P1 and P2 assessment: no exams, explained
There are no weighted exams or grades in Primary 1 and 2. That worries a lot of parents who then wonder how they will ever know where their child stands. This page sets out what MOE actually removed, how progress is reported instead, and what Edusave means when there are no marks to earn.
Last reviewed against official sources: 19 July 2026
Starting Primary 1 comes with a surprise for many parents: after years of preschool worksheets, there are no exams and no report-card grades in the first two years of primary school. It is easy to read that as being left in the dark. It is not. The exams are gone, but the school still watches how your child is learning and tells you about it. This page explains both halves plainly.
What MOE actually removed
From 2019, MOE removed all weighted assessments and examinations at Primary 1 and Primary 2, including the Primary 2 year-end examination. At these two levels there are no marks and no grades. MOE's stated reason is to give young children a stretch of school free of exams so they can adjust to primary school and stay, in MOE's words, curious and confident in learning rather than being driven by grades from a young age.
This does not mean nothing happens in the classroom. A school may still run light, non-weighted activities to check how children are getting on. Whether it does, and in what form, varies from school to school. What is consistent is that none of it produces a weighted score or a ranking at P1 or P2.
| Before | P1–P2 now | |
|---|---|---|
| Weighted exams | Yes, including a P2 year-end exam | None at P1 or P2 |
| Marks and grades | Given | No marks, no grades |
| Class ranking | Common | Not used at these levels |
| How progress is shown | Scores and position | Teachers' feedback on how your child is learning |
| In effect since | Old model | From 2019 |
Source: MOE, on the removal of weighted assessment at Primary 1 and 2 from 2019.
So how is my child assessed and reported?
Through the teacher, not a mark. Class teachers observe how your child is learning across the term and report it in the school's report book using qualitative feedback rather than scores or a class position. In practice that means comments on how your child is getting on, not a number out of a hundred.
One point worth being clear about: there is no single official national grading scale for P1 and P2 report books. Schools describe learning in their own wording and formats, so the labels and how generously they read can differ from one school to another. If you hear other parents mention specific band names, treat those as that particular school's practice rather than a nationwide standard. Go by the actual report your own school gives you, and use meet-the-parents sessions to ask the teacher directly.
Where does streaming or banding come in?
Nowhere, at Primary 1 and 2. There is no streaming at these levels. The reform many parents have in mind, Full Subject-Based Banding, is a secondary-school change: it replaced the old Express, Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical) streams in secondary schools from 2024. It has nothing to do with a P1 or P2 child now.
Edusave: what it means when there are no marks
Edusave is an MOE scheme. Eligible Singaporean students get an Edusave account, and some go on to receive Edusave awards. Parents naturally ask whether a P1 child can win one. The short answer: some awards can apply early, but not the ones that depend on exam marks, because P1 and P2 do not produce any.
This is where MOE's own position matters, because it lines up with what parents sense. MOE states that at Primary 1 and 2, the relevant Edusave awards recognise good conduct and consistent learning dispositions such as curiosity and resilience, rather than academic results. Marks-based and improvement-based awards come in from later primary levels, once there are results to measure.
| Award | What it recognises | At P1–P2 |
|---|---|---|
| Edusave Merit Bursary | Good performance in families within the income ceiling MOE sets | A P1–P2 version exists, but at these levels it is based on good conduct and learning dispositions (such as curiosity and resilience), not marks. |
| Good Progress Award | The top share of a level who improve the most, with good conduct. No income criteria, according to MOE. | MOE runs a P2–P3 version. Because P1 has no prior year of marks to compare, improvement-based awards begin later. |
| EAGLES | Achievement, leadership and service outside academics, plus good conduct. Schools nominate against their own co-curricular criteria. | Can apply at primary level; it does not depend on exam marks. |
Award names and criteria are from MOE. The exact income ceilings, percentages and eligible levels are set by MOE and can change, so confirm the current figures on the official page before relying on them.
What this means for you
Do not chase marks that do not exist
There are no P1–P2 grades to optimise. Use the teacher's feedback and a short conversation at meet-the-parents to understand where your child stands.
Conduct and attendance still count
For the awards that do apply early, MOE looks at good conduct and learning dispositions rather than test scores. Turning up and settling in matters more than any number.
Streaming is a secondary-school worry
The banding changes parents read about are a secondary-school matter. Nothing about them touches a P1 or P2 child now.
If you want to know where to put your energy in these first two years instead of grades, our School Readiness guide covers the habits that actually help. For the wider financial picture around Edusave and school costs, see The Real Costs of Primary School and Financial Assistance. And if you are looking ahead to higher-ability programmes, School Programmes and the GEP explains how later identification works.
Common questions
Do Primary 1 children sit exams? +
No. According to MOE, all weighted assessments and exams were removed at Primary 1 and Primary 2 from 2019, including the old Primary 2 year-end examination. There are no marks and no grades at these levels. A school may still run light, non-weighted classroom activities to see how children are getting on, but these are not the old exams.
So how will I know how my child is doing? +
Through the teacher rather than a score. Class teachers observe your child through the term and report progress in the school's report book using qualitative feedback rather than marks or a class position. The exact format and wording differ from school to school, so read the report your school sends and ask the teacher at meet-the-parents sessions.
Is my child being streamed in P1 or P2? +
No. There is no streaming at Primary 1 or 2. The change parents often hear about, Full Subject-Based Banding, is a secondary-school reform that replaced the old Express and Normal streams from 2024. It does not apply to primary school.
Can my P1 child win an Edusave award? +
Some awards can apply early, but not the ones based on exam marks, because P1 and P2 produce none. MOE states that at Primary 1 and 2, the relevant Edusave awards recognise good conduct and consistent learning dispositions such as curiosity and resilience, rather than academic results. Improvement-based and marks-based awards come in from later primary levels. Check the MOE Edusave page for the current criteria.
What are the report-book bands I hear other parents mention? +
There is no single official national grading scale for P1–P2 report books. Schools describe learning in their own words and formats, so the labels and how they read can vary from one school to another. Treat any specific band name you hear as that school's practice, not a nationwide standard, and go by the actual report your own school gives you.
Will there be more assessment as my child moves up? +
Yes. Weighted assessments and examinations return gradually from Primary 3 onwards, building towards the PSLE at Primary 6. The exam-free window is specific to Primary 1 and 2, to help young children settle into school first.
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