Why 2027 changes the question
From 2027 the O-Level gives way to the Singapore-Cambridge SEC. The science content carries across, but your child will choose Pure or Combined Science at a level, G1, G2 or G3, that the certificate records. A good tutor should know which paper your child is sitting and teach to it. Our SEC syllabus codes page maps the old codes to the new ones, and choosing G1, G2 or G3 covers the level decision.
Pure or Combined: the choice that shapes tuition
| Pure Sciences | Combined Science | |
|---|---|---|
| Subjects | Physics, Chemistry and Biology as separate subjects | Two sciences combined into one subject |
| SEC G3 codes | K323, K324, K325 | K326 to K328 |
| Depth | Full depth in each science | Reduced content in each of the two sciences |
| Suits | Students heading for a science-based JC or poly course | Students whose strengths lie elsewhere |
The choice matters for tuition because a Combined Science student needs coverage across two disciplines, while a Pure Chemistry student may need concentrated work on one hard area, most often the mole concept and stoichiometry.
Your options, compared
| Option | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition centre | Structured coverage for students keeping up | Group pace; little time on your child's specific errors |
| Home tutor | Targeted work on weak topics and answer technique | Tutor quality varies |
| Online tutor | Flexible scheduling, older students | Practical and diagram work is harder to review remotely |
| Tuition agency | Choosing among matched tutors | Check fees and the re-match policy |
What separates good science teaching
| Criterion | What good looks like |
|---|---|
| Keyword precision | Your child learns the specific terms examiners credit, not paraphrases |
| Command words | "State", "explain", "describe" and "suggest" are taught as different tasks |
| Hard topics first | The topics that separate grades, such as the mole concept, get concentrated time |
| Application | Questions set in unfamiliar contexts are practised, not just recall |
| Paper-specific | Teaching matches whether your child sits Pure or Combined, and at which level |
Current rates
These are current hourly ranges for one-to-one home tuition in Singapore.
| Level | Undergraduate tutor | Full-time tutor | Ex-MOE or NIE-trained |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Primary (P5 to P6) | $35 to $50 | $45 to $60 | $55 to $75 |
| Lower Secondary (Sec 1 to 2) | $35 to $50 | $50 to $65 | $60 to $80 |
| Upper Secondary (Sec 3 to 4) | $45 to $60 | $55 to $75 | $70 to $95 |
| Junior College | $55 to $75 | $70 to $95 | $85 to $130 |
The full table is on our pricing page.
How The Singapore Syllabus fits
If a home tutor is the right format for your child, this is how we work, stated plainly so you can compare it against any other option.
| What you get | How it works |
|---|---|
| A shortlist, not a single pick | 2 to 4 tutor profiles matched to your child's level, subject and area, within 48 hours |
| Profiles you can judge | Each shows the tutor's credentials, hourly rate and teaching approach |
| Three price tiers | Undergraduate, full-time specialist and ex-MOE or NIE-trained teachers |
| No separate agency fee | You pay only the hourly rate shown on your tutor shortlist |
| A free re-match | If the first tutor is not the right fit, we match again at no charge |
| No long-term contract | Lessons continue for as long as they are working |
We cover science from Primary through Junior College and IB, with tutors teaching in English and Mandarin. For subject detail, see Combined Science tuition, O-Level Chemistry tuition, O-Level Physics tuition, O-Level Biology tuition and Primary Science tuition. To start, tell us what your child needs, or see how the process runs on how it works.
Common questions
Should my child take Pure or Combined Science?
Follow genuine strength and the post-secondary course your child is aiming for. A science-based JC or polytechnic route usually favours Pure Sciences at G3. A student whose strengths are elsewhere often does better protecting their aggregate with Combined Science.
Which science topic most needs tuition?
In Chemistry, the mole concept and stoichiometry, taught early in Secondary 3, separate the top grades from the rest. In Physics it is often kinematics and dynamics.
My child understands the content but still loses marks. Why?
Usually answer technique: missing the keyword the mark scheme needs, or answering "describe" when the question said "explain". That is exactly what targeted tuition fixes. Our guide to the keyword trap explains the pattern.
Is Lower Secondary Science worth tutoring?
When a real gap appears, yes, because Secondary 3 builds directly on it. See Lower Secondary Science for how the topics split.
Written by
Dion Tan
MOE-Registered Chemistry & Science Tutor, The Singapore Syllabus · MOE-registered tutor · MSc (NUS), BSc Chemistry & Biological Chemistry (NTU) · 10 years' teaching experience
Dion Tan is an MOE-registered tutor with The Singapore Syllabus. He holds a Master of Science from the National University of Singapore and a Bachelor's in Chemistry and Biological Chemistry from Nanyang Technological University, with ten years coaching Singapore students in Chemistry and Science from O-Level through A-Level. More about Dion.
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