SEC exam calendar

SEC Exam Timetable: Orals, Papers and Results

Reviewed by Theon Teo, Founder · Last checked against SEAB and MOE on 12 November 2026 · How we check facts

Quick answer

The SEC replaces the O-Level and N-Level from 2027. Each year the orals, listening comprehension and practicals come first, English and all Mother Tongue written papers are in September, the other written papers run in one period from October to November, and results come out in January of the next year. SEAB had not published the paper-by-paper 2027 timetable when we checked on 12 November 2026. The 2026 O-Level, the last one, held its main written papers from 19 October to 10 November 2026.

Each year: orals, listening and practicals first, English and Mother Tongue written papers in September, other written papers from October to November.
2027 timetable: not published by SEAB yet (checked 12 November 2026). SEC 2027 results are due in January 2028.
Grades: G1 A to E, G2 1 to 6, G3 A1 to 9. G3 keeps the O-Level standard.
2026 O-Level results: 13 to 15 January 2027. 2026 N-Level results: 17 to 21 December 2026. Both tentative.

How the SEC exam year runs

From 2027, Secondary 4 students sit the Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate (SEC) instead of the O-Level and N-Level, with each subject at G1, G2 or G3. SEAB has set the same pattern for every SEC year. SEAB then publishes each year's paper-by-paper timetable on its important dates page.

The SEC exam calendar, every year (SEAB and MOE)
Part of the exam	When in the year
Orals, listening comprehension and practicals	Before the written papers
English Language written papers	September
Mother Tongue written papers, G1, G2, G3 and Higher Mother Tongue	September, in one sitting with English. There is no mid-year sitting.
All other written papers	One common period from October to November
Results	One release for all subjects and levels, in January of the next year

Sources: SEAB, Secondary Education Certificate (SEC), exam calendar (read 12 November 2026), MOE, Infosheet 2: SEC examination timetable (4 March 2024).

How the SEC timetable differs from the O-Level

The biggest change is that English and Mother Tongue move to September. Under the O-Level, Mother Tongue written papers had two sittings, one in June and one with the other written papers, and English was taken with the other subjects in October. In the SEC, both languages are written in one September sitting, and former N-Level students get their results in January with everyone else.

O-Level timetable and SEC timetable compared (SEAB)
Item	O-Level, last held in 2026	SEC, from 2027
Orals, listening and practicals	Before the written papers	Before the written papers
English Language written papers	With the other written papers	September, with Mother Tongue
Mother Tongue written papers	Two sittings: mid-year, and with the other written papers	One sitting in September
Other written papers	Mid-October to mid-November	One common period starting in October
Results	Mid-January of the next year (N-Level in December)	January of the next year, for all levels

Sources: SEAB, Secondary Education Certificate (SEC), exam calendar (read 12 November 2026), MOE, Infosheet 2: SEC examination timetable (4 March 2024).

2027 dates · SEAB and MOE, checked 12 November 2026

SEC 2027 dates

SEAB had not published the 2027 SEC timetable on 12 November 2026, so no paper-by-paper date exists yet. The rows below are what SEAB and MOE have already fixed for 2027.

The 29 October term end applies only to secondary schools that host the written papers. MOE's calendar ends Term 4 for those schools on Friday 29 October 2027. Every other secondary school ends Term 4 on Friday 19 November 2027, as the term plan further down shows.

SEC 2027: what is fixed so far
Item	2027	Status
Orals, listening comprehension and practicals	Before the written papers	Expected. No dates yet.
English and Mother Tongue written papers	September 2027	Expected. No dates yet.
All other written papers	October to November 2027	Expected. No dates yet.
Last day of Term 4 at schools used as SEC written exam venues	Friday 29 October 2027	Published by MOE
Last day of Term 4 at other secondary schools	Friday 19 November 2027	Published by MOE
SEC 2027 results	January 2028	Expected. MOE plans mid-January 2028.

Sources: SEAB, Secondary Education Certificate (SEC), exam calendar (read 12 November 2026), SEAB, Important dates for candidates (2026 exams), MOE, School terms and holidays for 2027, secondary schools (14 July 2026), MOE, Post-Secondary Admissions Exercise from 2028.

