Guide to Post-ALevel Results

What are all your options?

Many A-Level students feel that there is only one track to university, failing to realise that there are many options out there that allow you to enter your dream course at university! Scoring well for A-Level is not the only way!

This guide aims to provide you with a master list of alternatives that you can pursue to enter your desired course, regardless of your A-Level grades!

IMPORTANT CAVEAT: This guide is crafted by senior gappers and is not professional advice in any capacity. Readers are advised to only use this guide to gain a deeper understanding of the alternatives available to them.

Brief Introduction to Applying to Local Autonomous Universities

How many options do I have?

NUS - 8 options*

NTU, SMU, SIT, SUTD - 5 options

SUSS - 4 options

*For NUS applications, up to 2.5 bonus points will be awarded for the first choice, except for courses which require interviews or additional selection.

By choosing courses that require interviews or additional selection as your first choice, you would forgo any bonus points that could be awarded to you.

How does admission work?

Today, universities largely practice holistic admission where they look for students that are all-rounded, excelling in both their studies and extra-curricular activities. While applicants are primarily assessed based on A-level scores, good results alone are not enough to secure entry into competitive university courses. There have been countless instances where applicants are rejected despite having RP above the IGP 10th percentile.

Simply put, any admission tests, admission essays, personal statements, portfolio, interviews and ABA are equally as important as your A-level grades!

Pro Tip: Do not rush through your application. It is helpful to ask your friends/family to help review your application. Constantly review your application over the application period and ask yourself what kind of image/personality your application evokes.

It is not about how well you portray yourself, nor is it about using flowery language since every applicant will naturally paint a perfect picture of themselves. Rather, it is about how your application speaks about you as a person. If you have the natural ability to influence your peers around you, does your application show that?

Should I apply for ABA?

Definitely!

While ABA makes your application process more tedious, it is worth the effort to have a fail-safe in the event that your results do not make the cut for the matriculation year's 10th percentile.

Remember that there are other autonomous local universities besides the big 3!!!! SIT SUTD SUSS exists!!!
Many students choose to pursue Computer Science in SIT if they are unable to meet the COP for NUS/NTU. After all, it is vastly better than going to a private university or spending huge amounts of money on overseas education
Others choose to pursue Law at SUSS

Private Universities

What are my options?

1. SIM Global Education

2. Curtin

3. MDIS

4. James Cook University (JCU)

5. Kaplan

6. PSB Academy

7. University of the Arts, Singapore (UAS)

Note: This list is non-exhaustive

SIM Global Education

SIM GE is a private university in Singapore that partners with reputable universities, such as the University of London, RMIT University and the University of Wollongong, to provide a wide range of academic programmes. Graduates will receive a joint certificate from SIM and the chosen partner university.

SIM-UOL:

- Lectures-only curriculum,

- No classroom tutorial session

- Graded exam occurs once a year, similar to taking A Levels

- Known for Business, Finance, and Economics degrees

SIM-RMIT:

- Similar to local uni.

- 50% assignment 50% exam

- 4 mods per semester, 3h of lessons per module per week.

- Popular degrees include Business, Marketing, Accountancy

SIM-UOW:

- Known for Computer Science

University of the Arts, Singapore (UAS)

The UAS is Singapore’s first and only Arts university, founded on an alliance of LASELLE and NAFA. It is set to open in Aug 2024. However, applications are open starting in 2023.

UAS Website: https://www.uas.edu.sg/

Pros of Pursuing Private University Pathways

1. You might want to apply to a private university instead of taking a gap year if your RP is too far from the IGP’s 10th percentile, and you would not like to consider retaking A Levels.

2. You might want to apply to a private university instead of retaking A Levels if your RP is too far from the IGP’s 10th percentile, and are not confident with managing the stress of retaking, or if you felt that you have already done your best when preparing for A-Levels.

