six years of primary school education. This exit examination assesses students’ competence in English, native languages, mathematics and science. Exam questions are administered in the form of multiple-choice questions. Answers to these questions are provided by students by shading answers on a standardized optical answer sheet and manually filling answers for certain sections of the examination they take. Alternatively, students seeking admission into a Singaporean secondary school may do so through the direct school admission method. This method entails sitting for assessment tests conducted by respective schools during the second quarter of the year. This method is applicable only to schools that are part of the integrated programme. Under the PSLE, students are graded using achievement levels. Students’ performances are assigned achievement level scores of up to eight for each subject rather than letter-styled grades such as A, B, C, D or E. These scores are summed up subsequently to arrive at a student’s final score and achievement level. The total highest scores range from 4 to the lowest score, which is 32.
1. Raffles Institution
Raffles Institution is an independent school situated in Bishan, Singapore, established in 1823. It runs mixed-gender programmes but only after the fourth year of secondary education. The first four years of secondary education are focused on boys. Raffles Institution has a successful alumni body comprising of prime ministers, former presidents, diplomats, speakers of parliament, lawmakers, captains of industry, army chiefs and other prominent personalities. The cut-off mark for the school is 6 for 2022 intake.
2. Raffles Girls School
Raffles Girls School (also known as RGS) is an independent all-girls school situated in Braddell, Singapore. The school, which was established in 1879, offers a number of subjects. The school has an illustrious alumni body comprised of entertainment personalities, parliamentarians, an Olympian and politicians. The school’s cut-off mark for 2022 intake is 6
3. Methodist Girls’ School Singapore
The Methodist Girls’ Singapore was established in 1887 and is situated in Bukit Timah, Singapore. The school is an independent all girls’ school that offers a number of subjects such as English language and literature, geography, history, mother tongue languages, additional mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology etc. The school boasts of successful alumnae subsuming an ex-president, famous entertainers, Olympians, a supreme court justice and the wife of Singapore’s founding prime minister- Lee Kuan Yew. The school’s cut-off mark for 2022 intake is 6.
4. Anglo-Chinese School (ACS)
Anglo-Chinese School is a missionary school established in 1886 and situated in Holland Village, Singapore. The school is an all-boys school. The school floats a variety of academic programmes along with a traditional six-year secondary education. The school’s cut-off mark for 2022 intake is seven.
5. National Junior College
National Junior College is a government-owned school established in 1969 and situated in Bukit Timah, Singapore. The school floats pre-university and six-year integrated programmes along with special extracurricular programmes. Its pre-university programme runs from eleventh to twelfth grade, while its integrated programme runs from seventh to twelfth grade. The school’s alumni body includes a prime minister, politicians, bureaucrats, entertainers, media personalities, and entrepreneurs. The school’s cut-off mark for 2022 intake is seven.
6. Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus St. Nicholas Girls’ School (SNGS)
Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus St. Nicholas Girls’ School (SNGS) is a missionary school established in 1933 and situated in Ang Mo Kio, Singapore. The school floats a four-year secondary education programme and a six-year integrated programme. The school’s alumni body includes parliamentarians, politicians, bureaucrats, entertainers, media personalities and entrepreneurs. The school’s cut-off mark for 2022 intake has is seven.
7. Nanyang Girls’ High School
Nanyang Girls’ High School (also known as NYGH) is an independent all-girls school situated in Bukit Timah, Singapore. The school was established in 1917. Since its establishment, the school has developed a reputation for academic and extracurricular excellence. Due to these, it has been at the receiving end of multiple awards such as the Singapore Quality Award for Business Excellence, National Science Experiment Big Data Challenge, Chinese Debating Championships, Singapore Youth Festival honours etc. The school’s alumnae body includes cabinet ministers, Olympians, notable entrepreneurs, journalists, media personalities and entertainers. The school’s cut-off mark for 2022 intake is seven.
8. Hwa Chong Institution
Hwa Chong Institution or HCI (also known by its Chinese name, Hua Quai Zhing Xue) is an independent school situated in Bukit Timah, Singapore. The school was established in its current form through the merger of The Chinese High School and Hwa Chong Junior College in 2005. The school floats secondary education programme for boys from the first year to the fourth year. It also runs an integrated programme in collaboration with Nanyang Girls’ High School. The school admits both boys and girls into its pre-university programme, which runs from the fifth to the sixth year of secondary education. The school’s alumni body includes:
- An erstwhile Singaporean president.
- Military chiefs.
- A Tiktok executive.
- Prominent business figures.
- Artistes.
- Journalists and captains of industry.
The school’s cut-off mark for 2022 intake is seven.
9. Catholic High School (CHS)
Catholic High School (also known as CHS) is a missionary school established in 1935 and situated in Bishan, Singapore. The school floats a four-year secondary education programme as well as a six-year integrated programme. The school’s alumni body includes erstwhile Singaporean parliamentarians, politicians, cabinet ministers, a prime minister, an appeal court justice, a military chief, notable business figures, media and entertainment personalities and sportspeople of repute. The school’s cut-off mark for 2022 intake is seven.
10. Singapore Chinese Girls’ School
Singapore Chinese Girls’ School (otherwise known as SCGS) is an independent all-girls school established in 1899 and situated in Bukit Timah, Singapore. The school floats a four-year secondary education programme and a six-year integrated programme in collaboration with Eunoia Junior College. It is one of the pioneer Singaporean independent schools. The school is renowned for its academic excellence: over the years, it has won a number of awards, such as the School Excellence Award and Best Practice Award issued by the Singaporean Ministry of Education. The school’s alumnae body includes an ex-president of Singapore, past Singaporean parliamentarians, prominent business figures, famous media and entertainment figures. The school’s cut-off mark for 2022 intake is seven.