Parent Guide: Full SBB English (G1, G2, G3)

Overview: What is Full SBB?

Full Subject-Based Banding (FSBB) replaces the old “Express, NA, NT” streams. Instead of being locked into one stream, students are now placed in Posting Groups (1, 2, 3) and can take different subjects at different levels: G1, G2, or G3.

For English Language, this means:

G3 English ≈ equivalent to Express standard
G2 English ≈ equivalent to NA standard
G1 English ≈ equivalent to NT standard

Every subject is taught at the level that best matches the student’s strengths.

What G1, G2, and G3 English Mean

G3 English (Most Demanding)

Who takes it: Students with strong PSLE results or high ability in English.
Curriculum: Aligned with O-Level English Language syllabus.
Skills Expected:
Advanced comprehension with inference & evaluation
Continuous writing (expository, argumentative, narrative)
Situational writing (letters, reports, proposals)
Grammar & editing accuracy
Oral fluency (stimulus-based conversation with substantiated points)
Future Pathways: Prepares for JC, IB, or Poly.

📖 See our guide: Secondary 3 G3 English Tuition in Punggol.

G2 English (Moderate Level)

Who takes it: Students with developing English ability.
Curriculum: Similar to NA-level English in the old system.
Skills Expected:
Shorter comprehension passages, with focus on main ideas
Simpler essay tasks (narrative, descriptive, informal letters)
Grammar drills for sentence-level accuracy
Oral practice for fluency and clarity
Future Pathways: Prepares for N-Level exam, with possible progression to O-Level if strong performance is shown.

📖 For examples, see our Secondary 2 G2 English Tuition write-ups.

G1 English (Support Level)

Who takes it: Students who need significant support in language.
Curriculum: Aligned with old NT English.
Skills Expected:
Basic reading comprehension for simple texts
Functional writing (emails, messages, short reports)
Grammar basics (tenses, sentence structure, everyday vocabulary)
Oral practice for practical communication
Future Pathways: N(T) exams, progression to vocational training, ITE, and specific pathways to Poly/JC if students excel later.

What Parents Need to Know

Placement is Flexible: Students can take some subjects at G3 and others at G2 or G1, depending on strengths.
Upgrading/Downgrading Possible: Schools can move students between levels based on performance.
English Matters Most: Since English is L1 in admissions scoring, performing well in G3 English opens the widest future options.
Tuition Can Bridge Gaps: Students at G2 or G1 who show improvement can move to higher levels with the right support.
MOE Syllabus is Unified: Whether G1, G2, or G3, all English lessons follow the same MOE English Language Syllabus (2020), but scaled to level.

FAQs for Parents

Q: Can my child move from G2 to G3 English?
Yes. With strong school performance and teacher recommendations, students can shift levels. This is why tuition support at Sec 1–2 is critical.

Q: Is G1 English too basic?
Not at all — it’s designed to help students build confidence and functionality in English. But parents should be aware that pathways to JC/IB/Poly may be narrower.

Q: Do all students take the same O-Level English exam?
No. Only G3 English prepares students for O-Level English. G2 leads to N-Level English, and G1 leads to N(T) exams.

Q: How do I know what level my child is at?
Schools will inform you after PSLE posting. Levels can change later based on performance.

Enrolment at eduKate Punggol

At eduKate Punggol, we teach G1, G2, and G3 English in 3-pax small-group tutorials. Our approach:

Customised to level: G1 focuses on basics, G2 on steady improvement, G3 on exam mastery.
Aligned with MOE/SEAB: Ensuring relevance to national exams.
Confidence first: Students build communication, vocabulary, and exam readiness.

📌 Book a consultation now to see how we can support your child across all English levels (G1–G3).