Secondary School Ranking 2020 Singapore: PSLE Cut-Off Points
The secondary school ranking 2020 is still useful for parents, students and researchers who want to look back at Singapore’s school admission landscape before the current PSLE Achievement Level system was introduced.
In 2020, Secondary 1 admission was based on the old PSLE T-score system. Schools with higher cut-off points were generally more competitive based on the scores and choices of students entering those schools.
However, a secondary school ranking should not be treated as a complete measure of school quality. Academic results and cut-off points tell only part of the story. School culture, programmes, location, CCAs, learning environment and a child’s individual needs also matter.
This page looks at the secondary school ranking 2020 in Singapore, historical PSLE cut-off points, popular IP and IB schools, and what the numbers actually meant for students at that time.
Secondary School Ranking 2020 Singapore
The Singapore secondary school ranking 2020 was commonly organised using PSLE cut-off points for the 2020 Secondary 1 intake.
Under the old system, a higher T-score was generally required for admission to more competitive schools and programmes.
Some schools also offered more than one academic route. For example, a school could have an Integrated Programme and an O-Level programme with different admission cut-off points.
This is why the same school may appear more than once in historical ranking data.
Among the schools and programmes with the highest listed 2020 cut-off points were Raffles Girls’ School (Secondary), Nanyang Girls’ High School, Raffles Institution, Hwa Chong Institution and Methodist Girls’ School (Secondary).
Secondary School Ranking 2020 Table
The following table provides a useful snapshot of some of the highest historical PSLE cut-off points associated with the 2020 Secondary 1 intake.
| Rank | Secondary School | 2020 PSLE Cut-Off Point | Programme |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raffles Girls’ School (Secondary) | 261 | IP |
| 2 | Nanyang Girls’ High School | 261 | IP / SAP |
| 3 | Raffles Institution | 259 | IP |
| 4 | Hwa Chong Institution | 257 | IP / SAP |
| 5 | CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School | 257 | IP / SAP |
| 6 | Methodist Girls’ School (Secondary) | 257 | IB |
| 7 | Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) | 256 | IB |
| 8 | Dunman High School | 255 | IP / SAP |
| 9 | National Junior College | 254 | IP |
| 10 | River Valley High School | 253 | IP / SAP |
| 11 | Cedar Girls’ Secondary School | 253 | IP |
| 12 | CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School | 253 | O-Level / SAP |
| 13 | Methodist Girls’ School (Secondary) | 253 | O-Level |
| 14 | Victoria School | 252 | IP |
| 15 | Catholic High School | 252 | IP / SAP |
| 16 | Singapore Chinese Girls’ School | 252 | IP |
| 17 | Singapore Chinese Girls’ School | 252 | O-Level |
| 18 | Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) | 252 | O-Level |
| 19 | St. Joseph’s Institution | 251 | IB |
| 20 | Temasek Junior College | 250 | IP |
These figures are historical admission figures and should not be confused with current PSLE cut-off points.
Top Secondary Schools in Singapore in 2020
Looking only at historical PSLE cut-off points, several schools stood out near the top of the secondary school ranking 2020.
Raffles Girls’ School (Secondary)
Raffles Girls’ School (Secondary) had a listed cut-off point of 261 for its Integrated Programme.
RGS is an independent girls’ school offering the Integrated Programme. Its high historical entry score reflected strong demand and the academic profile of students admitted through the Secondary 1 posting process.
Nanyang Girls’ High School
Nanyang Girls’ High School also recorded a 261 cut-off point.
The school is associated with both the Integrated Programme and Special Assistance Plan. It was one of the most competitive choices based on historical PSLE admission scores.
Raffles Institution
Raffles Institution had a listed 2020 cut-off point of 259 for its Integrated Programme.
Its six-year Integrated Programme provides a pathway that does not follow the traditional Secondary 4 O-Level route.
Hwa Chong Institution
Hwa Chong Institution recorded a cut-off point of 257.
The school offered the Integrated Programme and was also a Special Assistance Plan school. Its historical COP placed it among the schools with the highest admission scores in the 2020 intake.
CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School
CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School is interesting because different programmes had different admission figures.
Its Integrated Programme was listed at 257, while the O-Level route was listed at 253.
This is a good example of why parents looking at the secondary school ranking 2020 Singapore should pay attention to individual programmes instead of looking only at school names.
Methodist Girls’ School (Secondary)
Methodist Girls’ School also had separate pathways.
Its IB route had a historical cut-off point of 257, while its O-Level programme was listed at 253.
Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)
Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) had an IB cut-off point of 256, while its O-Level route was listed at 252.
Again, the figures show how admission requirements could vary considerably between programmes within the same school.
What Did PSLE Cut-Off Points Mean in 2020?
Understanding the secondary school ranking 2020 requires understanding the old PSLE scoring system.
Students taking the PSLE in 2020 received an aggregate T-score. This was different from the Achievement Level scoring system used today.
A historical cut-off point generally represented the score associated with the last student admitted to a particular school or programme during the posting exercise.
For example, if a programme had a cut-off point of 253, students looking at historical admission data could use that figure as a reference when considering how competitive admission had been.
It was not a permanently fixed requirement.
Cut-off points could move from year to year because they depended on factors such as student results, school choices and available places.
Why Were Some Secondary Schools More Competitive?
There was no single reason.
