Lower Secondary Programme

Lower Secondary Programme

At the lower secondary levels, all students will offer:

Core Subjects
With the implementation of Full Subject-Based Banding (FSBB), students can take core subjects at three subject levels, known as G1, G2, G3 (G stands for General), mapped from the previous N(T), N(A), and Express standards respectively. Students will have the flexibility to adjust their subject levels at appropriate junctures, based on their readiness, strengths, interests, and learning needs. Students will subsequently access post-secondary pathways based on their various subjects and subject level combinations.

Common Curriculum Subjects
Xinmin students will be placed in mixed form classes at lower secondary where they can interact with peers of different strengths and interests via the common curriculum. Differentiated instruction (D.I.), customisation, and project-based learning are key levers to achieve these developmental objectives among diverse learners:

Xinmin's Signature Programmes
Beyond the core subjects and the common curriculum, Xinmin students go through two essential experiential modules to further hone their 21st Century Competencies.

MAKERS@Xinmin
"The future belongs to those who can innovate, create, and collaborate." ~Tom Friedman

Through MAKERS@Xinmin, students:

1. Develop curiosity and lifelong passion for analogue and digital making.
   

2. Foster adaptive and inventive thinking.
   

3. Acquire design, prototyping, and iteration skills.
   

4. Acquire 21st Century skills in AI, digital literacy, problem-solving, and creative thinking through eco-sustainability challenges.

RefleXions@Xinmin
"Drama education teaches students how to communicate, how to listen, and how to be empathetic." ~ Andrew Lloyd Webber

Through RefleXions@Xinmin, students:

1. Gain exposure and learn to apply elements of drama skills.
   

2. Acquire thinking routines that encourage critical thinking and reflection.
   

3. Create original scripts and put up drama performances.
   

Secondary 1 Students

Secondary 1 Start-Of-Year
Students will be allocated a set of subjects based on their Posting Group. To offer Higher Mother Tongue Languages (HMTL) - Chinese, Malay, Tamil and Non-Tamil Indian Languages (NTIL), students should obtain either:

1. AL1 or AL2 in PSLE MTL, or Distinction or Merit in PSLE HMTL.

2. An overall PSLE Score of 8 or better.

Note: Students taking Tamil or NTIL will take lessons at designated schools or language centres, and not in Xinmin Secondary School.

For students in Posting Groups 1 and 2, they may be offered English, Mathematics, MTL, and Science at a more demanding level (MDL) at three specific junctures in Secondary 1. At the start of Secondary 1, the guidelines below apply:

Beyond the start of Secondary 1, students may offer subjects at MDL at the following junctures, based on their academic performance in school, as well as by demonstrating positive attitude towards learning. There is no cap on the number of subjects students can take at MDL.

Secondary 1 Mid-Year
At this point, students can take these subjects at MDL if they perform well for their Weighted Assessments (WAs).

Secondary 1 End-of-Year
At this point, students can take these subjects at MDL if they perform well for their WAs and End-of-Year (EOY) Examination.

*Note: For MDL from G1 Humanities to a G2 Humanities subject, this requires a subject overall ≥ 75% in G1 English (or ≥ 50% overall in G2 English) and a Pass with Distinction for both Performance Tasks in Semester 1 and 2 from the G1 Humanities Social Studies component.

For more details on the lower secondary curriculum, you may also refer to MOE’s Full SBB microsite.

Secondary 2 Students

• As per MOE’s intent for Full SBB, to support students’ transition from primary to secondary school and provide time for them to adjust to the curriculum, all students will generally progress to Secondary 2.

• The lower secondary programme spans two years, so students will continue the same set of subjects taken in Secondary 1.

• Students who were offered English, MTL, Mathematics, and/or Science at MDL in Secondary 1 will continue to take them at MDL at Secondary 2. Those who performed well in the Humanities in Secondary 1 will have the opportunity to offer at least History, Geography, or Literature at MDL in Secondary 2, as explained above.

Secondary 2 End-of-Year

At this point, students can take these subjects at MDL if they perform well for their WAs and End-of-Year (EOY) Examination.

*Note: For MDL from G1 Humanities to a G2 Humanities subject, this requires a subject overall ≥ 75% in G1 English (or ≥ 50% overall in G2 English) and a Pass with Distinction for both Performance Tasks in Semester 1 and 2 from the G1 Humanities Social Studies component.

Higher Mother Tongue Languages

For Secondary 1 students: To offer G3 Higher Chinese Language or G3 Higher Malay Language at Secondary 2, students should score subject overall* ≥75% for G3 Chinese Language or G3 Malay Language at the end of Secondary 1.

For Secondary 2 students: To offer G3 Higher Chinese Language or G3 Higher Malay Language at Secondary 3, students should score subject overall* ≥75% for G3 Chinese Language or G3 Malay Language at the end of Secondary 2.

*Subject overall comprises all WAs (40%) and EOY Examination (60%)

Progression to Upper Secondary

At the end of Secondary 2 and Secondary 3, students need to meet the academic requirement to offer subjects at the same subject levels in the following year.

• Academic Requirement: Pass^ (a) EL and 2 subjects, or (b) at least half the total number of examinable subjects* offered.

• Students who do not meet the academic requirement are to offer fewer subjects and/or offer subjects at a less demanding level (LDL).

^ ‘Pass’ refers to subject overall mark of at least 50%, regardless of subject level.

* ‘Examinable subjects’ do not include CCE, PE and lower secondary Music.