Updates for Private Candidates

The minimum age requirements and maximum number of registrable subjects for each examination level are indicated below:

Examination Level	Minimum Age Required as at 1st January of the examination year	Maximum Number of Subjects Allowed
GCE N(A)- and N(T)- Level	15	8
GCE O-Level	15	9
GCE A-Level	17	5 H1 subjects and 3 H2 subjects; or 3 H1 subjects and 4 H2 subjects

Please note the following guidelines:

• You cannot register as a private candidate if you are currently studying in Government/ Government-Aided/ Independent/ Specialised schools. If you wish to register for additional subjects, please approach your school.
  
  
• You may register for more than one examination level (e.g. GCE O-Level and A-Level).
  
  
• There are specific eligibility criteria for some subjects. This can be found in the Registration Information e-booklet which would be available during the registration period.
  
  
• You must read the following documents before you register for the examinations:

1. Registration Information e-booklet containing information on the subjects / papers and their examination fees
   
   
2. Examination Rules and Regulations for GCE N(A)-, N(T)-Level and O-Level candidates or Examination Rules and Regulations for GCE A-Level candidates
   
   
3. Candidates Portal guide on examination registration

Please note that the documents are for 2023 GCE-Level examinations. The documents for 2024 GCE-Level examinations would be available in early-2024.

For Singpass holders

If you are eligible for Singpass, you must register for the examination with your Singpass credentials in SEAB’s Candidates Portal.

You may refer to the Candidates Portal's guide for Singpass users for the steps to register for the examinations.

If you are registering for the 2024 GCE-Level examinations, please note that the  2024 guide will be released in early-2024. In the meantime, please refer to the 2023 guide for Singpass users.

Please visit the Singpass website for details on how to register or activate your Singpass account.

Registration for non-Singpass holders

If you are not eligible for Singpass, please create an account in Candidates Portal. You may refer to the Candidates Portal guide for non-Singpass users for the steps to create an account and register for the examinations.

If you are registering for the 2024 GCE-Level examinations, please note that the 2024 guide will be released in early-2024. In the meantime, please refer to the 2023 guide for non-Singpass users.

Fees payable

The registration and examination fees for each year’s subjects can be found in the respective year’s registration information for private candidates. All fees are subject to the prevailing GST.

The examination fees are dependent on the subjects you are registering for and your citizenship status at the point of registration. There will be no refund of your examination fees if you have changed your citizenship status after your registration.

Entry Proofs for Year-End Examinations

The dates of release of the GCE-Level entry proofs (EPs) are found in the important dates for private candidates.

Candidates may refer to the Candidates Portal's guide on examination registration for the steps to retrieve their EPs from the system.

Candidates are required to bring a hardcopy EP for their examinations.

Entry Proofs for GCE O- and A-Level Year-End Mother Tongue Language Examinations

Private candidates who have successfully registered for the 2023 GCE O- and A-Level Year-End Mother Tongue Language (MTL) examinations are able to download their EPs via Candidates Portal from 20 September 2023.

Candidates who have registered through their private educational institutions should approach their schools to obtain their EPs as they do not have Candidate Portal accounts. 

Science Practical Notifications

Details regarding your assigned examination centres and reporting times for your Science practical examinations will be found in the Science practical notifications.

These notifications are available for download from Candidates Portal, 7 days before each of your Science practical examinations.

You can contact SEAB if you have not received the notifications by the above-mentioned timeline.

All amendments of subjects must be made through Candidates Portal by 11 April 2023, 11:59pm for Mid-Year subjects, and by 30 June 2023, 11:59pm for Year-End subjects. We do not accept amendment requests via email or call.

No additional fees for amendments will be levied if:

• you have not paid your examination fees online; and
• the amendments are made before the end of the registration deadline.

If you would like to amend your registered subjects after payment has been made or after the registration deadline of 26 May 2023, 11:59pm, you will need to pay a one-time amendment fee of $20 per amendment request, in addition to the fee for each of your added subjects. The fees for the added subjects are subjected to the prevailing GST.

You will receive a 50% refund of the subject fees for any subjects that you have removed.

If you have any enquiries, you can write to us through this form.

All applications for withdrawals must be made through Candidates Portal by 12 September 2023, 11:59pm.  Withdrawal requests made after 12 September 2023, 11:59pm will not be considered and candidates will receive absent grade(s) for the subjects they did not sit for.

Withdrawal with refund of the subject fees

a) A 50% refund of the subject fee(s) paid (inclusive of GST) may be provided if:

 

• Your withdrawal request is submitted to SEAB by 30 June 2023, 11:59pm.  Please note that refunds are not provided for withdrawal requests made after 30 June 2023, 11:59pm. 

b) A 100% refund of the subject fee(s) paid (inclusive of GST) may be provided if:

• Your withdrawal request is submitted through  Candidates Portal with the supporting documents confirming your tertiary admission, by 30 June 2023, 11:59pm. 

The refund will not cover the fees of subjects that you had already sat components for. You will receive your refund approximately one month after your withdrawal request has been approved by SEAB.