Poly Cut-Off Points 2027 and the 22-Point Rule From 2028

Updated 26 October 2026. Every figure below is from MOE's 2027 JAE course list and MOE admission pages, read that day. Course ranges are from the 2026 JAE.

Two different numbers are going around for polytechnic admission, 26 and 22. Both are correct, for different students. This guide gives the official 2026 course ranges for the 2027 JAE, then explains the 22-point rule and who it applies to.

What are the poly cut-off points for 2027?

There is no single poly cut-off. To apply at all, a student needs a net ELR2B2 of 26 or better in the 2027 JAE, or a net ELR2B2-C of 28 or better for the Diploma in Nursing, per MOE's JAE polytechnics page. Each course then fills its places in order of merit, so each course ends up with its own cut-off point.

MOE publishes last year's results as the reference. Its Courses offered in 2027 JAE list (PDF) gives each course's net ELR2B2 range for the 2026 JAE, from the highest to the lowest ranked student admitted. The second number is the course's cut-off point. MOE notes that these scores are not set in advance and that the 2027 figures may differ.

Which poly courses had the lowest cut-off points in 2026?

These courses had a cut-off point of 9 or better in the 2026 JAE.

Nursing is listed separately because it uses a different limit. In the 2026 JAE, Nursing at Nanyang (C97) ranged from 7 to 28 and Nursing at Ngee Ann (N69) from 6 to 28.

What were the cut-offs for the common entry programmes?

Common programmes let students choose a diploma after the first semester or year. These are the 2026 JAE ranges at each polytechnic (NYP Nanyang, NP Ngee Ann, RP Republic, SP Singapore Poly, TP Temasek).

Other common programmes in the list: Nanyang's Common Business & Technology Programme (5 to 16) and Common Design & Media Programme (8 to 16), Ngee Ann's Common Media Programme (8 to 13), Republic's Common Sports & Health Programme (9 to 26) and Common Arts, Media & Design Programme (15 to 21), and Temasek's Common Design Programme (6 to 15).

How do the five polytechnics compare?

We worked out these figures from every course in MOE's list, leaving out Nursing, which has its own limit, and the two new courses with no 2026 range (Nanyang's Biopharmaceutical & Chemical Engineering and Republic's Defence & Security Management).

The median is our calculation: half of that polytechnic's courses had a cut-off at or better than this figure. A wide spread within one polytechnic is normal. Compare courses, not schools, and check each course's minimum entry requirements in MOE's CourseFinder.

How far did a score reach in 2026?

The quickest way to use MOE's list is to start from a score. This chart shows, for a given net ELR2B2, the share of the 193 courses with a 2026 range where that score was at or better than the last student admitted.

The drop between 12 and 16 is steep. A student at 12 would have cleared the last admitted score in more than three in four courses, while one at 16 cleared it in fewer than two in five. At Republic Polytechnic, 14 of the 41 courses with a 2026 range took students right up to the limit of 26, so it often has the widest choice for scores in the high teens and low 20s.

Every course in the 2027 JAE, with its 2026 range

MOE's list has 195 polytechnic courses for the 2027 JAE. Here is every one, sorted by name, with its code, its ELR2B2 type and its 2026 JAE range. For a renamed course, MOE gives the range of the course it replaced.

Nanyang Polytechnic (38 courses)

Ngee Ann Polytechnic (41 courses)

Republic Polytechnic (42 courses)

Singapore Polytechnic (33 courses)

Temasek Polytechnic (41 courses)

New and renamed courses for 2027

Seven courses are new or renamed in the 2027 list, so a search for an old name may find nothing.

How is ELR2B2 calculated for the 2027 JAE?

ELR2B2 is English Language, two relevant subjects and the two best other subjects, using O-Level grades from A1 (1 point) to F9 (9 points). CCA bonus points are then subtracted to give the net score.

Each course uses one of four aggregate types, ELR2B2-A to D, which differ in the subjects that count as relevant. In MOE's list, most science, engineering, ICT and health courses use ELR2B2-C, business courses use ELR2B2-B, and media and humanities courses mostly use A, with design courses mostly on D. Higher Mother Tongue and Mother Tongue of the same language cannot both be counted. Our L1R5 and ELR2B2 calculator does the arithmetic for you.

What is the new 22-point rule?

From the 2028 intake, MOE changes polytechnic Year 1 admission for students who sit the SEC. MOE's March 2024 infosheet and its PSE polytechnic page set out the rule:

• The net ELR2B2 must not exceed 22, down from 26.
• For Nursing, the net ELR2B2-C must not exceed 24, down from 28.
• English, R1, R2 and B1 must be G3 subjects. Only B2, the second-best other subject, may be taken at G2, and it is always counted on the G2 scale.

The cut-off falls because B2 is now counted on the shorter G2 scale. Take a student with A2 in English (2), B3 and B4 in the relevant subjects (3 and 4), A2 in B1 (2) and C6 in B2. Under the 2027 JAE, the C6 counts as 6 and the gross ELR2B2 is 17. Under the 2028 rule, the C6 counts as 2 and the gross is 13. MOE says this lets students take subjects at the level that suits them without losing access to polytechnic.

Which rule applies to my child?

Our SEC 2027 guide explains the new exam, and our G1, G2 and G3 guide explains the subject levels behind the 22-point rule. MOE says course information for 2028 admission will be updated in mid-2027.

When are the 2027 poly cut-off points released?

The dates are from MOE's JAE page. We will add the 2027 ranges here on posting results day. The JC side of the same exercise is in our JC cut-off points guide, and the choice between the two in our JC or poly guide.

How can a Sec 4 student in 2027 prepare?

Under the 22-point rule, the four G3 subjects carry most of the weight, and English is always one of them. Many science, engineering and ICT courses also set a minimum Mathematics grade in their entry requirements. English counts in every aggregate type. For the many courses on ELR2B2-C, Mathematics is one of the relevant subjects and a science usually fills the other, so if your child is in Sec 4 in 2027, steady work on English, E-Math and Combined Science keeps the most courses open. We arrange SEC tuition for G2 and G3 subjects, at home or online.