Go first to the exact SEAB page for the examination and candidate type, then follow the instructions issued by the student’s school. For example, SEAB has separate school-candidate pages for the GCE O-Level, GCE N(A)-Level, GCE N(T)-Level and GCE A-Level.
A school candidate should normally route registration, amendments and examination-entry questions through the school, because the school handles the candidate’s registration. The SEAB AskGov collection is useful for official explanations, but it does not replace a school deadline or instruction addressed to the student.
Check the examination year, qualification and candidate type before downloading anything. A 2026 GCE school candidate, a 2027 SEC candidate and a private candidate may need different pages, documents and procedures even when the subject name looks familiar.
Quick route
Which source should a school candidate use?
| Need | Official route | Check first |
|---|---|---|
| PSLE information | SEAB PSLE and the primary school | Year, subject and school instruction |
| 2026 GCE school-candidate rules | The relevant O-, N(A)-, N(T)- or A-Level school-candidate page | Qualification and current document version |
| SEC from 2027 | SEAB SEC | Cohort and subject level |
| A specific administrative question | The school, then SEAB AskGov | Whether the school has already issued instructions |
The school-candidate page gathers several kinds of material. The registration e-booklet explains the registration process; the examination rules and regulations explain candidate responsibilities; the calendar gives key periods; syllabuses and examination formats explain what is assessed. Open the document that matches the question rather than treating one PDF as the whole answer.
What should we check immediately?
- The candidate’s school-recorded name and identification details.
- The examination, year, subject title, code and level.
- The school’s internal response date, which may be earlier than a national closing date.
- Any approved access arrangement, special consideration route or permitted calculator relevant to the subject.
- The latest rules document, not a saved copy from an earlier cohort.
Did you know? “School candidate” and “private candidate” are administrative categories, not interchangeable application choices. A student enrolled and registered through a school should not assume that the private-candidate portal, payment steps or deadlines apply.
Keep the transition year clear too. Students sitting 2026 GCE O- or N-Level examinations should use those current pages and rules. The SEC is implemented from 2027, so its documents belong to the relevant SEC cohort rather than being retrofitted to a 2026 GCE entry.
How do we resolve a problem?
Take a screenshot or copy of the exact page, note the document title and date, and send the school a focused question that includes the student’s examination, subject and level. If the issue concerns a national rule rather than a school process, use SEAB’s official contact or AskGov route after checking whether the answer is already published.
Related eduKate routes include the guides to SEAB private-candidate registration, SEAB access arrangements, SEAB-approved calculators and the world examination calendar tracker.
More in this source-guide batch: UCAS Extra, Primary Standard and Foundation subjects, Changing G1, G2 and G3 subject levels.
Source review date: 11 October 2026. Always use the current SEAB page and the school’s latest instructions for the candidate’s examination year.