How to Make Sense of the SEC G3 Science (Chemistry, Biology) Syllabus in Singapore

The SEC G3 Science (Chemistry, Biology) syllabus (K328) is the SEAB document for students in Singapore who take G3 combined Science with Chemistry and Biology. This guide explains the four papers K328 candidates sit, what the Chemistry and Biology sections cover, what is printed with each paper and how K328 differs from G3 Chemistry and G3 Biology.

Using this exam specification reference: Use this paper reference for K328’s examination weighting, Chemistry/Biology sections and practical requirements. The full guide explains particle models, reactions, enzymes, osmosis and evidence-led thinking through independent examples. Confirm the correct code on the school timetable before selecting past papers or interpreting marks.

The K328 syllabus is official.

It is precise, dense and shared with two other syllabuses.

It rewards a close reading.

Once you know which pages belong to K328, it becomes a useful map.

This guide is useful for families who need to:

see which four papers K328 candidates sit;
find the Chemistry and Biology parts of the shared document;
know when the Periodic Table and Chemistry Practical Notes are provided; or
compare K328 with G3 Chemistry and G3 Biology.

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

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SEC G3 Science (Chemistry, Biology) Syllabus at a Glance

Syllabus code: K328
Code for reference (2026 and earlier): 5088, as shown on the SEAB listing page
Who it is for: school candidates taking G3 Science with Chemistry and Biology
Examination year of this document: 2027
Shared document: each code has its own PDF on the SEAB page, but all three files are the same combined G3 Science document
Papers: four for K328, namely Papers 1, 3, 4 and 5
Total time: 5 hours across the four papers
Weightings: 20% (Paper 1), 32.5% (Paper 3, Chemistry), 32.5% (Paper 4, Biology) and 15% (Paper 5, Practical Test)
Calculator: an approved calculator may be used in all papers
Printed with the papers: the Periodic Table and a data sheet of metal hydroxide colours in Papers 1 and 3, and the Chemistry Practical Notes in the practical paper
Where to download: SEAB 2027 SEC G3 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 aims to give every student a worthwhile education in science, whether or not they study it further, and to build scientific skills and values such as curiosity, integrity and healthy scepticism.

Both of K328’s sciences share one emphasis: the Chemistry and Biology introductions each place less weight on factual material and more on understanding and applying concepts.

Each section has its own disciplinary ideas: five for Chemistry, such as the conservation of matter and energy, and seven for Biology, from the cell to evolution.

On SEAB’s 2027 G3 list, K328 sits beside the other combined syllabuses, K326 and K327, and beside the single sciences, including Chemistry (K324) and Biology (K325).

How the Examination Is Structured

Candidates enter for Paper 1, Paper 5 and two of Papers 2, 3 and 4. For K328, those two are Paper 3 (Chemistry) and Paper 4 (Biology). Paper 2 is Physics, so it is not part of K328.

Paper 1: Multiple Choice

Duration: 1 hour
Marks: 40
Weighting: 20%
Questions: 40 compulsory multiple-choice questions, with approximately equal coverage of Chemistry and Biology
Printed with the paper: the data sheet Colours of Some Common Metal Hydroxides and the Periodic Table of Elements

Paper 3: Structured and Free Response (Chemistry)

Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
Marks: 65
Weighting: 32.5%
Section A: 55 marks of compulsory structured questions, the last worth 10 marks
Section B: 10 marks, answering one of two questions
Printed with the paper: the same data sheet and Periodic Table as Paper 1

Paper 4: Structured and Free Response (Biology)

Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
Marks: 65
Weighting: 32.5%
Section A: 55 marks of compulsory structured questions, the last worth 10 marks
Section B: 10 marks, answering one of two questions

Paper 5: Practical Test

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Marks: 30
Weighting: 15%
Questions: one or two compulsory questions on Chemistry, and one or two on Biology
Modification or extension: in one or both questions, candidates suggest one, which does not need to be carried out
Reference material: none, except the Chemistry Practical Notes included in the question paper

In practice, Chemistry and Biology each have their own 32.5% paper, and they meet in Paper 1 and Paper 5.

