Helping your child
What replaces the GEP from 2027
The short version
From 2027, MOE stops taking new pupils into the Gifted Education Programme (GEP); pupils in it now finish by 2028. Pupils who need more stretch stay in their own school and can take a weekly 2-hour module in English, Maths or Science at one of 15 centres near it. They are identified by one exercise in P3, first held in August 2026, and again at the end of each semester in P4 and P5.
- Last GEP intake
- P4 in 2026
- Centres
- 15, from 2027
- In school programmes
- About 10%
· Sources
CentralGeylang Methodist, Kheng Cheng, Queenstown North-EastPalm View, Punggol View, St. Gabriel's, Teck Ghee WestClementi, Jurong West, Pioneer, Yew Tee EastTampines, Yu Neng NorthAhmad Ibrahim, Innova
What does the GEP change mean for my child?
It depends on your child's level this year. The first P3 pupils under the new approach sat the identification exercise in August 2026, and children already in the GEP finish it.
| In 2026 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P1 | P1 | P2 | P3 · exercise | P4 · modules |
| P2 | P2 | P3 · exercise | P4 · modules | P5 · modules |
| P3 | P3 · exercise | P4 · modules | P5 · modules | P6 · modules |
| P4 | P4 · GEP | P5 · GEP | P6 · GEP | Sec 1 |
| P5 | P5 · GEP | P6 · GEP | Sec 1 | Sec 2 |
| P6 | P6 · GEP | Sec 1 | Sec 2 | Sec 3 |
- exercise
- The identification exercise in P3, held in August
- modules
- School programmes and the centre modules, P4 to P6, for a child identified; identified again at the end of each semester in P4 and P5
- GEP
- The GEP, for a child already in it; its last class finishes P6 in 2028
Sources1–4
Is the GEP being removed?
Yes, in its current form. From 2027 the GEP takes no new P4 pupils, and its last class finishes P6 in 2028. The GEP started in 1984 and took about 1% of each cohort, who moved to one of 9 primary schools at P4:
From 2027, the Gifted Education Programme (GEP) in its current form will be discontinued and cease admitting new Primary 4 students. Existing classes will continue until 2028 when the last batch completes Primary 6.
The 9 GEP schools, to 2028
- 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
- Tao Nan School
Sources5
What replaces the GEP?
Programmes in every primary school, and weekly advanced modules at 15 centres. Each school picks pupils for its own programmes, such as E2K Maths and Science. A pupil who needs more stretch can also take a 2-hour module each week in English, Maths or Science, after school, at a centre near their school, without changing school. There are mixed-subject modules in the school holidays too.
| The GEP | The new approach | |
|---|---|---|
| Runs | Last class 2028 | From 2027 |
| Who | About 1% of each cohort | School programmes: about 10% of each cohort, up from 7%; MOE gives no number for the centre modules |
| How a child is picked | Two stages in P3 | One exercise in P3, with teachers' observations; again at the end of each semester in P4 and P5 |
| Where | 9 primary schools; a child moved at P4 | Their own school, plus 15 centres near it |
| What | A full enriched curriculum | English, Maths or Science, 2 hours a week in term; mixed-subject modules in the holidays |
Runs
- The GEP
- Last class 2028
- The new approach
- From 2027
Who
- The GEP
- About 1% of each cohort
- The new approach
- School programmes: about 10% of each cohort, up from 7%; MOE gives no number for the centre modules
How a child is picked
- The GEP
- Two stages in P3
- The new approach
- One exercise in P3, with teachers' observations; again at the end of each semester in P4 and P5
Where
- The GEP
- 9 primary schools; a child moved at P4
- The new approach
- Their own school, plus 15 centres near it
What
- The GEP
- A full enriched curriculum
- The new approach
- English, Maths or Science, 2 hours a week in term; mixed-subject modules in the holidays
A child can be strong in one subject only, and a child can leave at any time:
The new approach also gives students the option to exit the programme or modules at any time, if they find them unsuitable or wish to pursue other interests, without the stigma of having failed to meet the expectations after being labelled as gifted.
Which schools are the 15 centres?
3 in the Central, 4 in the North-East, 4 in the West, 2 in the East and 2 in the North. MOE chose them to be spread across Singapore and near public transport; a child goes to one near their own school. MOE has not published which centre serves which school.
Central3 centres
- Geylang Methodist School (Primary)Aljunied MRT
- Kheng Cheng SchoolBraddell MRT
- Queenstown Primary SchoolQueenstown MRT
North-East4 centres
- Palm View Primary SchoolBuangkok MRT
- Punggol View Primary SchoolPunggol MRT
- St. Gabriel's Primary SchoolLorong Chuan MRT
- Teck Ghee Primary SchoolAng Mo Kio MRT
West4 centres
- Clementi Primary SchoolClementi MRT
- Jurong West Primary SchoolPioneer MRT
- Pioneer Primary SchoolTengah Park MRT
- Yew Tee Primary SchoolYew Tee MRT
East2 centres
- Tampines Primary SchoolTampines MRT
- Yu Neng Primary SchoolBedok Reservoir MRT
North2 centres
- Ahmad Ibrahim Primary SchoolYishun MRT
- Innova Primary SchoolWoodlands South MRT
Sources7
The list is MOE's (its map names each centre's nearest MRT station), and MOE says it will review it over time.
