Choosing a JC Subject Combination: H1, H2 and the Three That Count
A typical Junior College student takes three H2 subjects, one contrasting H1 subject, H1 General Paper and Project Work, and under the current scoring system it is the three H2 grades plus General Paper that decide the University Admission Score. The combination chosen at the start of JC1 quietly shapes which degrees are open two years later, so it is worth choosing deliberately rather than by default or by where friends are headed.
This guide walks through how to make that choice well.
H1 and H2 in plain terms
| Tier | What it is | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| H1 | Roughly half the curriculum of the H2 version | Lighter load, fewer rank points |
| H2 | The full subject, the main currency of the A-Level | The grades that count most |
| H3 | An advanced extension on top of an H2 subject | Optional, for stronger students |
Most students take three subjects at H2 and one at H1 as the contrasting subject, plus General Paper at H1. The contrasting subject means a science student takes one subject from the arts, or the reverse, to keep a broad base.
The common combinations
In the sciences, two groupings dominate:
- PCM: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics. The standard engineering and physical-sciences route.
- BCM: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics. The route for medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and the life sciences.
In the arts, students mix from Economics, History, Literature, Geography and a language at H2, often with a contrasting H1 in Mathematics or a science. Economics appears in a large share of arts combinations because it underpins so many social-science and business degrees.
The single most useful rule: keep Mathematics open
If a student is genuinely unsure of direction, the safest single choice is to keep H2 Mathematics in the combination. Mathematics is a prerequisite or a strong advantage for the widest set of degrees, from engineering and computing through to economics and the quantitative social sciences. Dropping it early closes doors that are hard to reopen.
H2 Mathematics also carries practical weight in admission because it counts as one of the three H2 subjects that build the score, and it sits in almost every science and hybrid combination. A student who keeps it and does well has protected both their options and a heavily weighted grade. Our H2 Mathematics syllabus guide sets out the full structure.
Why the choice is hard to undo
Changing a subject combination after JC1 is disruptive. The content moves fast, and a student who switches in mid-stream is playing catch-up on a subject the rest of the class started months earlier. The choice is not strictly irreversible, but treating it as close to final at the point of selection encourages the careful thinking it deserves.
Do not under-rate General Paper
General Paper is an H1 subject that feeds the admission score like any other counted component, and it has no syllabus to cram in the usual sense, which makes it easy to neglect. It rewards reading widely and writing clearly over two years. A student who treats it as the subject that will look after itself often finds it the grade that quietly costs them a place.
Matching the combination to the destination
Work backwards from the course, not forwards from the subjects a student happens to like this term. If a student already knows roughly where they are heading, the combination almost chooses itself. This table maps the common groupings to the courses they keep open.
| Combination | Opens toward |
|---|---|
| PCM: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics | Engineering, computing, the physical sciences |
| BCM: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics | Medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, the life sciences |
| Arts with Economics and Mathematics | Business, economics, the quantitative social sciences |
| Arts with a humanities subject and a contrasting science | Law, the humanities, the broader social sciences |
Read the table as a guide, not a cage. A student who is undecided should notice how often Mathematics appears, which is exactly why keeping it in the combination protects the widest set of these destinations at once.
Common questions
How many subjects does a JC student take?
The typical load is three H2 subjects, one contrasting H1 subject, H1 General Paper and Project Work.
What is the difference between H1 and H2?
H1 is roughly half the curriculum of the H2 version of a subject. H2 is the full subject and the grades that carry the most weight in university admission.
What are PCM and BCM?
PCM is Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, the engineering and physical-sciences route. BCM is Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics, the medicine and life-sciences route.
Should my child keep H2 Math if they are unsure of direction?
Usually yes. Mathematics keeps the widest range of degrees open and is a heavily weighted subject, so it is the safest single choice when the destination is undecided.
Can a student change their combination after JC1?
It is possible but disruptive, because the content moves quickly and a late switch means catching up on a subject the class began months earlier. Choose as if the decision is close to final.
For the subjects most students take at H2, see our subjects hub, and our tuition programmes cover the core JC subjects with costs on the pricing page. Choose the combination that matches the destination, or the one that keeps the most destinations open, and a student spends JC building grades rather than regretting a choice.
Related guides
Written by
Tan Hong Ting
Mathematics & Science Tutor, The Singapore Syllabus · Bachelor's in Psychology, National University of Singapore · 4 years' tutoring experience in Mathematics and Science
Tan Hong Ting is a Mathematics and Science tutor with The Singapore Syllabus and a Psychology graduate of the National University of Singapore. With four years' experience, he draws on learning psychology to build exam confidence and study strategy for Secondary students. More about Tan.
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