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Q: What are the A-Level exam dates in 2026 (Singapore)? A: SEAB’s official 2026 Singapore-Cambridge GCE A-Level Examination Timetable lists the current oral, listening, and written exam dates for the 2026 cohort, including the year-end written window from Mon, 2 Nov - Fri, 27 Nov 2026.
TL;DR Registration (school candidates):Tue, 7 Apr - Tue, 21 Apr 2026. Mid-year components: Chinese B / Mother Tongue written papers in June, oral and listening components in July, and other language listening papers in October. Written exams (year-end):Mon, 2 Nov - Fri, 27 Nov 2026. Official SEAB timetable PDF: https://go.gov.sg/2026-a-level-exam-cal
MOE calendar 2026 (JC/MI term dates + key dates): https://eclatinstitute.sg/blog/moe-calendar-2026
Status: Updated 2026-04-16 using SEAB’s official 2026 Singapore-Cambridge GCE A-Level Examination Timetable and SEAB's Important Dates page. The timetable PDF is current as of this date.
Quick note: how the A-Level timetable is structured
SEAB's timetable is split across the mid-year component block and the year-end written block. That means the page is not just about November papers - it also covers the June written papers and the July oral/listening dates that candidates need to plan around early.
Beyond the written papers: oral, listening, and other components
The November written window is the most visible part of the A-Level calendar, but several other components require planning well before it opens.
H1 Mother Tongue oral exams (July 2026): The official timetable splits the oral window across July. Your school assigns your group based on your H1 MT subject - check with your JC early in the year so you can plan preparation time accordingly.
H1 Mother Tongue listening comprehension: The listening comprehension paper is scheduled separately from the written papers, and the exact date is in the SEAB timetable linked above.
Project Work (PW) oral presentation: PW is compulsory for all A-Level school candidates. The oral presentation (OP) is typically conducted in Term 3 of JC2 - around August or September - before the written exam season begins. The OP date is set by your school and conducted internally; the grade forms part of your A-Level certificate. Plan your OP preparation around your prelim schedule, as both fall in the same term.
H3 papers: Students taking H3 subjects - whether MOE-Cambridge, MOE-NUS, MOE-NTU, or school-based H3 - have additional papers that may fall within or just outside the main November written window. H3 papers are not listed on the standard calendar; check with your subject teacher or the SEAB timetable for H3-specific dates once published.
Mid-year H1 Mother Tongue results: If you sat H1 MT at the mid-year sitting, results are typically released around August. The better of your mid-year and year-end grades is used for your A-Level certificate - you do not need to resit if you are satisfied with your mid-year result.
How to plan your revision around A-Level dates
The A-Level exam season has three distinct phases:
H1 Mother Tongue oral exams (July 2026) - Group A: 8–10 Jul, Group B: 13–15 Jul; your school assigns your group
JC2 Preliminary exams (typically Aug–Sep) - most JCs run prelims 6–8 weeks before As; this is your last full mock
Written exams (2 Nov – 27 Nov) - the main written window spanning nearly 4 weeks
Use this as a rough planning framework across the JC2 year:
Jan–Mar (JC2 Term 1): Lecture content is still ongoing for most subjects. Revise completed topics in parallel rather than waiting for the full syllabus to land.
Apr–Jun (JC2 Term 2): Complete syllabus, begin past-paper practice. GP reading must be a consistent weekly habit - it cannot be crammed in the final weeks.
Jul–Sep: MT oral in July, prelims in Aug–Sep. Use your prelim results diagnostically, not as a final verdict on where you will land.
Oct–Nov: Final revision stretch. No new content - focus on timed papers, weak topics, and exam technique.
Subject-combination timetable density: Students taking PCME (Physics/Chemistry/Maths/Economics) generally find the written exam schedule slightly more spread out than those taking BCME (Biology/Chemistry/Maths/Economics), because of how SEAB schedules paper slots across the November window. Check the detailed SEAB timetable for your specific combination once it is published (by 16 Feb 2026) so you can plan rest days early.
Your prelim results (Aug–Sep) are not your destiny. A-Level improvements of 10–20 rank points from prelims are well-documented on student forums. Use the 6–8 weeks between prelims and As strategically.
Taking A-Levels as a private candidate?
Private candidate registration is Tue, 7 Apr – Tue, 21 Apr 2026 via the SEAB Candidates Portal - the same window as school candidate registration. If you are retaking A-Levels or sitting them for the first time outside JC:
Printed e-Statement of Entry - SEAB issues this electronically, but you must print it and bring the hard copy. Digital copies on your phone are not accepted at the exam hall.
Original NRIC or passport - photocopies are not accepted. Bring the physical document.
Stationery in a transparent pencil case - 2B pencils, black or blue ballpoint pens, a ruler, an eraser, and set squares for subjects where they apply (e.g. H2 Physics practical).
Approved calculator (for applicable papers) - non-graphical, non-programmable only. Check the SEAB approved calculator list before exam day; using a non-approved model is a serious infringement.
Note on MF27: The List of Formulae and Statistical Tables (MF27) is provided at the exam hall for H1 Mathematics, H2 Mathematics, and H2 Further Mathematics papers. Do not bring your own copy - doing so may be treated as bringing unauthorised material.
Reporting time: Aim to arrive at least 40 minutes before the start of your paper. You must be seated 15 minutes before the paper begins. Late candidates may be barred from entering.
Do not bring smartwatches, mobile phones, or valuables into the exam hall. Items left outside are at your own risk.
