Subject-Based Banding (SBB) in Primary Schools: What Parents Need to Know

When Jia Lin’s son, Wei Ming, finished Primary 4 that year, she walked into the school to collect his exam report. The principal handed her a small option form. “Choose your subject combination for P5,” he said. Jia Lin’s heart skipped a beat. Suddenly, terms like Standard, Foundation, SBB, and mix-and-match floated around her mind. […]

Understanding the New PSLE AL System: What Every Parent Must Know

A Singaporean Chinese mother helping her daughter with homework at a study desk, both smiling.

When Miriam first sat down with her Primary 6 daughter, Zoe, to help her plan for the PSLE, the conversation turned more confusing than comforting. They flicked through school pamphlets, MOE websites, and parents’ forums—but the new “AL system” just didn’t feel intuitive. “What does AL4 mean? Is AL1 always safe? And how much should […]