However, if your results were unexpected due to unforeseen circumstances, mental health difficulties or procrastination, retaking As might be a possible option for you, provided that it does not happen again.

3. Private degree holders with specialised qualifications (such as accountancy or banking) can still yield a competitive salary or chance at employment in their respective industries.

Cons of Pursuing Private University Pathways

1. If you wish to work in the public sector, private university graduates may have it harder, especially when compared to scholars and local university graduates (i.e. your private degree puts you at a disadvantage unless you obtain First Class Honours.)

2. Starting salary and pay increments will not be as high unless you really build your portfolio and working experience (depends on the sector)

3. Tends to be more expensive annually compared to local universities, but private degrees will usually take only 3 years to complete so you can save time and can ascend the corporate ladder earlier than peers (Local uni: 4 years)

4. Some employers may be biased against private degree holders

5. Private degree students are not allowed to transfer from private to local university undergraduate degrees. However, they may apply for graduate degrees (Master's/PhD) in local universities after graduating.

What you should do

Steps:

1. Determine the career you want to pursue: Consult online resources, enrol in trial classes, speak with adults, college students, family, etc.

2. Apply to public universities first via ABA if you can (ALWAYS TRY because you will never know). Proceed to step 3 if you are unable to enter.

3. Look at private universities available to discover how well-accredited, particularly for your industry, their programs are in Singapore.

4. If the programs are not as appealing, consider attending an overseas university, particularly if it is an option, or consider other routes.

5. If you do not have the financial capacity to pursue the above options, consider the polytechnic track or an education bank loan.

Polytechnic Full-Time Diploma (2 year track)

How does it work?

From 2021, A-level certificate holders who are interested to pursue a full-time polytechnic diploma may attain their diploma in two years. A-level graduates can be exempted from up to two semesters (1 year) if they fulfil the necessary module requirements

For instance, Republic Polytechnic’s Diploma in Engineering Design with Business allows A-Level graduates with a pass in H2 Math to be exempted from modules on Mathematics. Likewise, a pass in H1 physics allows them to be exempted from modules on Physics and Engineering Design.

**For more information, graduates are advised to the respective Polytechnic’s website and entry requirements and are encouraged to reach out to their Admission Team for further queries.

Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/shorter-poly-diplomas-jc-graduates-aptitude-based-admissions-universities-2020-788051

Foundation Year

What is a FY?

A Foundation Year is essentially a year before the start of a university course. It is considered Year 0, similar to the Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP).

A foundation year has different streams of modules that you make take to lead you to your pathway degree. For instance, a Math module in FY allows you to pursue a degree in Statistics while Biology and Chemistry modules allow you to pursue Medicine afterwards.

A Foundation Year merely helps to compensate for grades that do not meet the original entry requirement to enter the course. In order to proceed to the pathway courses, applicants have to complete additional requirements such as Interviews or Admission Tests as well!

Many students tend to choose Medicine as their pathway course, however, they should be mindful that there is also a huge risk that they fail to make the cut for the interview and pre-med admission test scores. After all, the Foundation Year grades only compensate for academic grades and do not compensate for other areas of assessments. They would have wasted a year's worth of study costs and have to apply for alternative courses.

Additional Information

Foundation Year studies are usually full-time, with two 6-month semesters. Lessons are conducted in university-style lectures but in smaller class sizes.

You are guaranteed entry to your desired course in affiliated universities, provided that you meet the foundation year requirements (minimum grade +/- interviews, admission tests). This means that a certificate in Foundation Year in the University of New South Wales (UNSW) can be used to apply for courses at other universities such as Monash University or the University of Melbourne.

Countries that you may consider: Aus, UK, US, Canada

Requirements:

Australia: Acad transcripts, IELTS*, Interview + AEAS
UK: Acad transcripts, IELTS, Essay/interview
US and Canada: Acad transcripts, IELTS, Interview

*IELTS is a pre-university admission English Test that is mandatory in some countries to gauge applicants' English Language Proficiency

Interested?

