Quick answer for Singapore families (7 November 2026). The 2027 Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate (SEC) will show the subjects a student took and the level of each subject: G1, G2 or G3. For certain post-secondary progression calculations, SEAB provides a grade-mapping framework so results from subjects taken at more demanding levels can be used in an aggregate calculation. Mapping is a calculation rule for specified progression purposes. It does not mean that G1, G2 and G3 syllabuses, grades or learning experiences are interchangeable.
This distinction matters. A G3 grade is not simply relabelled as a G2 grade on the student’s certificate. The certificate reflects the actual subject level sat. Mapping is applied only when an aggregate score needs it, such as ELMAB3 for specified ITE and Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP) progression purposes, or ELR2B2 for polytechnic admissions. The exact course requirements and aggregate rules must still be checked for the relevant admissions year.
Start here: identify the student’s actual subject and G-level, read the grade on the SEC, then check whether the intended pathway’s aggregate calculation calls for mapping. Do not convert every grade just to compare students or predict admission. SEAB’s official SEC guide is the primary reference.
Find what you need
- The three SEC grading scales
- The official G3-to-G2 and G2-to-G1 mappings
- A worked example
- When mapping is used—and when it is not
- What appears on the certificate
- What parents should check for a pathway
- Frequently asked questions
1. The G1, G2 and G3 grade scales are different
SEAB states that the subject-level grading structures follow the corresponding former N(T), N(A) and O-Level structures:
| Subject level | SEC grade structure | Broad reference standard |
|---|---|---|
| G1 | A, B, C, D, E | Former N(T)-level standard |
| G2 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 | Former N(A)-level standard |
| G3 | A1, A2, B3, B4, C5, C6, D7, E8, 9 | Former O-Level standard |
These are not one shared alphabetical or numerical scale. For example, a G3 B4 and a G2 grade 2 are labels from two different subject-level grading structures. SEAB supplies mapping rules for specified aggregate purposes; the family should not invent a conversion table or assume that the same numeral means the same standard.
The 2027 SEC brings the subjects together under one certificate and a common examination framework. SEAB explicitly says the overall examination standards do not change because of the new certificate. Students still sit each subject at the level they offer.
2. G3 results mapped to G2 for aggregate calculations
When a G3 grade has to be represented at G2 level for a progression aggregate, SEAB publishes this mapping:
| G3 grade achieved | Mapped G2 grade |
|---|---|
| A1, A2 or B3 | 1 |
| B4, C5 or C6 | 2 |
| D7 | 3 |
| E8 | 4 |
| 9 | 5 |
A G3 grade 9 maps to G2 grade 5. The published table does not show a G3 grade mapping to G2 grade 6. Use the official table as printed; do not invent a value for a blank cell.
3. G2 results mapped to G1 for aggregate calculations
Where a progression calculation requires a G1 equivalent for a G2 subject, SEAB states:
| G2 grade achieved | Mapped G1 grade |
|---|---|
| 1, 2 or 3 | A |
| 4 | B |
| 5 | C |
| 6 | D |
The table does not list a G2 grade mapping to G1 E. If a G3 grade must be mapped to G1 for a stated progression purpose, SEAB explains that the G3 grade is first mapped to G2 and then from G2 to G1. Follow the published two-stage rule rather than inventing a direct conversion.
4. Worked example: what a mapped aggregate entry means
SEAB gives an illustrative ELMAB3 mapping example. A candidate has G3 English Language grade B4, G3 Mathematics A1, G3 Science B3, G2 Combined Humanities grade 2, G2 Chinese grade 5, and G1 Computing grade A.
For the example’s mapping to G2, the first three G3 results become 2, 1 and 1 respectively; the G2 Combined Humanities grade remains 2 and G2 Chinese remains 5. The G1 Computing grade is marked as not mapped in SEAB’s example because that subject is not used in the ELMAB3 calculation shown.
This shows two important things. First, mapping is done for the particular aggregate and subject set, not as a universal conversion of the whole certificate. Second, not every subject on the certificate necessarily enters a given aggregate. The aggregate formula and subject-selection rules determine which subjects count.
Do not treat the example as a prediction of a particular student’s ELMAB3 or admission. Actual subject combinations, eligibility conditions, cohort rules and course requirements must be checked for the relevant intake.
5. What is grade mapping used for?
SEAB identifies mapping where grades from subjects taken at more demanding levels need to be incorporated into aggregate scores for post-secondary progression. Its examples include ELMAB3 for admission to Year 2 of Higher Nitec and the Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP), and ELR2B2 for polytechnic admissions.
