If you missed a Singapore-Cambridge GCE paper for a valid reason or sat it under adverse circumstances, contact your school or the relevant official candidate route promptly about special consideration. SEAB’s published instructions say applications and supporting information must reach it no later than three working days after the affected paper.
For GCE subjects, SEAB says a candidate must have completed at least 50% of the affected subject’s component weighting for a grade to be projected. Check the weighting in the syllabus for your exact subject and exam year. Keep the application deadline separate from any date for your remaining papers.
- Report the circumstances and name the exact paper.
- Check the submission route and the three-working-day deadline.
- Gather the required evidence and check the subject’s component weights.
- Confirm arrangements for any remaining papers.
Who handles the application?
School candidates should approach a teacher and apply through their school. This also applies to school candidates taking a paper at a centralised venue. Tell the school the subject and component, what happened and whether you attended, left early or were absent.
If you registered as a private individual through the Candidates Portal, SEAB directs you to apply through that portal. Candidates registered through a private centre should ask the centre coordinator for help. Check the route early so you have time to submit complete information.
Save the acknowledgement where one is available. If the school or centre is helping with submission, ask whether anything is still needed from you and when it needs it. The official deadline concerns when the application and supporting information reach SEAB.
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What the 50% rule measures
Use the weightings in the examination syllabus for the affected subject. These percentages describe each component’s contribution to that subject. They can differ even where two papers take a similar amount of time.
Imagine a subject with components worth 20%, 30% and 50%. Completing the first two would account for half the weighting in this example. Completing just the 20% component would fall short. Use this calculation only with your subject’s published figures and confirm how SEAB treats any component that you started but could not finish.
SEAB says candidates who can reach the threshold by sitting the remaining papers must sit those papers for special consideration to be available for the subject. Confirm your remaining reporting instructions and ask the school or SEAB how to proceed if the circumstances still affect attendance.
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What evidence to prepare
Record the examination date, the paper and the circumstances. Describe the effect on the examination plainly. If you sat the paper, explain what you were able to complete and what interrupted you. If you were absent, record the affected component and when you notified the relevant contact.
For illness, SEAB’s FAQ calls for a medical document with a diagnosis by a qualified medical professional registered with the Singapore Medical Council. It must be dated on or before the affected date and cover the relevant examination dates. SEAB also asks for information about how the illness affected attendance or performance.
Ask the school, centre or SEAB about other circumstances and submit only through the official route. SEAB says late submissions or applications with incomplete information or supporting documents will not be processed.
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Keep separate exam procedures straight
Special consideration is assessed on the circumstances and evidence of the case. Check with the school or SEAB about how the outcome will be communicated. An acknowledgement tells you the application reached the submission route. Keep a separate record of the eventual decision.
If you already received access arrangements for a condition, tell the school or SEAB. Its rules distinguish arrangements made for sitting an examination from special consideration and restrict applications for the same condition in specified cases. See the access arrangements guide.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the threshold half the number of papers?
Use component weighting for the affected subject. Two papers may contribute different percentages.
Does applying guarantee a grade?
SEAB assesses each case and the supporting evidence. Check the outcome through the official route.
What if my child missed a PSLE paper?
Contact the primary school immediately and follow the PSLE instructions. See the PSLE illness guide.
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Official information
Consult SEAB’s official FAQs on special consideration, the relevant GCE examination rules and the syllabus for the affected subject. Guidance checked on 8 November 2026.