Update (March 2026): MOE has announced that the Gifted Education Programme (GEP) will be discontinued in its current form. The last batch of GEP students will complete the programme in 2028. From 2027, a refreshed approach replaces the GEP — students stay at their own schools and access school-based provisions and advanced modules at 15 designated centres across Singapore.
This guide covers both the current GEP (for families with children still in the programme) and the new system that replaces it from 2027. If your child is in Primary 2 or 3, the new system is what applies to them.
What Is Changing: GEP to Advanced Modules (2027)
From 2027, MOE will discontinue the GEP and replace it with a broader system that supports more students without requiring them to transfer schools. The key changes, announced in the MOE Committee of Supply 2026 press release, are:
- No more school transfers: Under the GEP, selected students had to leave their primary school and transfer to one of nine designated GEP centres. Under the new system, students remain at their own schools and attend after-school advanced modules at nearby designated centres
- Broader access: The GEP identified the top 1% of students (~500 annually). The new system aims to support approximately 10% of each cohort through school-based Higher-Ability Learner (HAL) provisions, up from around 7% today
- One-stage identification: The GEP used a two-stage screening and selection process. From August 2026, a single standardised identification exercise for Primary 3 students replaces this, complemented by teacher observations and school-based information
- Multiple entry points: Students can be identified and join programmes at the end of each semester at Primary 4 and Primary 5, not just once at Primary 3 — recognising that abilities develop at different rates
- 15 Advanced Module centres: Fifteen primary schools across Singapore will host after-school advanced modules in English, Mathematics, and Science, plus interdisciplinary modules during school holidays
The 15 Advanced Module Centres (from 2027)
MOE has selected 15 primary schools to serve as designated centres for advanced modules, chosen for geographic spread and public transport accessibility. According to the MOE announcement, the centres are:
- Ahmad Ibrahim Primary School
- Clementi Primary School
- Geylang Methodist School (Primary)
- Innova Primary School
- Jurong West Primary School
- Kheng Cheng School
- Palm View Primary School
- Pioneer Primary School
- Punggol View Primary School
- Queenstown Primary School
- St Gabriel's Primary School
- Tampines Primary School
- Teck Ghee Primary School
- Yew Tee Primary School
- Yu Neng Primary School
These 15 centres are deliberately spread island-wide — reaching areas including Choa Chu Kang (Yew Tee), Punggol, Jurong West, Bedok (Tampines), and Central Singapore (Queenstown, Teck Ghee). Students attend these centres for after-school sessions while remaining enrolled at their own primary school.
For Bishan families: Teck Ghee Primary School is the nearest Advanced Module centre. For Woodlands families: Yew Tee Primary School in nearby Choa Chu Kang is the closest centre, accessible via the North-South MRT line. Both are reachable by public transport.
Ancourage Academy's Primary 3 Mathematics and Primary 3 English programmes build the analytical and comprehension skills that the new identification exercise assesses — strong foundations that benefit all students regardless of the outcome. Book a free trial class (usually $18) for a diagnostic assessment.
School-Based Provisions: HAL Programmes in Every Primary School
Beyond the 15 Advanced Module centres, MOE is expanding school-based Higher-Ability Learner (HAL) provisions across all primary schools. These include:
- In-curriculum extensions: Differentiated tasks and enrichment within regular lessons for students who demonstrate strength in specific subjects
- E2K (Excellence 2000) programmes: After-school enrichment in Mathematics and Science, available in primary schools since 2007 and now expanding
- Expanded reach: MOE is supporting more primary schools with additional manpower and funding for HAL provisions, ensuring school-based enrichment programmes such as E2K are accessible in every primary school
- Domain-specific identification: Unlike the GEP which required strength across multiple domains, the new approach identifies students with strengths in specific subjects — a student strong in Science but average in English can still access Science enrichment
This represents a significant philosophical shift: from identifying a small elite to developing strengths more broadly. MOE has stated that the advanced modules are “not linked to the national curriculum” — they are designed to stretch thinking, not to accelerate students through the syllabus.
The New Identification Process (August 2026)
Primary 3 students in 2026 will be the first cohort to undergo the new one-stage identification exercise in August, replacing the GEP's two-stage screening and selection process.
Key differences from the old GEP process:
- One stage, not two: All P3 students sit a single standardised exercise (the GEP had a screening in August followed by a selection test in October)
- Aptitude, not mastery: The exercise assesses English and Mathematics aptitude rather than mastery of the school syllabus — MOE has indicated that test preparation is neither necessary nor recommended
- Multiple information sources: The standardised exercise is complemented by school-based information such as teacher observations and student work — the test is not the only factor
- No school transfer required: Identified students stay at their own school and attend advanced modules at a nearby designated centre after school hours
- Ongoing identification: Students can be identified at the end of each semester at P4 and P5, not just once — late bloomers are not permanently excluded
What the Original GEP Was (for Reference)
The Gifted Education Programme (GEP) identified the top 1% of Primary 3 students through a two-stage national selection exercise and placed them in an enriched curriculum from Primary 4 to Primary 6 at one of nine designated schools. The GEP ran from 1984 to 2028.
