IP Schools in Singapore: Which Integrated Programme Is Right for Your Child?
- Colman Cheung
- Apr 5
- 2 min read
The Integrated Programme (IP) is one of Singapore’s most talked-about secondary school pathways — and one of the most misunderstood. It is not simply the ‘best’ route. It is a specific academic pathway that suits a specific type of student. Here is everything you need to know about IP schools, what they offer, and whether your child is a good fit.
What is the Integrated Programme?
The IP is a 6-year programme that combines secondary and pre-university education. Students do not sit the O-Level examination. Instead, they complete a 6-year curriculum that ends with either the A-Level (for most schools) or the International Baccalaureate (IB). The IP was designed for students who are academically strong enough to skip O-Levels and would benefit from a more enriched, broad-based curriculum.
IP Schools in Singapore (2026)
Raffles Institution (RI) — Leads to A-Level via Raffles Junior College. One of the most academically rigorous IP tracks.
Raffles Girls’ School (RGS) — Girls only. Leads to A-Level via Raffles Junior College.
Nanyang Girls’ High School (NYGH) — Girls only. Strong in bilingual education and research. Leads to Hwa Chong Institution for JC.
Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) — Co-ed from Secondary 3. Noted for its bilingual Integrated Humanities programme.
Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) — Boys only. Offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) instead of A-Level.
St. Joseph’s Institution (SJI) — Boys only. Also offers the IB. Catholic mission school with a strong arts and leadership culture.
NUS High School — Specialises in Mathematics and Science. Leads to its own NUS High School Diploma, not A-Level.
School of the Arts (SOTA) — For students with a strong arts vocation. Leads to IB. Unique in its combination of arts and academics.
Singapore Sports School — For elite student athletes. Flexible academic schedule built around training commitments.
Is the IP Right for Your Child?
The IP suits students who are genuinely academically strong — not just hard workers, but students who engage with ideas with intellectual curiosity. Without the O-Level ‘checkpoint’, IP students need strong self-discipline and intrinsic motivation. Students who need the structure of exam preparation to stay focused often do better in the standard O-Level route.
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