PSLE Score Calculator & Cut-Off Points for Secondary Schools 2026

TuitionLah Team·6 June 2026·14 min read

What Every P6 Parent Needs to Know About PSLE Scoring

When the PSLE Achievement Level system replaced the old T-score in 2021, I remember standing in the school foyer with a bunch of other confused parents, all trying to figure out what this new system actually meant for our kids. Five years on, the AL system is well-established, but I still meet parents who aren't sure how the numbers work or what score they should be aiming for.

Let me break it down the way I wish someone had explained it to me.

> TL;DR: The PSLE AL score ranges from 4 (best) to 32. Each subject is graded AL1-AL8. Top schools like RI and HCI typically require total scores of 4-7. Use the scoring guide below to estimate your child's AL for each subject, then add them up to find which secondary schools they qualify for. School selection strategy matters — always include 2-3 "safe" choices.

How the AL System Works

The key difference from the old system: your child's score depends on their own performance against fixed standards, not on how other students do. No more bell curve anxiety.

Each subject is graded AL1 to AL8:

AL1: 90% and above — top-tier mastery
AL2: 85% to 89% — very strong
AL3: 80% to 84% — strong
AL4: 75% to 79% — above average
AL5: 65% to 74% — average to above average
AL6: 45% to 64% — below average
AL7: 20% to 44% — needs significant improvement
AL8: Below 20%

Calculating the Total Score

Dead simple: add up the four subject ALs.

Total Score = English AL + Maths AL + Science AL + Mother Tongue AL

Best possible: 4 (four AL1s)
Worst possible: 32
Lower is better — this trips some parents up since it's the opposite of the old system

What the Numbers Look Like in Practice

Student aiming for top schools:

English: 92% = AL1
Maths: 88% = AL2
Science: 91% = AL1
Chinese: 82% = AL3
Total: 7 (competitive for top-tier)

Solid student, realistic expectations:

English: 76% = AL4
Maths: 70% = AL5
Science: 68% = AL5
Chinese: 65% = AL5
Total: 19 (qualifies for many good neighbourhood schools)

Strong in STEM, weaker in languages:

English: 87% = AL2
Maths: 92% = AL1
Science: 78% = AL4
Chinese: 55% = AL6
Total: 13 (mid-tier schools, with options in STEM programmes)

Secondary School Cut-Off Points 2026

These change every year based on demand and cohort performance. The ranges below are based on 2024 and 2025 posting data — always check the latest MOE results.

Top-Tier Schools (COP 4-8)

The most competitive in Singapore. Near-perfect scores needed across all subjects.

Raffles Institution (RI): 4-5
Hwa Chong Institution (HCI): 4-6
Nanyang Girls' High School: 5-6
Raffles Girls' School (RGS): 4-5
National Junior College (IP): 5-7
Methodist Girls' School (IP): 6-7
Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) IP: 5-7
St Joseph's Institution (IP): 6-8
Dunman High School (IP): 6-8
River Valley High School (IP): 6-8

Upper-Mid Tier Schools (COP 8-12)

Strong academic schools with good CCAs and outcomes.

CHIJ St Nicholas Girls' School: 7-9
Cedar Girls' Secondary School: 8-10
Nan Hua High School: 8-10
Catholic High School: 7-9
Tao Nan School (Secondary): 8-10
Pei Hwa Secondary School: 9-11
Chung Cheng High School (Main): 9-11
Anglican High School: 8-10
Maris Stella High School: 9-11
CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh): 9-12

Mid-Tier Schools (COP 12-18)

Solid schools balancing academics with holistic development.

Zhonghua Secondary School: 12-14
Yuying Secondary School: 12-15
Bowen Secondary School: 14-16
Fairfield Methodist Secondary: 12-14
Geylang Methodist Secondary: 14-16
Kranji Secondary School: 15-18
Pasir Ris Secondary School: 14-17
Queenstown Secondary School: 14-16

Neighbourhood Schools (COP 18-26)

Good schools with wider score ranges. Many have strong niche programmes that don't get enough attention.

Bukit Merah Secondary: 18-22
Compassvale Secondary: 18-22
Orchid Park Secondary: 19-23
Punggol Secondary: 18-22
Sengkang Secondary: 19-23
Hougang Secondary: 20-24

How to Choose Your 6 Schools (Without Messing It Up)

During S1 posting, students rank 6 schools. Get the strategy wrong and your child could end up somewhere nobody chose. I've seen it happen.

The approach that works: 1. Choices 1-2: Dream schools (reach — score is at or near the COP) 2. Choices 3-4: Realistic matches (comfortable — score is 2-3 points better than COP) 3. Choices 5-6: Safety schools (guaranteed — score is 5+ points better than COP)

Mistakes I've Seen Parents Make

Putting all 6 choices as reach schools. If your child scores 8 and every choice has COPs of 4-7, they may get posted to a school they didn't even list. I know a family this happened to, and the disappointment was heartbreaking.

