MOE's Shift from L1R5 to L1R4: A Summary

Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing announced the decision to shift from the L1R5 to the L1R4 grading system. From 2028, students seeking admission into junior colleges will be assessed based on five O-Level subjects instead of six.

Under the current system, students must score 20 points or less across six subjects – one language subject (L1) and five other relevant subjects (R5). To compute the L1R5 score, students are to use either English Language or Higher Mother Tongue for their L1, two Mathematics/Science subjects and one Humanities subject (or vice versa) as well as any two best-scoring subjects for their R5. These exclude applied subjects such as Design and Technology, and Nutrition and Food Science.

However under the new L1R4 grading system, the cutoff for admission into JC has been lowered to 16 points. Students will continue to use one language subject and three relevant (Humanities, Mathematics and Science) subjects, but will only require one other best-scoring subject in order to compute their L1R4 score compared to two best-scoring subjects under the previous system.

Subjects	Current L1R5 system	New L1R4 system
1 language subject, either English language or Higher Mother Tongue	✔️	✔️
1 Mathematics/Science subject	✔️	✔️
1 Humanities subject	✔️	✔️
1 Humanities, Mathematics OR Science subject	✔️	✔️
1 other best-scoring subject	✔️	✔️
1 other best scoring subject	✔️	❌
Score required for admission into JC	20	16

For students seeking admission into Millenia Institute (MI), the L1R4 score for eligibility remains at 20, however subject requirements have been revised. Previously, one language subject, any two best scoring-subjects from the Humanities, Mathematics or Sciences as well as two other best-scoring subjects were used to calculate their score. Under the new system, students are to use one language subject, two Mathematics/Science subjects and one Humanities subject (or vice versa) as well as one other best-scoring subject.

Subjects	Current L1R4 system	Revised L1R4 system
1 language subject, either English language or Higher Mother Tongue	✔️	✔️
1 Humanities, Mathematics OR Science subject	✔️	Must be 1 Humanities subject
1 Humanities, Mathematics OR Science subject	✔️	Must be 1 Mathematics or Science subject
1 other best-scoring subject	✔️	Can be a Humanities, Mathematics OR Science subject
1 other best scoring subject	✔️	✔️
Score required for admission into MI	20	20

In light of these changes, the bonus points system will also be revised, where the maximum number of bonus points is lowered from 4 to 3 points.

Type of bonus points	Number of points	Current L1R5 system	New L1R4 system
CCA grade	Excellent: 2 Good: 1	Max. 4 points from any combination of bonus points	Max. 3 points from any combination of bonus points
English and Higher Mother Tongue language grade A1 to C6 for both	2
Chinese/Malay (Special Programme) or Bahasa Indonesia grade A1 to C6	2
Affiliated JCs	2
Chinese, Malay or Tamil language elective programme	2	Additional 2 bonus points not included in bonus points cap

How does this change the system? Read our next article to find out more.