Academic Grading System

Singapore has categorized education system into various stages. These stages are:

• Preschool
• Primary
• Secondary
• Pre-University
• University
  

With the exception of Preschool education, where no examination is being conducted, the other educational stages have their own examinations to judge student’s academic performance. Accordingly, grades are allocated. But since each educational stage has its own examination system, the grading system varies. The grading systems that are used at Primary, Secondary, Junior College and University levels are the most important to the education system.

Primary Level Grading System

Primary schools in Singapore earlier followed a grading system along an "Achievement Band". However, the system is discontinued and the grading system is followed on more favorable “Overall Grade" scheme. As per this scheme students are graded as follows:

Primary 3 to 4

Grade	Percentage
Band 1	85% and above
Band 2	70% to 84%
Band 3	50% to 69%
Band 4	Below 50%

Primary 5 to 6 standard stream

Grade	Percentage
A*	91% and above
A	75% to 90%
B	60% to 74%
C	50% to 59%
D	35% to 49%
E	20% to 34%
U	Below 20%

  
Primary 5 to 6 foundation stream

Grade	Percentage
Grade 1	85% and above
Grade 2	70% to 84%
Grade 3	50% to 69%
Grade 4	30% to 49%
U	Below 30%

Secondary Level Grading System

At secondary level schools in Singapore various grading systems are used. However, majority of Secondary Schools follow the grading pattern of the Singapore-Cambridge GCE "O" level examination. Under this grading system, the highest achievable grade is A1 while F9 is considered to be the lowest one. Given below are the various forms of grading in Singapore secondary schools.

Singapore-Cambridge GCE "O" Level Examination

Grade	Percentage	Grade Description
A1	75% and above	Distinction
A2	70% to 74%	Distinction
B3	65% to 69%	Merit
B4	60% to 64%	Merit
C5	55% to 59%	Credit
C6	50% to 54%	Credit
D7	45% to 49%	Sub-Pass/Fail
E8	40% to 44%	Fail
F9	Below 40%	Fail

GPA

In some Secondary Schools in Singapore, Grade Point Average or as more commonly known as GPA is used for grading students in exams. It is calculated by adding the Grades obtained in all the subjects, and then dividing the sum by the number of subjects the student takes. The result is then rounded off to two decimal places to obtain the GPA. Generally, a minimum GPA of 2.0 is required for promotion.

The GPA usually differs from school to school. Following is the GPA table for Raffles Girls' School and Raffles Institution (Secondary):

Grade	Percentage	Grade point
A	80% to 100%	4.0
A	70% to 79%	3.6
B	65% to 69%	3.2
B	60% to 64%	2.8
C	55% to 59%	2.4
C	50% to 54%	2.0
D	45% to 49%	1.6
E	40% to 44%	1.2
F	Below 40%	0.8

Though GPA differs from school to school, but the difference is minor.

Normal (Academic) {NA} Levels Grades

Grade	Percentage
1	75% and above
2	70% to 74%
3	65% to 69%
4	60% to 64%
5	50% to 59%
U	Below 50%, considered Un-graded, or failed.

Normal (Technical) {NT} Levels Grades

Grade	Percentage
A	70% and above
B	65% to 69%
C	60% to 64%
D	50% to 59%
U	Below 50%, considered Un-graded, or failed.

O Levels Grades

Grade	Percentage
A1	75% and above
A2	70% to 74%
B3	65% to 69%
B4	60% to 64%
C5	55% to 59%
C6	50% to 54%
D7	45% to 49%
E8	40% to 44%
F9	Below 40%

The Grades D7, E8 and F9 are considered as the failing grades.
Students taking Mother Tongue Syllabus B may be awarded a Merit, a Pass, or an Ungraded grade.

Grading Method in Secondary Schools

Secondary schools in Singapore are the first educational institution in the country to implement “Overall Grade” grading system for academic subjects. The grading systems used in secondary schools vary from single grading system to mixed grading system.

The mixed grading system means that some of the subjects are of one grading system whereas the remaining subjects are of different grading system.

A point worth considering here is that Non-academic subjects like Religious Knowledge, Moral Education, and Music are graded as per the alphabetical grading system of A, B, C or D.

Junior College Level Grading System

Grade	Percentage
A	70% and above
B	60% to 69%
C	55% to 59%
D	50% to 54%
E	45% to 49% (passing grade)
S	35% to 44% (denotes standard is at AO level only), grade N in the British A Levels.
U	35% and below

In addition, students appearing in Special Papers (offered for the last time in 2006) are awarded either 1 (Distinction), 2 (Merit), or U (Unclassified).

For students taking up H3 Subjects (introduced for the first time in 2006), they will be awarded Distinction, Merit, Pass or Ungraded.

Polytechnics Grading System

Grade	Percentage	Grade Description	Grade Point
AD		Distinction (Top 5% score in the subject)	4.0
A	80% and above	Excellent	4.0
B	75% to 79%	Very good	3.5
B	70% to 74%	Good	3.0
C	65% to 69%	Above Average	2.5
C	60% to 64%	Average	2.0
D	55% to 59%	Pass	1.5
D	50% to 54%	Borderline pass	1.0
F	Less than 50%	Fail	0

For entrance into local university, the minimum GPA required is 3.5-3.8; however it varies from course to course. As for overseas university, the minimum GPA required is 2.0-3.0; the criterion is slightly lower than that of local university.

University Level Grading System

Grade	Scale	Grade Description
I	70% and above	First Class Honors
II	65% to 69%	Second Class Honors, First Division
II	60% to 64%	Second Class Honors, Second Division
III	50% to 59%	Third Class Honors
	Less than 50%

In Singapore varied Grading Systems are prevalent at different stages of education. Even at same stage, the Grading system may vary from stream to stream. This article provides an insight into different Grading Systems as applicable in Singapore Education System.