2026 dates · SEAB O-Level timetable, updated 13 February 2026

2026 O-Level timetable with times: the last O-Level

The 2026 O-Level was the last one for school candidates. Its times are the closest guide to how the SEC papers that stay in October and November are laid out. These were the main subjects. Candidates had to be seated 30 minutes before each listening paper.

2026 GCE O-Level timetable, main papers, with times (SEAB). The SEC 2027 dates will differ.
Date in 2026	Time	Paper
Tue 2 Jun	8.00am to 10.00am, 11.00am to 12.30pm	Chinese, Malay and Tamil Papers 1 and 2, mid-year sitting
Tue 7 Jul	2.00pm to 2.30pm	Chinese, Malay B and Tamil B listening comprehension
Mon 13 Jul to Fri 17 Jul	Sessions from 8.15am or 2.15pm, candidates in turn	English Language oral (20 min) and Mother Tongue orals (15 min)
Wed 30 Sep	Four shifts, 8.00am to 4.50pm	Chemistry practical (1 h 50 min)
Mon 5 Oct	Four shifts, 8.00am to 4.50pm	Physics practical (1 h 50 min)
Thu 8 Oct	Four shifts, 8.00am to 3.30pm	Combined Science practical (1 h 30 min)
Tue 13 Oct	Four shifts, 8.00am to 4.50pm	Biology practical (1 h 50 min)
Thu 15 Oct	2.00pm to 2.45pm	English Language listening comprehension
Mon 19 Oct	1.30pm to 3.20pm, 4.05pm to 5.55pm	English Language Paper 1 and Paper 2
Wed 21 Oct	2.00pm to 4.15pm	Mathematics Paper 1
Thu 22 Oct	2.00pm to 3.45pm (Geography), 2.00pm to 3.50pm (History)	Geography and History Paper 1
Fri 23 Oct	2.30pm to 4.45pm	Mathematics Paper 2
Mon 26 Oct	8.00am to 9.45am	Humanities (Social Studies) Paper 1
Mon 26 Oct	2.00pm to 4.15pm	Additional Mathematics Paper 1
Tue 27 Oct	8.00am to 9.45am (Geography), 8.00am to 9.50am (History)	Geography and History Paper 2
Tue 27 Oct	2.00pm to 3.45pm	Chemistry Paper 2
Wed 28 Oct	8.00am to 10.15am	Additional Mathematics Paper 2
Thu 29 Oct	2.00pm to 3.45pm	Physics Paper 2
Fri 30 Oct	8.00am to 9.45am	Biology Paper 2
Tue 3 Nov	8.00am to 10.00am, 11.00am to 12.30pm	Chinese, Malay and Tamil Papers 1 and 2 (Higher papers end at 12.45pm)
Fri 6 Nov	8.00am to 9.00am (Chemistry), 2.30pm to 3.30pm (Physics)	Chemistry and Physics Paper 1
Tue 10 Nov	8.00am to 9.00am (Combined Science), 2.00pm to 3.00pm (Biology)	Combined Science and Biology Paper 1, the last papers

Sources: SEAB, 2026 GCE O-Level examination timetable (PDF), SEAB, Important dates for candidates (2026 exams).

When are the orals, listening comprehension and practicals?

They come first in the SEC year, before any written paper. Orals are taken in turn, so each candidate is given a session. Science practicals run in shifts on one day per subject.

Because English and Mother Tongue written papers are in September in the SEC, the language orals and listening papers come before September. SEAB confirms the exact days when it publishes each year's timetable.

