G1, G2 and G3 Maths: The Difference Between G2 and G3 Maths Explained (2026)
By Mr Ian Ang, Math Academy · Updated 29 October 2026
Under Full Subject-Based Banding (Full SBB), secondary school students take each subject at one of three levels: G1, G2 or G3. For maths, the level your child takes decides how fast the syllabus moves, which topics are covered by Sec 4, whether Additional Mathematics is open in Sec 3, and what appears on the national certificate. This guide answers the G1 vs G2 vs G3 maths question directly, then explains placement, moving between levels, A Maths, and the new SEC exam from 2027. Each rule was checked against MOE and SEAB pages on 29 October 2026.
G1 vs G2 vs G3 Maths at a glance
The “G” stands for General. MOE maps the three levels from the old streams: G1 from Normal (Technical), G2 from Normal (Academic) and G3 from Express. Full SBB started with the 2024 Secondary 1 cohort, and the old stream labels are gone for those students.
| G1 Maths | G2 Maths | G3 Maths | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mapped from | Normal (Technical) | Normal (Academic) | Express |
| Demand | Foundational | Intermediate | Most demanding |
| Exam syllabus (code) | G1 Mathematics | G2 Mathematics (4045) | G3 Mathematics (4052) |
| SEC grades | A to E | 1 to 6 | A1 to 9 |
| Additional Mathematics | Not offered at G1 | G2 A Maths (4051) | G3 A Maths (4049) |
Banding is done subject by subject. A student can take maths at G3 while taking English at G2, or the reverse. Your child stays with a mixed form class for the six common curriculum subjects (Art, Character and Citizenship Education, Design and Technology, Food and Consumer Education, Music and PE) and joins a class of the same level for maths.
What G3 Maths covers that G2 Maths does not
G2 and G3 Maths share the same aims and the same three content strands: Number and Algebra, Geometry and Measurement, and Statistics and Probability. The difference is pace and depth. Comparing the two MOE syllabuses topic by topic shows a clear pattern.
- Sec 1. G3 starts linear functions and their graphs, gradient, the angle sums of polygons, geometrical constructions and map scales in Sec 1. G2 spends more of Sec 1 consolidating ratio, percentage and speed from primary school, with equations kept to whole-number coefficients.
- Sec 2. G2 picks up linear graphs and polygons in Sec 2. By then G3 has moved on to quadratic graphs, solving quadratic equations by factorisation, adding and subtracting algebraic fractions, changing the subject of a formula, and the trigonometric ratios.
- Sec 3 and 4. G3 includes sets and Venn diagrams, matrices and vectors in two dimensions. These are not in the G2 syllabus. G2 students who take a fifth year study them in Sec 5.
So the difference between G2 and G3 maths is not that G3 has harder questions on the same topics. G3 covers more topics, and it reaches shared topics earlier. That is also why the first term of Sec 1 matters: a G3 student meets graphs and algebra within weeks, and a G2 student who hopes to move up needs those topics secure.
If your child is starting Sec 1, our free Sec 1 maths questions with worked solutions cover the Sec 1 topics with step-by-step solutions. For guided help, our Sec 1 Maths tuition runs classes of up to 7 students at our Bukit Gombak centre.
Where G1 Maths fits
G1 is the foundational level, mapped from the old Normal (Technical) standard. It is examined at G1 in the SEC and graded A to E. Additional Mathematics is offered only at G2 and G3, so a student who wants A Maths in Sec 3 needs to be taking maths at G2 or G3 by then.
How students are placed in G1, G2 or G3 Maths
Your child’s PSLE Score decides the Posting Group used for secondary school admission, and the Posting Group sets the starting level for most subjects in Sec 1.
| PSLE Score | Posting Group | Most subjects start at |
|---|---|---|
| 4 to 20 | 3 | G3 |
| 21 to 22 | 2 or 3 | G2 or G3 |
| 23 to 24 | 2 | G2 |
| 25 | 1 or 2 | G1 or G2 |
| 26 to 30 (with AL 7 or better in English and Maths) | 1 | G1 |
Maths can then start higher than the Posting Group. Students in Posting Groups 1 and 2 who scored AL 5 or better in PSLE Standard Mathematics can take maths at G3 or G2 from the start of Sec 1. Those who scored AL 6 in Standard Mathematics, or AL A in Foundation Mathematics, can take it at G2. MOE’s own example is a student with a PSLE Score of 23 and AL 5 in Maths: admitted through Posting Group 2, taking most subjects at G2, and maths at G3. For the 2025 Primary 6 cohort, about 65% of students eligible for Posting Groups 1 and 2 could take at least one subject at a more demanding level.
Moving between G2 and G3 Maths
The level is not fixed for four years. After the start of Sec 1, a student can move a subject up to a more demanding level based on their results in that subject in secondary school and a holistic assessment by the school that they can cope with the subject and their overall workload. MOE describes these moves as happening at appropriate junctures, and the school advises families on eligibility.
Moving down is treated more carefully. For a compulsory subject such as maths, a move to a less demanding level after the start of Sec 1 follows a school assessment of the student’s aptitude, attitude to learning, well-being and the effect on post-secondary options. Electives such as A Maths can be taken at a less demanding level in upper secondary if the student wishes.