The nine GEP centres were: Anglo-Chinese School (Primary), Catholic High School (Primary), Henry Park Primary School, Nan Hua Primary School, Nanyang Primary School, Raffles Girls' Primary School, Rosyth School, St Hilda's Primary School, and Tao Nan School.
The GEP curriculum covered the same MOE primary syllabus but with greater depth, breadth, and emphasis on higher-order thinking. Key features included individualised education plans, independent research projects, affective education, and a focus on Bloom's taxonomy levels of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. GEP students sat the same PSLE as mainstream students.
The last GEP cohort (P4 students in 2026) will complete the programme in 2028. Families with children currently in the GEP are not affected by the changes until the programme concludes naturally.
Should Parents Prepare Their Child for the Identification Exercise?
MOE has explicitly stated that the identification exercise assesses aptitude rather than trained performance — dedicated test preparation is neither necessary nor recommended.
What genuinely helps:
- A strong foundation in primary Mathematics and English — not for the test specifically, but for overall academic confidence and reasoning ability
- Regular reading, which develops vocabulary, comprehension, and general knowledge
- Exposure to problem-solving and logical thinking through everyday activities
- A supportive home environment where curiosity is encouraged without pressure
Ancourage Academy does not offer a “GEP preparation” or “identification exercise preparation” programme. The academy's primary curriculum focuses on building deep understanding and analytical thinking — skills that serve students well across all academic contexts. Book a free trial class (usually $18) for a diagnostic assessment.
What If My Child Is Not Identified?
Under the new system, not being identified in the August exercise is less definitive than not being selected for the GEP was — because students can be identified at multiple points and through multiple pathways.
- Multiple entry points: Students can join HAL programmes at the end of each semester at P4 and P5, not just once at P3
- School-based identification: Teachers can identify students through classroom observations and student work, independent of the standardised exercise
- Domain-specific: A student might be identified for Mathematics enrichment later even if not flagged initially — abilities develop at different rates
- Mainstream remains strong: Singapore's primary education system is internationally recognised. The vast majority of high-achieving students thrive in the mainstream curriculum
- Other pathways: Direct School Admission (DSA), the Integrated Programme (IP), and school-based enrichment all offer development beyond the standard curriculum
Common Questions About the GEP and Advanced Modules
Is the GEP discontinued?
Yes. MOE announced in March 2026 that the GEP will stop admitting new Primary 4 students from 2027. The last GEP cohort will complete the programme in 2028. It is being replaced by a refreshed approach involving school-based HAL provisions and advanced modules at 15 designated centres.
What replaces the GEP?
Two complementary systems replace the GEP: (1) expanded school-based Higher-Ability Learner (HAL) provisions in all primary schools, supporting approximately 10% of each cohort, and (2) after-school advanced modules at 15 designated centres in English, Mathematics, and Science, plus interdisciplinary modules during school holidays.
Do students still need to transfer schools?
No. Under the new system, students remain at their own primary school. They attend advanced modules at a nearby designated centre after school hours. This is the biggest practical change from the GEP, which required students to transfer to one of nine specific schools.
Which schools host the advanced modules?
Fifteen primary schools have been selected: Ahmad Ibrahim, Clementi, Geylang Methodist, Innova, Jurong West, Kheng Cheng, Palm View, Pioneer, Punggol View, Queenstown, St Gabriel's, Tampines, Teck Ghee, Yew Tee, and Yu Neng. They were chosen for geographic spread and public transport access.
How are students identified under the new system?
A single standardised identification exercise in August (replacing the GEP's two-stage process) assesses English and Mathematics aptitude. This is complemented by teacher observations and school-based information. Students can also be identified at the end of each semester at P4 and P5 — not just once at P3.
What is the GEP in Singapore?
The Gifted Education Programme (GEP) was an MOE programme that ran from 1984 to 2028. It identified the top 1% of Primary 3 students through a two-stage national screening and selection test. Selected students transferred to one of nine designated schools for an enriched curriculum from Primary 4 to Primary 6. The programme is being replaced from 2027 with advanced modules and school-based HAL provisions.
Can my child leave the advanced modules programme?
Yes. Participation in advanced modules and HAL provisions is voluntary. Parents can opt their child out at any time, just as GEP placement was never compulsory.
Families considering academic support for a Primary 3 child — whether for foundational strengthening, broader enrichment, or building analytical skills — can explore Ancourage Academy's primary programmes. Book a free trial class (usually $18) for a personalised assessment, or read about preparing for the primary school journey and education options for families in Bishan.