After PSLE: how S1 Posting works, and how to choose your 6 schools

MOE posts students based on three things: their PSLE score within their Posting Group, the order of their school choices, and the vacancies in those schools. A student with a better PSLE score is considered first for their preferred schools.

When two or more students with the same PSLE score are competing for a school's last places, tie-breakers apply in this order: citizenship (Singapore Citizens, then Permanent Residents, then international students), then how high each student ranked that school, then computerised balloting.

That is why meeting a school's cut-off point does not guarantee a place: tie-breakers can still decide the last few vacancies.

MOE's own advice is to have a list of 6 schools ready, in order of preference, before submitting. Use each school's cut-off points from previous years as a guide, not a promise: COPs typically move by about 1 point a year, and can move by 2 or 3.

MOE strongly encourages including at least 2 to 3 schools where your child's PSLE score is better than the school's COP in previous years, and using up to 6 choices, including schools with different COPs. Put the schools you most prefer higher in the list.

Think about where your child would sit in the cohort, too. If their score only just meets a school's COP, most of their classmates will have better scores. A school where your child is comfortably placed can be a better fit.

Beyond the numbers, MOE suggests looking at each school's programmes, CCAs, culture and learning environment through SchoolFinder, school websites and open houses, and talking with your child about what they enjoy and are good at.

If your child's primary school is affiliated with a secondary school, your child may get affiliation priority, but only if the affiliated secondary school is listed as the first choice and your child meets the qualifying criteria. If it is not the first choice, your child is considered as a non-affiliated applicant.

Affiliation priority helps, but it does not guarantee a place. At dual-track schools, it applies only to the SEC track, not the Integrated Programme.

If your child was admitted through DSA-Sec, they do not take part in S1 Posting: their place is confirmed with their PSLE results, provided the score qualifies for a Posting Group the school offers.

Your child takes part in S1 Posting if they were not given a DSA-Sec place, or if you did not submit any school preference in October (MOE treats that as withdrawing from DSA-Sec; your child can still choose that school in S1 Posting). Per MOE, children who have accepted a Singapore Sports School offer also take part in S1 Posting.

Students who cannot be placed in any of their chosen schools are posted, after everyone else, to a school with remaining vacancies based on their official registered address. Because vacancies are limited, that school may not be near home. Listing 6 choices, including schools your child's score comfortably clears, lowers this risk.

If your NRIC address has changed, MOE asks you to tell your child's primary school by the end of October so its records are up to date.

After S1 Posting results are released, you can appeal for a school transfer. MOE runs separate processes for serious medical conditions and for non-medical reasons, and each secondary school publishes its own appeal process on its website. Appeals are decided by the school you are applying to.