How long each paper is (SEAB G3 syllabuses for 2027, and the 2026 timetable for orals and listening)
Paper	Length
English Language oral	20 min
Mother Tongue oral	15 min
English Language listening comprehension	45 min
Mother Tongue listening comprehension	30 min
Mathematics (G3) Paper 1 and Paper 2	2 h 15 min each
Additional Mathematics (G3) Paper 1 and Paper 2	2 h 15 min each
Physics, Chemistry or Biology (G3) Paper 1	1 h
Physics, Chemistry or Biology (G3) Paper 2	1 h 45 min
Physics, Chemistry or Biology (G3) practical	1 h 50 min
Science (G3) shared Paper 1	1 h
Science (G3) Physics, Chemistry or Biology paper	1 h 15 min each
Science (G3) practical	1 h 30 min

Free O-Level and SEC revision notes, with each subject's paper format

Sources: SEAB, 2026 GCE O-Level examination timetable (PDF), SEAB, SEC G3 syllabuses for school candidates (2027).

How SEC grades and the certificate work

Each SEC subject is taken at G1, G2 or G3, and each level has its own grade scale. G3 keeps the O-Level standard. Every candidate gets a single certificate that shows all the subjects taken, at every level.

Admission to junior colleges, polytechnics and ITE has its own rules on which grades count. The L1R5 and L1R4 calculator works out an aggregate.

SEC grade scales and the grade a subject needs to appear on the certificate (SEAB)
Level	Grades, best to lowest	Certificate awarded for
G3	A1, A2, B3, B4, C5, C6, D7, E8, 9	E8 or better
G2	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6	Grade 5 or better
G1	A, B, C, D, E	Grade D or better

Source: SEAB, Secondary Education Certificate (SEC), exam calendar (read 12 November 2026).

How private candidates register for the SEC

Private candidates register through SEAB's Candidates Portal if they meet SEAB's eligibility criteria, such as age. They choose subjects and levels from the syllabuses offered in that exam year. SEAB says the registration procedures for private candidates will be on its website in 2027.

Source: SEAB, Secondary Education Certificate (SEC), exam calendar (read 12 November 2026).

2026 dates · SEAB N-Level timetable, updated 13 February 2026

N-Level exam dates: the last N-Level in 2026

The N-Level was last held in 2026. Students who go on to Secondary 5 in 2027 sit the SEC that year, not an N-Level. In 2026 the N-Level written papers ran from 14 September to 13 October, earlier than the O-Level.

2026 GCE N-Level timetable, main papers (SEAB, updated 13 February 2026)
Date in 2026	Papers
Mon 13 Jul to Fri 17 Jul	English Language orals
Mon 14 Sep	English Language Syllabus A and Syllabus T, Papers 1 and 2
Tue 15 Sep and Wed 16 Sep	Listening comprehension, English and Mother Tongue
Thu 17 Sep	Chinese Papers 1 and 2, Science Syllabus T Paper 1
Mon 5 Oct and Wed 7 Oct	Mathematics Syllabus A Papers 1 and 2
Tue 6 Oct and Fri 9 Oct	Mathematics Syllabus T and Additional Mathematics, Papers 1 and 2
Tue 6 Oct, Thu 8 Oct, Mon 12 Oct	Combined Science papers
Tue 13 Oct	Last written papers
Thu 17 Dec to Mon 21 Dec	Results release (tentative)

Sources: SEAB, 2026 GCE N-Level examination timetable (PDF), MOE, National examinations dates, MOE, Full Subject-Based Banding FAQ.

Results dates · MOE and SEAB, checked 12 November 2026

When are the O-Level, N-Level and SEC results?

SEC results come out once a year, in the January after the exam, for every subject and level. SEAB confirms the day only when all processes are complete and announces it through the media.

The 2026 N-Level results are due from 17 to 21 December 2026 and the 2026 O-Level results from 13 to 15 January 2027. MOE lists both as tentative. The first SEC results are due in January 2028, with the new Post-Secondary Admissions Exercise: results in mid-January 2028, applications within 6 calendar days of results day and posting results by early February 2028.

L1R5 and L1R4 calculator

Sources: MOE, National examinations dates, SEAB, Important dates for candidates (2026 exams), MOE, Post-Secondary Admissions Exercise from 2028.

SEC G3 syllabus codes

SEAB gives every SEC G3 syllabus a new code and lists the O-Level code it replaces.

