The 2027 private candidate calendar
Rows marked "expected" follow the 2026 pattern. SEAB has not confirmed them for 2027.
From 2027, a "private O-Level" in Singapore means sitting the Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate (SEC) as a private candidate, registered by you on SEAB's Candidates Portal. SEAB will post the 2027 registration details in March 2027. In 2026 the window ran from 7 to 20 April. The latest published fee for an O-Level Cambridge subject is S$105 for a Singapore Citizen, S$170 for a PR and S$235 for an international candidate, with Mother Tongue subjects cheaper. Results come out in January 2028, and Citizens and PRs can use them in the 2028 Post-Secondary Admissions Exercise (PSE) alongside results from one other exam year.
- 13 to 15 Jan 20272026 O-Level resultsTentative SEAB dates. Use them to decide what to retake.
- March 2027Registration details publishedConfirmed on SEAB's private candidate page.
- April 2027 (expected)Registration and paymentIn 2026 it ran from 7 April, 9am, to 20 April, 11pm, with payment due by the close.
- May 2027 (expected)Supplementary registrationIn 2026 this ran until 26 May, with a S$75 late fee per exam level.
- June 2027 (expected)Refund cut-off and Entry ProofIn 2026 the 50% refund deadline was 18 June and the Year-End Entry Proof came out on 25 June.
- Before the written papersOrals, listening and science practicalsPractical venue and time come by email at least 7 days before.
- September 2027English and Mother Tongue written papersOne Mother Tongue written sitting a year from 2027, with no mid-year sitting.
- October to November 2027All other written papersOne common exam period for G1, G2 and G3.
- Mid-Jan 2028SEC results and the PSE opensThe 6-day application period starts on results day. Posting follows in early February.
Who can register as a private candidate
SEAB's SEC page says private candidates register "if they meet the eligibility criteria such as age". The full 2027 criteria are not out, so the 2026 rules are the best guide:
- Age. At least 15 on 1 January of the exam year. SEAB's rules list no maximum.
- Not a current school student. If you are enrolled in a Government, Government-Aided, Independent or Specialised school, you sit as a school candidate. SEAB invalidates a private registration from a school student and keeps the fees.
- Up to 9 subjects. That was the 2026 cap for N-Level and O-Level papers.
- No placement tests in the same year. You cannot sit national exams and AEIS, S-AEIS, SPERS-Sec or SPE in one exam year.
- Any nationality. Citizens, PRs and FIN holders log in with Singpass. Foreign passport holders create a portal account first.
Sitting is not the same as using the results for admission. Read the PSE section before you pay.
SEAB fees per subject by citizenship
These are SEAB's 2026 private candidate fees per subject, by citizenship status at registration, including GST. Treat them as the latest guide, not the 2027 price.
| Level in 2026 (nearest SEC level) | Subjects | Singapore Citizen | PR | International |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-Level (G3) | Cambridge subjects: English, Maths, A Maths, sciences, humanities, Economics, Business, POA, Computing, foreign languages | S$105 | S$170 | S$235 |
| O-Level (G3) | Local subjects: Chinese, Malay, Tamil, Higher MTL, Literature in MTL, Arabic, IRK | S$70 | S$130 | S$185 |
| N(A)-Level (G2) | Cambridge subjects | S$105 | S$145 | S$235 |
| N(A)-Level (G2) | Chinese, Malay, Tamil | S$70 | S$85 | S$185 |
| N(T)-Level (G1) | English and Maths Syllabus T | S$105 | S$145 | S$235 |
| N(T)-Level (G1) | Science Syllabus T, Basic Chinese, Malay, Tamil | S$70 | S$85 | S$185 |
What five subjects cost at 2026 rates
A candidate sitting English, Maths, Combined Science and Combined Humanities (four Cambridge subjects) plus Chinese (a local subject) pays:
| Candidate | Sum | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore Citizen | 4 x S$105 + S$70 | S$490 |
| PR | 4 x S$170 + S$130 | S$810 |
| International | 4 x S$235 + S$185 | S$1,125 |
The extra charges matter too:
- Late fee per exam level in the 2026 supplementary exercise
- S$75
- Fee per subject change after paying, on top of any added subject fee
- S$30
- Refund of a subject fee if you withdraw by the June cut-off without sitting any paper of it
- 50%
- Edusave or PSEA money you can use on private candidate fees
- 0
Pay by card or PayNow in the portal. Fees do not carry over to another year.
