Larger PSLE cohort may have contributed to more stringent cut-off points in some popular schools

Pupils could face more "stringent" cut-off points when more of them with the same Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) scores pick the same schools, said Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education Shawn Huang on Jan 8.

- Gabrielle Chan

"The larger cohort taking the PSLE in 2024 could also have contributed to this effect for some popular schools," he added.

Cut-off points for schools can fluctuate from year to year, depending on the cohort's PSLE scores and their school choices, he said.

He was responding in Parliament to a question by Workers' Party MP He Ting Ru (Sengkang GRC) on the results of the Secondary 1 posting exercises and the guidance or preparation given to parents for cohorts with more competition.

Mr Huang said students and parents are encouraged to use previous years' cut-off points as references and in 2024, were asked to select "at least two to three schools where their PSLE score falls below the school's previous cut-off points".