More Sec 3 students likely to take seven subjects, with revised JC admission criteria

From 2028, fewer subjects are required for admission to junior colleges

- Jane Ng Senior Correspondent

More Secondary 3 students are likely to take seven instead of eight subjects, with fewer subjects required for admission to junior colleges (JCs) from 2028.

Only five subjects will be needed by then, instead of six currently.

Students now in Sec 2 – who are about to choose their upper secondary subjects – will be the first to be affected by this change.

Currently, students need an L1R5 score of 20 or lower across six O-level subjects to be eligible for JC admission. L1R5 stands for one language and five relevant subjects.

With the change, which was announced by the Ministry of Education (MOE) in March, students will need to get 16 points or fewer for their L1R4 score.

MOE said it has “engaged schools on the opportunity for students to recalibrate the number of subjects they would like to offer in upper secondary”.

“This can give students more time to strengthen their development of 21st century competencies and pursue other interests,” said a spokesperson for the ministry.

Schools will adjust their subject combinations based on factors such as student profiles and timetabling arrangements.

Some schools that previously offered mainly eight-subject combinations will reduce such options and provide more options for students keen to take seven subjects.

In Tanjong Katong Secondary School (TKSS), most students previously took eight subjects, with about one-sixth opting for seven subjects.

Mr Bob Lau, the school’s year head for lower secondary, said those taking seven subjects were not necessarily academically less able.