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 we push for just one extra mark?” Miriam asked.
She wasn’t alone. Many parents share her frustration. The shift from the old T‑score system to the Achievement Level (AL) scoring has changed not only how results are reported, but also how students and parents approach preparation, motivation, and strategy. The good news is: once you understand how AL works, you can guide your child more confidently—and that’s exactly what helped Zoe.
The New Landscape: Why the AL System?
Under the old T‑score system, even a single extra mark could shift a student’s ranking, intensifying stress and competition. Recognising this, MOE introduced the AL system in 2021 to reduce fine differentiation and encourage deeper learning. Now, students aren’t compared directly against peers but assessed on Achievement Levels (AL1 to AL8) for each subject.
Read more at MOE: https://www.moe.gov.sg/microsites/psle-fsbb/psle/main.html
How the AL System Works
Each subject—English, Mathematics, Science, and Mother Tongue—is graded from AL1 (best) to AL8. The total PSLE score is the sum of these four ALs, with a minimum of 4 and maximum of 32. Foundation subjects map to AL6 to AL8. Lower totals are better.
PSLE AL ranges:
• AL1: ≥ 90
• AL2: 85–89
• AL3: 80–84
• AL4: 75–79
• AL5: 65–74
• AL6: 45–64
• AL7: 20–44
• AL8: <20
Calculator tool: https://www.moe.gov.sg/microsites/psle-fsbb/resources/score-calculator.html
Tie‑Breakers & Secondary School Posting
If multiple students achieve the same score, MOE applies tie‑breakers in this order:
1. Citizenship status
2. School choice order
3. Computerised balloting
More details at Matrix Math: https://matrixmath.sg/psle-scoring-system
What This Means for Students & Parents
The AL system rewards balance. One weak subject can weigh heavily, and small mark differences within an AL band don’t matter. That means steady progress and conceptual mastery are more important than last‑minute mark chasing.
Forum discussion: https://www.reddit.com/r/SGExams/comments/1lstyig/the_al_system_four_years_later/
How Altius Enrichment Helps
At Altius Enrichment, we structure our services to align with the AL system:
• Student Care: Structured daily routines, homework support, and targeted guidance.
• English Tuition: Comprehension, writing, vocabulary, and inference.
• Math Tuition: Heuristics, model drawing, and problem‑solving.
• Critical Thinking: Reasoning drills and higher‑order thinking.
• Parent Workshops: Guidance on the AL system and school postings.
Explore our programmes:
English
Math (MPM)
Student Care
Tips for Parents
• Encourage wide reading habits.
• Use mixed practice to revisit weaker areas.
• Focus on concepts, not just shortcuts.
• Celebrate small improvements to build confidence.
• Stay in communication with teachers and Altius tutors.
Conclusion
The AL system has changed the scoring landscape but not the ultimate goal: deep learning, steady growth, and confident secondary school placement. With the right support from Altius Enrichment, your child can thrive under this system and beyond.
Disclaimer: Names and scenarios in this article have been changed for privacy.
