Singapore PSLE Score 28 is eligible for Posting Group 1 (PG1) only when English Language and Mathematics are each AL7 or better. For the 2026 PSLE cohort preparing for Secondary 1 in January 2027, parents must check the four subject grades before comparing school cutoffs. A pupil who meets the condition normally starts most secondary subjects at G1; this does not rule out more demanding individual subjects when the relevant AL criteria are met. The most suitable school is one where the child can learn securely, pursue activities and manage daily travel.

For the latest completed 2026 Secondary 1 intake (the 2025 PSLE cohort), schools with historical non-affiliated PG1 last-admitted score 28 included Clementi Town, Commonwealth, Fuhua, Bedok View, Bowen, Junyuan, Mayflower, Meridian, North Vista, Presbyterian High, Queensway, Xinmin and Yuhua. Schools such as Admiralty, Assumption English, Bukit View, Canberra, Dunearn, East Spring and Sembawang had historical PG1 29. Other schools displayed 30* where vacancies remained. These are past observations, not 2027 admission guarantees. Use MOE SchoolFinder, check programme eligibility, and choose six realistic schools.

• Score 28 qualifies for PG1 only if both English and Mathematics are AL7 or better.
• Valid AL patterns can be eligible or ineligible depending on which grades belong to English and Mathematics.
• 2026 S1 PG1 cutoff 28 is last year’s boundary; 29 and 30* are historical comparison options, not promises.
• A PG1 30* usually signals that places remained after the posting exercise, not necessarily that a Score 30 child was admitted.
• Choose six suitable schools by actual location, gender, support, student interests and subject readiness.

1. Eligibility first: PG1 is not awarded by the total alone

This is one part of a score-by-score series whose fixed title contains “Results for PG1”. The title does not imply that every child with Score 28 has an ordinary PG1 offer. MOE’s current Posting Group chart is: Scores 4–20 PG3; Scores 21–22 PG2 or PG3; 23–24 PG2; Score 25 PG1 or PG2; and 26–30 PG1 only when both English Language and Mathematics are AL7 or better. For Score 28, AL8 in either subject blocks the ordinary PG1 route. Use MOE’s Full SBB information, the official result slip and the student’s personalised posting notice.

The AL scale is not the same as a Posting Group. AL1 is the strongest individual subject grade; PG1 describes entry into mainstream secondary school and the indicative level for most secondary subjects at Secondary 1; G1 is the corresponding subject level, not a child’s permanent stream. Even within the same form class, pupils may study different subjects at different G levels when they meet the relevant criteria.

Dates matter. Children who sat PSLE in 2025 entered Secondary 1 in 2026, so the most recent completed school cutoffs are labelled ‘2026 S1’ in these articles. Children sitting the PSLE in 2026 are applying for Secondary 1 in 2027. Their final new school cutoffs cannot be known until this posting cycle concludes. This guide was reviewed before the anticipated 24–25 November 2026 result-release window. Use the SEAB and MOE notices for final results dates.

2. How many AL profiles can produce Score 28?

Mathematically, the unordered four-subject Standard-equivalent AL sets totalling 28 are 4+8+8+8; 5+7+8+8; 6+6+8+8; 6+7+7+8; 7+7+7+7. These examples ignore which grade was earned in English, Mathematics, Science and Mother Tongue, and they do not replace the actual slip. A Foundation A maps to Standard AL6, B to AL7 and C to AL8 for posting, so a parent must also check the official subject-level record and specific eligibility rules. Being strong in one subject is meaningful, even when the aggregate is high.

Four AL7 results add to 28. Under the ordinary eligibility rule, that pupil meets the English-and-Mathematics condition if the grades are really AL7 in those subjects. However, English AL8, Mathematics AL6, Science AL7 and Mother Tongue AL7 also add to 28—and that pupil does not meet the condition. Parents must read the official individual grades, not apply a shortcut based on the total.

Another valid 28 profile is English AL6, Mathematics AL6, Science AL8 and Mother Tongue AL8. This satisfies the PG1 English/Maths requirement despite uneven subject attainment. Since Standard AL6 in a particular PSLE subject can support an initial offer to study it at G2 under Full SBB, the family should ask whether English or Mathematics can be offered at G2 while other subjects begin at G1. The exact offers follow official criteria and the school’s timetable.

