If your child is preparing for PSLE 2025 and aiming to enter Secondary 1 in 2026, one of the key questions on your mind will be: Which Secondary schools are within reach based on my child’s expected PSLE results? Understanding the 2025 PSLE cut-off points (COPs) and score ranges from the previous year is essential to help you shortlist suitable schools confidently.

This guide will walk you through how to interpret the PSLE 2024 score ranges, how to use the 2025 PSLE Cut-off points to shortlist schools and a recommended approach to finalising your Secondary school choices for your child.

What Are PSLE Score Ranges?

The PSLE score range of a school shows the Achievement Level (AL) scores of the first and last students admitted into that school through the Secondary 1 (S1) Posting Exercise in the previous year. These ranges offer a useful benchmark to estimate the type of scores a school admits.

For example, based on the 2024 S1 Posting results for Secondary School A:

• If your child is from an affiliated school, Secondary School A admitted students with PSLE scores ranging from 8 to 16 in Posting Group 3.
• For non-affiliated students, the same school admitted students scoring between 8(M) and 11, where (M) denotes a Merit grade in Higher Chinese Language (HCL).
• Some schools, especially Special Assistance Plan (SAP) schools, will include HCL grades such as Distinction (D), Merit (M) and Pass (P) in their cut-off points.
• It’s also important to note that some schools may not admit students from certain posting groups due to Full Subject-Based Banding (SBB). You can learn more about SBB here.

How to Use Cut-Off Points to Shortlist Secondary Schools

Start by reviewing the PSLE 2024 score range for various Secondary schools. These give you a good sense of the ballpark range each school accepts for different Posting Groups. Below is a reference table showing the 2025 PSLE cut-off points for the 2024 Primary 6 cohort (students who entered Secondary 1 in 2025). This data can help you shortlist schools based on your child’s PSLE 2025 results.

Please note: The actual 2025 PSLE cut-off points will only be confirmed after the 2025 S1 Posting Exercise is completed. They can vary slightly each year depending on the cohort’s PSLE results and school choices. Use the 2024 score ranges as a planning tool, but stay flexible in your final choices.

How to Approach Selecting Secondary Schools

To make the selection process manageable and strategic, we recommend setting your shortlist based on your child’s actual PSLE score:

1. Categorise schools by 2025 PSLE cut-off points relative to your child’s PSLE score.

   For example, if your child scored AL10 for his/her PSLE, shortlist:
   – 5 schools with cut-off points below AL10
   – 5 schools with cut-off points of AL10
   – 5 schools with cut-off points above AL10

2. Narrow down based on other important factors:

   – School programmes
   – Subjects and Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs)
   – Location and transport convenience
   – School environment and culture
   – School type (co-ed or single-gender)

3. Finalise your choices:

   From each category, eliminate 3 schools and select 2 to form a list of 6 options.

4. Rank your choices carefully:

   Use all 6 choices on the S1 Option Form. Place your preferred schools higher to increase the chance of admission.
   

5. If your child is eligible for an affiliated school:

   List the affiliated Secondary school as your 1st choice to enjoy priority admission. While this improves the chance, it doesn’t guarantee placement. If not admitted under affiliation, the process continues based on non-affiliation.

Conclusion

Navigating the Secondary school admission process can be challenging, but having access to the 2025 PSLE cut-off points and 2024 score ranges puts you in a strong position to plan effectively. Understanding these numbers helps you set realistic expectations and make confident decisions.

As your child prepares for PSLE 2025, start researching early and use this guide to shortlist schools that fit their academic profile and interests. The goal is to find a school where your child can thrive academically and personally.