Secondary Education Certificate (SEC)
Find out more information below.
Last updated 14 May 2026
In 2027, the Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate Education (GCE) for the N(T), N(A) and Ordinary Levels will be combined and renamed as the Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate (SEC) in line with the implementation of Full Subject-Based Banding (FSBB). More information about the FSBB can found on MOE's website.
Under the SEC examination, students will sit the subjects at the respective subject level (i.e. G1, G2, G3). The SEC will continue to be jointly examined and awarded by the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB), Ministry of Education (MOE), Singapore, and Cambridge International Education, United Kingdom. Students will receive an SEC that reflects the subjects and subject levels that they sat for.
There is no change in the overall standards of examinations under the SEC, and the qualification continues to be recognised locally and internationally.
Registration for SEC Examination
School candidates register via their schools.
Private candidates register via SEAB’s Candidates Portal if they meet the eligibility criteria such as age. Private candidates may choose the subjects and levels (i.e. G1, G2 or G3) they wish to register for based on the syllabuses that are available to them in the year of examination.
More information about the registration procedures for private candidates will be available on SEAB’s website in 2027.
Examination Timetable
Timetable
The written examinations for English Language and Mother Tongue Languages (MTL) will be held in September each year.
The written examinations for the rest of the subjects will be held from October to November, similar to the GCE O-Level examination timetable.
There will only be one written examination sitting each year for all MTL subject levels (i.e. G1, G2, G3 MTL and G3 Higher MTL).
Non-written examinations such as Science practical, oral, and listening comprehension will be scheduled before the written examinations, as per current practice.
Please refer to the table below for a comparison between the current GCE N(T)/N(A)- and O-Level examination timetables, and the SEC examination timetable:
Table showing comparison between examination timetables of current GCE N(T)/N(A) and O-Level examinations versus the SEC examination
Current (2026 and before) | From 2027 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
GCE N(T)/N(A)-Level Examinations | GCE O-Level Examinations | SEC Examinations | |
Non-written examination components, e.g. oral, listening comprehension, practical | These examinations will continue to be held before the written examinations. | ||
Other written examinations | Held in mid-September to mid-October | Held in mid-October to mid-November | One common period, starting in October |
English Language written examinations | Held together with other written examinations for N- or O-Level subjects respectively. | Held in September alongside MTL written examinations. | |
MTL written examinations | Held in one sitting for N(A) and N(T) MTL | Held in two sittings: one during mid-year, one during written examinations period. | G1/G2/G3 MTL and G3 Higher MTL examination held in one sitting in September alongside English Language written examinations. |
Results Release | Held in mid-December | Held in mid-January of the following year | One common results release, held in January of the following year. |
Assessment Format and Examination Standards
The mode of assessment and overall examination standards for the SEC will be the same as the GCE N(A), N(T) and O-Level examinations.
Grading System
At the subject level, the G1, G2 and G3 subjects adopt the same grading structure as the N(T)-, N(A)- and O-Level examinations respectively.
G1 - Grades A, B, C, D and E
G2 - Grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
G3 – Grades A1, A2, B3, B4, C5, C6, D7, E8, 9
Grade mapping is only used when there is a need to compute aggregate scores using grades of subjects taken at more demanding levels for purposes of post-secondary progression, e.g. ELMAB3 for admission to Year 2 of Higher Nitec (HN) and Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP), ELR2B2 for polytechnic admissions.
Table showing grade mapping from G3 subject to G2 subject
Grade for G3 subject | Mapped to G2 |
|---|---|
A1 - B3 | 1 |
B4 - C6 | 2 |
D7 | 3 |
E8 | 4 |
9 | 5 |
6 |
Table showing grade mapping from G2 subject to G1 subject
Grade for G2 subject | Mapped to G1 |
|---|---|
1 - 3 | A |
4 | B |
5 | C |
6 | D |
E |
The following provides an example of how grades are being mapped for the purpose of computing the ELMAB3 score.
Table showing an example of how grades are being mapped for the purpose of computing the ELMAB3 score.
Subjects / Grade scored by candidate | Subjects mapped to relevant level (G2) |
|---|---|
G3 English Language / B4 | 2 |
G3 Mathematics / A1 | 1 |
G3 Science / B3 | 1 |
G2 Combined Humanities / 2 | 2 |
G2 Chinese / 5 | 5 |
G1 Computing / A | Not mapped (subject is not used for computing ELMAB3) |
In situations where the grade of a G3 subject needs to be mapped to that of a G1 subject for progression purposes, the grade of the G3 subject will be first mapped to that of a G2 subject. Thereafter, the mapped grade for the G2 subject will be further mapped to the grade of a G1 subject.
Results Release and Examination Certificate
The SEC examination results will be released in January of the following year, similar to the current timeline for the release of the GCE O-Level examination results.
Candidates will receive a single examination certificate that reflects all the subjects taken at the different levels (G1, G2 and G3). A certificate will be awarded if the candidate obtains grade E8 or better for a G3 subject, Grade 5 or better for a G2 subject, or Grade D or better for a G1 level subject.
More information
You may also access our FAQs for more information.
SEC examination syllabuses
Find out more about the SEC examination syllabuses for G1, G2 and G3 subjects offered for school and private candidates below.