Paper 1 and Paper 5 are set at the same time for all three combined syllabuses, and the document says the Chemistry and Biology practical questions are common to the respective papers.

What the Syllabus Covers

K328 uses the Chemistry and Biology sections of the shared document. The Physics section belongs to K326 and K327.

Chemistry: 3 Sections, 12 Topics

matter, structures and properties: experimental chemistry, the particulate nature of matter, and chemical bonding and structure;
chemical reactions: chemical calculations, acid-base chemistry, qualitative analysis, redox chemistry, patterns in the Periodic Table, chemical energetics and rate of reactions; and
chemistry in a sustainable world: organic chemistry and maintaining air quality.

Biology: 4 Sections, 12 Topics

cells and the chemistry of life: cell structure and organisation, movement of substances and biological molecules;
the human body, maintaining life: nutrition, transport, respiration and infectious diseases in humans;
living together, plants, animals and ecosystems: nutrition and transport in flowering plants, and organisms and their environment; and
continuity of life: molecular genetics, reproduction in humans and inheritance.

Biology’s first section is called Cells and the Chemistry of Life.

The scope is narrower than the single sciences. G3 Chemistry (K324) uses the same twelve topic titles, but its sub-topics include Transition Elements and Electrochemistry, which the K328 Chemistry section does not list.

G3 Biology (K325) has 14 topics, including Excretion in Humans and Homeostasis, Co-ordination and Response in Humans, which are not topics in the K328 Biology section.

What the Examiners Are Looking For

The syllabus groups its assessment objectives into three areas.

A: Knowledge with Understanding

Facts, laws and concepts, scientific vocabulary, apparatus, quantities and applications. This is about 50% of the marks in the theory papers, with about 20% for recall.

B: Handling Information and Solving Problems

Using information and data to find patterns, explain, predict and solve problems. This is about 50% of the theory marks.

C: Experimental Skills and Investigations

Following instructions, using apparatus, recording and interpreting results, planning and evaluating. Paper 5 tests these skills, and the modification or extension element carries 10% to 20% of its marks.

This balance is not the same as in the single sciences. G3 Chemistry and G3 Biology give about 45% of the theory marks to A and about 55% to B.

How to Read the Syllabus Document

The document serves three syllabuses, so read it selectively.

Aims and Practices of Science (page 3): the three aims and the three parts of scientific practice
Assessment Objectives (page 4): what is tested, with approximate weightings
Scheme of Assessment (page 6): all five papers, and the K328 note naming Papers 1, 3, 4 and 5
Physics Section (from page 8): not needed for K328
Chemistry Section (from page 25): the topics, then the Chemistry Practical Notes, the metal hydroxide colours and the Periodic Table
Biology Section (from page 41): the introduction, seven disciplinary ideas and twelve topics
Practical Assessment (page 55): the Chemistry and Biology practical parts, with apparatus and reagent lists
Glossary of Terms (page 63): what command words such as “Describe”, “Explain” and “Suggest” ask for
Special Note (page 64): chemical names, units, significant figures, structural formulae and calculators

Common Misunderstandings

“K328 is G3 Chemistry and G3 Biology put together.”

It has its own structure and a narrower scope. G3 Chemistry and G3 Biology each have three papers weighted 30%, 50% and 20%. K328 has one paper per science, plus a shared multiple-choice paper and practical.

“Without Physics, there is little calculation.”

Chemistry has a whole topic on chemical calculations, and both practical parts can ask for simple calculations.

“The qualitative analysis notes come with every paper.”

For K328, the Periodic Table and the metal hydroxide colours are printed in Papers 1 and 3. The Chemistry Practical Notes, with tests for ions and gases, are included in the practical question paper. G3 Chemistry (K324) instead prints Notes for Qualitative Analysis with its practical paper.

