1. The New 70 Rank Points (RP) System – What Has Changed?

💡 Your total university admission score now focuses on your 3 H2 subjects and General Paper (GP).

In the past, the A Level RP system was based on 90 points, including General Paper (GP), your H1 contrasting subject, and Mother Tongue (if applicable). Under the new system, only 3 H2 subjects and H1 GP (or Knowledge & Inquiry) contribute directly to your university admission score.

Here’s how the scoring works:

• H2 subjects: Maximum of 20 points each (A = 20, B = 17.5, C = 15, etc.)

• H1 General Paper: Maximum of 10 points (A = 10, B = 8.75, etc.)

• Minimum passing grades:

  • S grade (H2: 5 points, H1: 2.5 points)

  • U grade (0 points)

Your maximum possible RP is 70 points, based only on these four subjects.

2. What Happens to Your Other H1 Subjects? Are They Useless?

💡 Your H1 subjects won’t count unless they boost your score.

Many students worry that their H1 contrasting subject or H1 Mother Tongue is now irrelevant, but this isn’t true. These subjects still serve as a safety net.

If your H1 subject or Mother Tongue score is higher than one of your H2 grades, it can be used to replace your weakest H2 subject, effectively boosting your RP.

For example:

• You scored:

  • H2 Economics – B (17.5 points)

  • H2 Chemistry – C (15 points)

  • H2 Math – D (12.5 points)

  • H1 GP – B (8.75 points)

  • H1 History – A (10 points)

• Under the new system, your H1 History (A) will help pull up your weakest H2 subject (Math, D), giving you a better final RP. (If your H1 subject score is better than your H2 subject score, a total of 90 rank points will be considered instead of 70, they will then rebase it back to 70, improving your overall sc0re)

This system benefits students who may struggle with their H2s but perform well in their H1 subjects. So, do not neglect your H1 subjects—they can be the difference between getting into your dream university course or missing the cut.

3. Should You Take 4 H2 Subjects? Is It Worth the Extra Effort?

💡 Taking four H2 subjects can boost your university applications, but only if you can handle the workload.

Some students opt to take four H2 subjects instead of three, but what are the real benefits?

✔ It gives you an advantage in scholarship applications.

• If you’re applying for government or private scholarships, taking four H2 subjects demonstrates academic ability and discipline, making you a more competitive applicant.

✔ It strengthens your university applications to top-tier courses.

• Universities like NUS Medicine, NTU Renaissance Engineering, and SMU Law are highly competitive. Admissions officers may favour applicants with four H2 subjects, especially if you score well in all of them.

✔ It provides flexibility if you struggle in one H2 subject.

• With four H2 subjects, your best three H2 scores will be used for RP calculation. This lowers the risk if you underperform in one subject.

However, the trade-off is the heavier workload. If you take four H2s, make sure you can handle the content rigorously without compromising your performance in other subjects.

4. Understanding the IGP (Indicative Grade Profile) – Why It Matters

💡 The IGP tells you the likely minimum grades required for university admission.

The Indicative Grade Profile (IGP) is an annual ranking that shows the 10th percentile and 90th percentile RP scores of students admitted into different courses at NUS, NTU, and SMU.

How to Use the IGP to Plan Your Studies

• The 10th percentile score represents the minimum RP you should aim for to enter a course.

• The 90th percentile score shows the RP of the top-performing students admitted to that course.

This means that if you want a strong chance of getting into a competitive course, aim to exceed the 10th percentile RP.