Be sure to check the minimum entry qualifications for the respective university’s foundation year programmes.
Afterwards, you may apply for FY programmes via SIM Global Education or other agents (IDP, AUG, JACKstudyaboard, etc)

Overseas Universities

Apply through education agencies (IDP, AUG, JACKstudyaboard, etc)
Scholarships are available for most courses except competitive ones like Medicine and Law

Pros of Pursuing Overseas Education

1. Immensely beneficial if you plan to work overseas or in international corporations, especially if the job you’re aiming for is in high demand in that country. For instance, going to UK/US law school may put you in a much better position in applying to international corporate law firms than SG law school.

2. Gives you networking opportunities internationally and achieve an eye-opening experience (“There’s only so much that you can learn from this little red dot”)

3, Independence - no one is going to be responsible for you except yourself

4. Immerse yourself in different cultures

5. Gives you a better perspective of the pros and cons of staying in Singapore

Some of us realised after a year of studying abroad that we would rather return to Singapore because of the familiar environment, safety, and presence of friends and family, even if there is a better work-life balance overseas
Staying abroad may seem like a dream for some, but one can only tell after truly experiencing life there for a considerably long time
Life abroad as a tourist vs as a working adult is very different!

6. More variety in degrees and double degree combinations, eg. Computer Science and Psychology, Veterinary Medicine

Cons of Pursuing Overseas Education

1. Cost of living and University Tuition Fees are expensive unless you are on a scholarship or have bursaries granted to you, which can lead to potential debt

2. Miss out on networking in Singapore - if you wish to come back and you do not spend holidays networking in Singapore, you may be unfamiliar with the people in the industry

3. Away from family and loved ones

4. Racism (depends on country)

5. Safety Concerns - May be dangerous roaming on the streets at night. Access to healthcare may not be as convenient as in Singapore.

However, you don’t necessarily need to do your undergraduate studies abroad for the full overseas experience. There are alternatives like school exchanges offered by local universities, taking a gap year or even a work-tourist visa or doing further studies like your Masters or PhDs abroad.

Retaking A-Levels as a Private Candidate

Important Information

Tentative registration period: Wed 29 Mar to Fri 7 Apr

Before applying as a private candidate, you should check your subject codes and syllabus document and ensure that you are taking the correct syllabus. The syllabus for some subjects may be changing in these few years.

In addition, you may wish to consider if you are able to cope with self-studying Common Last Topics if CLT was removed in your assessment year.

For more information: https://www.seab.gov.sg/home/examinations/online-registration-for-private-candidates

Senior Gappers' Advice

Given the intensity and unpredictability of each year’s A-Levels exam, you should consider whether you are confident that you will be able to score better and enter your desired course!

Before applying as a private candidate, you should plan out your entire year to ensure that you not only remain on track but also have other activities planned out to complement your studies as well (ie volunteering, etc). You may want to form a study group/community. After all, retaking A levels is not easy and it can definitely feel lonely and aimless! For more information, check out the contents on our IG page!

Science subjects will require you to take the practical examinations as well, so make sure you get opportunities to practise your practical skills, for example, attending tuition classes that conduct practical classes. If this is not an option, you may want to read through previous practical worksheets and imagine yourself conducting the experiment!

It is worth noting that actual practical skills are only worth a small portion of your science practical paper. After all, the experiment steps will only yield you the experimental results (which can be altered to appear real). The large majority of marks from practical papers come from explanations and planning questions. You may practice this by doing past midyear/prelim questions and using the answer key’s experimental results.

Where can I get past year papers?

Bras Basah complex sells previous years' prelim papers, Carousell or juniors in school.

