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Q: How should HCI IP students choose their Year 5–6 subject combinations? A: Choose with your target university courses in mind, not just what you enjoy or what feels manageable. HCI offers a wide range of H2/H1 combinations across Science and Arts streams - the right combination opens doors, the wrong one closes them before you ever write your personal statement.
HCI IP students select their Year 5–6 (College Section) subject combinations at the end of Year 4. Because HCI bypasses the O-Level and feeds directly into the A-Level at Year 5, this single decision - made around age 16 - determines which university courses remain accessible two years later. This guide maps HCI's specific offerings to university prerequisites at NUS, NTU, SMU, and beyond. For a broader look at how any JC subject combination maps to university eligibility, see What Can I Study With My JC Subjects.
When and how HCI IP students choose subjects
Subject selection for the College Section happens near the end of Year 4, typically in Term 3 or Term 4. Students submit preferences through an internal process and are assigned combinations based on interest, academic performance, and available class capacity.
A few things are specific to HCI:
Offered combinations, not free choice. HCI runs the College Section with a defined set of combination streams. The school permits "odd combinations" - non-standard pairings such as mixing one Arts H2 with Science H2s - provided the student meets the contrasting-subject rule and satisfies any internal prerequisites. H2 Art and H2 foreign language (Chinese, Malay, Tamil) can be swapped into a Science base if the contrasting-subject requirement is still met. Source: HCI College academic programmes.
Class size constraints. Popular combinations fill quickly. PCME (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Economics) and BCME (Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Economics) are well-subscribed. Less common combinations (e.g., HELM - History, Economics, Literature, Mathematics) may have smaller cohorts.
No O-Level buffer. JAE students who perform poorly at O-Level can reconsider JC entry; HCI IP students do not have that checkpoint. The Year 4 internal assessment performance effectively gates which stream options are available.
Once in Year 5, switching is limited. Swapping an H2 subject mid-year is operationally difficult because timetables are built around fixed cohort groups. Year 5 Term 1 is the last practical window for any significant change.
HCI's College Section prepares students for the GCE A-Level. Students typically sit three H2 subjects, one H1 subject, H1 General Paper, and H1 Project Work.
Science-stream combinations (common at HCI)
Label
H2 subjects
Typical H1 contrast
PCME
Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics
Economics
BCME
Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics
Economics
PCMB
Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics
Biology (H1)
PCM + H2 Econs
Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics + Economics
A contrasting H1 language/humanities
Double-science variants
Physics + Biology + Mathematics
Chemistry (H1) or Economics (H1)
Arts/Humanities-stream combinations (also offered at HCI)
HCI has a strong Humanities and Social Sciences track, underpinned by its Humanities and Social Sciences Research Programme (HSSRP). Common combinations include:
Label
H2 subjects
Notes
HELM
History, Economics, Literature
Mathematics typically taken at H1
HEM + H2 Geog
History, Economics, Mathematics
Flexible contrasting subject
ELM
Economics, Literature, Mathematics
Less common; useful for law and humanities-leaning courses
H2 Mathematics is the critical anchor. HCI, like most IP schools, has a majority of students taking H2 Mathematics. Students in purely humanities combinations who take only H1 Mathematics significantly narrow their university course options, particularly for engineering, computing, science, and quantitative business degrees.
The table below shows how HCI's common combinations map to major university course eligibility. Prerequisites are as published by NUS and NTU; verify directly with universities before making decisions, as requirements do change.
HCI combination
NUS courses accessible
NTU courses accessible
Notes
PCME
Engineering, Computing, Science, Business, Medicine (with H2 Bio or interview), Law
Engineering, Computing, Science, Business
Broadest STEM access; lacks H2 Biology for direct Medicine entry
BCME
Medicine, Dentistry, Life Sciences, Pharmacy, Computing, Business
Medicine-track, Biological Sciences, Business
Strongest for health sciences; weaker for engineering (no H2 Physics)
PCMB
Engineering, Computing, Science, Medicine (Biology at H2), Pharmacy
Engineering, Computing, Biological Sciences
Best of both STEM worlds; H1 Economics means some business courses require portfolio evidence
Law, Arts & Social Sciences, Accountancy (check H1 Maths sufficiency), some Business
Humanities & Social Sciences, Communication
H1 Mathematics is insufficient for Engineering/Computing/Science at NUS/NTU
HEM + H2 Maths
Law, Arts, Accountancy, some Business, Architecture
Accountancy, Business, Humanities
H2 Mathematics restores quantitative course access even in a humanities base
Key prerequisite facts (NUS, 2026):
Medicine (NUS Yong Soo Lin): H2 Chemistry + H2 Biology required. PCME students lacking H2 Biology must apply via Graduate Entry Medicine or demonstrate exceptional portfolio.
