New JC admission criterion from 2028

The Ministry of Education (MOE) announced on March 6, 2025, that starting from 2028, students seeking admission into junior colleges (JCs) will be assessed based on five O-Level subjects instead of the current six.

No more L1R5, but L1R4, starting from 2028 JC admission.

Key Changes

• The current L1R5 system will be replaced with L1R4, reducing the number of counted subjects from 6 to 5
• Students will need to score 16 points or better across five subjects (down from 20 points across six subjects)
• The requirement to pass Mother Tongue Language (D7 or better) remains unchanged
• Maximum bonus points for JC admissions will be reduced from 4 to 3

What Stays the Same

The L1R4 aggregate will still include:

• One language subject
• One humanities subject
• One science or mathematics subject
• One additional humanities, science or mathematics subject
• One other best-performing subject (instead of two under the current system)

For Millennia Institute (MI), the admission threshold will remain at 20 points under L1R4, but students must include three subjects from both the humanities, and science or mathematics subject groups.

Rationale for the Change

According to Education Minister Chan Chun Sing, the revised criteria will:

• Allow students to take fewer subjects or opt for some at a less demanding level
• Free up time for students to pursue their interests
• Strengthen communication and collaboration skills through co-curricular activities
• Help students discover new strengths through school programmes

MOE emphasized that this change is not a relaxation of JC admission standards. Their simulations indicate that a similar proportion of students will continue to qualify for JC education. The ministry will monitor students’ academic outcomes to ensure they benefit from JC education.

The change also reflects improved student preparation, with A-Level passing rates rising from about 65% in 1990 to about 95% in 2023.

Impact on Cut-Off Points

JC admission cut-off points will “adjust accordingly” with the revised criteria. As one fewer subject will be counted, cut-off points for JC admission are expected to decline slightly, but MOE does not expect further tightening beyond that adjustment.