An A-Level subject combination is the set of H1 and H2 content subjects you take in junior college or Millennia Institute, together with compulsory subjects such as General Paper and Project Work.
Q: What is the normal A-Level subject combination in Singapore? A: MOE describes the norm as three H2 content subjects and one H1 content subject, with at least one content subject from a contrasting discipline, plus H1 General Paper, Project Work, and Mother Tongue where applicable. School rules and approved combinations still apply.
Last reviewed: 19 July 2026. Subject combinations, prerequisites, and school selection criteria can change by cohort. Use the linked school resource for the year you enter JC1 or Pre-U1.
TL;DR Start with current university prerequisites, then check the exact combination and subject criteria published by your school. Under the 70-point UAS used from the 2026 university admissions exercise, the base score uses three H2 content subjects and General Paper. The fourth H1 or H2 content subject and Mother Tongue may be included only if they improve the UAS. Project Work is pass or fail and a pass is required for university eligibility, subject to the published exceptions. The contrasting-subject requirement still applies even though the fourth content subject is not counted by default.
For students whose results fall under the revised computation, the base University Admission Score is:
three H2 content-based subjects, worth up to 60 points in total, and
General Paper, worth up to 10 points.
That gives a maximum base score of 70 points.
The fourth H1 or H2 content-based subject is included only if doing so improves the UAS. H1 Mother Tongue may also be included if it improves the UAS. Project Work is graded pass or fail and does not contribute rank points.
Important corrections:
The H1 content subject is not automatically the H1 component of the base 70-point score. General Paper is.
Mother Tongue is not excluded in every case. It may be considered if it improves the UAS.
A fourth content subject still matters for curriculum requirements and may keep prerequisites open, even when it does not improve the final UAS.
From AY2026 admissions, H2 Knowledge and Inquiry no longer substitutes for General Paper. If offered, it is considered as an H2 content subject under the current university guidance.
Applicants with older A-Level results can have transitional computation rules. Use the official university FAQ for the year you sat the examination and the admissions year in which you apply.
H1, H2, and H3
H1 and H2
H1 and H2 are different syllabus levels. The exact content and assessment format depend on the subject, so do not use a universal percentage such as "H1 is 60% of H2."
Use the current SEAB or MOE syllabus for the subject to compare:
topics,
assumed knowledge,
assessment objectives,
papers and practical components, and
permitted subject combinations.
H3
H3 is an additional advanced subject or programme for eligible students. Schools set selection criteria and the application usually follows evidence from JC1 or Pre-U study. H3 does not replace the need to meet a university programme's published H1 or H2 prerequisites.
The contrasting-subject requirement
MOE states that students must offer at least one content subject from outside their main area of specialisation. It may be taken at H1 or H2.
A Science-course student takes at least one subject from the Humanities and the Arts domain.
An Arts-course student takes at least one subject from the Mathematics and Sciences domain.
This is a national curriculum requirement, not merely a preference used by some JCs. The school still decides which approved combinations it can timetable and what entry criteria apply.
The fourth content subject remains required even though it is counted in the UAS only when it improves the score.
Common combination labels
Combination labels are shorthand, not national programme codes. Schools can offer different subject levels and variants.
Label
Common meaning
What to check
PCME
Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Economics
Which subjects are H2 or H1 in the school's listed combination
BCME
Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Economics
Subject criteria and whether the exact level mix is offered
HELM
History, Economics, Literature, Mathematics
Which subject is the contrasting subject and at what level
GELM
Geography, Economics, Literature, Mathematics
Timetabling, subject criteria, and available H1 or H2 levels
Do not assume a school offers every rearrangement of these four subjects. MOE warns that being posted to a Science, Arts, or Commerce course does not guarantee a preferred combination.
PCME or BCME for medicine
For the current published Singapore-Cambridge A-Level requirements:
NUS Medicine requires a good H2 pass in Chemistry and an H2 pass in either Biology or Physics.
NTU Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine requires a pass in H2 Chemistry and a pass in H2 Biology or Physics.
Both PCME and BCME can therefore meet the science-subject requirement when Chemistry and the second science are taken at H2.
Subject eligibility is only one part of medicine admission. Check the current academic, admissions-test, portfolio, and interview requirements on the NUS and NTU Medicine pages for your application year.
Choose between Physics and Biology using:
your actual subject strength,
the full set of university courses you want to keep open,
the school's criteria for H2 entry, and
the workload you can sustain.
Avoid claims that one choice guarantees easier medical study or better admission odds. The medical schools do not publish such a preference in the cited entry requirements.
How to map a combination to university courses
Use current programme prerequisite pages, not a generic rule for an entire faculty.
List the university programmes you may realistically apply to.
Record every required H1, H2, or equivalent subject.
Separate a formal prerequisite from a recommended background.
Check whether bridging is available for applicants without a subject.
Recheck the programme page before final subject registration.
For example, medicine has an explicit Chemistry and second-science requirement. Computing, engineering, economics, architecture, and other programmes can have different Mathematics, Science, portfolio, or bridging rules. A statement such as "all engineering requires H2 Physics" or "all business requires H2 Mathematics" is too broad to use safely.
Start with prerequisites. Identify any H2 subject that is mandatory for a target programme.
Check the school's current list. A subject being offered does not mean every combination is timetabled.
Check subject-entry criteria. Schools may require assumed knowledge, grades, or a selection exercise.
Protect your strongest three H2 choices. These form the H2 portion of the revised base UAS.
Treat the fourth content subject as a real commitment. It remains required and may preserve options even when it does not improve the UAS.
Budget time for General Paper and Project Work. GP contributes to the base UAS, while a PW pass is required for eligibility under the current rules.
Ask about change deadlines. Subject-change processes are school-specific. Do not rely on a universal two-to-four-week window.
Official resources for all A-Level JCs and MI
MOE's current list has 16 JCs offering the A-Level curriculum, plus Millennia Institute. ACS (Independent) and St. Joseph's Institution offer the IB Diploma and are outside this A-Level combination table.
Some school links lead directly to a subject-combination page. Others lead to the school's academic page because the booklet location changes between cohorts. Always select the document for your entry year.
Millennia Institute offers a three-year A-Level route, compared with the two-year JC route. MOE's subject guidance includes Arts, Commerce, and Science courses for MI, but the school controls the current combinations and selection criteria.
Does the H1 content subject count in the base 70-point UAS? No. The base uses three H2 content subjects and General Paper. The fourth H1 or H2 content subject is included only if it improves the UAS.
Does Mother Tongue never count? No. H1 Mother Tongue may be considered if it improves the UAS under the current published guidance.
Do I still need a contrasting subject? Yes. The contrasting-subject requirement remains. At least one of the four content subjects must come from outside your main area of specialisation.
Is four H2 better than three H2 and one H1? Not automatically. The base score uses three H2 subjects. A fourth H2 can preserve subject options or improve the computed UAS, but it also adds H2 workload. Check school eligibility and your target prerequisites.
Can I take H2 Mathematics without O-Level Additional Mathematics? This depends on the school and cohort. MOE identifies assumed knowledge and school selection criteria for some pre-university subjects. Check the exact JC's current subject criteria rather than relying on a universal B3 rule.
Which JC offers a niche subject such as Computing, Further Mathematics, Art, Music, or a language elective? Use MOE SchoolFinder and the school's current subject booklet. Offerings and selection exercises can change, so an undated provider list is not reliable enough for subject registration.
How many subject combinations does a JC offer? There is no national fixed number. Each school publishes its own approved combinations, and low-demand combinations may not run.