Which subjects you can take, and at which level
You choose a level per subject. G3 Maths, G2 English and G1 Computing in the same year all go on one SEC certificate. SEAB awards it for E8 or better at G3, Grade 5 or better at G2, or Grade D or better at G1.
These are SEAB's 2027 codes for private candidates in the subjects most people ask about:
| Subject | G1 | G2 | G3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | K100 | K200 | K300 |
| Mathematics | K110 | K210 | K310 |
| Additional Mathematics | not offered | K232 | K341 |
| Science (combined) | K123 | K223 to K225 | K326 to K328 |
| Physics, Chemistry, Biology | not offered | not offered | K323, K324, K325 |
| Principles of Accounts | not offered | K233 | K342 |
| Computing | K127 | K237 | K349 |
| Geography, History | not offered | K226, K227 | K329, K330 |
| Combined Humanities | not offered | K229 to K231 | K335 to K340 |
| Chinese, Malay, Tamil | K120 to K122 | K220 to K222 | K320 to K322 |
| Economics, Business | not offered | not offered | K343, K344 |
Three rules shape the list:
- No coursework subjects. SEAB's examples are Art and Design & Technology.
- Small subjects may not run. With fewer than 20 candidates, SEAB may drop a subject that year and offer a swap or a refund.
- Duplicates count once. The same subject at two levels, in one year or across years, gives only one grade for an aggregate.
Islamic Religious Knowledge is on the G3 list but cannot count towards a JC or Millennia Institute aggregate. Citizens and PRs who want Mother Tongue Syllabus B must write to SEAB for approval.
The science practical rule
In 2026, O-Level Physics, Chemistry and Biology each had a Science Practical paper, and so did each combined science. Private candidates must sit every registered paper, even one passed in an earlier year. Missing one means an Absent grade for the whole subject.
A student retaking Chemistry after a school sitting qualifies. Someone new to Biology, or moving from Combined Science to a pure science, needs a practical course. SEAB publishes no list of approved courses, so keep a written course record from the provider.
The 2026 N(A)-Level combined sciences for private candidates were written papers only. SEAB has not said whether the 2027 G2 sciences follow that, so check the 2027 e-booklet in March.
Which route fits you
- You are in Sec 4 or Sec 5 at a government or aided school in 2027You sit the SEC as a school candidate, not privately.
- You got 2026 O-Level results and want one or two grades higherRetake those subjects at G3 in 2027, then combine both years in the 2028 PSE.
- You got 2026 N-Level results and have left schoolSit chosen subjects at G2 or G3 as a private candidate.
- You want a pure science you have never satBook a Science Practical course that ends before the practical exam, then register.
- You are an international student outside the school systemYou can sit and get a certificate, but cannot use the PSE as a private candidate.
- You are an adult who needs a G3 English or Maths passRegister for just those subjects, at any age above the minimum.
How to register, step by step
- Pick subjects and levelsUse SEAB's 2027 G1, G2 and G3 lists for private candidates, and read each syllabus.
- Check the science ruleFor any science with a practical paper, confirm an earlier sitting or a booked course.
- Set up your loginActivate Singpass, or create a portal account if you hold a foreign passport.
- Register and pay in the windowEnter citizenship, email and a Singapore mailing address correctly. Unpaid means unregistered.
- Apply for access arrangementsIf needed, apply in the portal after registering. The 2026 deadline was 30 April.
- Print your Entry ProofOrals, practicals and written papers can be at different centres.
