What G3, G2, and G1 stand for
- G3 — the most demanding subject level. It follows the assessment standard previously used for O-Level.
- G2 — the middle subject level. It follows the assessment standard previously used for N(A)-Level. A student can go on to take the same subject at G3, typically through Sec 5.
- G1 — the foundation subject level. It follows the assessment standard previously used for N(T)-Level.
From 2027 these are no longer separate qualifications. The O-Level and N-Level certificates are replaced by a single Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate (SEC), which lists each subject alongside the level it was taken at. A student may therefore sit some SEC subjects at G3 and others at G2. What the SEC changes →
How banding works now (vs the old system)
Under the old streams, a student was either Express, N(A), or N(T) across all subjects. Under Full SBB, a student can take Math at G3 but Science at G2, or vice versa. Schools assess and place each student subject by subject from Sec 1.
Can students move between bands?
Yes — and this is one of the bigger changes. A G2 student doing well in Math can move up to G3 mid-year. A G3 student struggling can move down to G2 without changing schools or their other subjects. Schools monitor performance term by term.
What G3 vs G2 means for Math
The Math content is largely the same in concept; G2 covers a subset of G3 topics with less depth and a different paper format. At Sec 1 and Sec 2, where subject levels are still moving, G2 and G3 students can be taught together — as long as the teaching is differentiated to each student's current level, so the assessed G2 syllabus is mastered first and G3-level work is added for students ready to be stretched. By Sec 3 and Sec 4 the papers diverge enough that a G2 student is better served by teaching calibrated to the G2 paper.
At Sec 3 and Sec 4, the band determines exam track: G3 students sit G3 Math (E Math, optionally A Math), while G2 students sit G2 E Math.
What G3 vs G2 means for Science
At Sec 1 and Sec 2, Science is taught together for G3 and G2 with the same core content. From Sec 3, G3 students typically split into Pure Physics, Pure Chemistry, and Pure Biology (or two-subject Combined Science). G2 students continue with a Combined Science variant suitable for the G2 track.
When G3 vs G2 matters most
- Sec 1 placement — the band assigned at Sec 1 affects which papers a student sits later.
- Borderline students — Sec 1 and early Sec 2 are when focused intervention makes the most difference to readiness. By Sec 3, the gap is harder to close. Whether a student moves to a more demanding subject level is ultimately the school's decision, based on the student's overall performance and readiness — tuition can build the readiness, it cannot award the level.
- Pathway planning — subjects taken at G3 keep JC and polytechnic open; G2 leads to polytechnic, or to the same subject at G3 through Sec 5.
Further reading
For a deeper take on what this means when choosing tuition, see our G2 vs G3 Math tuition guide for parents.
Where this comes from. Full Subject-Based Banding and the G1/G2/G3 subject levels are MOE policy — see MOE's Full Subject-Based Banding FAQ. "Subject levels" is MOE's own term for G1, G2 and G3. Syllabus and exam detail comes from SEAB. Last checked 16 Aug 2026.