Ignoring location. A 90-minute daily commute affects everything — your child's wellbeing, CCA participation, study time, sleep. Prioritise schools within 30-45 minutes of home.

Chasing prestige over fit. A school with a COP of 6 isn't automatically "better" than one with a COP of 10. Think about the school's culture, CCA offerings, special programmes, and whether your child will actually thrive there. I know parents whose kids transferred out of "elite" schools because the environment wasn't right.

Forgetting about Full Subject-Based Banding. Under FSBB, your child takes subjects at G1, G2, or G3 levels. A school that handles mixed-level students well might be more valuable than a "top" school where your child struggles across the board.

Direct School Admission (DSA)

DSA lets students secure a secondary school place before PSLE results, based on talent:

Sports (swimming, track, badminton)
Performing Arts (Chinese Orchestra, band, choir)
STEM (robotics, coding, science research)
Languages (debate, creative writing)
Leadership (uniformed groups, student council)

Applications typically open in May and close in June. If your child has a strong talent, DSA is a valuable alternative pathway — especially to IP schools.

How Targeted Tuition Can Shift the Numbers

Here's the thing that motivated me to get tuition for my P5 daughter: the difference between AL3 and AL1 in one subject is often just 6-10 marks. Targeted tuition in her weakest subject shifted her total by 2 points — enough to open up significantly better school options.

What works for PSLE preparation:

1. Focus on the weakest subject. Improving from AL5 to AL3 in one subject (a realistic goal with good tutoring) saves 2 points on the total.

2. Start in P5, not P6. The P5 syllabus is the foundation for P6 content. Waiting until P6 means less runway.

3. Use real PSLE papers. Tutors who practise with actual PSLE papers and school prelim papers help students understand the format and marking schemes.

4. Target specific topics. Certain topics consistently cause mark losses. A tutor who identifies those and focuses revision there gets the highest return.

What PSLE Tuition Costs

Group tuition centre (weekly, 1 subject): $200-$400/month
1-to-1 home tutor via TuitionLah (weekly, 1 subject): $240-$480/month
Online tuition platform (multiple subjects): $50-$200/month
Intensive PSLE bootcamp (school holidays): $300-$800 per programme

For most families, combining an online platform for daily practice with a 1-to-1 tutor for the weakest subject gives the best return.

PSLE to Secondary School: The Timeline

January-September (P6): PSLE preparation — target weak subjects, practise past papers
September-October: PSLE written examinations
Late November: Results released
Late November: Submit 6 school choices
Late December: S1 posting results
Late December-January: Appeals window (if needed)
January: S1 registration and orientation

Sources and References

Ministry of Education (MOE) Singapore — PSLE scoring system and secondary school posting information
MOE SchoolFinder (schoolfinder.moe.gov.sg) — Official school profiles and COP data
Straits Times (2025) — "PSLE results and secondary school posting: What parents need to know"
KiasuParents Forum — Aggregated parent-reported COP data from 2024-2025 posting exercises

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Frequently Asked Questions

How is the PSLE score calculated in 2026?

The PSLE uses the Achievement Level (AL) scoring system. Each subject is graded AL1 to AL8, with AL1 being the highest. Your total PSLE score is the sum of all four subject ALs, ranging from 4 (best possible) to 32. For example, a student scoring AL1 for English, AL2 for Maths, AL1 for Science, and AL3 for Mother Tongue would have a total score of 7.

What PSLE score do I need for the top secondary schools?

The most competitive secondary schools like Raffles Institution, Hwa Chong Institution, and Nanyang Girls' High typically have cut-off points of 4-7 for their most popular courses. Mid-tier popular schools like CHIJ St Nicholas and Cedar Girls have cut-offs around 7-11. Most neighbourhood schools accept scores of 15-25. These are indicative ranges based on previous years and may shift annually.

Can I appeal if my child does not meet the cut-off point?

Yes. MOE allows appeals during the Secondary 1 posting exercise. If your child's PSLE score is within 2 points of the school's cut-off point, you can submit a direct appeal to the school. Schools may also consider non-academic factors such as CCA achievements, leadership roles, or DSA (Direct School Admission) for students with specific talents.

What is the difference between Express, NA, and NT streams?

Since 2024, MOE has replaced the Express, Normal Academic (NA), and Normal Technical (NT) streams with Full Subject-Based Banding (FSBB). Under FSBB, students are placed in mixed-form classes and take subjects at different levels (G1, G2, G3) based on their aptitude. G3 is the most demanding (equivalent to old Express), G2 is moderate (equivalent to NA), and G1 is foundational (equivalent to NT).