SEC Exam 2027 and L1R4: What Parents Need to Know
From 2027, the O Levels and N Levels become one exam: the Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate (SEC). The standard stays the same. What changes is how levels, exam dates and JC admission work.
O Level and N Level become one exam
First batch: students in Sec 3 in 2026. One certificate lists every subject and its level.
G1, G2 and G3: each subject at its own level
Example: Maths at G3 and Mother Tongue at G2 in the same year. Exam standards don't change, G3 is the O Level standard with a new name.
The 2027 exam calendar
- Before Sep 2027Orals, listening and practicals
- Sep 2027English and Mother Tongue written papers
- Oct to Nov 2027All other written papers
- Mid Jan 2028Results day, 6-day admissions window opens
- Early Feb 2028JC, MI, poly and ITE postings released
JC admission: L1R5 becomes L1R4 (from 2028)
| O Level (until 2027 admission) | SEC (from 2028 admission) | |
|---|---|---|
| Aggregate | L1R5 | L1R4 |
| Subjects counted | 6 | 5 |
| JC cut-off | 20 or better | 16 or better |
| MI cut-off | L1R4, 20 or better | L1R4, 20 or better |
| Bonus points cap | 4 | 3 (+2 for CLEP, MLEP, TLEP) |
| Subject level | O Level | All 5 at G3 |
Which 5 subjects count
All 5 at G3. Minimum grades: English C6, one Maths D7, Mother Tongue D7 (Higher Mother Tongue E8). Religious Knowledge can't be counted.
L1R4 calculator
Pick your child's expected G3 grades to see their L1R4 score.
Eligibility uses the gross score, posting uses the net score. JC and MI also need G3 English C6 or better, one G3 Maths D7 or better, and Mother Tongue D7 or better. Each JC sets its own cut-off, MOE publishes them from mid-2027.
What this means for your child
Source: MOE, 2026. With only 5 subjects counted for JC, families are choosing fewer, stronger subjects.
What stays the same for Physics
Pure Physics becomes G3 Physics (syllabus K323, exam code 6091). Same 3 papers, same weightings, same 20 topics. Our O Level Physics classes already follow it.
Looking for current JC cut-offs? See our O Level cut-off points for junior colleges.
Frequently asked questions
▸What is the SEC exam?
The Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate (SEC) is the national exam that replaces the O Level, N(A) Level and N(T) Level exams from 2027. It's still run by SEAB, MOE and Cambridge, and students get one certificate showing every subject and its level.
▸Is the SEC harder than the O Levels?
No. SEAB has confirmed exam standards and assessment modes stay the same. G3 is set at the O Level standard.
▸What is L1R4?
L1R4 is the JC admission score from 2028: your grade points for 1 language subject plus 4 relevant subjects, all at G3. A1 counts as 1 point and 9 as 9 points, so lower is better. JC needs 16 or better, MI needs 20 or better.
▸L1R4 or L1R5: which one applies to my child?
Students sitting the O Levels in 2026 or earlier use L1R5 for 2027 JC admission. Students sitting the SEC from 2027 use L1R4 for JC admission from 2028.
▸Is L1R4 used for polytechnic?
No. L1R4 is for JC and MI. Polytechnic courses use aggregates such as ELR2B2 or ELMAB3. MOE publishes the 2028 course requirements from mid-2027.
▸Can G2 subjects count for JC admission?
No. Every subject in the L1R4 aggregate for JC and MI must be taken at G3.
▸Does the Physics syllabus change for the SEC?
The content and paper format stay the same. Pure Physics is now G3 Physics, syllabus K323, exam code 6091, with the same 3 papers.
Want Physics to pull the aggregate up?
Small group Sec 3 and Sec 4 Physics classes on the G3 syllabus, at Potong Pasir, Bukit Timah, Bishan and Braddell.
Sources: SEAB, MOE JAE changes from 2028, MOE PSE. Updated November 2026.