A third profile totals 28 with English AL5, Mathematics AL7, Science AL8 and Mother Tongue AL8. English may qualify for a more demanding subject level under applicable rules; Mathematics AL7 does not carry the same immediate entitlement. The child’s ability in written language, practical reasoning and school adjustment should decide whether to accept a more demanding option. A grade allows a conversation; it does not create a promise that an individual school must timetabling every combination.

If the child has AL8 in English or Mathematics at Score 28, the published PG1 condition is not met. Do not make a conventional PG1 six-school list in that situation. Speak directly with the child’s primary school and follow MOE’s individual result instructions on other educational pathways, including any authorised specialist-school or PSLE re-attempt process.

3. A parent should know what G1 means in the classroom

PG1 typically begins with most subjects at G1, within secondary schools operating Full Subject-Based Banding. The starting level aims to give students a curriculum that matches readiness. It does not determine the final SEC level of every subject or rule out progression over four years. Many mixed form classes include pupils from several Posting Groups, while subject classes reflect actual subject levels.

At the beginning of Secondary 1, a pupil with Standard AL6, or Foundation AL A, in a relevant PSLE subject may meet criteria to offer that subject at G2; Standard AL5 or better may allow G2 or G3. These are the published eligibility thresholds, not guaranteed offers in every timetable. The receiving school issues the actual offer and can advise whether the child will cope. An MOE secondary school’s Full SBB explanation sets out the thresholds and later assessment routes.

A good first-term plan begins with what the pupil can actually explain. In Mathematics, use number sense, fractions, ratio, expressions and checking of worked solutions. In English, build accurate comprehension, sentence construction and oral confidence. In Science, connect observations to evidence and concepts. Mother Tongue learning may require its own reading and communication practices. A targeted plan protects the child from exhausting, indiscriminate remediation.

4. School choices: the correct historical PG1 column

The table below lists selected non-affiliated PG1 cutoffs from the completed 2026 S1 intake (the pupils who sat the PSLE in 2025), collated from a SchoolFinder-based 2026-intake comparison and an independent school-by-school 2026 compilation. The official MOE SchoolFinder entry controls if details differ. A historic cutoff is not a 2027 admission requirement, a percentage chance or a league-table rating of teaching quality.

Secondary school and area	2026 S1 historical PG1 cutoff	School-fit and eligibility check
Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary — Yishun	28	co-ed; check northern transport and CCAs
Ang Mo Kio Secondary — Ang Mo Kio	28	co-ed; confirm campus; not Anderson Secondary
Beatty Secondary — Toa Payoh	28	co-ed; compare subject learning and actual commute
Bedok View Secondary — Bedok	28	co-ed; investigate programme choices and school location
Bowen Secondary — Hougang	28	co-ed; research pastoral care and morning route
CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) — Toa Payoh	28	girls; check gender, affiliation and learning environment
Clementi Town Secondary — Clementi	28	co-ed; western school choice, compare transport
Commonwealth Secondary — West Coast / Jurong East	28	co-ed; school is not beside Commonwealth MRT
Fuhua Secondary — Jurong West	28	co-ed; verify exact gate and subject support
Greenridge Secondary — Bukit Panjang	28	co-ed; distinguish from Zhenghua and West Spring
Junyuan Secondary — Tampines	28	co-ed; check school life and east-side travel
Jurong West Secondary — Jurong West	28	co-ed; distinct from Jurong Secondary
Mayflower Secondary — Ang Mo Kio	28	co-ed; CCA and learning support
Meridian Secondary — Pasir Ris	28	co-ed; compare to Loyang View
North Vista Secondary — Sengkang	28	co-ed; verify subject teaching and CCA travel
Presbyterian High — Ang Mo Kio	28	co-ed; school culture and transport
Queensway Secondary — Queenstown	28	co-ed; distinct from Queenstown Secondary
St. Gabriel’s Secondary — Serangoon	28	boys; affiliated and non-affiliated cutoffs differ
Unity Secondary — Choa Chu Kang	28	co-ed; travel and learning-support fit
Yuhua Secondary — Jurong West	28	co-ed; school programmes and real journey
Xinmin Secondary — Hougang	28	co-ed; verify school’s current subjects
Admiralty Secondary — Woodlands	29	co-ed; PG1 29 historical cutoff
Assumption English School — Bukit Panjang	29	co-ed; not Assumption Pathway School, a specialised school
Bukit View Secondary — Bukit Batok	29	co-ed; test day-to-day travel
Canberra Secondary — Sembawang	29	co-ed; compare northern school options
Christ Church Secondary — Woodlands	29	co-ed; school support, CCAs and bus travel
Dunearn Secondary — Bukit Batok	29	co-ed; local alternative in the west
East Spring Secondary — Tampines	29	co-ed; compare with Tampines options
Montfort Secondary — Hougang	29	boys; the non-affiliated cutoff applies only to eligible applicants
Sembawang Secondary — Sembawang	29	co-ed; test journey and actual campus
Woodlands Ring Secondary — Woodlands	29	co-ed; distinct from Woodlands Secondary
Yuying Secondary — Hougang	29	co-ed; research CCA and student care
Bedok Green Secondary — Bedok	30*	co-ed; asterisk indicates leftover PG1 vacancies, not necessarily a pupil scoring 30
Damai Secondary — Bedok	30*	co-ed; verify vacancy note and year
Deyi Secondary — Ang Mo Kio	30*	co-ed; asterisk changes how the historic cutoff is interpreted
Geylang Methodist (Secondary) — Geylang	30*	co-ed; check affiliation and 2026 vacancy note
Kent Ridge Secondary — Clementi	30*	co-ed; compare west-side actual programmes

