Reforms to GCE A-Level and University Score Calculation: Encouraging Students to Unleash Creativity

Overview of Five Key Adjustments to the A-Level System

• Starting in 2024, Project Work will be graded on a pass/fail basis.
  
• Starting in 2024, General Paper (GP) will become a compulsory subject and can no longer be replaced by Knowledge and Inquiry (KI).
  
• Starting in 2024, mid-year examinations at Junior Colleges and Millennia Institute will be phased out.
  
• Starting in 2026, the fourth content subject will only count towards university admission scores if it boosts the applicant’s overall result.
  
• Starting in 2026, the maximum university admission score will be revised from the current 90 points to 70 points.
  

From 2024 onwards, GCE A-Level Project Work will only receive a pass or fail grade and will not contribute to university admission scores. Students only need to achieve a pass to apply for university.

This reduces the scoring pressure on students and encourages them to exercise creativity in areas of interest without being restricted by grades.

General Paper will become compulsory in 2024. At present, students may choose between General Paper and Knowledge and Inquiry. After the curriculum update, Knowledge and Inquiry will remain an optional subject and can no longer substitute General Paper.

For students enrolling in 2024, the Ministry of Education will gradually abolish mid-year examinations at Junior Colleges and Millennia Institute.

After removing mid-year exams, Junior Colleges and Millennia Institute cannot replace them with graded tests. No more than one graded assessment per subject is allowed each semester.

The Ministry of Education hopes this change will reduce overemphasis on examinations and academic results. Freed from mid-year exam preparation, students can devote the saved time to deeper and more diverse learning experiences.

The total university admission score for Singapore’s A-Level will be adjusted from 90 points to 70 points. Project Work and the fourth content subject will no longer be mandatory components of the score, and General Paper, which cultivates critical thinking, will be made compulsory.

These reforms aim to prevent students from focusing excessively on grades and help them develop a wider range of skills.

Currently, Junior College and Millennia Institute students must take at least four content subjects, including a minimum of three subjects at H2 level and one subject at H1 level.

Starting in 2026, the fourth content subject will only be included in the university admission score if it raises the applicant’s total score. In other words, only three H2 subjects will count toward the university admission score among the four content subjects.

This means students can select their fourth subject based on personal interest instead of fixating on exam performance.