Full Subject-Based Banding (Full SBB) in Singapore Secondary Schools
1. What Has Really Changed – In Simple Terms
Earlier, when a child entered secondary school, he or she was placed into one fixed stream:
- Express
- Normal (Academic)
- Normal (Technical)
That stream decided almost everything:
- The difficulty of subjects
- The class the child stayed in
- The type of final examination
- The post-secondary pathways available
From 2024 onwards, these fixed streams no longer exist.
Instead of putting a child into one stream, MOE now looks at each subject separately.
The key idea is very simple:
A child is no longer labelled by one overall stream.
He or she is judged subject by subject.
2. What Are Posting Groups? (Only a Starting Point)
When a child enters Secondary 1, MOE assigns him or her to a Posting Group based on the PSLE Achievement Level (AL) score.
There are three Posting Groups:
| Posting Group | Rough old-system reference |
|---|---|
| PG3 | Similar to old Express |
| PG2 | Similar to old Normal (Academic) |
| PG1 | Similar to old Normal (Technical) |
A very important point:
Posting Group is NOT a stream.
It is only a starting reference to decide the child’s initial subject levels in Sec 1.
It does not:
- Appear on the final certificate
- Decide future eligibility
- Limit how far a child can progress
In professional terms, Posting Group is an administrative placement tool, not an academic label.
3. The Core of the New System: Subject Levels (G1, G2, G3)
Every academic subject is now offered at three levels:
- G1 – Foundation level
- G2 – Standard level
- G3 – Advanced level
Instead of one stream, each child has a personal subject profile.
For example, one child may take:
- English – G3
- Mathematics – G2
- Science – G2
- Mother Tongue – G1
This is now completely normal.
From an examiner’s point of view:
We no longer ask, “Which stream is this child from?”
We ask, “At what level is this child taking each subject?”
4. Mixed-Form Classes – Why This Matters
In school:
- Children from PG1, PG2 and PG3 are placed in the same form class
- They learn together for:
- Character & Citizenship Education
- PE, Art, Music, Projects
They separate only when attending subjects at different levels.
The intention is to:
- Remove social stigma
- Avoid early labelling
- Allow children to develop confidence without being boxed early
5. Flexibility: How Children Move Up or Down
This is one of the most important parts of Full SBB.
Subject levels are not fixed for four years.
Schools review students:
- At the end of Secondary 1
- At the end of Secondary 2
- Sometimes mid-year
If a child performs well:
- He or she can move up from G1 → G2 or G2 → G3 in that subject
If a child struggles:
- He or she can move down a level to strengthen foundations
From an academic perspective:
The system now allows late bloomers to rise and early strugglers to recover, without being permanently locked into a weak track.
6. The New National Examination: SEC
Previously there were:
- GCE O-Level
- GCE N-Level
From 2027 onwards, all students under Full SBB will sit for one common examination called:
Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate (SEC)
On the SEC certificate:
- Each subject is listed separately
- The level taken (G1 / G2 / G3) is shown
- There is no mention of Express, NA, NT, or Posting Group
This is a major philosophical change.
7. How Post-Secondary Pathways Are Now Decided
Under the old system, the stream decided the pathway.
Under Full SBB, the pathway depends on the subject-level profile and performance.
In broad terms:
- Strong performance in several G3 subjects
→ Eligible for Junior College / Millennia Institute - Mix of G3 and strong G2 subjects
→ Polytechnic Year 1 entry - Strong profile from lower starting groups
→ Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP) - Mainly G1 / G2 profile
→ Higher Nitec routes
From an examiner’s view:
We now look at what the child can do in each subject, not where the child started in Sec 1.
8. Three Common Misunderstandings Parents Have
Misunderstanding 1: “Posting Group decides my child’s future”
Not true.
Posting Group:
- Does not appear on the certificate
- Does not decide JC or Poly eligibility
- Is only used for initial subject placement
Misunderstanding 2: “Only PG3 children can go to JC”
Not true.
JC depends on:
- Number of G3 subjects
- Performance in those subjects
A PG1 or PG2 child who upgrades to G3 can reach JC.
Misunderstanding 3: “Standards are lowered”
Not true.
- G3 subjects are as rigorous as old Express level
- High-performing students are not held back
9. What This Means Practically for Parent
Under Full SBB, the most important questions are no longer:
- “Which stream is my child in?”
They are now:
- Which subjects should my child aim to take at G3?
- When should my child try to upgrade a subject level?
- How does this subject profile match the target pathway (JC / Poly / Nitec)?
From a senior educator’s point of view:
Early and correct subject-level planning is now more important than ever before.
10. One-Paragraph Summary
Under Full Subject-Based Banding, there are no fixed streams. Every child takes a personalised mix of G1, G2 and G3 subjects, can move up or down in each subject over time, and will receive one common national certificate (SEC). A child’s future pathway depends on subject-level performance, not on the Posting Group they started with in Secondary 1.