The ‘O’ Levels are a national annual examination taken by students in secondary school as well as private candidates, and constitute a significant milestone in each student’s academic journey. Over the past few decades, the Ministry of Education has placed increasing emphasis on providing different pathways for students of all ability levels, and students have many options to choose from today once they have completed their GCE O Levels.
For this reason, it is essential to understand all the post-secondary education options available as your choice will shape your future plans in the next five to ten years. While all students move to secondary school after the PSLE, they have a number of distinctively different pathways - called post-secondary education institutions (PSEIs) by the Ministry of Education - to choose from after completing their ‘O’ Levels.
In this article, The Learning Lab highlights the different options available in Singapore for secondary school students after achieving the GCE ‘O’ level certificate to help you better chart the next step in your education.
One of the two routes that come automatically to most people’s minds when thinking about post-secondary options, junior college remains a popular choice among many students. This route involves two years of education before taking the GCE ‘A’ Levels, with the exception of students enrolled at the Millennia Institute who take 3 years to complete the same syllabus. Students are required to select between the science and arts streams in junior college. The former includes subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, and Computing, while the latter includes Art, Economics, Literature, Geography, History, Music, Theatre Studies, and Drama.
Students in the science stream take predominantly science subjects, and vice versa for the arts stream, but some junior colleges do offer greater flexibility in subject combinations. To qualify for the junior college route, students’ L1R5 for their ‘O’ Levels must be 20 points and below, and they must also hit the grade requirements for specific subjects they wish to study. The top 5 junior colleges, in no particular order, are: Raffles Institution, Hwa Chong Institution, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), Nanyang JC and Victoria JC, all of which require an L1R5 score of less than 10.
The International Baccalaureate route typically starts after primary school, with students completing a six-year programme. However, the IB also allows students on the ‘O’ Level track to enrol in a shorter two-year option, with three local institutions offering this route: Anglo-Chinese School (International), Hwa Chong International School and SJI International School (SJII). The IB curriculum differs from the ‘A’ Level curriculum in its more integrated approach, where students study a broader range of subjects within the international context. It centres around a certain set of skills and core competencies with less focus on specific subjects. When choosing between the junior college ‘A’ Level route and the IB route, students should consider their tertiary education plans (local or overseas) and their preferred style of education.
The second of the universally recognised post-secondary options in Singapore, the polytechnic route has become a preferred choice of many students who know what career they wish to pursue and the specific skills they wish to acquire. Polytechnic students complete 3 years of education before receiving a diploma certificate, which can be used to further studies at a university or seek employment for many entry-level positions. Course offerings in polytechnics are much more diverse than in junior college, with diplomas awarded in areas ranging from engineering and business, to nursing and hospitality.
There are five polytechnics in Singapore: Singapore Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Temask Polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic, Nanyang Polytechnic. Each offers a different variety of courses and specialises in different areas. To qualify for the polytechnic route, students’ L1R5 for their ‘O’ Levels must be at 26 points and below, but do note that the points threshold for specific courses at different polytechnics will differ. In particular, polytechnic offers more hands-on, application-based learning, with the chance to gain work experience during internships or an attachment for a semester.
There are also specialised tertiary institutions for students who wish to pursue the arts, and which offer diplomas or International Baccalaureate (IB) certificates. For example, a student looking to specialise in design, fashion, or film can pursue the Diploma in Fine Art at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) or LASALLE College of the Arts, before going onto a degree course at a university. This route typically involves three years of education before receiving a diploma certificate. To qualify for the arts institution route, students’ L1R5 for their ‘O’ Levels has to be 25 points or better for four subjects excluding English, plus a pass in English.
Another alternative is to pick up an IB certificate at the School of the Arts (SOTA), where the school integrates arts with traditional academic subjects in the curriculum through the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) and IB Career-related Programme (IBCP). While requirements for entry may seem relatively easy based on O-level points alone, students should prepare a creative portfolio for their entry tests or interviews.
The Higher NITEC route is offered to students who did not hit the cut-off points for junior college or polytechnic but wish to further their studies. Offered by the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), students who take this route will graduate within two or three years with a Higher NITEC certificate which they can use to apply for related diploma courses in polytechnics. The required L1R5 scores range from 11 to 39, depending on the chosen course. A wide variety of courses are available, from Science to Business to Design and Info-Comm. For ‘O’ Level students, the Higher NITEC route is for two years only, with students joining the rest of the cohort who have enrolled a year earlier.
Choosing a post-secondary route is an important choice, and students should consider their future plans and learning styles carefully before making a decision.
At The Learning Lab, we offer our students a rigorous and proven methodology to excel in their examinations while also nurturing critical life skills that will serve them well in the years ahead. Find out more about our comprehensive ‘O’ Level preparation programme here.
The Learning Lab is now at locations. Find a location that suits your needs. If you have any questions about our programmes, please email us at enquiry@thelearninglab.com.sg or call us at 6733 8711 and we will be happy to assist you.