When PSLE results are out, you have 7 calendar days to list up to 6 secondary schools on the S1 Portal, and your child's PSLE Score decides their Posting Group, while each subject's AL decides which subject levels they can take in Secondary 1.
This guide walks you through each step from results day to the Secondary 1 posting results, using only what MOE and SEAB have published. If you want a refresher on how the exam itself works, read our PSLE format, scoring and timeline guide first.
When are PSLE 2026 results released?
MOE says the 2026 PSLE results will be released tentatively between Tuesday 24 November and Wednesday 25 November 2026. The S1 posting timeline gives the release time as 11am. MOE will confirm the exact day closer to the date.
How does my child get their results?
Students get their results at their own primary school. SEAB says candidates receive their result slip together with their examination certificate from their school. Last year, MOE also said that arrangements were made for students to receive their results in their respective primary schools. Your child's school will share its own collection details.
If your child took part in Direct School Admission (DSA-Sec), they will receive their school allocation results together with their PSLE results.
How is the PSLE Score worked out?
Each of the four subjects gets an Achievement Level (AL) from 1 to 8. The PSLE Score is the sum of the four ALs and ranges from 4 to 32, where 4 is the best.
| AL | Mark range (Standard subject) |
|---|---|
| AL1 | 90 and above |
| AL2 | 85 to 89 |
| AL3 | 80 to 84 |
| AL4 | 75 to 79 |
| AL5 | 65 to 74 |
| AL6 | 45 to 64 |
| AL7 | 20 to 44 |
| AL8 | Below 20 |
For Foundation subjects, MOE maps the grades to ALs: grade A counts as AL6, grade B as AL7 and grade C as AL8. You can check your child's total with our PSLE score calculator.
What PSLE Score is Posting Group 3?
Posting Groups are set by the PSLE Score. This is MOE's table from its Posting Groups page:
| PSLE Score | Posting Group | Level for most subjects at start of S1 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 to 20 | 3 | G3 |
| 21 to 22 | 2 or 3 | G2 or G3 |
| 23 to 24 | 2 | G2 |
| 25 | 1 or 2 | G1 or G2 |
| 26 to 30 (with AL7 or better in English and Maths) | 1 | G1 |
So a PSLE Score of 20 or better places your child in Posting Group 3. MOE explains that Posting Group 3 students take all subjects at G3, the most demanding level, while Posting Group 2 and Posting Group 1 students take most subjects at G2 and G1. For more on what G1, G2 and G3 mean, see our Full Subject-Based Banding guide.
Can my child take a subject at G3 with AL5?
Yes, if the AL5 is in a Standard subject. Students in Posting Group 2 and Posting Group 1 can take English, Maths, Science and Mother Tongue at more demanding levels if they did well in those subjects. MOE's rule is:
- AL5 or better in a Standard subject: the subject can be taken at G3 or G2.
- AL6 in a Standard subject, or grade A in a Foundation subject: the subject can be taken at G2.
This is a good thing to look at on results day. A child with an overall score in Posting Group 1 or 2 may still be able to take Maths or Science at a higher level.
How many school choices can I make?
You can list up to 6 secondary school choices in order of preference. The order matters, because posting looks at your child's PSLE results, then the choice order of schools, then vacancies.
How and when do I submit school choices?
- Log in to the S1 Portal with your Singpass.
- The window is 7 calendar days from 11.30am on the day PSLE results are released.
- The portal is open 24 hours a day, except on the last day, when it closes at 4.30pm.
- MOE asks parents to complete the submission, including any amendments, before the deadline. So you can still edit your list while the window is open.
For reference, last year's window ran from 11.30am on 25 November 2025 to 4.30pm on 1 December 2025.
If you do not submit any choices, your child will be posted to a school with remaining vacancies, based on their official registered address, after everyone who submitted choices has been posted. Do not skip this step.
How do PSLE score ranges and cut-off points work?
SchoolFinder shows a PSLE score range for each school. MOE says these are the scores of the first and last student posted to each school in the previous year. They are a guide, not a promise.
Cut-off points move each year with the cohort's results and choices. MOE says fluctuations of plus or minus 1 are typical, but plus or minus 2 or 3 could be possible. Also, meeting the cut-off point does not guarantee admission, as tie-breakers may apply.
One simple approach: include a mix of schools where your child's score is comfortably inside last year's range, as well as one or two that are a stretch.
What happens if two students have the same score?
When students with the same PSLE Score compete for the last places in a school, MOE applies tie-breakers in this order:
- Citizenship: Singapore Citizen, then Permanent Resident, then International Student.
- Choice order: a student who listed the school higher gets priority.
- Computerised balloting, used only if everything above is the same.
This is why the order of your 6 choices matters. Put the school your child wants most at the top.
SAP schools add one step before these tie-breakers: among students with the same PSLE Score, those with better Higher Chinese grades get priority. Our guide to SAP schools explains who qualifies.
When are S1 posting results released?
MOE says S1 posting results will be released tentatively on Friday 18 December 2026. You can see them through three channels:
- The S1 Portal with your Singpass, from 9am.
- SMS.
- Your child's primary school.
Last year, results came out on 19 December 2025 at 9am. MOE also noted that students do not need to report to their posted secondary school upon receiving their results. Check the school's website for reporting details instead.
Can I appeal the S1 posting result?
MOE's appeal page splits appeals into two kinds:
- Serious medical conditions. Appeals are only considered on an exceptional basis for serious medical conditions or severe physical impairments, with supporting documents. School staff help you file it, and the outcome is released by early January.
- Other reasons. You submit the appeal directly to your preferred school. Your child's PSLE Score must meet that school's cut-off point, which MOE will publish in SchoolFinder in December 2026. The school must also have vacancies, and the outcome may only be known from mid-January.
In both cases, your child should keep attending their posted school while waiting.
Get help
The jump to Secondary 1 brings new subjects and a faster pace, whatever your child's posting result. If your child is still in primary school, The Singapore Syllabus can arrange primary school tuition. For the move up, we also offer Sec 1 maths tuition and Secondary 1 Science tuition to help your child settle in at G1, G2 or G3.