Professional Qualifications

During your gap year, you may wish to obtain more qualifications by engaging in self-learning under professional bodies that provide professional qualifications

For instance, for Accounting - ACCA, ICAEW, CFA
Accreditation in Mediation Course (become an Accredited Mediator) by Singapore Mediation Centre - requires at least a diploma
You may want to look up other professional bodies that provide qualifications that are related to your desired field of study
CONS: These qualifications and accompanying courses are costly, ranging above a thousand dollars. However, they can immensely aid you in your professional resume and portfolio!

Post-Graduate Options

If being a Doctor or a Lawyer is your dream and you would do absolutely anything to reach there, you may consider post-graduate options for these careers. In other countries such as Australia and the US, courses for Medicine and Law are usually post-graduate - namely Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Juris Doctor (JD) respectively. There isn't much difference between the undergraduate track and post-graduate track other than its shorter course duration and the more stringent admission process for postgraduate courses.

Local options:

Medicine: Duke-NUS (MD)
Law: NUS, SMU, SUSS (JD)

Post-graduate options tend to be extremely competitive. Not only is the volume of applicants larger, but the number of spots available is fewer as well. A minimum of second upper honours are required, but First Class Honours are needed to secure entry

However, in reality, it may not be as difficult as it seems. This video below shows you how predictable Graduate entry courses can actually be predictable. With the right strategies, you can easily improve your odds of entering!

For more information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiFOT9rZjfE

In addition, attached is a Q&A by Ali Abdaal which explains most of the questions you may have about Graduate Entry Medicine.

For more information about GEM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPckn7g-DX8

Note: Ministries in Singapore usually outline a list of approved universities for specialised degrees such as Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry, Medicine and Law. Applicants are advised to ensure that their universities are approved before applying.

US University Admission Tests

While the United States provide a few university admission tests such as the SAT, ACT and AP, this guide will primarily focus on the Scholastic Aptitude Test

Why should you consider taking the SAT?

SAT results can be used to supplement results, especially when trying to apply for local or overseas universities
Multiple tests are conducted per year, allowing you to attempt multiple times. Easy to improve scores through sheer practice/hard work, unlike A levels
Many compare the SAT exams as equivalent to SG’s secondary school math and English exam, which is comparatively easier than A levels

Part-Time Degree Options

Alternatively, you may pursue part-time degrees from overseas universities via online platforms or local universities.

Local Options: SUSS

Pros: Lectures/seminars at night leave you with the entire morning and afternoon free to work
Pros: Allows you to save up money while working concurrently
Pros: Can take a full load of modules each semester to complete the degree as fast as those in FT
Pros: Up to 8 years to complete the degree so you can intersperse it with internships or work attachments to boost your portfolio

Cons: Less campus life
Cons: Require 2 years of work experience for admission, but NS helps to fulfil this requirement so you may apply when you finish NS

Taking a Gap Year to Build Your Portfolio

You may wish to take a break from studying after your A-Levels and spend some time exploring your interests! Here at GapYearSG, we have many senior gappers taking time off from their studies to pursue opportunities, try adventurous things and build an impressive portfolio!

For some inspiration: https://gapyearsg.wixsite.com/gapyearsg/helpline

What are some things that you can do?

Find a job relevant to your desired course
- Enhance and show proof of relevant skills to the course that you wish to pursue – use for ABA under relevant work experience
Take online courses to upgrade skills (eg MOOC courses, short courses provided by organisations)
Take part in competitions
Volunteer – for ABA to show ACTIVE volunteer experience
Start your own project, business, website or youtube channel
Research programmes
Internships
Professional Qualifications

Final Words

Regardless of your A-Level results, everyone should acknowledge that grades do not define anyone! After all, we do see CEO of multinational corporations who were not successful in their studies, Ministers in Singapore who did not fare well in A-Levels and private university graduates rising up the ranks in banks. You can be the next one too, as long as you set your mind to it!

As you begin your journey towards higher education, GapYearSG is always here to support gappers! Join our Telegram group and follow us on Instagram and stay tuned for more guides, opportunities, events and more!

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