Social Studies Tuition Singapore
The Social Studies paper of Combined Humanities, for the 2026 O-Level and the 2027 SEC
1-to-1 Social Studies tuition in Singapore for Sec 3 and Sec 4: the source-based case study, structured-response questions and the three Issues, for O-Level and SEC.
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Social Studies Tuition rates in Singapore
Hourly rates by level. Each bar runs from a part-time tutor to an ex-MOE teacher.
Rates by type of tutor, as a table
| Level | Part-time / undergrad | Full-time | Ex-MOE teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Primary (P1-P4) | S$25-35/hr | S$35-45/hr | S$50-70/hr |
| Upper Primary / PSLE (P5-P6) | S$30-40/hr | S$40-55/hr | S$60-80/hr |
| Lower Secondary (Sec 1-2) | S$30-45/hr | S$45-60/hr | S$60-85/hr |
| Upper Secondary / O-Level (Sec 3-4) | S$35-45/hr | S$45-65/hr | S$65-95/hr |
| Junior College / A-Level (JC1-JC2) | S$45-60/hr | S$65-90/hr | S$90-130/hr |
| IB Diploma (DP1-DP2) / IGCSE | S$45-60/hr | S$65-90/hr | S$90-130/hr |
The final rate is set when you choose a tutor. See all tuition rates for 2027.
Where Social Studies marks are lost
Social Studies tests skills applied to an unfamiliar case study as much as content. These are the patterns tutors see most in upper secondary.
Inference questions get a copied line from the source instead of a message drawn from it and backed by evidence.
Reliability and usefulness answers stop at the source's author or date, without checking what the source says against other sources.
The last case study question, which uses all the sources, is answered with too few sources or without a reasoned conclusion.
Structured-response answers explain one factor in depth and treat the second briefly, or skip the judgement the question asks for.
1 more
Answers recite content from class notes when the case study is set on an issue the syllabus content does not cover.
Each of these improves with practice on fresh case studies and feedback against the levels of response.
The three Social Studies Issues, as a tutor teaches them
The SEAB syllabus organises the content around three Issues, each with an inquiry question. The case study and the structured-response questions are set on different Issues each year, so all three are revised.
Exploring Citizenship and Governance
Inquiry focus: working for the good of society, whose responsibility is it?
Topics covered
- What citizenship means: legal status, identity, shared values and civic participation
- Functions and roles of government in a representative democracy
- Differing needs, priorities and unequal sharing of costs
- Trade-offs and the principles shaping governance
- Citizens and government working together
Living in a Diverse Society
Inquiry focus: living in a diverse society, is harmony achievable?
Topics covered
- Race and ethnicity, religion, socio-economic status and nationality
- Cultural exchange and the exchange of knowledge and skills
- Stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination
- Assimilationist and integration policies and their tensions
- Government-financed and shared responsibility approaches
Being Part of a Globalised World
Inquiry focus: being part of a globalised world, how can we respond to globalisation?
Topics covered
- Technology and multinational corporations as driving forces
- Economic growth, vulnerability and jobs
- The spread and dilution of culture
- Transnational terrorism and cyber threats
- Responses by individuals, governments and cooperation among countries
Source-handling skills
The skills the case study tests on any Issue, including ones the content does not cover.
Topics covered
- Comprehending and extracting relevant information
- Drawing inferences from given information
- Comparing and contrasting different views
- Distinguishing fact, opinion and judgement
- Recognising values and detecting bias
Social Studies Tuition: a guide for parents
Upper secondary Social Studies has no exam code of its own. It is Paper 1 of every Combined Humanities subject, paired with an elective in Geography, History or a Literature. In 2026 the subjects are O-Level 2260 to 2265, and from 2027 SEC G3 K335 to K340 or G2 K229 to K231, as SEAB says the 2027 graduating cohort is the first to sit the SEC. Social Studies is half of the Humanities grade, so a weak Social Studies paper pulls down a strong elective.
Read the full guide
The paper is 1 hour 45 minutes and 50 marks: a 35-mark source-based case study and two structured-response questions worth 15. The content is three Issues: Exploring Citizenship and Governance, Living in a Diverse Society, and Being Part of a Globalised World. A Social Studies tutor teaches the content Issue by Issue, then the skills the paper rewards: drawing inferences from a source, comparing views, checking reliability and detecting bias, and building explanations and judgements on an issue. Both sections are marked with a Levels of Response Marking Scheme, so the tutor shows your child what a higher-level answer does. Lessons are 1-to-1 at home or online.
Take a reliability question of the kind the case study sets: 'How reliable is Source C about the effects of globalisation on workers?' Many students write that the source is unreliable because its author is biased, and stop. That judges the source by its provenance alone. A tutor teaches a different shape. First, state what Source C claims. Next, check that claim against the other sources or against facts, and say where it is supported or contradicted. Then consider the author's purpose and whether it explains the claim. Finally, give a judgement that follows from the checking. The syllabus lists analysing and evaluating evidence, recognising values and detecting bias as skills, so this shape is what the marker looks for.
Official syllabus: MOE Singapore · SEAB Singapore
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Social Studies Tuition: frequently asked questions
Is Social Studies a separate subject at O-Level or SEC?
No. Social Studies is Paper 1 of every Combined Humanities subject, and the elective is Paper 2. Each paper carries 50% of the Humanities grade. SEAB lists the 2027 G3 combinations as K335 to K340 and the G2 ones as K229 to K231, and the 2026 O-Level ones as 2260 to 2265.
Does the SEC change Social Studies?
At G3 the paper is the same: the 2026 O-Level 2261 and the 2027 SEC K335, K336 and K337 print the same 1 hour 45 minute paper, the same three Issues and the same question pattern. At G2 the first structured-response question asks for a single strategy or cause, and SEAB marks G2 Social Studies as e-Examination, with answers typed in a digital answer booklet.
How is the source-based case study set?
It has five questions on one Issue. Questions 1 to 4 test specific sources for 25 marks in all. Question 5, worth 10 marks, needs several sources, and at G3 it asks candidates to consider the issue from a different perspective. The case study can be set on an issue that is related to the syllabus but not covered in its content, so source skills matter more than memorised notes.
What are the structured-response questions?
Two compulsory questions, set on a different Issue from the case study. At G3, Question 6 is 7 marks and asks for a reasoned argument or recommendation in the context of Singapore. Question 7 is 8 marks and asks for an explanation of two factors or perspectives with a judgement on their relative importance or a balanced conclusion.
How much does Social Studies tuition cost?
Social Studies in Sec 3 and Sec 4 is in our Upper Secondary band. Typical hourly rates are S$35 to S$45 for an undergraduate tutor, S$45 to S$65 for a full-time tutor and S$65 to S$95 for an ex-MOE teacher. Many families book one 1.5-hour lesson a week, at home or online.
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The Social Studies paper for 2026 and 2027
This is the format printed in the SEAB Combined Humanities syllabuses. It is the same in every combination, whatever the elective.
In the G3 assessment grid, the case study tests knowledge with source interpretation for 35% of the Humanities grade, and the structured-response questions test knowledge with constructing explanations for 15%.
SEAB, 2261 Humanities (Social Studies, History) for 2026. Open the 2261 PDF.
SEAB, K335 G3 Humanities (Social Studies, Geography) for 2027. Open the K335 PDF.
SEAB, K337 G3 Humanities (Social Studies, Literature in English) for 2027. Open the K337 PDF.
SEAB, K229 G2 Humanities (Social Studies, Geography) for 2027. Open the K229 PDF.
SEAB, the full 2027 G3 subject list. See the G3 list.
SEAB, the full 2027 G2 subject list. See the G2 list.