Law (NUS): No fixed science prerequisites; GP performance and personal statement matter more.
Engineering (NUS): H2 Mathematics required. H2 Physics preferred for most engineering disciplines but not always mandatory - check faculty-level requirements.
Computing (NUS School of Computing): H2 Mathematics required.
Business (NUS BBA): H2 Mathematics preferred; H1 Mathematics accepted in some tracks.
HCI-specific advantages for university applications
HCI students are not applying with just A-Level grades. The school's research infrastructure and breadth of H3 options give students documentary evidence for Aptitude-Based Admissions (ABA), which now covers a meaningful share of places at NUS and NTU.
Science Research Programme (SRP). HCI runs an established SRP in partnership with research institutes and universities. Students who complete an SRP project gain a graded research module, a poster presentation, and in strong cases a named research publication or institute-affiliation letter. For NUS Computing, Science, or Engineering ABA tracks, a completed SRP with a legible methodology section is strong portfolio evidence. Frame the research question in the context of your university course interest - a computer vision project is more legible for NUS Computing ABA than a general biology wet-lab project.
Humanities and Social Sciences Research Programme (HSSRP). HCI's HSSRP offers the equivalent depth for humanities-track students. A completed HSSRP project with clear social science methodology supports applications to NUS Law, Arts and Social Sciences, and SMU disciplines where written analytical ability must be shown, not just claimed.
H3 subjects. HCI offers H3 subjects to selected students, typically in Year 6. H3 options historically available at HCI include H3 Mathematics, H3 Chemistry, H3 Physics, H3 History, and H3 English Literature, as well as NUS-taught H3 modules that carry a university-level grade transcript. An H3 distinction is explicit evidence of subject mastery and is cited by NUS Medicine and Computing DSA as a strengthening signal.
Competition track record. HCI students regularly participate in Singapore Mathematical Olympiad (SMO), Singapore Chemistry Olympiad (SChO), Singapore Physics Olympiad (SPhO), and IJSO. A competition award - even a bronze - is noted under ABA because it reflects above-syllabus engagement. Document competition participation with certificates; do not assume it is automatically visible to admissions offices.
Overseas exchange and partnerships. HCI maintains exchange relationships with schools in China, Japan, and the United States. A semester abroad strengthens a global-scholar narrative for overseas university applications and for NTU Rennie Tang Scholarship or NUS Global Merit Scholarship eligibility.
1. Taking four H2 subjects and not understanding the 70RP scoring penalty.
The 70 Rank Point (70RP) scoring system - introduced for IP and A-Level students entering NUS from AY2026 - counts the best three H2 subjects and one contrasting subject. A fourth H2 does not add points; it adds workload. HCI students from strong Year 4 cohorts sometimes take four H2s out of prestige or peer pressure. Unless the fourth H2 is needed for a specific prerequisite (e.g., adding H2 Biology to a Physics-Chemistry-Maths base for Medicine eligibility), it is rarely worth the grade risk. A 70RP of 68 from three clean A/B grades beats a 70RP of 65 from four H2s where one was a B/C drag. See 70RP vs 90RP: What the New Admission Score Means for IP Students for the full scoring mechanics.
2. Assuming PCME unlocks every course.
PCME is the default "keep all doors open" combination, and it does open the most STEM doors. But it does not satisfy the H2 Biology prerequisite for direct Medicine entry at NUS or NTU. It also does not directly support applications to NUS Law (no GP-equivalent evidence beyond the compulsory H1 GP) or to music, architecture, or fine art programmes that require portfolio submissions not linked to science subjects. Students targeting Medicine should seriously consider PCMB or BCME. Students who discover a passion for law in Year 5 are not locked out, but they should build their ABA portfolio early.
