This marks a significant shift from the long-standing L1R5 system that MOE has been using for decades!<\/p>\n
In this blog post, we aim to provide you with a comprehensive overview of the L1R4 system, who’s affected, what subjects are counted and what this actually means for your child’s grades (including Math and Science).\u00a0<\/p>\n
We hope this blog post will serve as a valuable resource to help you and your child navigate this new change with confidence! Let’s dive in:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n\n
So Is Your Child Affected By The New L1R4 System?<\/h2>\n
\u274c Secondary 3 and 4 Students in 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n Students in Secondary 3 and Secondary 4 in 2025 will still be using the traditional L1R5 system and will not be affected by the new L1R4 system.<\/p>\n \u2705 Secondary 2 Students in 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n Students in Secondary 2 in 2025 will be the first batch to be assessed using the new L1R4 system when they:<\/p>\n \u2705\u00a0Secondary 1 Students in 2025 and incoming batches of new secondary school students<\/strong><\/p>\n Under the new L1R4 system, your child\u2019s JC admission will be based on his\/her performance in:<\/p>\n The new JC admission criteria will continue to be based on<\/strong> G3 subjects<\/strong> to ensure students can cope with the academic rigour of the A-Level curriculum.<\/p>\n For admission to Junior Colleges (JC) and Millennia Institute (MI) from the 2028 JAE onwards, students will be assessed under the new L1R4 system and must fulfil the following requirements.<\/p>\n Subject requirements for JC and MI admission under the new L1R4 system, including specific grades required for English Language, Mathematics and Mother Tongue Language<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n Math, Science & Humanities: Greater Importance For Each Counted Subject<\/strong><\/p>\n While Math, Science, and Humanities subjects are both mandatory under the L1R5 and L1R4 systems, the L1R5 system offered more room for students to buffer a weaker grade in a Math or Science subject<\/strong> with stronger performance in other areas, such as additional Humanities or Language subjects.<\/p>\n By taking one fewer subject into consideration, the new L1R4 system reduces this buffering capacity<\/strong>. This means students will need to focus more intensely on improving in all his\/her subjects to maintain a competitive JC score, as each of the five counted subjects now carries a proportionally heavier weight<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Example: Olivia: Weak in Math\/Science, Strong in Humanities<\/strong><\/p>\n Example of how a student, Olivia, will perform under the existing L1R5 and new L1R4 systems<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Under the L1R5<\/strong> system, Olivia’s total JC score of 20 is achieved by counting her 6 best-performing relevant subjects:<\/p>\n Despite her low grades in Chemistry and Math, she still qualifies for JC consideration with 20 points because of Art, her additional best-performing subject, which counted as a buffer.<\/p>\n Under the L1R4<\/strong> system, only these five subjects<\/strong> are counted:<\/p>\n The exclusion of Art removes one of her stronger subjects, and the weak grade in Chemistry now carries more weight<\/strong>, leading to a total JC score of 17<\/strong>, which is just above the JC cut-off score<\/strong>\u00a0of 16. This means that there\u2019s less leeway to offset weak subjects under the L1R4 system, making each grade more critical.<\/p>\n Fewer Bonus Points to Buffer Mistakes<\/strong><\/p>\n Bonus points from CCA, Higher Mother Tongue or selected subjects are now capped at 3 (down from 4 previously). This gives students a smaller buffer when applying to JCs, and makes each counted subject even more crucial to securing a competitive JC score.<\/p>\n Exception<\/strong>: Students taking Language Elective Programmes (LEP) may be eligible for an additional 2 bonus points.<\/p>\n Differences between the L1R5 and L1R4 JC scoring systems including who’s affected, what subjects are counted and what is the maximum bonus points<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n If your child plans to apply to a Polytechnic, the admission criteria operate under a different system and are not directly affected by the L1R4 change for JC.<\/p>\n Polytechnic admissions use a distinct scoring system called ELR2B2<\/strong>, which is based on your child\u2019s O-Level or SEC results.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a quick overview of ELR2B2:<\/p>\n In total, five<\/strong> subjects contribute to the ELR2B2 aggregate score, which determines Polytechnic course eligibility. The subjects considered relevant vary by polytechnic course, and a lower ELR2B2 score means better chances of admission.<\/p>\n Important Changes to ELR2B2 from 2028 Intake<\/strong><\/p>\n For students applying to Polytechnic Diploma Year 1 from the 2028 intake onwards, they will now be permitted to include one G2 subject<\/strong> (equivalent to Normal (Academic) level) in their ELR2B2 score, specifically within the B2 (two best other subjects) component. The remaining four subjects must continue to be based on G3 subjects to ensure that students can cope with the academic rigour in the polytechnics.