How to Make Sense of the SEC G1 Science Syllabus in Singapore

The SEC G1 Science syllabus (K123) is the official SEAB document that sets out what students in Singapore are examined on in G1 Science. This guide explains how the syllabus is organised, how the two papers work, including the computer-based Paper 1, how practical skills are assessed and how families can use the document well.

What this quick-reference guide does: This technical guide helps families identify K123’s computer-based and written assessments, paper weights and curriculum themes. The main G1 Science guide develops everyday physics, health, food, data and investigations through original teaching examples. Match revision materials to the actual SEAB subject code, not merely to a broad Science or Mathematics label.

The K123 syllabus is official.

It is precise and detailed.

It rewards a close reading.

Once you know how it is organised, it becomes a useful map.

This guide is useful for families who need to:

understand the two K123 papers and how Paper 1 is taken on a computer;
check whether there is a practical examination;
see the eleven topics across three everyday contexts; or
make sense of the assessment objectives, units and glossary.

At eduKateSG, we start from the official syllabus document whenever we plan lessons, and this guide applies the same habit to G1 Science.

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SEC G1 Science Syllabus at a Glance

Syllabus code: K123
Subject code for reference (2026 and earlier): 5148, as shown on the SEAB listing page
Who it is for: school candidates taking Science at G1 level
Examination year of this document: 2027
Papers: two, and candidates must enter for both
Total time: 2 hours 15 minutes (1 hour 15 minutes for Paper 1, 1 hour for Paper 2)
Total marks: 100 (50 per paper, each worth 50%)
Paper 1 format: an e-examination, answered on a computer
Practical: no practical examination or school-based component; experimental skills may be tested within Papers 1 and 2
Calculator: an approved calculator may be used in all papers
Formula sheet: none mentioned in the syllabus document
Where to download: SEAB 2027 SEC G1 syllabuses page

This guide is based on the SEAB syllabus document examined in 2027. SEAB can update syllabuses, so always check the latest version on the SEAB website.

What the Syllabus Is For

The syllabus is built around contexts that students can relate to their everyday experiences and to what they observe in nature.

Its three aims are to:

develop 21st century competencies, such as critical and inventive thinking, communication and care for people and the environment;
help students gain knowledge, skills and values they can apply in daily life, including safe and ethical practices; and
prepare students for future learning and work.

The document also names three Practices of Science: ways of thinking and doing in science, the nature of scientific knowledge, and the links between science, technology, society and the environment.

The syllabus does not describe which course comes before or after K123.

How the Examination Is Structured

Candidates must enter for both papers, and all questions are compulsory.

Paper 1: E-Examination

Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
Marks: 50
Weighting: 50%
Mode: answered on a computer
Section A: 40 marks, made up of 30 multiple-choice questions (30 marks) and 2 to 5 selected-response questions (10 marks)
Section B: 10 marks, from 2 to 3 selected-response, short-answer or structured questions with video, animation or interactive stimuli

Selected-response questions may include matching, checkbox, drag and drop, and fill-in-the-blank formats.

Paper 2: Short-Answer and Structured

Duration: 1 hour
Marks: 50
Weighting: 50%
Questions: a variable number of short-answer and structured questions
Data-response: one question, worth 8 to 12 marks, asks candidates to interpret, evaluate or solve problems using data or observations

Is There a Practical Examination?

No. The scheme of assessment lists only Papers 1 and 2. There is no practical test, practical paper or school-based assessment.

Experimental skills can still be assessed. Questions in Papers 1 and 2 may involve experimental skills and investigations, and the Practical Guidelines expect candidates to be familiar with the techniques in the suggested activities. No detailed description of the procedures will be required.

In practice, Paper 1 needs comfort with on-screen question types, and Paper 2 needs clear short-answer and structured responses.

What the Syllabus Covers

The content is organised into three contexts, or sections, with eleven topics in all.

Machines Around Us (II)

energy, including energy conversion and conservation, power, and electricity generation and transmission;
electricity, including series and parallel circuits, and electric power and energy;
wave, including how waves are generated, wave terms and applications of waves; and
effects of force, including speed, acceleration and distance-time graphs.

Food Matters

sources of food, including growing plants and food production;
food chemistry, including separation techniques, and acids and bases; and
food safety, including food preservation and food additives.

Our Body and Health (II)

staying healthy, including physical health and problems related to bones and joints;
digestion and the digestive system;
breathing, the respiratory system and the effects of smoking; and
blood circulation and the circulatory system.

The syllabus says the topics in each context are not separate blocks of knowledge. They are linked through that context.

What the Examiners Are Looking For

The syllabus groups its assessment objectives into three areas.

A: Knowledge with Understanding (about 60%)

Phenomena, facts, laws and concepts, scientific vocabulary, apparatus and safety, quantities, and the social, economic and environmental side of applications. About one-third of these marks are allocated to recall.

B: Handling and Applying Information (about 40%)

Organising and presenting information, changing it from one form to another, processing data, spotting patterns, explaining, predicting and solving problems.

C: Experimental Skills and Investigations

Using techniques and apparatus, recording observations and measurements, handling data, evaluating results and suggesting improvements. The syllabus gives no separate weighting for C. Questions on A and B that involve experimental skills are also intended to meet parts of C.

