To ensure a pass and be promoted, a student in the Express Stream must obtain 50% or more in English Language and a pass percentage in the average of all subjects. A student in the Normal Stream must obtain 50% or more in English Language and two other subjects.

Promotion to Secondary 4 and 5

To be promoted to Secondary 4, a student in the Express Stream must secure a minimum Grade 6 in at least 3 subjects including English Language. A student in the Normal Stream must obtain a minimum Grade 5 in English Language and two other subjects to be promoted to Secondary 4 and 5.

Promotion Criteria at a glance

For more details, please refer to the following tables:

Express Course

Level	Criteria for Promotion	Pass	Failed
1E	Pass EL and a pass percentage in the average for all subjects	Promoted to 2E	Transferred to 2N(A)
2E	Pass EL and a pass percentage in the average for all subjects	Promoted to 3E	Transferred to 3N(A)
3E	Grade 6 or better in EL and 2 other subject	Promoted to 4E	Retained in 3E (Below maximum age) / Transferred to 4N(A) (at or above maximum age)
3E	Failed EL but obtained Grade 6 or better in 5 subjects	Advanced to 4E	-

Normal (Academic) Course

Level	Criteria for Promotion	Pass	Failed
1N(A)	Grade 5 or better in EL & 2 other subjects or 4 subjects	Promoted to 2N(A)	Retained in 1N(A)
2N(A)	Grade 5 or better in EL & 2 other subjects or 4 subjects	Promoted to 3N(A)	Retained in 2N(A)
3N(A)	Grade 5 or better in EL & 2 other subjects or 4 subjects	Promoted to 4N(A)	Retained in 3N(A)
4N(A)	An aggregate of 19 points of less in EL, Math and best 3 other subjects in GCE N-level Exam. All 5 subjects must have Grade 5 or better. Additional Pathways An aggregate of 19 points of less in EL, Math and best 3 other subjects. A Grade 4 or better in both EL and Math. An aggregate of 11 points or less in EL, Math and best 3 other subjects. A Grade 3 or better in both EL and Math.	Promoted to 5N(A) Enrol directly into Higher Nitec at ITE. Apply through ITE website during Joint Intake Exercise (JIT) in December. Option of enrolling in the Polytechnic Foundation Programme.	Retained in 4N(A) If aggregate score does not exceed 1 point for EL, Math and best 3 subjects; or if aggregate score does not exceed 14 points for Math and best 3 subjects and has sat for GCE N-Level Exam for the 1st time in the current year.
* Applicable only to students below the maximum age

Normal (Technical) Course

Level	Criteria for Promotion	Pass	Failed
1N(T)	Grade 5 or better in 2 subjects, one of which should be EL or Math	Promoted to 2N(T)	Retained in 1N(T)
2N(T)	Grade 5 or better in 2 subjects, one of which should be EL or Math	Promoted to 3N(T)	Retained in 2N(T)
3N(T)	Grade 5 or better in 2 subjects, one of which should be EL or Math	Promoted to 4N(T)	Retained in 3N(T)
4N(T)	Grade 1 in EL and Math and a grade 3 in a 3rd subject		No retention . Apply for Admission to ITE for post-secondary eduction.
* Applicable only to students below the maximum age