Tip for the 4-week exam marathon: A-Level written papers run from 2–27 November - nearly four weeks. Build a simple schedule between papers: plan proper meals, 7–8 hours of sleep, and light exercise. Stamina matters as much as revision in the final stretch.
What if you are sick on exam day?
Stay calm and act quickly - the steps below matter.
Step 1 - Notify immediately. If you are a school candidate, inform your school (call your form teacher or the school's exam coordinator) on the same day. If you are a private candidate, submit a notification via SEAB's feedback form on the SEAB website as soon as possible.
Step 2 - Get medical documentation. Obtain an MC or hospital memo covering the date of the affected paper. A teleconsult MC is generally accepted if the reason is credible, but a hospital memo is stronger for serious illness.
Step 3 - Apply for Special Consideration. SEAB offers a Special Consideration process for candidates who are hospitalised or have a contagious illness on exam day, provided you have completed at least 50% of the total component weightage for that subject. Submit your application with supporting documentation within 3 working days after the affected paper.
Important caveats:
Special Consideration does not guarantee a grade uplift. It flags your script so markers are aware of your circumstances; the final grade is still based on your work.
If you miss a paper without a valid reason, you receive an "Absent" grade for that component, which typically results in an ungraded result for the subject.
SEAB cannot reschedule individual papers for any reason - the exam schedule is fixed for all candidates.
If you are unsure, contact SEAB directly via their official website. Do not wait.
After A-Level results - university applications and next steps
When results are released
A-Level results for the 2026 cohort are expected around late February 2027. For reference, the 2025 cohort received their results on 21 February 2026 at 2:30 PM.
School candidates collect results in person at their JC or Millennia Institute.
Private candidates access results via the SEAB Candidates Portal from 2:45 PM on results day.
University applications
Local autonomous university applications (NUS, NTU, SMU, SUTD, SIT, SUSS) typically open within days of results release and run for approximately 2–4 weeks.
Apply to multiple universities rather than concentrating on one.
Your University Admissions Score (UAS) under the new 70-point system determines your competitiveness. Research your target courses and their indicative grade profiles (IGP) before results day so you know which courses are within reach.
University application windows open very soon after results - sometimes the same week. Research your target courses and their indicative grade profiles (IGP) before results day so you can submit applications quickly.
UK universities (UCAS)
UCAS applications run on a different timeline. The main UCAS deadline is typically mid-January - before A-Level results are out. If you applied through UCAS, your conditional offers will be confirmed (or not) once your A-Level results are released in February.
Mid-year H1 Mother Tongue results (if applicable)
If you sat H1 Mother Tongue in JC1, your mid-year MT results are released tentatively in August 2026. A pass removes H1 MT from your JC2 exam load entirely - a significant reduction in your final-year workload.
Appealing your results
If you believe a paper was marked incorrectly, you can request a re-mark:
Submit via the SEAB Candidates Portal within 5 working days of results release.
A fee applies per subject.
SEAB conducts a full re-marking plus a clerical re-check.
The outcome is final.
FAQ
When do A-Level exams start in 2026?
The A-Level timetable begins with June written papers on 2 June 2026, followed by oral and listening components in July, and the year-end written window from Monday 2 November to Friday 27 November 2026. Check the SEAB A-Level examination timetable (PDF) for your specific subject dates.
What is the difference between oral exam Group A and Group B?
SEAB splits oral exams into two groups based on subject combinations. Group A runs 8–10 July and Group B runs 13–15 July 2026. Your school will tell you which group you are in based on your H1 MT subject.
When are A-Level results released?
A-Level results are typically released in late February the following year. For the 2026 A-Level cohort, expect results around February 2027. This is before the university application deadline for most local universities. Watch SEAB's important dates page for the confirmed date.
How do I register for A-Levels as a private candidate?
Private candidate registration is from 7–21 April 2026 via the SEAB Candidates Portal. You need a valid NRIC or FIN. Late registration is not accepted.
Is the A-Level timetable harder for some subject combinations?
Slightly. Subject combinations like BCME (Biology/Chemistry/Maths/Economics) can have more consecutive exam days than PCME (Physics/Chemistry/Maths/Economics) because of how SEAB schedules paper slots across the November window. The official timetable shows the exact dates. Check it early so you can plan rest days and avoid being caught off guard by back-to-back papers.
What happens if I am sick on A-Level exam day?
Notify your school (school candidates) or SEAB (private candidates) on the day itself. Get a valid MC or hospital memo and submit a Special Consideration application within 3 working days after the affected paper. See the section above for the full process. Papers cannot be rescheduled for individual candidates under any circumstances.
How do I read the SEAB exam timetable?
The SEAB timetable PDF lists papers by subject code (e.g., 8865 for H2 Mathematics) and date. Each row shows the paper number, date, session (AM or PM), and duration. "AM" papers typically start around 8:00 AM; "PM" papers around 2:00–2:30 PM. Cross-reference your H1 and H2 subject codes to build your personal exam calendar. Your JC will usually provide a personalised schedule as well.
When do university applications open after A-Level results?
Local university applications (NUS, NTU, SMU, SUTD, SIT, SUSS) typically open within days of A-Level results release and run for 2–4 weeks. For UK universities via UCAS, the main application deadline is earlier (mid-January), with conditional offers confirmed after A-Level results.
How do I appeal my A-Level results?
Submit a re-marking request via the SEAB Candidates Portal within 5 working days of results release. A fee applies per subject. SEAB conducts a full re-mark and clerical re-check. Results are final and typically available within a few weeks.