Schools near the top of historical PSLE cut-off lists often attracted strong demand because of their academic pathways, established programmes, school history and opportunities available to students.
The presence of programmes such as IP and IB also affected how families compared schools.
Location could matter too. A highly regarded school may not be the most practical choice if a student has to spend a long time travelling every morning and afternoon.
This is why a numerical secondary school ranking 2020 provides useful historical information but cannot tell parents which school is the right fit for every child.
Integrated Programme Schools in 2020
The Integrated Programme, commonly known as IP, was an important part of Singapore’s secondary education landscape in 2020.
Students in an IP generally followed a six-year education pathway without taking the Singapore-Cambridge GCE O-Level examination at Secondary 4.
Several schools near the top of the 2020 cut-off point list offered IP pathways, including:
Raffles Girls’ School (Secondary), Nanyang Girls’ High School, Raffles Institution, Hwa Chong Institution, Dunman High School, National Junior College, River Valley High School, Cedar Girls’ Secondary School, Victoria School and Catholic High School.
High historical cut-off points for many IP programmes reflected the competitive nature of admission at the time.
What Is a SAP School?
SAP stands for Special Assistance Plan.
A number of schools appearing prominently in historical secondary school rankings were SAP schools.
Examples included Nanyang Girls’ High School, Hwa Chong Institution, Dunman High School, River Valley High School and Catholic High School.
Parents researching older school data may therefore see labels such as IP, SAP and IB beside school names.
These labels describe programmes or school characteristics and should not be mistaken for ranking categories.
2020 PSLE System vs Current PSLE Scoring
One of the most important things to remember when reading a secondary school ranking 2020 is that the figures cannot be directly compared with current cut-off scores.
The old PSLE system used aggregate T-scores.
From 2021, Singapore moved to the Achievement Level system, commonly called the PSLE AL scoring system.
Under the newer system, each subject receives an Achievement Level and the subject scores are added together to produce the student’s overall PSLE Score.
This means a historical score such as 261 or 257 belongs to a completely different scoring framework from today’s AL-based figures.
Parents choosing a secondary school today should therefore use current MOE information rather than treating a 2020 T-score as a present-day admission requirement.
Is a Higher PSLE Cut-Off Point the Same as a Better School?
Not necessarily.
A higher historical cut-off point indicates that admission to a school or programme was more competitive based on that year’s posting results.
It does not prove that one school provides a better education for every student.
Different students perform better in different environments.
A student may benefit from a school that provides suitable subject options, CCAs, leadership opportunities, learning support and a manageable journey from home.
Parents should therefore see school rankings as one source of information rather than the only factor behind a school choice.
Factors Parents Should Consider Beyond Rankings
When comparing secondary schools, families can look beyond PSLE scores.
School location is a practical consideration. Long daily travel can affect a student’s routine and available time for study, activities and rest.
Academic programmes are another factor. Some students may be interested in IP or IB pathways, while others may prefer a different route.
Parents can also look at CCAs, school culture, subject combinations, special programmes, student support and the overall learning environment.
A school that matches the student’s strengths and interests may be a better personal fit than simply choosing the school with the highest historical cut-off point.
Why Is the Secondary School Ranking 2020 Still Searched Today?
The secondary school ranking 2020 Singapore remains useful mainly as historical data.
Parents may want to compare admission trends across several years. Students may be researching how school entry requirements have changed. Education researchers may also use older cut-off points to understand changes before and after the introduction of the AL system.
The year 2020 is particularly interesting because it was near the end of the old T-score era.
It therefore provides a useful snapshot of Singapore secondary school admission before the major PSLE scoring change.
FAQs – Secondary School Ranking 2020
1. What was the top secondary school in Singapore in 2020?
Raffles Girls’ School and Nanyang Girls’ High School had some of the highest PSLE cut-off points in 2020. Both recorded a historical cut-off point of 261.
2. What was the PSLE cut-off point in 2020?
PSLE cut-off points varied by school and programme. More competitive schools generally had higher cut-off points under the old T-score system.
3. Which schools had the highest cut-off points in 2020?
Raffles Girls’ School, Nanyang Girls’ High School, Raffles Institution and Hwa Chong Institution were among those with the highest historical cut-off points.
4. Was the AL scoring system used in 2020?
No. Students taking PSLE in 2020 were assessed under the old T-score system. The new PSLE Achievement Level system started in 2021.
5. What does PSLE COP mean?
PSLE COP means PSLE Cut-Off Point. It refers to the admission score associated with entry into a particular secondary school or programme.
6. Is the secondary school ranking 2020 still useful?
Yes, it can be useful for checking historical admission trends. However, the figures should not be used as current admission requirements.
7. What is an IP secondary school in Singapore?
An IP school offers the Integrated Programme, which provides a six-year educational pathway. Students generally progress without taking O-Levels at Secondary 4.
8. Why did some schools have different cut-off points?
Some schools offered multiple programmes, such as IP, IB and O-Level routes. Each programme could therefore have a different admission cut-off point.
9. Does a higher cut-off point mean a school is better?
Not necessarily. A higher cut-off point mainly shows that admission was more competitive for that particular intake.
10. Can I compare 2020 PSLE scores with current scores?
Not directly. The 2020 figures used the old T-score system, while current PSLE results use the Achievement Level scoring system.