“The practical is only about following instructions.”

Candidates must also suggest a modification or extension in one or both questions, worth 10% to 20% of the practical marks.

How Students Can Use the Syllabus

1. Mark the pages that apply

Highlight the Chemistry and Biology sections, and skip the Physics section.

2. Build one checklist of 24 topics

List the 12 Chemistry topics and 12 Biology topics, and rate your confidence in each.

3. Practise with the printed resources

Use the Periodic Table, the metal hydroxide colours and the Chemistry Practical Notes in practice, so they feel familiar.

4. Learn the tests in both sciences

Know the ion and gas tests for Chemistry, and the four food tests the Biology practical names.

5. Practise improving experiments

After each practical, ask what you would modify or extend, and why.

How Parents Can Help

download the syllabus and help your child find the Chemistry and Biology sections;
ask to see the topic checklist now and then;
ask how practical work is going, not only about test scores;
make sure your child has an approved calculator;
encourage short, regular revision in both sciences; and
keep conversations about results calm and specific.

How eduKateSG Uses the Science (Chemistry, Biology) Syllabus

we read the official SEAB document first, rather than relying on second-hand summaries;
we help families find the pages of the shared document that apply to K328;
we use the syllabus’s own objectives to ask whether a difficulty is about recall, handling information or practical skills;
we note where Chemistry relies on mathematical skills, such as in chemical calculations; and
we are honest about whether our classes are the right fit for a student’s Science needs.

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 do K328 candidates sit?

Four: Paper 1 Multiple Choice (1 hour, 20%), Paper 3 Chemistry (1 hour 15 minutes, 32.5%), Paper 4 Biology (1 hour 15 minutes, 32.5%) and Paper 5 Practical Test (1 hour 30 minutes, 15%).

Is there a practical examination in K328?

Yes. Paper 5 is a formal practical test worth 15%, with one or two compulsory questions on each of Chemistry and Biology. The Chemistry Practical Notes are included in the question paper, and no other reference material is allowed.

Is the Periodic Table provided in K328?

Yes. The Periodic Table and the data sheet Colours of Some Common Metal Hydroxides are printed as part of Paper 1 for K328, and as part of Paper 3.

Is a calculator allowed in K328?

Yes. The Special Note says an approved calculator may be used in all papers.

Is K328 the same as the earlier syllabus 5088?

The SEAB listing page shows 5088 as the code for reference for 2026 and earlier. The K328 document does not describe any changes, so use the 2027 PDF as your reference.

Where do I download the K328 syllabus?

It is on the SEAB page for 2027 SEC G3 syllabuses. Each code has its own link there, but all three files are the same document covering K326, K327 and K328.

Helpful Reading

The eduKateSG Syllabus Series

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

Science guides

PSLE Foundation Science (0039)
PSLE Science (0009)
SEC G1 Science (K123)
SEC G2 Science (Chemistry, Biology) (K225)
SEC G2 Science (Physics, Biology) (K224)
SEC G2 Science (Physics, Chemistry) (K223)
SEC G3 Biology (K325)
SEC G3 Chemistry (K324)
SEC G3 Physics (K323)
SEC G3 Science (Chemistry, Biology) (K328) (this guide)
SEC G3 Science (Physics, Biology) (K327)
SEC G3 Science (Physics, Chemistry) (K326)
A-Level H2 Biology (9477)
A-Level H2 Chemistry (9476)
A-Level H2 Physics (9478)

More Secondary (SEC) guides

SEC G3 Science (Chemistry, Biology) Syllabus: From Molecules to Living Things

The syllabus is not a textbook.

It is a map.

Four papers. Two sciences. Twenty-four topics.

Chemistry and Biology each have a paper of their own.

They meet in Paper 1 and in the practical.

Read the right sections once properly, and every topic has a place.

Then practise steadily, with care over tests, units and working.

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 G3 Science (Chemistry, Biology) Syllabus in Singapore | K328 Papers, Topics and Marks