Lower PSLE Score totals are stronger. A past PG1 cutoff equal to 28 means the previous intake admitted a last student with that number, but does not prove every tied candidate was admitted. A cutoff numerically higher than 28 gives historical margin. The star attached to many 30 entries means the school still had vacancies after posting; the last child actually admitted may have had a score better than 30. It is important not to write “everybody scoring 30 got a place” or imply that leftover vacancies will recur.

Affiliated school score ranges may be different from the non-affiliated figures above, subject to eligibility and choice order. A school admitting girls does not become co-ed at PG1; a boys’ school does not offer the same options to an ineligible pupil. Check the actual school’s gender, campus, transport, programmes and subject offering, not only the number in one column.

5. Compare genuine school options by area and daily journey

Hougang and Serangoon

Bowen and Xinmin both had historical PG1 28, while Montfort and Yuying were 29. These schools have distinct identities; Montfort is a boys’ school, whereas others serve different pupils. A parent should check the child’s interest in the actual programme, the type of student support and the commute at school starting and CCA ending hours.

Clementi, Jurong and the west

Clementi Town, Commonwealth, Fuhua, Jurong West and Yuhua each had historic PG1 28, while Dunearn and Bukit View had 29. Commonwealth’s actual school is around West Coast Road rather than beside Commonwealth MRT. Test the home-to-gate journey and compare CCA accessibility, subject consultation and school culture. Avoid sending a child across the island merely because a school has a similar cutoff.

Eastern Singapore

Bedok View and Junyuan had PG1 28, East Spring had 29, while Damai, Bedok Green and Loyang View showed 30* in the 2026 reference. A numerically larger previous cutoff may be attractive as a planning option but does not guarantee a place. Check if the child wants the school’s actual co-curricular programme and whether a late dismissal would still leave reasonable rest.

North and the central corridor

Mayflower, Presbyterian High and North Vista had PG1 28, while Admiralty, Canberra and Sembawang Secondary had 29. Queensway had PG1 28 in the Queenstown area. These are different commute corridors and schools. The family should shortlist those that make geographic sense and that offer a suitable first-term learning environment.

A journey must be tested from the family’s actual home to the school gate on a normal arrival morning, then after a typical CCA dismissal. Count waiting at bus stops, transfers, pedestrian crossings, weather exposure and the evening time available for homework, meals, exercise and sleep. Avoid guessing commute minutes from a school name or relying on an outdated campus map.

