Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs) are far more than just after-school hobbies. In Singapore's secondary schools, CCAs are powerful platforms for character development, leadership training, and discovering lifelong passions.
147 Secondary Schools, 200+ Unique CCAs
Not every school offers the same activities
CCA Bonus: -2 Points for JC Admission
Good CCA participation helps your L1R5 score
Character Building Beyond Academics
Leadership, teamwork, discipline, and resilience
This guide explores how CCAs shape students, highlights unique CCAs you might not find at every school, and explains why autonomous and independent schools often have more diverse CCA offerings.
Why CCAs Matter: Character Development
Leadership Skills
CCAs offer opportunities to lead - as team captains, committee members, or section leaders. Students learn to motivate others, make decisions under pressure, and take responsibility for outcomes.
Teamwork & Collaboration
Whether in a sports team, performing arts group, or uniformed group, students learn to work with diverse personalities, resolve conflicts, and achieve common goals together.
Discipline & Time Management
Regular CCA sessions (typically 2-3 times per week) teach students to balance academics with activities. This skill becomes invaluable in JC, university, and work life.
Resilience & Perseverance
Facing losses in competitions, mastering difficult techniques, or enduring tough training - CCAs teach students to bounce back from setbacks and keep improving.
“The skills learned in CCAs - leadership, teamwork, resilience - are exactly what employers and universities look for. Academic grades tell only part of the story.”
- MOE on Holistic Education
The CCA Landscape: 4 Categories, 200+ Activities
Singapore's secondary school CCAs fall into four main categories. Each school typically offers 15-30 CCAs, but the mix varies significantly.
Sports & Games
Physical activities and competitive sports
Performing Arts
Music, dance, and theatrical performances
Uniformed Groups
Discipline-focused organizations with ranks
Clubs & Societies
Interest-based groups and academic clubs
Explore All Secondary School CCAs
Search by school, CCA name, or category
Unique CCAs Worth Knowing About
Some CCAs are only available at a handful of schools. If your child has a specific interest, choosing a school that offers these rare activities could make all the difference.
⛵ Sailing
Sports“Navigate the seas, master teamwork”
🤽 Water Polo
Sports“Intense aquatic sport requiring pools”
🤺 Fencing
Sports“Olympic sword sport of precision”
🥋 Judo
Sports“Japanese martial art of throws”
🛶 Canoeing
Sports“Paddle sports requiring water access”
🎋 Angklung
Arts“Traditional bamboo ensemble music”
🎵 Gamelan
Arts“Traditional Malay percussion ensemble - rare CCA!”
🏹 Archery
Club“Olympic precision sport - only 1 school!”
🎻 Western Orchestra
Arts“Full symphony orchestra - only 1 school!”
🥷 Karate
Sports“Japanese striking martial art - only 1 school!”
Pro Tip
Use our CCA Browser to search for specific CCAs and find all schools that offer them. Great for PSLE school selection!
Autonomous & Independent Schools: More Options
Not all schools have equal resources. Independent schools (like Raffles Institution, Hwa Chong Institution) and Autonomous schools typically offer more diverse CCAs due to larger budgets and better facilities.
Why Well-Funded Schools Offer More CCAs
More Funding for Equipment
Specialized equipment for archery, sailing, robotics, or music costs money. Independent schools can afford these investments.
Better Facilities
Indoor sports halls, swimming pools, music studios, and technology labs enable more CCA options.
Professional Coaches & Instructors
Ability to hire professional coaches, national athletes, or industry experts as instructors.
Competition Opportunities
More funding for overseas competitions, exchange programs, and training camps.
Independent Schools
Self-governing with higher fees, extensive CCAs
Autonomous Schools
Government schools with extra autonomy and funding
Note: While well-funded schools often have more CCA options, many neighborhood schools still offer excellent CCAs. What matters most is finding a school with CCAs that match your child's interests and passions. Use our PSLE Calculator to find schools that match both your score range and CCA preferences.
CCA Bonus Points for JC Admission
Good CCA participation doesn't just build character - it directly helps your L1R5 score for JC admission. Students can receive up to -2 bonus points.
How CCA Bonus Points Work
| Achievement Level | Bonus Points | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | -2 points | 4+ years participation, leadership role, strong contributions |
| Good | -1 point | 4+ years participation, consistent attendance, good conduct |
| Fair or Below | 0 points | Minimal participation or poor conduct |
Calculate Your L1R5 Score
See how CCA bonus points affect your JC options
How to Choose the Right CCA
Match Interest to Activity
Your child will spend 2-4 hours per week in CCA for 4 years. Choose something they're genuinely interested in, not just what looks good on paper.
Consider School's CCA Strengths
Some schools are known for specific CCAs (e.g., strong in band, national champions in a sport). If your child has a passion, find a school with a strong program.
Think About Leadership Opportunities
Smaller CCAs sometimes offer more leadership positions. Being a leader in a niche CCA can be more impactful than being a regular member of a large one.
Use Our CCA Browser Tool
Our Secondary School CCA Browser lets you search all 147 schools and 200+ CCAs. Filter by category, search by name, and compare schools.
Ready to Explore CCAs?
Use our free tools to find the perfect school and CCA combination for your child.