- Get results on the portalAppeals close five working days after release, counting release day.
School candidate or private candidate
| Point | School candidate | Private candidate |
|---|---|---|
| Who registers | Your school | You, on the Candidates Portal |
| Subjects | Your school's offer, including coursework subjects | SEAB's private list, no coursework subjects |
| Science practicals | Prepared in school | Need an earlier sitting or a practical course |
| Exam venue | Arranged through your school | Assigned by SEAB, near your mailing address where possible |
| Changes and withdrawal | Through school | Yourself in the portal, with deadlines and fees |
| PSE eligibility | All nationalities | Citizens and PRs only |
| CCA bonus points | From your school record | Kept if you graduated from a national secondary school |
How private results count in the 2028 PSE
From 2028, SEC holders apply to JCs, Millennia Institute, polytechnics and ITE Higher Nitec courses through the PSE. MOE's PSE page sets three rules that matter here:
- Citizens and PRs only. School candidates of any nationality can apply, but private candidates must be Citizens or PRs.
- Two exam years can combine. Applicants can "combine results from up to two examination years" of SEC, N-Level or O-Level, or a mix. A 2026 O-Level plus a 2027 SEC retake fits.
- CCA bonus points still apply. Private candidates keep the CCA bonus points awarded to graduates of national secondary schools.
MOE publishes full 2028 PSE details in mid-2027, so how two years merge is not yet known. Run your current grades through the L1R5 calculator to see which single grade would change your options most. For how routes and aggregates work today, see the JAE 2027 guide.
Where to prepare
- Self-study. SEAB posts every 2027 syllabus, plus specimen papers for revised syllabuses, which stay online for three years. Best for subjects you nearly passed.
- Tuition. A home tutor or a tuition centre fits around work. MOE requires centres teaching 10 or more people to register with MOE.
- A full-time private school. Schools running full-time courses for external exams must register with SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) instead. Check before paying.
The SEC explainer covers G1, G2 and G3 in full.
Common questions
What is a private candidate?
Anyone who registers for a national exam directly with SEAB instead of through a school.
How much is a private O-Level in Singapore?
In 2026 each O-Level Cambridge subject cost S$105 for Citizens, S$170 for PRs and S$235 for international candidates. Local subjects cost S$70, S$130 and S$185. 2027 SEC fees are not out yet.
When does registration for the 2027 SEC open?
SEAB says to check its private candidate page in March 2027. The 2026 window ran from 7 to 20 April.
Can I retake only one subject?
Yes. You register per subject, and the 2028 PSE lets you combine results from up to two exam years.
Can I use Edusave to pay?
No. SEAB does not accept Edusave or PSEA funds for private candidate fees.
Can I take Chemistry without having done it in school?
Yes, if you attend a Science Practical course that ends before the practical exam and declare it when you register.
Is a private SEC worth less than a school SEC?
No. It is the same certificate, and SEAB says the SEC keeps the same standards and recognition.
Official sources
- SEAB, Private Candidate? Start Here, updated 12 June 2026
- SEAB, Registration Information for Private Candidates, 2026 GCE-Level, 2026
- SEAB, Secondary Education Certificate (SEC), updated 14 May 2026
- SEAB, 2027 SEC G3 syllabuses for private candidates, updated 11 May 2026
- SEAB, 2027 SEC G2 syllabuses for private candidates, updated 29 April 2026
- SEAB, 2027 SEC G1 syllabuses for private candidates, updated 24 April 2026
- SEAB, Examination certificates for private candidates, updated 9 April 2026
- SEAB, Important dates for candidates
- MOE, Post-Secondary Admissions Exercise (PSE), updated 22 September 2026
- MOE, Register a private school, updated 20 January 2026
Written by Stella Sow, Chinese Language Tutor & Education Writer, The Singapore Syllabus. Diploma in Chinese Medicine · 7 years' tutoring experience in Chinese Language (Primary & Secondary). More about Stella
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