<\/p>\n Consequently, the net aggregate cut-off scores for Polytechnic admission will be adjusted to reflect this change:<\/p>\n While the new L1R4 system encourages more holistic development, building a strong academic foundation remains crucial, especially in core subjects like Math and Science.<\/p>\n As your child takes more ownership over his\/her studies, here are 3 key areas of growth that you can encourage him\/her to work towards:<\/p>\n 3 ways your child can excel in Science and Math in secondary school<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Secondary 1 (2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n Secondary 2 (2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n Secondary 3 (2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n Secondary 4 (2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Strengthening your child’s Math and Science foundation takes consistent effort and the right guidance.<\/p>\n Depending on your child’s learning needs and schedule, your child can look forward to growing in these areas in our Math and Science weekly classes<\/a> and targeted school holiday programmes (March, June & September):\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n We hope that this article has provided you with a clearer understanding of how the new L1R4 system works and what your secondary school child should prioritise, depending on which academic level he\/she is at.<\/p>\n While the new L1R4 system is designed to free up more of your child\u2019s time to pursue other interests and develop himself\/herself holistically, it\u2019s also important that he\/she doesn\u2019t neglect his\/her subjects such as Science and Math to ensure a competitive JC score.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”Math GAP” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ custom_margin=”0px||” custom_padding=”0px||” saved_tabs=”all” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_divider color=”#898989″ admin_label=”Divider” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/The-Pique-Lab-Grade-Accelerator-Programme.-CTA.png” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#333333″ text_font_size=”18px” text_orientation=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n If you like our methodology, we’ve some ongoing weekly Science and Math classes:<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ text_font=”geomanist-medium||||||||” text_text_color=”#f44a4a” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”2em” text_orientation=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n S1 Science Grade Accelerator Programme<\/a> [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In this blog post, we break down how the new L1R4 system works, who is affected, why each counted subject is more important, and how you can better support your child\u2019s learning journey in secondary school.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":246642,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" [et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.21.0\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.21.0\" background_size=\"initial\" background_position=\"top_left\" background_repeat=\"repeat\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.16\" custom_padding=\"|||\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" custom_padding__hover=\"|||\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.21.0\" z_index_tablet=\"500\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"]<\/p> Hi Mummies and Daddies!<\/p> From the 2028 Joint Admissions Exercise (2028 JAE) onwards, your child and other students entering Junior College (JC) will be assessed under a new system: L1R4<\/strong>.<\/p> This marks a significant shift from the long-standing L1R5 system that MOE has been using for decades!<\/p> In this blog post, we aim to provide you with a comprehensive overview of the L1R4 system, who's affected, what subjects are counted and what this actually means for your child's grades (including Math and Science).\u00a0<\/p> We hope this blog post will serve as a valuable resource to help you and your child navigate this new change with confidence! Let's dive in:<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> [toc]<\/p> \u274c Secondary 3 and 4 Students in 2025<\/strong><\/p> Students in Secondary 3 and Secondary 4 in 2025 will still be using the traditional L1R5 system and will not be affected by the new L1R4 system.<\/p> \u2705 Secondary 2 Students in 2025<\/strong><\/p> Students in Secondary 2 in 2025 will be the first batch to be assessed using the new L1R4 system when they:<\/p> \u2705\u00a0Secondary 1 Students in 2025 and incoming batches of new secondary school students<\/strong><\/p> Under the new L1R4 system, your child\u2019s JC admission will be based on his\/her performance in:<\/p> The new JC admission criteria will continue to be based on<\/strong> G3 subjects<\/strong> to ensure students can cope with the academic rigour of the A-Level curriculum.