Secondary School Cut Off Point: PSLE COP Guide for Singapore Parents

A secondary school cut off point (COP) is the PSLE score of the last student posted to a particular school in a previous Secondary 1 posting exercise. It gives parents a useful reference when looking at Singapore secondary schools, but it is not a fixed admission score for the next intake. Your child’s PSLE score and Achievement Levels determine which Posting Groups and schools may be available, while school choices and places also affect posting outcomes. The latest published secondary school COP should be treated as historical data, not a promise of admission. Before making the six school choices, check the school’s current information, programmes, affiliation details and Posting Group requirements through MOE SchoolFinder.

TL;DR: What Does the Secondary School Cut Off Point Mean?

A secondary school cut off point is the score of the last student posted to a school in a previous Secondary 1 posting exercise. It shows the historical PSLE score range for that intake, not a guaranteed entry score. COPs can change each year as PSLE results, school choices and available places change. Parents should also check Posting Group, affiliation, HCL requirements where relevant, school programmes and the latest MOE SchoolFinder information.

What Is a Secondary School Cut Off Point?

A secondary school COP refers to the PSLE score of the last student posted to a school during a particular Secondary 1 posting exercise. It is often shown together with the score of the first student posted, giving parents a historical PSLE score range for that school and intake.
The PSLE score belongs to the student. The COP belongs to the posting outcome for a particular school and year. So, if a school had a COP of 12 for a previous intake, a student scoring 12 in a later year is not automatically guaranteed a place there.
The score range can show how students who selected a school were posted in the previous exercise. A school may have a different range for different Posting Groups, and affiliated and non-affiliated applicants may also have different historical figures.
Parents should also look at the school choice order. Secondary 1 posting is not based on the COP alone. The number of places available, students’ choices and posting outcomes all affect where students are posted.

Term	Meaning
PSLE score	A student’s overall PSLE score based on Achievement Levels (AL).
Score range	The PSLE scores of students posted to a school in a particular posting exercise.
COP	The PSLE score of the last student posted to that school for the stated intake.
S1 posting	The Secondary 1 posting exercise through which students are allocated secondary school places.

Latest Secondary School Cut Off Points in Singapore

The latest published secondary school cut off points below refer to the 2026 Secondary 1 intake, based on the previous PSLE cohort. A COP represents the PSLE score of the last student posted to a particular school and Posting Group in that exercise. Since the figure comes from a completed posting exercise, it should be used as a historical reference rather than a guaranteed score for a future intake.
Here are selected examples to show how the figures can differ across Posting Groups and affiliated intake:

These figures are for the 2026 Secondary 1 intake. Anderson, Bukit Panjang Government High and Clementi Town figures are also reported consistently in current school-level COP data. Anglo-Chinese (Barker Road) has separate affiliated figures, showing why parents need to check the correct admission category. 

What These COP Figures Mean

A lower COP number means the last student posted had a lower PSLE score. It does not mean the school has an official higher or lower ranking. COP can move with each Secondary 1 posting exercise as the PSLE cohort, school choices and available places change.
When comparing Singapore secondary school cut off points, check the correct Posting Group, intake year and affiliation category. A PG3 figure should not be compared directly with a PG1 or PG2 figure as if they were the same admission route. For the complete school-by-school information, parents should verify the latest figures through MOE SchoolFinder.

How PSLE Scores Connect to Posting Groups

Under Full Subject-Based Banding (Full SBB), students entering Secondary 1 are posted through Posting Group 1 (PG1), Posting Group 2 (PG2) or Posting Group 3 (PG3). These Posting Groups are used for admission, while students can later take subjects at different subject levels according to their strengths and learning needs.
For the current PSLE scoring system, the overall PSLE Score is calculated from the four subject Achievement Levels. The standard PSLE Score runs from 4 to 32, with a lower score being better. For Secondary 1 posting, the main score bands include PG3 for 4–20, a choice between PG2 and PG3 at 21–22, PG2 for 23–24, a choice between PG1 and PG2 at 25, and PG1 for 26–30, subject to the applicable requirements.

The overlap at 21–22 and 25 matters when parents are checking Posting Group eligibility. PG1 also has additional English Language and Mathematics requirements, so parents should check the applicable MOE conditions rather than relying on the total PSLE score alone. 

Affiliated vs Non-Affiliated Secondary School COP

Parents may see two different COP figures for the same secondary school because an affiliated primary school can have an affiliated intake pathway. The historical COP for affiliated students can differ from the figure for students without affiliation priority.
For example, the 2026 figures for Anglo-Chinese (Barker Road) show a PG3 COP of 9 for the open intake and 21 for the affiliated intake, with corresponding differences in other Posting Groups.

