Indicative Secondary School Cut off Points for PSLE in 2021

From 2021, the T Scores for PSLE will be replaced by ALs.

AL stands for Achievement Levels.  For the P6 cohort in 2021, they will use AL as cut off point ranges for different school types. MOE has just released the indicative ranges here.

Indicative AL Cut Off Points

Government & Government-aided Schools

Course	Indicative AL COP Range for 2019 PSLE
Express (IP)	7-9
Express (O Level)	8-22
Normal (Academic )	22-25
Normal (Technical	26-30

 

Autonomous Schools    

Course	Indicative AL COP Range for 2019 PSLE
Express (IP)	7-9
Express (O Level)	8-16
Normal (Academic )	22-25
Normal (Technical	26-29

 

Independent Schools*                 

Course	Indicative AL COP Range for 2019 PSLE
Express (IP)	6-8
Express (O Level)	8-10

 

The indicative AL COP ranges were generated based on 2019 Secondary 1 Posting Exercise.

MOE will release the indicative AL COP for each secondary school in the first half of 2021. This will be based on simulations using student's PSLE results and school choice pattern from 2020 PSLE cohort.

Base on the new system, there may be more tie-breaking, especially if these students choose the same few schools.

Tie-breaking based on citizenship, new will be choice of schools and if there is still a tie, then a computerised ballot.

Subject-based banding (Secondary) Eligibility Criteria

Under the new PSLE AL scoring, eligible Secondary 1 students in the NA and NT course will have the option to take English Language, Mathematics, science and/or Mother Tongue Language at a more demanding level. 

PSLE Subject Grade

AL5 or better in a Standard Level - Option to take the subject at Express level

AL 6 or better in a Standard Level subject or AL A in a Foundation level subject- N(A) Level

More information is available from MOE

AL Scoring

AL Scoring as follows

AL	Scores
1	≥ 90
2	85 to 89
3	80 to 84
4	75 to 79
5	65 to 74
6	45 to 64
7	20 to 44
8	<20

Foundation level subjects, which cater to upper primary school students who are unable to cope with regular or standard level subjects at PSLE, will also be scored on AL. The foundation level will have a slightly different grading that will be translated to the standard AL grading for aggregating PSLE score.

Foundation score	AL (Foundation)	AL (Standard)
75-100	AL A	6
30 -74	AL B	7
Below 30	AL C	8

For more information of AL Scoring, do refer to Everything you need to know about new primary school grading in 2021.