In practice, a move from G2 to G3 is easier the earlier it happens, because the G3 class will already have covered topics such as linear graphs and, by Sec 2, quadratics. A student aiming to move up should be working through the G3 topics alongside the G2 course. Our free Sec 1 linear graphs study guide and Sec 2 maths questions cover the topics that usually need catching up.
G2 or G3 Maths and A Maths in Sec 3
Additional Mathematics is an upper secondary elective offered at two levels: G3 A Maths (syllabus 4049) and G2 A Maths (syllabus 4051). MOE writes both for students “who have an aptitude and interest in mathematics”, with an emphasis on preparing for higher studies in mathematics and the sciences. Your child’s school advises on eligibility for A Maths and the level to take it at.
The level matters later. The H2 Mathematics syllabus in junior college assumes G3 Additional Mathematics. A student who took G2 A Maths, or only G3 Maths, can still take H2 Maths, but must bridge the gap during JC. If H2 Maths is a possibility, G3 Maths followed by G3 A Maths is the most direct route. Our guide on whether to take A Math explains the Sec 3 decision.
G1, G2 and G3 Maths and the JC or poly route
Under Full SBB, eligibility for post-secondary courses depends on the subjects and levels a student takes, not on the Posting Group they entered through.
- Junior college. A student needs enough G3 subjects to compute the JC aggregate and must meet subject grade requirements. The criterion is L1R5 of 20 or better today. From the 2028 admissions exercise, MOE will change it to L1R4 of 16 or better, still with relevant subjects from both the Humanities and the Mathematics or Science groups.
- Polytechnic Year 1. From the 2028 intake, students will be assessed on four G3 subjects and one G2 subject, instead of five G3 subjects.
- Polytechnic Foundation Programme and Higher Nitec. These use G2 or G1 aggregates. Grades from a more demanding level are mapped down, for example a G3 grade of A1 to B3 counts as a G2 grade of 1.
From January 2028, students apply for JC, Millennia Institute, polytechnic and ITE courses through one Post-Secondary Admissions Exercise (PSE), using their SEC results.
The SEC exam from 2027
In 2027 the GCE O-Level, N(A)-Level and N(T)-Level examinations are combined and renamed the Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate (SEC). The first students to sit it are the 2024 Secondary 1 cohort, who are in Sec 3 in 2026, together with Normal (Academic) students from the 2023 cohort who take a fifth year.
- Students sit each subject at the level they take it: G1, G2 or G3.
- The certificate shows each subject and the level it was taken at.
- SEAB states that the overall standard of the examinations does not change, and that the grading follows the old N(T), N(A) and O-Level structures for G1, G2 and G3.
- English and Mother Tongue written papers are in September; other written papers run from October to November, and results are released in January.
For maths, this means the level your child takes in Sec 4 is the level printed on the certificate. A G3 Maths grade and a G2 Maths grade are recorded on different scales.
Choosing between G2 and G3 Maths in Sec 1
If your child qualifies for a choice, these questions help.
- How secure is the PSLE foundation? AL 5 or better makes G3 possible. A child who found fractions, ratio and percentage hard in P6 will meet them again in G3 at a faster pace.
- How does your child handle pace? G3 introduces graphs and algebra early. Some children enjoy the stretch; others do better building confidence in G2 and moving up.
- What are the longer-term goals? JC and a maths-heavy degree point towards G3 Maths and G3 A Maths. A polytechnic route allows one G2 subject from 2028.
- What does the school recommend? Teachers see your child’s work and know how the school handles level changes.
- Is there a plan to move up? If your child starts at G2, agree on what results would justify moving to G3 and work on the G3 topics early.
For the wider jump from primary school, see our guide to the Secondary 1 maths vs primary maths transition.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between G2 and G3 maths?
G3 maths is mapped from the old Express standard and G2 from Normal (Academic). G3 covers topics earlier and includes sets, matrices and vectors, which are not in the G2 syllabus.
Is G3 maths the same as Express maths?
G3 is mapped from the Express standard, and SEAB states that exam standards do not change under the SEC. The difference is that students now take maths at G3 subject by subject rather than as part of a stream.
What PSLE AL does my child need for G3 maths?
Students in Posting Group 3 take most subjects at G3. Students in Posting Groups 1 and 2 can take maths at G3 from Sec 1 if they scored AL 5 or better in PSLE Standard Mathematics.
Can my child move from G2 to G3 maths?
Yes. After the start of Sec 1, schools can move a student up based on their maths results and a holistic assessment of whether they can cope with the subject and their workload.
Can a G2 maths student take A Maths?
A Maths is offered at G2 and G3, and the school advises on eligibility. H2 Maths in JC assumes G3 A Maths, so students without it must bridge the gap in JC.
When is the first SEC exam?
In 2027, taken by the students who entered Sec 1 in 2024. The SEC replaces the O-Level, N(A)-Level and N(T)-Level exams and shows each subject at its G1, G2 or G3 level.
G1, G2 and G3 Maths: key points for parents
G1, G2 and G3 maths differ in pace, depth and the topics covered by Sec 4, and the level your child sustains decides whether A Maths, JC and maths-heavy courses stay open. The early secondary years matter most, because that is when G3 moves ahead of G2 and when schools look at results for a move up. If your child would benefit from a steady weekly class through that stage, our Sec 1 Maths tuition runs 1.5-hour weekly classes of up to 7 students.
