Five secondary school principals emphasized the importance of considering factors beyond Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) scores when selecting secondary schools during a forum held on October 31. They urged parents to look past cutoff points and exam results to practical elements such as commute times, school programmes, and co-curricular activities that align with their child’s interests and needs.
Speaking at the annual event held at the SPH Media News Centre auditorium and streamed online, Goh Soon Hoe, principal of Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School, cautioned against relying solely on exam scores achieved through intensive tuition. He suggested that scores obtained through heavy tutoring might not accurately reflect a student’s readiness for the rigors of secondary education. Goh noted that the aggregate level (AL) score may not represent a student’s day-to-day academic potential if it was driven primarily by extra coaching.
Lucy Toh, principal of National Junior College (NJC), which offers the Integrated Programme (IP) — a six-year course allowing students to bypass the O-Level exams — added that heavy dependence on tuition is unsustainable once students enter secondary school due to the increased subject load. She also highlighted the need for a high level of maturity and self-directed learning for students considering IP, warning that those not ready may find the transition challenging.
When addressing queries about applying to schools if a student’s PSLE score is just one point below the cutoff, St Andrew’s School (Secondary) principal Lee Han Hwa advised against it, citing consistent school cutoff trends over the past three years. Goh reinforced this by explaining that the Education Ministry’s introduction of choice order as a tie-breaker for Secondary 1 posting makes such attempts risky, as students may miss out on both their first and second choices.
Koh Caiyu, principal of Pasir Ris Crest Secondary School, encouraged families to use all six school preferences strategically rather than focusing solely on their top choice. She warned that placing heavy emphasis on a single school could be disheartening if results do not align with expectations.
Anderson Secondary principal Tan Po Chin recommended attending open houses and speaking with current and former students to better gauge which schools might be the best fit. She said firsthand student experiences offer valuable insights into secondary school life beyond academic results.
Addressing concerns about academic diversity, Lee noted that at St Andrew’s School (Secondary), about 60 to 65 percent of Secondary 1 students come from its affiliated primary school, where admission criteria are more flexible. He emphasized that boys mature at different rates and that teaching methods are tailored to meet varied learning needs. Lee stressed the importance of students feeling happy, building positive teacher relationships, and fostering a supportive school environment.
Tan added that a diverse classroom environment enriches students' perspectives and life skills, asserting that learning from peers encompasses more than just academic scores but also how students view the world and approach learning.