3. Treating General Paper as a secondary priority.
H1 General Paper is the only assessed writing subject in the Science stream. NUS Law, NUS Liberal Arts, and SMU admissions actively look at GP grades. A D grade in GP from an HCI student who scored AAA in their science H2s is a legible red flag in a humanities or law application. Treat GP seriously from the start of Year 5; the writing habits required for a good essay response are not built in four weeks of revision.
4. Not converting the research programme into ABA evidence.
Many HCI students complete an SRP or HSSRP project, receive a grade, and move on. They do not write a reflective summary, do not obtain a supporting statement from their research supervisor, and do not connect the research question to their intended university course in their personal statement. This is a missed opportunity. The research project should appear in the ABA portfolio with a one-page summary, a methodology note, and a clear sentence explaining why the question matters to the degree they are applying for.
For HCI students targeting overseas universities
United Kingdom. UK universities (Oxford, Imperial, UCL, Edinburgh) use predicted A-Level grades supplied by HCI's College Section. HCI's strong academic track record means UK admissions offices treat HCI predictions with credibility. For STEM courses, three A-Level subjects at H2 level map cleanly to three A-Levels. H3 subjects map to AS-Level equivalent depth and strengthen applications to Oxford and Cambridge. Students applying to UK medical schools should note that BMAT or UCAT is required regardless of A-Level grades, and the UK's GCSE equivalent (which HCI students lack) is sometimes asked for - confirm with the specific university whether IP certification is accepted in lieu.
United States. US universities use a holistic review model. HCI's six-year IP is well-understood at US admissions offices - the school name carries recognition at selective universities. The Common Application requires a school profile, which HCI's College Section provides. AP examinations are not taken within HCI's standard curriculum, but students targeting US universities sometimes self-prepare for AP exams (particularly AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry, or AP Physics C) to demonstrate subject mastery on a standardised US benchmark. SAT/ACT testing is done privately; HCI does not administer these. The research portfolio (SRP/HSSRP) is highly legible in US Common App essays - frame the research experience in the "Intellectual Vitality" or "Additional Information" sections.
Australia and other destinations. Australian universities (Melbourne, ANU, UNSW) accept A-Level results directly. HCI's combination maps well; three H2 A-Level grades typically satisfy advanced standing applications.
Frequently asked questions
Can HCI IP students switch subjects after Year 5 starts?
In practice, switches are possible in the first two to three weeks of Year 5 Term 1 if a place is available in the new combination's class. After that, timetable constraints make it operationally very difficult. Year 6 switches are almost never approved. The practical advice: resolve any uncertainty before Year 5 begins. If you are genuinely unsure between two combinations, speak to HCI's Year 5 coordinator during the selection process - not after.
Does HCI's research programme help with ABA?
Yes, materially - but only if the research project is documented and connected to the target course. Completing SRP or HSSRP gives you a graded research experience that most JC students do not have. NUS Computing, NUS Medicine, and NTU's Nanyang Scholars Programme explicitly list research experience as an ABA indicator. The project title alone is insufficient; you need a supervisor reference, a written summary of your findings, and a clear statement in your application explaining its relevance. See Aptitude-Based Admissions ABA Singapore Universities 2026 for the full portfolio framework.
Should HCI students take H3?
H3 should be taken if two conditions are both true: (a) you are targeting a competitive course where H3 is a differentiator (NUS Medicine, Computing, Law; NTU's Nanyang Scholars; overseas university shortlists), and (b) you can realistically perform at Distinction or Merit level without it costing you a grade in your H2 subjects. H3 taken and performed at a Pass is neutral to negative in a competitive ABA context. H3 taken and performed at Distinction is a strong positive signal. Most HCI students who attempt H3 have the academic foundation to do well - the risk is time management. Do not take H3 in Year 6 if your H2 grades are already under pressure.
What happens to HCI students who want to study overseas but did not take the SAT?
US universities do not require SAT/ACT from all international applicants, and many have moved to test-optional policies (though selective schools still consider strong SAT scores favourably). If you are targeting a US university that is test-optional, your A-Level grades, research portfolio, and extracurricular record carry the full weight. If you decide in Year 6 that you want to apply to SAT-required programmes, you can self-register for the SAT through the College Board and sit it at a registered centre in Singapore. Preparation takes three to four months for most HCI students with a strong H2 Mathematics base; the main effort is the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section.