So, when searching for an affiliated secondary school cut off point, always check whether the figure applies to an affiliated or non-affiliated applicant. The two numbers are not interchangeable. 

What Do D, M and P Mean in Secondary School COP?

Some secondary school COP tables include a letter after the PSLE score when Higher Chinese Language (HCL) is relevant:

• D = Distinction
• M = Merit
• P = Pass

For example, 8M does not simply mean that the COP was “8”. It indicates a PSLE score of 8 together with the stated HCL grade condition for the last student posted. Current 2026 COP tables include examples such as Catholic High School at 8M and CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School at 8M.

Parents comparing SAP schools or other schools with HCL-related admission considerations should read the score and the D/M/P indicator together.

Does Meeting the Secondary School Cut Off Point Guarantee Admission?

No. A COP is not a guaranteed admission score.

A secondary school COP records the PSLE score of the last student posted to a school in a previous Secondary 1 posting exercise. It is not a fixed minimum admission score for the next intake.
The actual posting outcome can be affected by the student’s school choices, the number of applicants, places available at the school and applicable tie-breaker considerations. Since these factors can differ from one year to another, the COP can also change.
For that reason, parents should use the latest published COP as a reference point, rather than treating it as a promise of admission. A PSLE score that meets or is better than a previous COP does not automatically secure a place in the next posting exercise.

How Parents Can Use COP to Make Secondary School Choices

A COP becomes more useful when it is considered alongside your child’s PSLE score and the features of each school. A simple five-step approach can make the shortlist easier to review.
1. Start with your child’s PSLE score
Identify the PSLE score and the relevant Posting Group for Secondary 1 posting.
2. Compare the historical COP
Check the school’s COP from the latest available posting exercise. Look at the relevant Posting Group rather than comparing figures from different groups.
3. Check affiliation
If your child is from an affiliated primary school, confirm that the COP and admission conditions apply to the affiliated intake.
4. Consider the whole school, not just COP
Look at school programmes, CCAs, subject offerings, school culture, location and travel time. A school that fits your child’s interests and daily routine may be more suitable than one selected only because of its COP.
5. Use all six school choices carefully
Build a balanced school shortlist instead of putting all six choices around one historical COP. Consider the school choice order and include options that match your child’s Posting Group and preferences.

Secondary School COP vs School Ranking

A secondary school cut off point is not an official school ranking.
A lower COP simply indicates that the last student posted in that particular exercise had a lower PSLE score. It does not establish that the school is “better”. A higher COP does not establish that a school is “worse”.
COP figures reflect historical Secondary 1 posting outcomes and can change with each intake. Parents can get a clearer picture by considering school fit, programmes, CCAs, subject offerings, location and their child’s learning needs alongside the historical COP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the secondary school cut off point?

A secondary school cut off point is the PSLE score of the last student posted to a school in a particular Secondary 1 posting exercise. It is historical information, not a guaranteed admission score.

How is a secondary school COP determined?

The COP reflects the PSLE score of the last student posted to the school for that particular intake and Posting Group. School choices, available places and posting outcomes can affect the final figure.

Can COP change every year?

Yes. A secondary school COP can change between posting exercises because the PSLE cohort, school choices, applicant numbers and available places can differ.

Does a PSLE score below the COP guarantee admission?

No. A historical COP is not a guaranteed admission threshold. Parents should check the latest school information and use COP only as a reference when making school choices.

What is the difference between PG1, PG2 and PG3?

PG1, PG2 and PG3 are the three Posting Groups used for Secondary 1 admission under Full Subject-Based Banding. They are linked to PSLE score ranges and determine the subjects students can initially take at the corresponding subject levels.

What does 8M or 7D mean in a secondary school COP?

The number is the PSLE score, while M means Merit and D means Distinction in Higher Chinese Language. P means Pass. So 8M includes both the PSLE score and the stated HCL grade.

Does affiliation affect secondary school COP?

It can. An affiliated school may publish separate historical figures or admission conditions for affiliated and non-affiliated applicants. Parents should check the correct category before comparing a COP.

Where can I check the latest secondary school COP?

Parents can check the latest school information through MOE SchoolFinder and refer to the relevant Secondary 1 posting information. Always check the intake year because historical COP figures can change.

Final Thoughts on Secondary School Cut Off Points

A secondary school cut off point (COP) gives parents a useful picture of the PSLE scores seen in a previous Secondary 1 posting exercise. It can help with a school shortlist, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed admission score.
Before making the six school choices, check your child’s PSLE score, Posting Group and affiliation status. For schools where it applies, review the relevant HCL requirements and D/M/P indicators too. School programmes, CCAs, subject offerings, location and travel time also matter when considering school fit.
COP data can change from year to year, so check the latest MOE SchoolFinder information before finalising the six Secondary 1 school choices.