Full Subject Based Banding (FSBB)

Full Subject-Based Banding (Full SBB) is part of MOE's ongoing efforts to nurture the joy of learning and develop multiple pathways to cater to the different strengths and interests of our students.

With Full SBB, we are moving towards a secondary school education where students learn each subject at the level that best caters to their overall strengths, interests and learning needs. Under Full SBB, there will no longer be separate Express, N(A), and N(T) streams, and students will be in mixed form classes where they can interact with peers of different strengths and interests.

Under Full SBB, MOE will expand Subject-Based Banding (SBB) beyond the four PSLE subjects, to allow eligible students to offer Humanities subjects at a more demanding level from Secondary 2. Other subjects such as Art, Design and Technology, Food and Consumer Education, Music will be offered as accompanying set of Common Curriculum subjects at lower secondary.

Starting from the 2024 Secondary One cohort, Full SBB will be implemented in our secondary education system. Secondary One student in 120 secondary schools will benefit from the Full SBB experience, which provides greater customisation and flexibility for each student’s learning.

Removal of Express, Normal(Academic) [N(A)] & Normal(Technical) [N(T)] streams

MOE will post students to secondary school through three Posting Groups – Posting Groups 1, 2, and 3. The PSLE score ranges for the three Posting Groups will be mapped from the existing N(T), N(A) and Express streams respectively. Posting Groups will only be used for the purposes of admitting students into secondary school and to guide the initial subject levels students can offer at the start of Secondary One.

Throughout their secondary school education, students can take subjects at three subject levels, known as G1, G2, G3 (G stands for General), mapped from today's N(T), N(A) and Express standards respectively. Students will have the flexibility to adjust their subject levels at appropriate junctures, based on their strengths, interests and learning needs. Students will subsequently access programmes and post-secondary pathways based on their various subjects and subject level combinations.

Mixed Form Classes

Once students enter secondary school, they will be grouped into mixed form classes comprising students from different Posting Groups and will have opportunities to interact and learn with peers of different backgrounds, strengths, and interests.

Find out more on MOE's FSBB Site! ↗ (opens in new tab)

Offering Subjects At a More Demanding Level

Students may be able to take some subjects at More Demanding levels (MDL) to stretch themselves cognitively and acquire deeper competencies in their areas of strengths.

At the start of Secondary One

Eligible students can offer English Language, Mother Tongue Languages, Mathematics and Science at a more demanding level based on their PSLE Achievement Level (AL) for each of these subjects.

Starting from the S1 cohort in 2026, Higher Mother Tongue Language (HMTL) eligibility will no longer be dependent on students' overall PSLE score. Students with PSLE MTL score of AL1/AL2, or HMTL score of Distinction/Merit may offer HMTL at the start of S1.

Beyond the start of Secondary One

From Secondary 2 (S2), students will also be able to offer Humanities subjects (Geography, History, and Literature in English) at a more demanding level. The criteria for taking Humanities at a more demanding level will be based on students' aptitude for and interest in these subjects at S1.

Offering subjects at a less demanding level

At the start of Secondary One

For students who offered English, Mathematics and/or Science at Foundation level at PSLE but are otherwise eligible to take most of their subjects at G3 when entering secondary school, they may choose to take these subjects at a less demanding level (i.e., G2), in consultation with their secondary schools.

Students who face exceptional difficulties coping with their Mother Tongue Languages (MTL) will have the option to offer G1 or G2 MTL. At the start of Secondary One, students can offer MTL at a less demanding level based on the following criteria:

Beyond the start of Secondary One

Students may offer subjects at a less demanding level, based on their performance and schools’ holistic assessment, to calibrate their academic load.

Schools will also have the discretion to allow students with difficulties coping with MTL to offer MTL at a less demanding level, based on holistic considerations.

Students who offer subjects at a less demanding level may subsequently offer the subjects at a more demanding level as they gain greater competence and confidence in the subjects.

The increased flexibility empowers students to take greater ownership of their learning according to their subject-specific strengths and interests.

Subjects at Lower Secondary

Under FSBB, all the subjects students offer are categorized into two groups – those in the Common Curriculum, and those offered as SBB subjects at different levels.

Common Curriculum subjects

In their mixed form classes, students will spend around one-third of their curriculum time taking a set of six common curriculum subjects:

These subjects give students more opportunities to interact and learn with classmates of different strengths and interests.

Teachers will adopt a range of teaching approaches to meet the different learning needs and pace of their students in the same form class.

Subjects offered at G1, G2 and G3

English Language, Mother Tongue Languages, Mathematics, Science, and Humanities subjects (Geography, History and Literature) will be offered at G1, G2 and G3. 

Students will be grouped in different classes based on their subject level for each subject. This provides students with a more customised learning experience according to their subject-specific strengths and interests and empowers students to take greater ownership of their learning.

The following curriculum policy changes will also be implemented from the 2024 Secondary One cohort: