What Is the Integrated Programme (IP)? — The Evergreen Pillar Guide for 2025 & Beyond

TL;DR
The IP is a six-year Express-stream "fast lane" that skips the O-Levels, stretches students with A-Level or IB Diploma concepts two years early, and rewards depth over drill.
Success hinges on self-directed learning habits, early mastery of \(y = mx + c\) and \(F = ma\), and targeted support when the workload spikes in Sec 3.

1 Origins & Big-Picture Goals

1.1 Why MOE Launched IP in 2004

• Broaden talent pipelines beyond the narrow O-Level sorting hat.
• Carve out time for research, overseas immersion and CCAs by removing the Sec 4 exam crunch.
• Stretch high-ability learners with pre-A-Level content while their curiosity is high.

Snapshot — Nine pioneering IP schools admitted their first Year-1 cohorts in 2004. Today 19 campuses (plus the boarding-heavy NUS High) run variations of IP, feeding roughly 4 000 pupils — the top ≈ 10 % of every PSLE cohort.

Mixed-stream alliances matter.

• Catholic High School → Eunoia JC pathway (boys in Sec 1-4, mixed in JC)
• CHIJ St Nicholas + Singapore Chinese Girls' → Eunoia JC pathway (girls)
• Victoria School (boys) + Cedar Girls' → Victoria JC pathway (mixed in JC)
• River Valley High School (RVHS) — a full 6-year co-ed IP campus that draws many west-side students

1.2 Three Credential End-Points

All IP tracks promise seamless promotion from Sec 1 to JC 2 (or equivalent), provided internal criteria are met.

2 Structure in 60 Seconds

2.1 Two Phases, One Long Arc

2.2 Skip but Not Slack

Students still sit a finale: A-Level 9748 Physics, 9758 Maths, IB HL Math AA, etc.—just two years after peers who went through O-Levels.

3 Admissions Pathways

3.1 By PSLE Score

Most IP schools set entry AL < 8 (old T-score ≲ 255). Cut-offs fluctuate yearly; always check the latest MOE SchoolFinder.

Tip for west-side students: River Valley High School (IP cut-off ≈ PSLE AL 7-8) often admits pupils living in Jurong, Clementi and Queenstown, so check its latest score band before assuming you must travel east for IP.

3.2 Via Direct School Admission (DSA)

Talent-based entry for sports, performing arts, research or STEM olympiads. See our full guide: DSA students in Integrated Programme schools — Things to take note of.

3.3 IP-Into-JC Transfers

A handful of A-Level IP JCs (RI Year 5, HCI College, NJC Year 5) accept strong O-Level graduates; IB schools rarely do.

4 Curriculum: How IP Maths & Physics Out-Run Express

4.1 Maths Year-by-Year Sprint

Full syllabus map: IP Math Year-by-Year Roadmap & 12-Week Grade-Jump Plan.

4.2 Physics Leap-Frogs

• Year 2: Vectors in forces; energy-power rate questions.
• Year 3: SUVAT, Newton's Laws, free-body diagrams (see FBD Master Guide).
• Year 4: Electricity, electromagnetism, first derivations of \(E = -\frac{d\Phi}{dt}\).

Inline sample: the SUVAT identity \(v^2 = u^2 + 2as\) pops up one year ahead of Express peers.

Block maths sample:

\[ F_\text{net} = \sum_i F_i = m a \]

4.3 Chemistry & Beyond

Although this pillar focuses on Math & Physics, note that lower-sec IP Science already dives into covalent bonding energetics and the reversible reaction \(\ce{N2 + 3H2 <=> 2NH3}\).

5 Assessment Shake-Up

5.1 No Mid-Years

Since 2019 MOE capped one WA per term; Mid-Year Exams vanished. Our deep-dive: Weighted assessments vs Mid-Year Examinations.

5.2 WAs Favour Novel Contexts

Expect a 45-min practical write-up or data-handling slide-deck worth 15 %—perfect rehearsal for A-Level ACE rubrics.

5.3 Promotion Rules

Most IP schools demand GPA ≥ 2.5 or "no U" equivalent. Full table: Subject combination & promotion criteria.

6 Common Myths Busted

1. "IP guarantees top A-Level results."
   Reality: about 6 % exit IP before JC 2; rote learners falter. See Underperforming in IP — Why PSLE toppers struggle.
2. "No O-Levels = less stress."
   Workload shifts earlier; Sec 3 is often the toughest year (Why Sec 3 IP Students Struggle).
3. "Tuition is unnecessary for IP kids."
   Standard Express-level tuition rarely covers IP-specific proofs, derivations and uncertainty propagation.
   Eclat's IP-only classes plug precisely these gaps.

7 Who Thrives, Who Trips & Why

Check our Mental Health for High Achievers for burnout radar and seven-hour-sleep rules.

8 Bridging the Gaps: Math & Physics Tuition with Purpose

8.1 Why Generic Centres Fail

• curriculum capped at O-Level scope
• classes mix Express & IP → diluted pace
• focus on drill, not transfer skills like multi-topic synthesis

8.2 Eclat's Edge

1. IP-only cohorts ≤ 8 students.
2. 24 / 7 WhatsApp for in-flight WA rescue.
3. Bite-size variation drills — create, tweak, self-explain (see Make Your Own SUVAT Questions).
4. Practical & uncertainty coaching — pendulum mini-lab with \(\pu{1 \%}\) error propagation, units via \(\pu{m.s-2}\).
5. School-specific clinics — elective "booster" sessions timed one week before Eunoia, Victoria-Cedar and River Valley WA blocks, so mixed-stream students tackle the exact graph-analysis and proof styles their teachers favour.

Inline unit demo: acceleration due to gravity \(g = 9.81 \pu{m.s-2}\).

9 Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is Triple Science compulsory? No, but many IP schools nudge top sets into PCMB; see promotion-cut-off table above.
2. Can my child re-enter Express if IP feels overwhelming? Possible but rare; involves MOE approval and seat availability.
3. How early should we bridge algebra? Ideally in the P6 Nov holiday—factorising \(ax^2 + bx + c\) becomes baseline by Week 2 of IP Math.
4. Does the IP cram more homework? Work shifts earlier; weekly sum often equals Express + tuition, but spread across CCA and research blocks.

10 Key Takeaways & Next Steps

1. IP = six-year sprint without an O-Level pit-stop—glorious freedom and early pressure.
2. Math & Physics escalate fast—binomial, derivations, energy graphs in Sec 3.
3. Assessment now values transfer & design—not just final answers.
4. Specialist IP tuition plugs method, mindset and practical-skills gaps before they snowball.

Action Step: Book a 15-min Zoom diagnostic; well pinpoint the one misconception costing your child marks in \(F = ma\) and show a fix.

11 Further Reading & Resources

• MOE Integrated Programme overview
• SEAB H2 Mathematics syllabus 9758
• SEAB H2 Physics syllabus 9478
• Raffles Institution curriculum
• Hwa Chong Institution IP overview
• KiasuParents forum — IP entry scores
• Straits Times — Why 6 % exit IP
• Learn for Life reforms 2018 (MOE)