6. Six choices should reflect the child and the admission reality

For Score 28, a school with previous PG1 cutoff 28 is at the boundary. PG1 29 is one point of historical numerical margin, and 30* can indicate that there were vacancies after posting. Those distinctions matter, but no school can promise the 2027 outcome. A balanced six-school form includes genuinely desired choices and suitable, less historically tight alternatives; it should not depend entirely on six at-boundary schools.

The child’s own preferences matter. An eligible pupil in the west might prefer a school that offers a strong arts CCA and a short commute over a school with a lower cutoff. If the family is in Hougang, a different set of schools and transport tests is appropriate. Rank by real preference after confirming the correct PG1 entry, school programmes, any affiliation and the actual 2027 campus.

SEAB’s 2025 results release explains that MOE advises eligible families to use six choices and include two or three schools whose previous cutoffs are less stringent than the pupil’s score. In PG1 at Score 28, the scope for numerical margin becomes narrower near 30. That does not mean an eligible family should list unsuitable distant schools merely to reach six; it means they should speak to the primary school and use the actual option form carefully.

At the end of the exercise, a family should be able to say why each school is suitable and why it is ranked where it is. Look for compatible learning levels, subject support, meaningful activities, a realistic journey, the student’s view of the school environment and practical family constraints. The school choice order can matter for equal-score tie-breaking; do not re-order genuine preferences merely because of an unverified internet theory.

7. The school is a learning environment, not a result ranking

Parents should ask how the school teaches G1 English, Mathematics, Science and Mother Tongue rather than assuming all G1 classes follow the same pedagogy. How do teachers diagnose missing concepts? Can pupils receive feedback and retry tasks? What happens when a child is ready for a higher subject level? An answer about routines and subject-level progression is more useful than a promotional slogan.

Observe the school’s culture at an open house. Ask about orientation, form-teacher relationships, counselling, peer support and CCA choices. A school brochure showing robotics, music, sport or digital media may describe activities requiring selection or auditions. Confirm what is actually available to this pupil and whether a long CCA day is manageable from home.

The child should participate in the conversation. Ask which programme feels interesting, where they can imagine forming friendships and what would make an ordinary school day less stressful. A school chosen only by its historical admissions score may be a poor practical fit, even if the previous cutoff appears favourable. A school whose teachers provide structure, encouragement and clear feedback may better support long-term learning.

8. Three worked family situations for Score 28

The all-AL7 child

A pupil with AL7 in all four subjects totals 28 and meets the stated PG1 subject condition. The useful next decision is how to build sound G1 foundations, not to chase a school whose admission reputation appears prestigious. Ask schools how they teach English comprehension, mathematical reasoning and scientific explanation in Secondary 1.

A strong English result changes the subject plan

A pupil with English AL5, Mathematics AL7 and two AL8s also totals 28. This can support a discussion of English at a more demanding subject level if the eligibility and school arrangements permit. Parents should not assume that all subjects must follow English’s strongest result or place the child under excessive workload.

A historical cutoff at 30*

Suppose the family likes a school with a published PG1 cutoff of 30*. The asterisk indicates that the previous cohort had unfilled places, and 30 is shown as the maximum eligible score the school could have admitted. It is not an unconditional offer for Score 28 in the next intake. Check the school visit and current choice conditions.

9. What to do if the English/Mathematics condition is not met

At Score 28, an AL8 in English or Mathematics means the published 26–30 PG1 requirement is not satisfied. The child’s school and MOE should confirm the result and available pathways. In the previous 2025 PSLE cohort, SEAB reported that students not assessed suitable for ordinary secondary entry could re-attempt the PSLE or apply to NorthLight School and Assumption Pathway School with a recommendation from their primary school principal. Do not treat these schools as mainstream PG1 alternatives that accept a normal six-choice form.

NorthLight and Assumption Pathway offer specialist education including foundational, social-emotional and practical learning, with their own admission processes and qualification routes. A family should ask about the child’s learning and wellbeing, the school timetable, age requirements, the necessary recommendation and application deadlines. Choosing or investigating an alternative route does not diminish the child’s ability to grow, learn and develop useful skills.

