Secondary School Finder & Planner (2026 & 2027)
Zenith Education Studio: Preparing You For Secondary School
As students transition from primary to secondary school, many struggle to adjust to the faster pace of learning and the greater emphasis on independent learning and self-management.
This is why our secondary school tuition classes are thoughtfully designed to meet students where they are, helping them adapt confidently to increased academic demands and bridge learning gaps. Experience our holistic teaching approach today by signing up for a free trial class!
How to Choose Your 6 Schools
On the S1 Option Form you can list up to 6 secondary schools, in order of preference. Choosing well is about a sensible mix, not just the “best” schools.
1. Order matters
Posting tries your choices in order. If your child’s score isn’t able to get choice 1, it moves to choice 2, then 3, and so on. If none of the 6 work out, MOE posts your child to a school that still has places, which may not be one you’d have picked.
- Since posting goes through your choices in the order you list them, put the school your child wants most at the top
- List schools in your true order of preference. Don’t put a school you’d like less above one you’d like more
- When two students have the same score, citizenship is considered first, then choice order, so a school ranked higher on your form gives your child a better chance ther
2. Mix your choices
Remember, if none of the 6 work out, MOE posts your child to a school that still has places, which may not be one you’d have picked. The point of the mix is that you might not get your top choices, so the list should still land your child somewhere you’re happy with.
- Stretch: a school whose cut-off is below your child’s score. Worth a try if your child really wants it, but don’t rely on it
- Close match: a cut-off 0 to 2 points above your child’s score. Your child would have got in last year, with little room to spare
- Safe pick: a cut-off 3 or more points above your child’s score. Your child is very likely to get in, even if cut-offs move
A balanced list might have 1 to 2 stretches, 2 to 3 close matches and at least 1 to 2 safe picks. Put the "stretches" at the top, since they’re your child’s real dream schools; close matches in the middle; and safe picks at the bottom, as the safety net. If the stretches and close matches don’t work out, posting reaches a safe pick before MOE has to place your child elsewhere.
3. Use all 6 choices
More choices mean more chances. If none of your choices work out, MOE posts your child to a school that still has places, usually near home, and that may not be a school you would have picked. Filling all 6, including a safe pick or two you’re happy with, keeps the decision in your hands. Cut-offs change every year and posting rules are set by MOE; check MOE’s S1 Posting page before you submit your choices.
4. Other related considerations
- Check the journey: a school your child can reach in 30 minutes makes a big difference over four or five years
- Visit open houses to get a feel for each school, its CCAs and its programmes
- Talk it through with your child; they’re more likely to thrive at a school they chose
Plan your 6 choices with our Secondary School Finder & Planner above.
Which Secondary Schools Can My Child Get Into?
Your child can get into a secondary school if their PSLE score is the same as or better (lower) than that school’s cut-off point for their posting group. Compare the score with each school’s latest cut-off. Schools with a cut-off at or above your child’s score are within reach, and the further above, the safer the pick.
Three things decide it:
- Posting group: the PSLE score sets which posting group your child qualifies for. Scores of 4–20 are Posting Group 3, 21–22 Posting Group 3 or 2, 23–24 Posting Group 2, 25 Posting Group 2 or 1, and 26–30 Posting Group 1. Each school has a separate cut-off for each posting group (see table below).
- Cut-off points: a school’s cut-off is the score of the last student it took in the previous posting. Cut-offs move a little each year, so treat them as a guide.
- Tie-breakers and priority: if your child’s primary school is affiliated with a secondary school, they may get priority there. When students have the same score, citizenship counts first, then the order of their choices, then a ballot.
Enter your child’s score in the Secondary School Finder & Planner above to see every school sorted into safe picks, close matches and stretches. See every school’s updated cut-off, by posting group and with affiliated cut-offs, on our Secondary School Cut-Off Points & Rankings page.