SEC G3 codes for 2027 and the O-Level codes they replace (SEAB)
Subject	SEC G3 code, 2027	O-Level code, 2026
English Language	K300	1184
Mathematics	K310	4052
Additional Mathematics	K341	4049
Physics	K323	6091
Chemistry	K324	6092
Biology	K325	6093
Science (Physics, Chemistry)	K326	5086
Science (Physics, Biology)	K327	5087
Science (Chemistry, Biology)	K328	5088

Source: SEAB, SEC G3 syllabuses for school candidates (2027).

2027 school calendar · MOE, 14 July 2026

A Sec 4 plan for 2027, term by term

The term dates are MOE's 2027 calendar for secondary schools. The exam months are SEAB's SEC calendar. Language orals and the September language papers come earlier than they did for the O-Level, so start language practice in Term 1.

A suggested Sec 4 plan against the 2027 secondary school calendar
Period	Dates in 2027	What to focus on
Term 1	4 Jan to 12 Mar	List weak topics from the Sec 3 year-end papers. Start weekly oral practice for English and Mother Tongue.
March holidays	13 to 21 Mar	One timed paper in each of the two weakest subjects.
Term 2	22 Mar to 28 May	Weak topics first. Practise listening comprehension. Keep a mistake log.
June holidays	29 May to 27 Jun	Full timed English and Mother Tongue papers. Science practical skills.
Term 3	28 Jun to 3 Sep	Orals, listening and practicals fall before the written papers. Final English and Mother Tongue revision.
September holidays	4 to 12 Sep	English and Mother Tongue written papers are in September. Light revision of the other subjects.
Term 4	13 Sep to 19 Nov (to 29 Oct at exam venue schools)	Other written papers from October to November. One full paper a day in the weeks before.

Sources: MOE, School terms and holidays for 2027, secondary schools (14 July 2026), SEAB, Secondary Education Certificate (SEC), exam calendar (read 12 November 2026).

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Common questions

When is the SEC exam in 2027?

SEAB had not published the 2027 SEC timetable when we checked on 12 November 2026. SEAB has said English and Mother Tongue written papers are in September, the other written papers from October to November, and the orals, listening and practicals before the written papers.

Is there an O-Level in 2027?

Not for school candidates. The 2026 O-Level was the last. From 2027, Secondary 4 students sit the SEC, where G3 subjects keep the O-Level standard.

Why do some schools end Term 4 on 29 October 2027?

MOE's 2027 calendar ends Term 4 on Friday 29 October 2027 for secondary schools used as venues for the SEC written papers. Other secondary schools end Term 4 on Friday 19 November 2027.

How are SEC subjects graded?

G3 subjects are graded A1 to 9, G2 subjects 1 to 6 and G1 subjects A to E. A subject earns the certificate at E8 or better for G3, 5 or better for G2 and D or better for G1.

When were the 2026 O-Level orals?

The English Language and Mother Tongue orals were from Monday 13 July to Friday 17 July 2026. The English oral was 20 minutes and each Mother Tongue oral 15 minutes.

When is the O-Level English listening comprehension?

In 2026 it was on Thursday 15 October, from 2.00pm to 2.45pm. In the SEC, listening papers come before the written papers and English written papers are in September, so the listening paper comes earlier. SEAB has not set the 2027 date.

When are the O-Level science practical exams?

In 2026 Chemistry was on 30 September, Physics on 5 October, Combined Science on 8 October and Biology on 13 October, each in four shifts. SEAB has not set the 2027 SEC practical dates.

When are the N-Level exams in 2027?

There is no N-Level in 2027. The last N-Level was in 2026, with written papers from 14 September to 13 October. Sec 5 students in 2027 sit the SEC.

How do private candidates register for the SEC?

Through SEAB's Candidates Portal, if they meet eligibility criteria such as age. SEAB says the registration procedures for private candidates will be on its website in 2027.

When are the SEC 2027 results released?

In January 2028. SEAB releases SEC results in January of the year after the exam, and MOE's admissions plan names mid-January 2028. The 2026 O-Level results are due from 13 to 15 January 2027, tentatively.