A-Level Course Guide 2026

Low Rank Points?
You Still Have Options

Based on the latest AY2025/2026 IGP data — 37+ university courses at NUS, NTU & SMU you can qualify for, even with CCC to BBB grades.

Published: 7 Feb 2026
10 min read
Low A-Level Rank Points? You still have options - 37+ university courses at NUS, NTU & SMU

Your Grades Don't Define Your Future

If your A-Level results weren't what you hoped for, you might think university is out of reach. It's not.

We analysed the AY2025/2026 Indicative Grade Profiles (IGP) from NUS, NTU and SMU and found 37 courses where the 10th percentile cutoff — the lowest admitted score — is RP 60 or below. That's roughly BBB/C grades or lower.

Let's show you exactly what's available.

Understanding the Numbers

From 2026, universities use a new 70-point scale (RP70) alongside the previous 90-point scale (RP90). Here's what you need to know:

RP90 vs RP70

RP90 (Previous)

3 H2 + 1 H1 content + GP + Project Work

Max 90 points. Used until AY2024/2025.

RP70 (New from 2026)

3 H2 + best H1 (GP or H1 content, whichever higher)

Max 70 points. GP & PW no longer auto-included.

Grade-to-RP70 Quick Reference

Your RP70 is calculated as: (3 H2 grades) + (best H1 grade). H2 grade points: A=20, B=17.5, C=15, D=12.5. H1 grade points: A=10, B=8.75, C=7.5, D=6.25.

Grade ProfileRP70Meaning
CCD/D48.75Lowest entry in any autonomous uni
CCD/C50.0NUS Nursing, NTU Mech Eng tier
CCC/D51.25NTU EEE (688 places!)
CCC/C52.5NUS Architecture, NTU ADM
BCC/D53.75Sport Science, Environmental Eng
BCC/C55.0Chemical Eng, Maritime, Chemistry
BCC/B56.25Bioengineering, History, Math Sci
BBC/C57.5SMU Info Systems, NTU English
BBC/B58.75NTU Business (732 places!)
BBB/C60.0NUS Eng (1,259 places!), SMU Acct

What does "10th percentile" mean?

The grades shown are the 10th percentile cutoff — meaning 10% of admitted students scored at or below this grade. It's the lowest score that got in. Most admitted students scored higher. If your grades meet the 10th percentile, you have a realistic chance, but admission is not guaranteed.

Courses for CCC Grades (RP70 ~48–52.5)

If your H2 grades are around CCC or CCD, these 7 courses have historically admitted students at your grade level. Many are engineering programmes with strong career prospects and large intake sizes.

UniversityCourseGradeRP70Intake (AY25/26)
NTUCivil EngineeringCCD/D48.75119
NUSNursing*CCD/C50.0343
NTUMechanical EngineeringCCD/C50.0422
NTUElectrical & Electronic Eng688 placesCCC/D51.25688
NTUPhysics / Applied PhysicsCCC/D51.2565
NUSArchitecture*CCC/C52.5165
NTUArt, Design & Media*^CCC/C52.5125

* = Interview/additional assessment required. ^ = Portfolio submission required. Data: AY2025/2026 IGP 10th percentile.

Courses for BCC Grades (RP70 ~53–56)

With one B and two C's in your H2 subjects, your options expand to 12 more courses including sport science, environmental engineering, and humanities programmes.

UniversityCourseGradeRP70Intake (AY25/26)
NTUSport Science & Management*BCC/D53.7572
NTUEnvironmental EngineeringBCC/D53.7554
NTUInformation Engineering & MediaBCC/D53.75120
NTUMaterials EngineeringBCC/D53.75176
NUSLandscape Architecture*CCC/B53.7547
NTUChemical & Biomolecular EngBCC/C55.0178
NTUChemistry & Biological ChemistryBCC/C55.0170
NTUMaritime StudiesBCC/C55.0135
NTUBioengineeringBCC/B56.25119
NTUHistory*BCC/B56.2572
NTUMathematical SciencesBCC/B56.25135
NTUArts (Education)*BCC/B56.2551

* = Interview/additional assessment required. Data: AY2025/2026 IGP 10th percentile.

Courses for BBC Grades (RP70 ~57–59)

With two B's and a C in your H2 subjects, you unlock 12 more courses including SMU programmes, business, accountancy, and humanities. This is where options really open up.

