How PSLE scores will affect secondary school posting from 2024

Recently, Education Minister Ong Ye Kung announced key changes to secondary school posting from 2024.

“By 2024, full subject-based banding will be implemented nationwide, and we will merge Express, Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical) into one secondary school course. Streaming in secondary school will be phased out,” he had said.

With the PSLE set to undergo a big revamp in 2021, how would it affect secondary school posting from 2024? Let’s find out.

Secondary school posting from 2024

MOE has revealed to Channel NewsAsia about how secondary school posting would be carried out in 2024:

• Students will get posted to schools based on their PSLE results across three scoring bands.

• From 2021 onwards, a new scoring system will be used for PSLE.

Each subject will be scored using 8 bands known as Achievement Levels (AL), with AL1 being the best score and AL8 being the lowest score. The ALs reflect the student’s level of achievement in the subject.

For example, those with marks >=90 will get AL1 for that subject. (See table below for new grading system)

SOURCE: MOE

AL1: 90 and above
AL2: 85-89
AL3: 80-84
AL4: 75-79
AL5: 65-74
AL6: 45-64
AL7: 20-44
AL8: Below 20

SOURCE: MOE

The student’s total PSLE Score will be the sum of the four subject scores. For example, a student who scores AL1 in all 4 subjects will get a PSLE score of 4.

The PSLE Score will range from 4 (best) to 32. A student will need a score of at most 30 to pass PSLE.

The MOE has revealed to CNA that, once full subject-based banding (SBB) is implemented:

1. A student with a PSLE score of 4 to 20 will be eligible for subjects at the highest G3 level (which corresponds to the current Express level).
2. A student with a PSLE score of 21 or 22 would be eligible for either the G3 or G2 suite of subjects. The G2 level corresponds to the current Normal (Academic) level. If the student scores 23 or 24, he/she would be eligible for the G2 suite of subjects.
3. A student scoring 25 would be offered either the G2 suite of subjects, or the G1, which corresponds to the current Normal (Technical) level.
4. Those scoring between 26 and 30 would be eligible for subjects at the G1 level.

According to the MOE, students who have excelled in specific subjects can take them at a higher level from Secondary 1. 

For example, if a student gets a PSLE score of 23, and did extremely well for English, he will be offered English at G3 level, and the remaining subjects at G2 level, on entering Secondary 1.

It is also important to note that with full SBB, subject levels can change over the course of the secondary school years. Students can take subjects at higher levels as they discover their strengths and interests.

Schools will offer the necessary support and guidance to students when it comes to offering them subjects at a higher level.

The school will also take into account the student’s performance, and whether they are able to cope with the more demanding subject, and whether it is in the student’s best interest.

(Source: Channel NewsAsia)

Also READ: 5 Key factors to consider while choosing a secondary school in Singapore