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Choose the diploma before choosing by campus name.

Which course contains work your child wants to learn, including its less glamorous parts?

A course title is only the beginning. Read compulsory modules, assessment and entry subjects, then compare the same field across institutions.

By Mentora editorial team · Reviewed · Official sources

Taking O-Levels in 2026? Check the 2027 admission-year note. Historical ranges are not future entry guarantees.

From official sources

Eligibility has more than one check

For 2026 JAE, MOE specifies an ELR2B2 net aggregate limit of 26 for polytechnic diplomas, except Nursing at 28, plus each course’s minimum entry requirements. The relevant-subject groups differ between aggregate types. A total score alone does not establish eligibility.

Source: MOE — Polytechnic admission and courses (2026 JAE)

Mentora guidance

Read the curriculum in layers

Start with the compulsory first-year modules. Then look at later specialisation, practical work, projects and industry exposure. Distinguish what every student studies from optional opportunities that may have selection conditions.

Compare two courses side by side using five headings: core modules, assessment, entry subjects, practical costs and progression questions. If the titles sound similar but the modules differ, ask the course team to explain the difference.

Mentora guidance

Explore an interest without committing to a career label

For computing, try a small programming or data task and notice whether your child enjoys testing and correcting their work. For another field, find a comparable introductory activity and ask about the compulsory technical content.

Use the experience to generate better open-house questions. A single enjoyable activity does not prove fit; it helps your child explain what they want to investigate next.

Mentora guidance

Use historical ranges carefully

Write the admission year beside every range. Compare only like-for-like aggregates and treat the figures as a record of a previous intake. Demand, available places and applicants change.

Our first detailed example covers Singapore Polytechnic’s Applied AI & Analytics diploma. Use the same questions for other courses; this small collection is not a complete catalogue.

Check the admission year

Admission year is the year of entry, not the year of the examination. These notes were verified on 2026-09-09.

2026 admission · 2025 O-Levels

This JAE has ended. Any 2026 score ranges shown are historical reference only, not a future admission guarantee.

Source: MOE — Joint Admissions Exercise

2027 admission · 2026 O-Levels

MOE says 2027 JAE details will be updated by October 2026. Check the new publication before applying; this guide does not assume its dates or requirements.

Source: MOE — Joint Admissions Exercise

2028 onward · SEC cohort

MOE has announced PSE from 2028, following the first SEC examination in 2027. Use the rules for your admission year; do not carry older JAE calculations forward.

Source: MOE — New Post-Secondary Admissions Exercise in 2028

Sources and verification

Admissions and programme facts are linked to their official sources. Guidance on fit is Mentora’s interpretation. Recheck the official page for your intake before applying.