10. Results-day and S1 posting checklist

• Confirm the actual English and Mathematics ALs before deciding that the child is eligible for the 26–30 PG1 band.
• Read all four subject grades and their Standard/Foundation levels, rather than guessing a profile from the total.
• Use current official MOE information for the 2026 results, personalised posting eligibility and application dates.
• If eligible, read each school’s PG1 column; never substitute PG2, PG3, IP or affiliated figures.
• Research six genuinely suitable schools, including realistic location, gender, programmes, student support and CCAs.
• Where possible, include some previous cutoffs numerically higher than the pupil’s total, without claiming certainty.
• Take part in open houses or ask existing pupils and teachers specific questions about learning and the school day.
• Submit the six ranked options during the official window and preserve the acknowledgement; confirm after-posting instructions.

SEAB’s 2026 important dates indicated a tentative results-release window of 24–25 November 2026. Final dates must be taken from an updated official notice. The six-choice portal and any DSA-Sec implications are covered at MOE S1 Posting. Do not republish the 2025 timetable as though it were the fixed 2026 one.

11. Building a longer educational path beyond PG1

Secondary students under Full SBB work towards the Singapore-Cambridge SEC at the subject levels actually attempted. For a child entering S1 in 2027 and following a four-year route, the ordinary Secondary 4 examination year would be 2030. Later JC, polytechnic, ITE and other routes depend on the eventual secondary results and current admissions rules. The parent post-secondary pathways guide can help frame future discussions without promising a specific school or course now.

The first-year priorities are clear reading, mathematical reasoning, science through explanation, independent study habits and relationships with teachers and friends. None of those improvements can be secured simply by choosing the lowest-cutoff school. Parents can support each week’s learning without turning the PSLE result into the student’s identity or a permanent judgment.

12. Avoid these school-choice mistakes

• Assuming that Score 28 automatically confers PG1 without reading both English and Mathematics grades.
• Treating AL8 in English or Mathematics as acceptable for ordinary PG1 solely because the overall score is 26–30.
• Reading a PG2 or PG3 cutoff for a PG1 school choice, or confusing an affiliated entry figure with open admission.
• Treating last year’s 2026 S1 cutoff as a guaranteed 2027 score or fixed admissions requirement.
• Calling a 30* previous-year vacancy note a promise that places remain this year.
• Selecting a school beyond a family’s workable daily route merely to have a larger numerical margin.
• Confusing similar school names such as Assumption English and Assumption Pathway.
• Reducing educational quality to how selective a school appeared in the preceding cohort.
• Assuming that taking a PG1 route rules out all higher-level subject opportunities later.
• Failing to ask about the child’s own preferences, wellbeing and learning support.

13. Frequently asked parent questions for Score 28

Does Score 28 automatically qualify for PG1?

No. Both English and Mathematics must be AL7 or better.

Is four AL7s sufficient?

For the ordinary PG1 subject condition, yes: EL and Mathematics are each AL7 and the total is 28. Confirm the official result details.

Can an eligible PG1 pupil take a subject at G2?

A Standard AL6 or Foundation AL A may support G2 in that subject, and AL5 or better can support higher options. School offers and conditions apply.

What does a last-year cutoff of 29 mean?

It is a one-point historical numerical margin for Score 28, not a guaranteed 2027 place.

Is the asterisk after 30 a special admission bonus?

No. It marks a vacancy-related reporting footnote, not a separate achievement grade.

14. Source register and update policy

Official information: MOE SchoolFinder, S1 Posting, Full SBB, subject-level eligibility, SEAB 2025 release with alternative pathways and choices and 2026 tentative results-release window. Previous school cutoffs were checked against MOE SchoolFinder-based 2026 S1 reference and a second 2026 intake comparison. These figures concern the 2025 PSLE cohort, and a present official entry always supersedes copied historical information.

Immutable editorial reference: Secondary 1 Mathematics Tutor Clementi | Small Groups Tutorials. It has not been modified. This original article follows its parent-first information design: two direct opening paragraphs, a third-block point summary, and a full practical decision guide thereafter. It is independent educational information, not a statement from MOE, SEAB or any named school.