The name of an aggregate signals a prescribed subject combination. It is not necessarily the best three or five marks chosen casually from the student’s transcript. The admission route determines the required subjects and the relevant calculation. Course-specific minimum subject requirements may also apply.
For example, a polytechnic course may require a specified pass in Mathematics or a relevant science subject. A favourable aggregate cannot automatically replace a subject prerequisite. Families should examine both the aggregate calculation and the course’s own entry conditions.
6. What mapping does not mean
- It does not change the examination sat. A student who sits G3 Mathematics receives a G3 Mathematics result on the SEC.
- It does not make syllabuses the same. G1, G2 and G3 remain subject-level curricula with their own content and standards.
- It is not a universal comparison tool. Do not use the mapping to claim that all students with a mapped grade have identical knowledge or learning histories.
- It does not guarantee admission. Admission depends on the relevant aggregate, subject prerequisites, eligibility, places and current admissions rules.
A useful family habit is to keep the original grade visible, and show the mapped value separately only when a named progression calculation requires it. That prevents the purpose of the conversion from being lost.
7. What appears on the SEC certificate?
SEAB states that candidates receive one certificate reflecting all subjects taken at the different levels. The SEC certificate is not a transcript that silently converts every G3 result to G2 or every G2 result to G1. The subject and its level remain part of the record.
SEAB also states the subject-grade thresholds for an SEC certificate: E8 or better for a G3 subject, grade 5 or better for a G2 subject, and grade D or better for a G1 subject. This certificate threshold is distinct from the requirements for entry to a particular post-secondary course. Passing a subject for certificate purposes does not, by itself, guarantee eligibility for every pathway.
8. How parents should check a real course or pathway
- Write down the exact post-secondary route: PFP, a particular ITE Higher Nitec entry point, a polytechnic diploma, JC or MI.
- Identify the intake year. Rules and admission exercises can change between cohorts.
- List the required aggregate and the subjects that enter it.
- Check any specific subject prerequisites and minimum grades.
- Apply SEAB’s grade mapping only where the official aggregate calculation requires it.
- Check the latest official admissions information before making a decision.
Do not rely on a secondary-school presentation from a previous year as the only authority. It may be a helpful explanation, but the current SEAB, MOE and institution admissions pages take precedence.
9. Why G1, G2 and G3 remain meaningful after grade mapping
Full SBB allows students to take subjects at levels that better reflect their strengths, interests and learning needs. A student may have a mixed profile across Mathematics, English, Science, Humanities and Mother Tongue. Grade mapping helps the post-secondary progression calculations handle those combinations where required. It is not a statement that subject-level flexibility has erased the differences between the standards.
This is also why a family should look beyond a single aggregate. The student’s interests, subject strengths, learning habits and chosen course matter. Mapping is a tool for a specific admissions calculation; it is not the whole story of a learner’s next step.
Frequently asked questions
Does a G3 B4 become G2 grade 2 on the SEC certificate?
No. The certificate records the subject and level sat. SEAB’s G3-to-G2 mapping is used when a specified aggregate calculation needs it.
Does every G3 grade have a G2 equivalent?
SEAB’s published table maps A1–B3 to 1, B4–C6 to 2, D7 to 3, E8 to 4 and 9 to 5. Use that official table and do not invent additional conversions.
Why is a G2 grade mapped to G1?
For progression calculations that require a G1-equivalent value. SEAB maps G2 grades 1–3 to A, 4 to B, 5 to C and 6 to D.
Can the grade mapping tell me whether my child will get into a polytechnic?
Not on its own. The correct aggregate, relevant subjects, course prerequisites, eligibility conditions and competition for places all matter.
Does the SEC combine the standards of N-Level and O-Level examinations?
No. SEAB states that subjects are sat at their respective G1, G2 or G3 level and that overall examination standards do not change under the new certificate.
Do all subjects count towards ELMAB3 or ELR2B2?
No. Each aggregate has defined subject components and selection rules. Check the current admissions requirements for the route and cohort.
Continue reading
- Full SBB G1/G2/G3 master guide
- How to read a report card with mixed G-level subjects
- Choosing a Secondary 3 subject combination
- SEAB: official SEC grading, mapping and certificate information
Official-source review: 7 November 2026. Grade structures, mapping tables, certificate thresholds and example are from SEAB’s SEC information page, last updated 14 May 2026 (page footer updated 5 August 2026). Admission examples are explanatory only; always use the current intake’s official rules.