UniversityCourseGradeRP70Intake (AY25/26)
SMUInformation Systems Management406 placesBBC/C57.5406
NTUChinese*BBC/C57.573
NTUEnglish*BBC/C57.574
NTULinguistics & Multilingual Studies*BBC/C57.554
NTUPhilosophy*BBC/C57.532
NTUSociologyBBC/C57.584
NTUScience (Education)*BBC/C57.526
NUSIndustrial Design*BBC/B58.7543
NTUAccountancy*BBC/B58.75298
NTUBusiness*732 placesBBC/B58.75732
NTURoboticsNEWBBC/B58.7534
SMUSoftware Engineering (WSDeg)BBC/B58.7589

* = Interview/additional assessment required. WSDeg = Work-Study Degree. Data: AY2025/2026 IGP 10th percentile.

Courses for BBB Grades (RP70 = 60)

Three B's may feel like "low" grades, but they open the door to 6 more courses including NUS Engineering with its massive 1,259 intake and SMU's business-focused programmes.

UniversityCourseGradeRP70Intake (AY25/26)
NUSEngineering1,259 placesBBB/C60.01,259
SMUAccountancyBBB/C60.0268
SMUEconomicsBBB/C60.0217
SMUSocial SciencesBBB/C60.0216
NTUArtificial Intelligence & SocietyNEWABC/C60.027
NTUProcess Eng & Synthetic ChemNEWABC/C60.09

Note: ABC/C also equals RP70 of 60.0 (A=20, B=17.5, C=15 + C=7.5 = 60.0). Data: AY2025/2026 IGP 10th percentile.

Beyond NUS/NTU/SMU — More Options

The 37 courses above are at the three autonomous universities. But Singapore has many more pathways, especially if your grades fall below the 10th percentile cutoffs shown above.

🏛️

SUSS

Holistic admissions — evaluates passions, work experience and CCA, not just grades. Full-time and part-time options. Mandatory interview for all applicants.

SUSS Admissions →

🔧

SIT

Applied learning focus with integrated work-study programmes. Evaluates holistically — passion for your field matters as much as grades.

SIT Admissions →

🎓

Polytechnic (DAE)

A-Level holders get a shorter 2–2.5 year diploma with credit exemptions. Apply via DAE (not JAE). Strong pathway to SIT/SUSS.

MOE DAE Info →

For a complete guide covering private universities (SIM, Kaplan, PSB), overseas options, gap year planning, and retaking A-Levels, see our A-Level Results Not What You Expected? Your Options in Singapore 2026.

Calculate Your Exact UAS Score

Enter your A-Level grades and see your UAS score on both the RP90 and RP70 scales. Our calculator shows you every course you qualify for based on the latest IGP data.

A-Level UAS Calculator

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:What is the lowest rank point course in Singapore?

Based on AY2025/2026 IGP data, NTU Civil Engineering has the lowest 10th percentile cutoff at CCD/D (RP70: 48.75). The next lowest are NUS Nursing and NTU Mechanical Engineering, both at CCD/C (RP70: 50.0).

Q:Can I get into NUS, NTU or SMU with CCC grades?

Yes. With CCC/C grades (RP70: 52.5), you can qualify for NUS Architecture, NTU Art Design & Media, and several engineering programmes. With CCC/D grades, NTU Electrical & Electronic Engineering (688 intake places) and NTU Physics are options. The 10th percentile cutoff means some students with these grades did get admitted.

Q:What does "10th percentile IGP" mean?

The 10th percentile IGP is the grade profile at which 10% of admitted students scored at or below. It represents the lowest cutoff — most admitted students scored higher. Meeting the 10th percentile gives you a realistic chance but is not a guarantee of admission. Other factors like interview performance and aptitude tests may also apply.

Q:Should I choose a course just because I qualify for it?

No. While knowing your options is empowering, choosing a course purely because you meet the cutoff can lead to unhappiness and poor academic performance. Consider your interests, career goals, and aptitude. Attend open houses, talk to current students, and research career prospects before making your decision.

Q:Can I transfer to a different course after Year 1?

Most universities allow internal transfers after completing one or two semesters, subject to GPA requirements and available vacancies. NUS, NTU and SMU all have internal transfer processes. However, transfers are competitive and not guaranteed, so choose your initial course carefully.

Q:What is the difference between RP90 and RP70?

RP90 (used until AY2024/2025) counts 3 H2 + 1 H1 content + GP + Project Work (max 90 points). RP70 (new from 2026) counts 3 H2 + best H1 subject only (max 70 points) — GP and PW are no longer automatically included. The IGP data on this page shows grades alongside both RP scales where available.

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Founder, BEng(Hons) in Computing Engineering

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