Singapore School Education

Primary education lasts for six years and is compulsory. It consists of a four-year foundation stage (Grades I-IV) and a two-year orientation stage (Grades V and VI). Secondary school pupils are placed in the Special, Express, Normal (Academic) or Normal (Technical) course according to how they performed at the Primary School-leaving Examination (PSLE). The Special and the Express courses are four-year programmes (Grades VII-X) leading to the Singapore-Cambridge GCE O-Level examination. The Normal course offers a four-year programme leading to the Singapore-Cambridge GCE N-level examination. Students who complete secondary education may proceed to pre-university education at the Junior Colleges / Centralised Institutes or pursue studies at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) or the Polytechnics. Pre-university education prepares students for the GCE A-Level examination at the end of the two-year Junior College or three-year Centralised Institute course.

Primary Schools:

Type of school providing this education: Primary School (Grades I-VI)

Length of program in years: 6

Age level from: 6 to: 12

Certificate/diploma awarded: Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).

Secondary Schools:

Type of school providing this education: Secondary School (Grades VII-X)

Length of program in years: 4

Age level from: 12 to: 16

Certificate/diploma awarded: Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Normal Level (GCE N-Level); Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (GCE O-Level).

Pre-university Schools:

Type of school providing this education: Junior College (Grades XI-XII)

Length of program in years: 2

Age level from: 16 to: 18

Certificate/diploma awarded: Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (GCE A-Level).