Recall matters.

But most marks ask students to understand and use what they know.

How to Read the Syllabus Document

The document has twelve parts, and each has one job.

Introduction: the three everyday contexts that organise the topics
Aims: what the course hopes students gain, in three points
Practices of Science: how science works and how it links to society
Assessment Objectives: A, B and C, with approximate weightings for A and B
Use of Calculators: a single line on approved calculators
Scheme of Assessment: the two papers, their sections, timings and marks
Content Structure: one table of three sections and eleven topics, useful as a checklist
Syllabus Content: the content and learning outcomes for each topic, the most detailed part
Summary of Key Quantities, Symbols and Units: the quantities students should know, with their units
Chemical Names, Symbols and Formulae: a guide to names that may appear in papers
Glossary of Terms: what command words such as “Describe” and “Explain” ask for
Practical Guidelines: why practical work matters, with an outline of practical activities

Common Misunderstandings

“G1 Science has a practical exam.”

The scheme of assessment lists only two papers. Experimental skills can still appear inside questions, and the syllabus says it is important that candidates carry out appropriate practical work.

“Paper 1 is a normal pen-and-paper test.”

Paper 1 is an e-examination. Candidates answer on a computer, and Section B uses video, animation or interactive stimuli.

“Science is just memorising facts.”

Handling and Applying Information carries about 40% of the marks. Even within Knowledge with Understanding, only about one-third is allocated to recall.

“I need to memorise chemical formulae.”

The syllabus lists chemical names that may appear in papers, but states that the chemical symbols and formulae will not be assessed.

How Students Can Use the Syllabus

1. Turn the content structure into a checklist

Rate your confidence in each of the eleven topics.

2. Read the learning outcomes

They show what you should be able to do in each topic, such as state, describe or explain.

3. Learn the command words

Use the glossary to see what each instruction word asks for.

4. Get comfortable on screen

Paper 1 is taken on a computer, so practise reading and answering questions on a screen.

5. Know the practical techniques

Review the activities in the Practical Guidelines, such as filtration, pH tests and measuring pulse rate.

6. Practise reading data

Paper 2 includes a data-response question worth 8 to 12 marks.

How Parents Can Help

download the syllabus and keep a copy at home;
ask your child to show you the topic checklist now and then;
talk about science in daily life, such as food labels, cooking and exercise;
make sure your child has the approved calculator they will use in the examination;
encourage short, regular revision across all three contexts; and
keep conversations about results calm and specific.

How eduKateSG Uses the Science Syllabus

we read the official SEAB document first, rather than relying on second-hand summaries;
we read every syllabus in the same order: code, papers, objectives, content, then the notes at the back;
we help families turn the content structure into a simple checklist of the eleven topics;
we point out format details that are easy to miss, such as the computer-based Paper 1; and
we say plainly when a need falls outside what our classes cover.

Getting Support

Every student starts from a different place.

Speak with us about your child’s level, subject and recent results. If our 3-pax classes are the right fit, we will explain how they work. If they are not, we will say so honestly.

Format: Premium 3-pax small-group tutorials, 1.5 hours weekly

The usual first step is a parent–student consultation.

What Parents Can Bring to the Consultation

Useful materials include:

a copy of the syllabus, or its code;
recent test papers and weighted assessments;
the latest report book;
the school’s assessment schedule; and
examples of questions the student finds difficult.

We are not only looking at the score.

We are looking for patterns.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many papers are there in SEC G1 Science?

There are two compulsory papers. Paper 1 is a 1 hour 15 minute e-examination and Paper 2 is a 1 hour paper of short-answer and structured questions. Each carries 50 marks and is worth 50%.

Does G1 Science have a practical exam?

No. The syllabus lists only Papers 1 and 2, with no practical test or school-based component. Questions in those papers may involve experimental skills, and candidates should be familiar with the techniques in the suggested practical activities.

Is Paper 1 done on a computer?

Yes. The syllabus calls Paper 1 an e-examination and states that candidates answer its questions on a computer.

Is a calculator allowed in K123?

Yes. The syllabus states that an approved calculator may be used in all papers. It does not mention a formula sheet.

Is K123 the same as the earlier Science syllabus 5148?

The SEAB listing page shows 5148 as the subject code for reference for 2026 and earlier. The K123 document does not describe any changes, so use the 2027 PDF as your reference.

Where do I download the K123 syllabus?

It is on the SEAB page for 2027 SEC G1 syllabuses. Check that you are using the latest version.

Helpful Reading

The eduKateSG Syllabus Series

Plain-language guides to SEAB syllabuses, from PSLE to A-Level. More guides are being added.

Science guides

More Secondary (SEC) guides

SEC G1 Science Syllabus: Science in Everyday Contexts

The syllabus is not a textbook.

It is a map.

Two papers. Three contexts. Eleven topics.

One of those papers is taken on screen.

Read it once properly, and every topic has a place.

Then revise steadily, linking each idea to everyday life.

Arrange a Parent–Student Consultation

Speak with us about your child’s level, recent results, learning gaps and the dates ahead.

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How to Make Sense of the SEC G1 Science Syllabus in Singapore | K123 Papers, Topics and Marks