A-level cut-off points for admission to universities lowered

This year, Singapore’s universities received more applications than in previous years, but the Indicative Grade Profile (IGP) for most programmes for ‘A’ level holders have dropped, programmes which require 4 ‘A’s have also dropped from eight last year to six this year.  For polytechnic students however, the IGP for more than half of the programmes have increased.  This year, public-funded universities offered over 13,000 places, 1,000 more than last year.  NUS, NTU, SMU, SUTD, SIT received 37,000 ‘A’ level applications and 26,100 polytechnic applications, a 2.8% increase over last year. The IGP for NUS’ Medicine, Dentistry, Law and SMU’s law programmes remained the same at 4 ‘A’s.  SMU Vice Provost (Undergraduate) and Dean of SMU School of Accountancy Pang Yang Hoong said that the University does not admit students solely on their grades, it also considers the applicants’ co-curricular activities, and for those shortlisted, a mandatory interview is required.