New A Level Rank Points System: How Will It Affect You?

The new A Level rank point system is part of the Ministry of Education’s plan to reduce exam stress and encourage students to pursue their interests. Since 2024, Project Work has become a Pass/Fail subject instead of being given a letter grade. And from 2026, local universities will only count applicants’ 3 H2 core subjects and General Paper (GP) into the rank points, which will be out of a maximum score of 70 points instead of 90. The grade for the contrasting subject will only be counted in if it improves the applicant’s overall score.

While the policy change comes with good intentions to reduce exam stress, we will have to wait to observe how these changes affect students’ stress levels and the level of competition at the A Levels. After all, the A Levels is considered a high stakes exam that greatly impacts which university and courses they can enter.

If you are in the position of being one of the first few batches to experience the new A Level RP scoring system, here are some potential impacts that may affect you:

Flexibility to choose a contrasting subject that interests you

One key benefit of this new system is the opportunity to explore subjects without the pressure of achieving a top grade. Since the contrasting subject will not automatically contribute to your rank points, you now have more freedom to select a subject based on genuine interest rather than strategic necessity.

This flexibility can be beneficial for students who wish to broaden their knowledge in areas such as the arts, humanities, or sciences without the concern that a lower grade will affect university admissions. At the same time, those who find their contrasting subject challenging can redirect their focus to other priorities, such as co-curricular activities, leadership roles, or community service projects.

Increased competition for university places

With the total rank points decreasing from 90 to 70, it will theoretically be easier to achieve a perfect score. Previously, students needed to score six As to achieve the maximum rank points, whereas under the new system, they will only need to secure four As.

This shift may lead to a situation where more students achieve full marks, making it more difficult to stand out in university applications. As a result, students may feel increased pressure to differentiate themselves through strong portfolios, leadership experiences, and extracurricular achievements.

Correspondingly, scores in the 60–69 range would look less impressive if more students are scoring 70 points. Some students may end up still putting in a lot of effort for their contrasting subject in hopes that it can pull up their rank points.

 A more forgiving system for some students

For students who struggle with a particular subject, this new system is more forgiving. Instead of being penalised for a single lower grade, students can focus on their strengths and still achieve a strong rank point score.

This is particularly advantageous for students who excel in a few subjects but may not perform as well in others. By allowing them to concentrate on their strongest subjects, the system ensures they have a fair opportunity to achieve their best possible outcome.

Changing subject preferences and demand for tuition

As students adjust their academic strategies in response to these changes, the popularity of certain subjects may shift. Since Economics is the most popular contrasting subject, there is speculation that demand for Economics Tuition may decline as students choose to focus on their core subjects. Meanwhile, students are expected to pay even more attention to GP, as it now accounts for about 14% of the total rank points – and this may lead to increased interest in GP tuition.

Over time, we might see some subjects becoming more competitive as more students take it, while some subjects will fall out of favour. Schools may also reallocate resources to reflect changes in subject demand.

What this means for you

While these changes are designed to reduce exam stress, their full impact will only become clear in time. The revised system offers more flexibility but also presents new challenges—particularly in local university admissions, subject selection, and tuition demand. The focus for students may shift away from purely academic performance towards a more holistic evaluation that includes co-curricular achievements and personal development.

As a leading tuition centre in Singapore, we are committed to supporting students in their academic journey, even amidst these changes. Whether you are aiming to get into a particular uni course, or simply get support for a core subject you are weak in, we are here to provide guidance and tutoring to help you reach your goals.

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