In time to come, Secondary 2 student Caryn Heng, 13, hopes to take all of her core subjects at a higher level, with the goal of qualifying for a local polytechnic.
In 2024, she was assigned to Pasir Ris Secondary School under posting group 2 - one of three posting groups used by the Ministry of Education (MOE) to assign Primary 6 pupils to secondary schools.
The groups are mapped to the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) score ranges for Normal (Technical), Normal (Academic) and Express courses. For instance, pupils assigned to posting group 3 will take most subjects at the G3 level - the equivalent of the Express level.
Once in school, students can choose to take some subjects at a more demanding level, according to their specific subject results and abilities, under the MOE's full subject-based banding approach.
Pasir Ris Secondary School was among the latest batch of 24 schools to come on board full subject-based banding in 2024. A total of 120 secondary schools have now adopted the approach, completing the roll-out of the scheme.
After completing Secondary 1 and doing well in her mathematics examination, Caryn was offered the chance to take the subject at the G3 level. She was already taking Chinese language and science at the G3 level at the start of Secondary 1.
This story is from the January 10, 2025 edition of The Straits Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 10, 2025 edition of The Straits Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Chen Xi graduates from master's programme in London
Former actor Chen Xi, son of local celebrity couple Edmund Chen and Xiang Yun, has graduated from a year-long master's degree programme in arts and cultural management from King's College London.
US judge blocks Trump's order restricting birthright citizenship
A federal judge in Seattle on Jan 23 blocked President Donald Trump's administration from implementing an executive order curtailing the right to automatic birthright citizenship in the United States, calling it \"blatantly unconstitutional\".
Reining in app stores to protect the young
Singapore is set to roll out a code requiring app stores to check the age of users before they can download apps meant for adults.
Buying CNY goods online? Beware of phishing and malware scams
Singaporeans looking to buy festive goods online are urged to guard against phishing and malware scams, as Chinese New Year draws near.
AI videos from China are coming for the world
The future internet could be flooded with content that strictly follows Beijing's rules.
Hume station on Downtown Line to open earlier, on Feb 28
Hume MRT station in Bukit Timah, which is on the Downtown Line (DTL), will open for passenger service ahead of schedule on Feb 28, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said on Jan 24.
Adidas, Puma weighing job cuts in bid to cut costs and boost profits
German sportswear giants Adidas and Puma have both said they are seeking to reduce costs, including through possible job cuts, as they aim to bolster profits.
Lung disease patients may in future receive alerts on poor air quality
Respiratory disease patients could in the future receive text messages alerting them to periods of poor air quality, such as during a haze or other extreme weather conditions that could trigger allergic reactions or respiratory attacks.
Updated Novavax Covid-19 vaccine available for those eligible till April 30
People who are eligible for the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine can go to selected clinics from now till April 30 for an updated version of the jab.
Keppel secures licence for S'pore-US subsea cable network
A new Singapore-US subsea cable network could attract more cloud operators and technology companies to set up operations in the Republic, although challenges such as limited land space can be expected, analysts said.