<\/p> For admission to Junior Colleges (JC) and Millennia Institute (MI) from the 2028 JAE onwards, students will be assessed under the new L1R4 system and must fulfil the following requirements.<\/p>[caption id=\"attachment_246615\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] \u00a0<\/p> Math, Science & Humanities: Greater Importance For Each Counted Subject<\/strong><\/p> While Math, Science, and Humanities subjects are both mandatory under the L1R5 and L1R4 systems, the L1R5 system offered more room for students to buffer a weaker grade in a Math or Science subject<\/strong> with stronger performance in other areas, such as additional Humanities or Language subjects.<\/p> By taking one fewer subject into consideration, the new L1R4 system reduces this buffering capacity<\/strong>. This means students will need to focus more intensely on improving in all his\/her subjects to maintain a competitive JC score, as each of the five counted subjects now carries a proportionally heavier weight<\/strong>.<\/p> Example: Olivia: Weak in Math\/Science, Strong in Humanities<\/strong><\/p>[caption id=\"attachment_246614\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] \u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> Under the L1R5<\/strong> system, Olivia's total JC score of 20 is achieved by counting her 6 best-performing relevant subjects:<\/p> Despite her low grades in Chemistry and Math, she still qualifies for JC consideration with 20 points because of Art, her additional best-performing subject, which counted as a buffer.<\/p> Under the L1R4<\/strong> system, only these five subjects<\/strong> are counted:<\/p> The exclusion of Art removes one of her stronger subjects, and the weak grade in Chemistry now carries more weight<\/strong>, leading to a total JC score of 17<\/strong>, which is just above the JC cut-off score<\/strong>\u00a0of 16. This means that there\u2019s less leeway to offset weak subjects under the L1R4 system, making each grade more critical.<\/p> Fewer Bonus Points to Buffer Mistakes<\/strong><\/p> Bonus points from CCA, Higher Mother Tongue or selected subjects are now capped at 3 (down from 4 previously). This gives students a smaller buffer when applying to JCs, and makes each counted subject even more crucial to securing a competitive JC score.<\/p> Exception<\/strong>: Students taking Language Elective Programmes (LEP) may be eligible for an additional 2 bonus points.<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> If your child plans to apply to a Polytechnic, the admission criteria operate under a different system and are not directly affected by the L1R4 change for JC.<\/p> Polytechnic admissions use a distinct scoring system called ELR2B2<\/strong>, which is based on your child\u2019s O-Level or SEC results.<\/p> Here\u2019s a quick overview of ELR2B2:<\/p> In total, five<\/strong> subjects contribute to the ELR2B2 aggregate score, which determines Polytechnic course eligibility. The subjects considered relevant vary by polytechnic course, and a lower ELR2B2 score means better chances of admission.<\/p> Important Changes to ELR2B2 from 2028 Intake<\/strong><\/p> For students applying to Polytechnic Diploma Year 1 from the 2028 intake onwards, they will now be permitted to include one G2 subject<\/strong> (equivalent to Normal (Academic) level) in their ELR2B2 score, specifically within the B2 (two best other subjects) component. The remaining four subjects must continue to be based on G3 subjects to ensure that students can cope with the academic rigour in the polytechnics.<\/p> Consequently, the net aggregate cut-off scores for Polytechnic admission will be adjusted to reflect this change:<\/p> While the new L1R4 system encourages more holistic development, building a strong academic foundation remains crucial, especially in core subjects like Math and Science.<\/p> As your child takes more ownership over his\/her studies, here are 3 key areas of growth that you can encourage him\/her to work towards:<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> <\/p> Secondary 1 (2025)<\/strong><\/p> Secondary 2 (2025)<\/strong><\/p> Secondary 3 (2025)<\/strong><\/p> Secondary 4 (2025)<\/strong><\/p> <\/p> Strengthening your child's Math and Science foundation takes consistent effort and the right guidance.<\/p> Depending on your child's learning needs and schedule, your child can look forward to growing in these areas in our Math and Science weekly classes<\/a> and targeted school holiday programmes (March, June & September):\u00a0<\/a><\/p> We hope that this article has provided you with a clearer understanding of how the new L1R4 system works and what your secondary school child should prioritise, depending on which academic level he\/she is at.<\/p> While the new L1R4 system is designed to free up more of your child\u2019s time to pursue other interests and develop himself\/herself holistically, it\u2019s also important that he\/she doesn\u2019t neglect his\/her subjects such as Science and Math to ensure a competitive JC score.