SINGAPORE - More students did well enough at the N-levels this year to make the cut for Secondary 5.

Out of the 11,176 Normal (Academic) students who collected their results on Thursday, 74.6 per cent fared well enough to move on to Secondary 5 and go on to take the O-level examinations at the end of next year. This is up from 72.8 per cent last year.

Of those who took the exam from the N(A) stream, 99.7 per cent passed.

Of the 5,120 Normal (Technical) students who also took the N levels, 97.5 per cent passed, similar to last year's 98 per cent.

N(T) students who completed their secondary education can apply to study at the Insttitute of Technical Education (ITE).

Alternatively, they may be transferred to the Secondary 4 N(A) stream next year if they have attained an A grade for English language and mathematics, and a B or better for another subject for the N-levels. They can then go on to Secondary 5 and then take the O-level examinations.

N(A) students with a score of not more than 11 points can opt for one of around 1,200 places in the Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP). The scheme, offered at polytechnics, lets students skip the O levels and move on to a one-year preparatory course before entering a related diploma course.

N(A) students who have a score of not more than 19 points can also choose to go to a two-year Higher Nitec course at the ITE.

There are about 1,000 places in this scheme, which guarantees students who attain a qualifying grade point average in their ITE course a place in a matching polytechnic diploma.