Is there still a GEP test?
There is one identification exercise in P3, in August, in place of the GEP's two stages. Teachers' observations and a child's work count too, and a child can also be identified at the end of each semester in P4 and P5.
The first was in August 2026. At Ahmad Ibrahim Primary, for one, P3 pupils whose parents opted in sat it during school hours on Wednesday 26 August:
Primary 3 students who have opted to participate in the Identification Exercise 2026 will sit for the exercise on Wednesday, 26 August 2026
MOE has not published when families hear the outcome. Schools tell parents:
Schools will provide parents and students with more details about the identification process later this year.
Can my child prepare for the GEP test?
MOE asks parents not to hot-house children for it. The programmes are not exam preparation, and a child can still be identified later, at the end of each semester in P4 and P5:
We want to work with parents to have the proper mindset to allow students to blossom at their own pace, rather than be hot-housed or rushed to be admitted at a particular entry point.
They are not designed to help students perform better in mainstream examinations.
Where StudyLah fits
StudyLah practises the MOE primary Maths syllabus, P1 to P6, with every question taught step by step. It does not prepare children for the identification exercise.
Questions about the GEP
What does the GEP change mean for my child at each level?
In 2026: **P1:** The new approach applies: your child can be identified in P3, in 2028, at the exercise MOE holds in August, and again at the end of each semester in P4 and P5. **P2:** The new approach applies: your child can be identified in P3, in 2027, at the exercise MOE holds in August, and again at the end of each semester in P4 and P5. **P3:** P3 pupils in 2026 are the first under the new approach: the identification exercise was in August 2026, and the modules start at P4 in 2027; a child can still be identified at the end of each semester in P4 and P5. **P4:** A child in the GEP carries on in it to the end of P6, in 2028. MOE's new approach starts with the P4 batch of 2027, a later cohort. **P5:** A child in the GEP carries on in it to the end of P6, in 2027. MOE's new approach starts with the P4 batch of 2027, a later cohort. **P6:** A child in the GEP carries on in it to the end of P6, in 2026. MOE's new approach starts with the P4 batch of 2027, a later cohort.
What is the Gifted Education Programme in Singapore?
MOE's own words: "The GEP is a programme that caters for the needs of intellectually gifted students." It started in 1984 and took about 1% of each cohort, in 9 primary schools from P4. It takes no new pupils from 2027.
What are the 9 GEP schools in Singapore?
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. They teach the GEP until its last class finishes P6 in 2028; none is one of the 15 centres for the new modules.
Does the GEP still exist?
Yes, for pupils already in it, until the last class finishes P6 in 2028. It takes no new P4 pupils from 2027.
How does a child get selected now?
By one identification exercise in P3, held in August, with teachers' observations and the child's work, and again at the end of each semester in P4 and P5. A child identified can take the school's own programmes, and the centre modules if offered a place.
Who teaches the advanced modules?
MOE says the modules are "taught by specially trained teachers who have experience teaching students with academic strengths and talents".
Is HAL the new name for the GEP?
No. "HAL" (high-ability learners) is a name tuition centres use. MOE calls the new programmes school-based provisions and centre-based advanced modules, for pupils with academic strengths and talents.
Does my child have to take the advanced modules?
No. A pupil offered a place can choose to attend, and can leave at any time.
Will my child have to change school?
No. Unlike the GEP, which moved pupils to one of 9 schools at P4, the new approach keeps a child in their own school; the modules are at a centre near it, after school.
When are the GEP identification results out?
MOE has not published a date. Schools tell parents and pupils the details.
How many students get into the GEP?
About 1% of each cohort, in 9 schools. From 2027, about 10% of each cohort take part in schools' own programmes, up from about 7%; MOE gives no number for the centre modules.
Can a child strong in only one subject join?
Yes. The modules are by subject (English, Maths or Science), for strengths in one area rather than across several.
Why do some pages still say the GEP test has two stages?
MOE's own GEP overview still describes the old two-stage exercise. MOE's 2026 announcements replaced it with one exercise in P3, first held in August 2026.
Sources
Every figure on this page comes from one of these, read on the day shown.
- 1Ministry of Education, Strengthening Support for Higher-Ability Learners (press release, 19 Aug 2024), read 31 October 2026MOE's own words
- 2Ministry of Education, Committee of Supply 2026 announcements, read 31 October 2026MOE's own words
- 3Ministry of Education, Gifted Education Programme, read 31 October 2026MOE's own words
- 4Ministry of Education, Gifted Education Programme (parliamentary reply, 10 Sep 2024), read 31 October 2026MOE's own words
- 5Ministry of Education, Overview of the Gifted Education Programme, read 31 October 2026MOE's own words
- 6Ministry of Education, Learning Together with Different Strengths and Needs (press release, 3 Mar 2026), read 31 October 2026MOE's own words
- 7Ministry of Education, Refreshed approach to support primary school students with academic strengths and talents (COS 2026), read 31 October 2026MOE's own words
Now the practice has to happen.
These guides tell you what usually goes wrong. Your child's own practice tells you what's going wrong for them. StudyLah does the second part, and shows you the answer.