Future JC Requirements: Understanding the Shift from L1R5 to L1R4

For many Secondary School students, planning life after O-Levels often leads to one big question: Should the next step be Junior College, Millennia Institute, or Polytechnic? Once the O-Level results are released, students submit their choices through the Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE), which determines their post-secondary pathway.

Recently, however, the Ministry of Education announced a major change to JC admission scoring.

From 2028 onwards, students will be assessed using the L1R4 system instead of the long-standing L1R5 framework. This update may change how students approach subject choices and academic preparation during Secondary School. Now, with this shift coming, how should Secondary School students start planning their O-Level strategy differently?

A Look Back at the L1R5 Framework

Before this new change was introduced, students aiming for JC have always planned their O-Level results around the L1R5 system. This scoring method looks at six subjects in total. L1 refers to the first language, usually English or Higher Mother Tongue, while R5 counts five other relevant subjects. These typically include Humanities, Mathematics or Science, plus two other subjects where students perform strongest.

To enter JC, students need an L1R5 score of 20 points or below.

How the JC Admission Criteria are Evolving

So, what are the new admission criteria for JC, and how will they change the way students prepare for O-Levels?

While the subject mix remains similar, fewer subjects will be counted, which means every subject result carries slightly more weight. The goal of this adjustment is to give students more space to focus on core subjects while still maintaining strong academic readiness for JC.

Key updates students should take note of include:

• JC admission will shift from L1R5 to L1R4
• Students will now be assessed using five O-Level subjects instead of six
• The new qualifying score for JC admission will be 16 points or lower
• Subject requirements remain similar: English or Higher Mother Tongue (L1), three relevant subjects including at least one Mathematics or Science and one Humanities subject, plus one additional best-scoring subject
• For Millennia Institute (MI), the qualifying score will remain at 20 points under L1R4
• The maximum bonus points deduction will be reduced from four points to three points
• Minimum subject passing grades remain unchanged: C6 for English, D7 for Mathematics, and D7 for Mother Tongue

The Implementation Timeline

This change will not affect everyone at once. The revised L1R4 criteria will be applied starting with the 2028 JC admissions exercise. That means the first group impacted are students currently in Secondary 3, who will sit for their national examinations in 2027. This cohort will also be the first to take the new Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate under full subject-based banding.

Rationale for the Educational Policy Shift

But why would MOE change a JC admission system that has been in place for so long?

When L1R5 was first introduced, the main concern was whether students were academically ready for the demands of JC. Passing rates at the A-Levels were much lower then, and counting more subjects helped ensure students had a broad enough base to cope.

Today, JC students are coping better than ever, with A-Level passing rates rising steadily over the years. At the same time, many Secondary School students are managing heavier subject loads earlier on, often taking eight or more subjects at O-Levels. Academic readiness is no longer the main issue. Burnout, pressure, and surface learning are.

The shift to L1R4 is meant to address this balance. By reducing the number of subjects counted, students are given more space to focus on core subjects, build stronger understanding, and stay engaged in CCAs or other pursuits without feeling stretched thin. The aim is not to make JC entry easier, but to support more sustainable learning habits that carry through to the A-Level years.

Potential Impacts of the L1R4 System

This shift to L1R4, of course, will change how students experience the run-up to O-Levels, not just how scores are calculated. With fewer subjects counted, there is more room to focus, but the margin for error also becomes smaller.

What works in your favour:

• One fewer subject counted, which reduces overall exam pressure
• Greater flexibility to decide which subjects to prioritise academically
• More time to stay involved in CCAs, talent programmes, or personal interests
• Better chances to build a stronger understanding of core subjects

What you need to plan for:

• Each subject now carries more weight, so every paper matters
• A weak performance in one subject has a bigger impact on the final score
• Narrower score ranges may increase competition among students with similar results
• Consistent effort across all subjects becomes more important than relying on late improvements

Addressing Parent Concerns and Uncertainties

Besides changes to scoring and subject weightage, there is no doubt that many parents are also thinking ahead about how these shifts may affect school choices and long-term pathways. Here’s what you should know:

Will this Shift Impact School Competitiveness?

With one fewer subject counted, JC cut-off points are expected to trend lower across the board, at least in the early years of L1R4. Popular schools may see movement as results cluster more tightly, but rankings will likely shift as teaching approaches and student profiles adjust to the new system. But instead of chasing changing cut-offs, focus on a school environment that suits your child’s learning style.

Will this Shift Impact University Admission Expectations?

University admissions teams are familiar with changes in pre-university systems and are likely to adjust their evaluation methods as L1R4 cohorts progress through JC. While scoring structures may evolve, strong academic foundations, subject readiness, and consistent performance will continue to matter. The pathway may look different on paper, but expectations around rigour and preparedness are unlikely to disappear.

Practical Strategies for Student Preparation