(Image Source: AI-generated image, for illustration only)
(Image Source: AI-generated image, for illustration only)Every year from July to August, international schools move into the period when senior secondary examination results are released. For families planning to give their children an international education, results season is not only a point in time to see academic outcomes — it also offers an opportunity to re-examine different curriculum systems and pathways to university.
The Cambridge International A Level (A-Level) results for the June 2026 examination series were released on August 13; Advanced Placement (AP) exam results have also been released progressively over the summer.
For families planning to enrol their children in international schools in Singapore, the results themselves are worth noting, but what’s even more worth spending time on during results season is the curriculum design, subject choices, and actual course combinations behind the scores — and how these connect with a child’s future university and career direction.
A-Level Results: Looking Beyond the Numbers to Understand Curriculum and Subject Choice
A-Level is one of the more common senior secondary curricula among international schools, generally emphasising in-depth study within a student’s chosen subjects. Students select subjects based on their own interests, academic ability, and future direction — so results can serve not only as a reference for academic performance, but also help parents better understand a school’s curriculum characteristics and learning pathways.
The A-Level results for the June 2026 examination series were released in August, and students have been progressively receiving their individual results. However, international schools typically still need time to compile, verify, and publish their overall school-wide results data. As a result, some schools have not yet released their complete 2026 results reports, and parents may wish to refer to schools’ already-published 2025 results in the meantime. Based on currently published school data, Tanglin Trust School’s 2025 A-Level results showed 63% of grades at A*-A. EtonHouse International School’s 2025 International A-Level results showed 36% of grades at A*-A. Middleton International School’s first cohort of International A-Level results in 2025 showed 33% of grades at A*-A.
These figures can serve as a reference for understanding a school’s past academic performance, but the number of students, subjects taken, and reporting methods differ across schools, so it isn’t appropriate to compare schools based on a single percentage alone.
In recent years, there have also been changes in A-Level offerings among Singapore’s international schools. Brighton College Singapore launched its Sixth Form and A-Level programme in August 2026, so there are not yet any A-Level graduating results available for its Singapore campus. Dulwich College Singapore, meanwhile, launched a STEM-focused Pearson Edexcel International A-Level pathway in August 2026, aimed primarily at students looking to pursue further studies in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics-related fields.
For parents, whether a school offers A-Level is only the first step — what’s more worth paying attention to is whether the subjects offered match a child’s interests, ability, and future university and career plans.
Further reading: A-Level Curriculum Choices Among Singapore International Schools
AP Curriculum and Subject Choice
AP is run by the College Board in the US, offering senior secondary students the opportunity to take university-level coursework.
Unlike A-Level, AP is not made up of a fixed combination of subjects, but rather a range of courses across different subject areas. Students choose their AP subjects based on what their school actually offers, along with their own interests, academic ability, and future direction.
Among Singapore’s international schools currently offering AP courses, both Singapore American School (SAS) and Stamford American International School (SAIS) offer AP pathways.
Looking at 2026 results, SAIS’s officially published data for its Class of 2026 shows students achieved an average AP exam score of 3.6 (out of 5), with 87% of exams scoring 3 or above, and 135 students earning AP Scholar honours.
As of now, no overall 2026 AP results data has appeared in SAS’s public materials. As the two schools’ curriculum offerings and student subject choices are not entirely the same, when looking at AP results, parents may also want to look beyond a school’s published average score or proportion of high scores, and further understand which AP subjects a school actually offers, which courses students take, and how these courses connect with the school’s overall senior secondary pathway. This background information shapes how parents interpret the results data, and is more valuable than simply comparing a single score.
School Choice and Long-Term Education Planning
For families planning to enrol their children in a Singapore international school, school results are one piece of information worth referencing when choosing a school, but they cannot alone determine whether a school is right for a child. The curriculum system, subject offerings, a child’s current academic background, and future university and career direction are all worth considering together. For international families planning to relocate to Singapore, education arrangements often also need to align with the overall relocation timeline, choice of residential area, and the family’s future plans. If a child needs to switch education systems, understanding the characteristics of different curricula, school application timelines, and admission requirements in advance also helps the family set aside more time for comparison and adjustment.
So while the release of A-Level and AP results offers a window into international schools’ academic outcomes, for families currently planning a Singapore international education, the results themselves are not the end goal — what matters more is how a child’s current academic background, next stage of coursework, school choice, and future university direction connect with one another. Choosing a school is not just about comparing one year’s results, but about planning the next stage of learning and long-term academic pathway based on a child’s actual circumstances.
Further reading: How to plan a move to Singapore? A complete settling-in roadmap and key steps
SMTP Consult’s Practical Experience
SMTP Consult is a concierge advisory firm focused on serving family offices and high-net-worth families. Over the years, we have accompanied many families relocating from overseas to Singapore, helping them gradually clarify the right educational path for their children.
Singapore offers a wide range of international school options, each with its own curriculum, educational philosophy, and student development focus, along with different application requirements and assessment methods. While results can serve as a reference, how they are weighed alongside a child’s individual traits, future plans, and a school’s character is an equally important part of the application process.
Every family’s needs and every child’s traits are different. In helping clients choose schools and manage applications, SMTP Consult’s education advisory team provides professional, hands-on support throughout the process — from interpreting admission standards and preparing application materials, to interview coaching and final decision-making — helping families make the choice best suited to their child within the right timeframe.
If you would like to learn more about planning an international school application in Singapore, please reach out to the SMTP Consult education advisory team. We will provide one-on-one education planning consultation based on your child’s academic background, application stage, and future development plans.