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row disabled_on=\"off|off|off\" admin_label=\"Math GAP\" _builder_version=\"4.21.0\" custom_margin=\"0px||\" custom_padding=\"0px||\" saved_tabs=\"all\" collapsed=\"off\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.16\" custom_padding=\"|||\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" custom_padding__hover=\"|||\"][et_pb_divider color=\"#898989\" admin_label=\"Divider\" _builder_version=\"4.21.0\" locked=\"off\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_image src=\"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/The-Pique-Lab-Grade-Accelerator-Programme.-CTA.png\" align=\"center\" _builder_version=\"4.21.0\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.21.0\" text_font=\"||||||||\" text_text_color=\"#333333\" text_font_size=\"18px\" text_orientation=\"center\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"]<\/p> If you like our methodology, we've some ongoing weekly Science and Math classes:<\/p> [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.21.0\" text_font=\"geomanist-medium||||||||\" text_text_color=\"#f44a4a\" text_font_size=\"18px\" text_line_height=\"2em\" text_orientation=\"center\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"]<\/p> S1 Science Grade Accelerator Programme<\/a> [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[26,41,27],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"modified_by":"Joyce Lim","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/246608"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=246608"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/246608\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":246679,"href":"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/246608\/revisions\/246679"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/246642"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=246608"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=246608"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=246608"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=246608"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
What Is L1R4? How Does The New L1R4 System Affect My Child\u2019s JC Score?<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
New Junior College\/Millennia Institute Admission Cut-off Scores<\/span>
\n<\/h2>\n![\"Subject](\"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/L1R4-System-for-JC-Admissions-05-1024x378.png\")
Key Implications Of The New L1R4 System
\n<\/h2>\n![\"Example](\"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/L1R4-System-for-JC-Admissions-06-1024x486.png\")
\n
\n
L1R5 vs L1R4: What\u2019s The Difference?
\n<\/h2>\n![\"What](\"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/L1R4-System-for-JC-Admissions-02-1024x603.png\")
Will My Child Be Affected By The New L1R4 Change If She\/He Intends To Apply For Polytechnics Instead?<\/span>
\n<\/h2>\n\n
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Here\u2019s How You Can Help Your Child Succeed In Secondary School
\n<\/h2>\n\n
![\"3](\"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/L1R4-System-for-JC-Admissions-04-1024x555.png\")
What Students in Secondary 1 to 4 (2025 Cohort) Should Focus On
\n<\/h2>\n\n
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\n
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How The Pique Lab<\/a> Can Support Your Child\u2019s Journey In Secondary School
\n<\/h2>\n\n
Conclusion
\n<\/h2>\n<\/h2>\n
\nS1 Math Grade Accelerator Programme<\/a>
\nS2 Science Grade Accelerator Programme<\/a>
\nS2 Math Grade Accelerator Programme<\/a>
\nS3 Chemistry Grade Accelerator Programme<\/a>
\nS3 A-Math Grade Accelerator Programme<\/a>
\nS4 Chemistry Grade Accelerator Programme<\/a>
\nS4 A-Math Grade Accelerator Programme<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nSo Is Your Child Affected By The New L1R4 System?<\/h2>
What Is L1R4? How Does The New L1R4 System Affect My Child\u2019s JC Score?<\/h2>
New Junior College\/Millennia Institute Admission Cut-off Scores<\/span>
<\/h2> Subject requirements for JC and MI admission under the new L1R4 system, including specific grades required for English Language, Mathematics and Mother Tongue Language<\/em>[\/caption]Key Implications Of The New L1R4 System
<\/h2> Example of how a student, Olivia, will perform under the existing L1R5 and new L1R4 systems<\/em>[\/caption]L1R5 vs L1R4: What\u2019s The Difference?
<\/h2>[caption id=\"attachment_246611\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] Differences between the L1R5 and L1R4 JC scoring systems including who's affected, what subjects are counted and what is the maximum bonus points<\/em>[\/caption]Will My Child Be Affected By The New L1R4 Change If She\/He Intends To Apply For Polytechnics Instead?<\/span>
<\/h2>Here\u2019s How You Can Help Your Child Succeed In Secondary School
<\/h2> 3 ways your child can excel in Science and Math in secondary school<\/em>[\/caption]What Students in Secondary 1 to 4 (2025 Cohort) Should Focus On
<\/h2>How The Pique Lab<\/a> Can Support Your Child\u2019s Journey In Secondary School
<\/h2>Conclusion
<\/h2><\/h2>
S1 Math Grade Accelerator Programme<\/a>
S2 Science Grade Accelerator Programme<\/a>
S2 Math Grade Accelerator Programme<\/a>
S3 Chemistry Grade Accelerator Programme<\/a>
S3 A-Math Grade Accelerator Programme<\/a>
S4 Chemistry Grade Accelerator Programme<\/a>
S4 A-Math Grade Accelerator Programme<\/a><\/strong><\/p>