Junior College Admission Criteria to Shift from L1R5 to L1R4 in 2028
Starting from the 2028 admission exercise, students aspiring to enter junior college (JC) will be assessed based on five O-Level subjects instead of the current six, as announced by the Ministry of Education (MOE) on Thursday (Mar 6).
Under the existing L1R5 system, students must achieve a score of 20 points or lower across six O-Level subjects to qualify for JC entry. This includes one language subject, one humanities subject, one science or mathematics subject, an additional humanities, science, or mathematics subject, and two other top-scoring subjects.
With the introduction of L1R4 in 2028, students will now need to score 16 points or lower across five subjects, effectively removing one of their best-performing subjects from consideration. However, the requirement to pass a mother tongue language with at least a D7 remains unchanged.
Admission Criteria for Millennia Institute
For students applying to Millennia Institute (MI), the L1R4 threshold will remain at 20 points. However, applicants must include three subjects from both the humanities and the science or mathematics categories, as specified by MOE.
Despite these changes, the ministry expects that the proportion and academic profile of students qualifying for JC will remain largely unaffected.
A More Flexible Approach to Academics
Speaking in Parliament about MOE’s plans for the year, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing highlighted that the revised admission criteria will give students greater flexibility. The adjustment allows them to take fewer subjects or select certain subjects at a less rigorous level. This change is intended to free up time for students to explore personal interests, engage in co-curricular activities, and strengthen communication and teamwork skills.
To reflect the reduction in required subjects, the maximum bonus points for JC admissions—including MI—will be lowered from four to three.
Background and Rationale for the Change
The L1R5 system was originally introduced in 1989 to address low A-Level passing rates among JC students. At the time, requiring students to take three relevant subjects ensured they had a strong academic foundation to handle the A-Level curriculum. However, student preparedness has improved significantly over the years.
MOE noted that A-Level pass rates have risen from approximately 65% in 1990 to 95% in 2023. Additionally, the proportion of O-Level students taking eight or more subjects has increased from 15% in 1997 to 30% in 2023.
This shift to L1R4 aligns with MOE’s broader efforts to promote holistic education beyond academic performance. Since students will still be required to take three subjects from both the humanities and science or mathematics categories, they will remain well-equipped for the academic rigour of JC studies.