Undergraduates

Advanced Placement Credits

You may be granted Advanced Placement Credits (APCs) based on your performance in Advanced Placement (AP) tests set by the Departments. The placement test should be taken and passed at the point of admission to the University. Please click here for the details.

How are APCs awarded
For GCE A-Level (or equivalent qualifications) Students
You may be granted 20 units of APCs from Programme Requirements based on your performance in the AP tests set by the Departments.

For Polytechnic Diploma Students admitted from AY2015/16

  • **20 units from Unrestricted Elective Courses; and
  • Up to 20 units from Programme Requirements based on performance in AP tests set by the Departments.

** The granting of 20 units of APCs are automatic and not subject to performance in placement tests. The balance 20 units of APCs will depend solely on your performance in the AP tests, and not by your intended major.

For International Mathematical Olympiad Winners
Freshmen of College of Humanities and Sciences who were medal winners at IMO within the last 5 years prior to the date of admission may be awarded APCs for MA1100 (Basic Discrete Mathematics). Please contact sciadmission@nus.edu.sg by Friday, 20 June 2025 to submit your request if you wish to be considered.

Advanced Placement Test
The AP test assesses the knowledge and ability of students and grants APCs to those who do well so that they could be exempted from lower level courses and have the prerequisites to read higher level courses directly. This way, students may graduate in a shorter time.

Eligibility for Advanced Placement Test

  • Freshmen admitted into the College of Humanities and Sciences;
  • Obtained excellent overall GCE A-Level (or equivalent) or polytechnic results; and
  • Did very well in the relevant subjects at GCE A-Level (or equivalent) or completed the Diploma Plus (or related) certification in Mathematics at Polytechnic Diploma level.

Please click here for the selection criteria.

Important:

    1. Only shortlisted freshmen who applied for AP test(s) will be allowed to sit for the test(s).
    2. Students are not allowed to apply for AP test(s) or APCs after formal completion of the Registration Procedures.
    3. An exemption once granted is irreversible.

 

Courses & Test Dates for AY2025/2026

Test Date: Thursday, 12 June 2025

Course Start Time End Time Venue
MA1505 Mathematics I 10:00 12:00 LT33
MA2002 Calculus 10:00 12:00 LT33
MA2001 Linear Algebra I 15:00 17:00 LT33

Application for Advanced Placement Test

Application period: Friday, 2 May 2025 to Friday, 23 May 2025.

If you are joining NUS in the coming August, please click here for the online application form.

Administrative Fee

A non-refundable administrative fee of S$54.50 (inclusive of GST at prevailing rate) per course will be charged for application to sit for the tests. Shortlisted applicants will be notified of the payment amount and mode via email.

 

Course Descriptions

Sample Test Papers

Note: Candidates are strongly encouraged to attempt the sample test question paper(s) to make an informed decision on applying for the tests.

Notes on Calculators:

      1. Programmable calculators refer to those that are able to store formulas or programs.
      2. Calculators with remote communication function refer to those that are equipped with wireless communication capability.