Is the GEP test still conducted in 2026?

No. The traditional two-stage GEP Screening and Selection Test has been discontinued. Starting in August 2026, MOE has replaced it with a single-stage standardised identification exercise for all Primary 3 students. Students identified for high-ability support will remain in their own primary schools instead of transferring to designated GEP schools.

What is the new P3 High-Ability Identification Exercise?

It is a one-stage standardised assessment conducted in August each year for all Primary 3 students. It assesses raw cognitive aptitude — including verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and spatial/pattern recognition — rather than curriculum knowledge. Results are supplemented by teacher observations and school-based information for a holistic assessment.

How many students are selected under the new system?

The new system is significantly broader than the old GEP. Approximately 10% of the cohort will receive school-based high-ability provisions, and at least 2% will be invited to attend centre-based Advanced Modules — compared to roughly 1% under the old GEP.

What are the 15 Advanced Module Centre schools?

MOE has designated 15 primary schools across Singapore as Advanced Module Centres starting from 2027. Publicly confirmed centres include Ahmad Ibrahim Primary, Clementi Primary, Geylang Methodist School (Primary), Innova Primary, Pioneer Primary, and Yu Neng Primary. The full list ensures geographic spread across all regions.

Can my child still be identified after P3?

Yes. Unlike the old GEP which had a single entry point at P3, the new system allows identification at the end of each semester in Primary 4 and Primary 5 based on ongoing school observations and teacher recommendations.

P3 High-Ability Identification Exercise 2026: What Every Singapore Parent Needs to Know

📅 Published: July 25, 2026 · ✍️ By: PSLE Hero Editorial Team

The old GEP (Gifted Education Programme) Screening Test has been discontinued. In its place, starting in August 2026, the Ministry of Education has introduced a new one-stage P3 High-Ability Identification Exercise. This is the definitive parent guide covering what changed, what is tested, the new timeline, and how to help your child prepare for the exercise.

⚡ What Changed? GEP → High-Ability Identification

The GEP replacement in Singapore is designed to be more inclusive and holistic. Here is a breakdown of how the old GEP compares to the new system introduced in 2026:

Feature	Old GEP (Before 2026)	New System (2026 Onwards)
Test format	Two-stage (Screening Aug + Selection Oct)	One-stage (Aug only)
Subjects tested	English, Maths, General Ability	Standardised identification exercise (cognitive aptitude focus)
Students selected	~1% (~500 students)	~10% school-based + ~2% advanced modules
School transfer	Yes, transfer to 9 GEP schools	No, stay in own school
Entry points	P3 only	P3, P4, P5 (multiple entry)
Support model	Centralised GEP curriculum	School-based provisions + optional centre-based Advanced Modules

📋 The New Identification Process — Step by Step

The new P3 high ability identification exercise process works in clear phases:

August 2026: All Primary 3 students sit for the one-stage standardised identification exercise.
School Inputs: Schools supplement the test results with teacher observations, portfolios, and project work for a well-rounded assessment.
Selection: Results are used to identify students for Tier 1 (school-based provisions, top ~10%) and Tier 2 (centre-based Advanced Modules, top ~2%).
Multiple Entry Points: Unlike the old GEP, there are now multiple entry points at the end of each semester in P4 and P5 for students who bloom later.

🧠 What Skills Are Assessed?

The exercise focuses on raw cognitive aptitude, similar to the GEP General Ability test format of previous years. The assessment spans three key domains:

Verbal Reasoning — Word relationships, analogies, inferential comprehension, and vocabulary context.
Quantitative/Mathematical Reasoning — Non-routine problem-solving, logical deduction, and numeric patterns.
Spatial & Pattern Recognition — Visual patterns, mental rotation, and shape sequences.

Expert Tip: MOE has consistently emphasised that the identification exercise assesses raw aptitude and potential — not curriculum knowledge that can be drilled. The best preparation is nurturing your child's natural curiosity and thinking habits.

🏫 The 15 Advanced Module Centre Schools

MOE has designated 15 primary schools across Singapore as Advanced Module Centres starting from 2027. These schools are chosen for geographic spread to ensure accessibility for students nationwide.

Note: The full list of 15 centres is subject to periodic review by MOE. The centres listed here are based on publicly available information as of July 2026.

Ahmad Ibrahim Primary
Clementi Primary
Geylang Methodist School (Primary)
Innova Primary
Jurong West Primary
Kheng Cheng School
Palm View Primary
Pioneer Primary
Punggol View Primary
Queenstown Primary
St. Gabriel's Primary
Tampines Primary
Teck Ghee Primary
Yew Tee Primary
Yu Neng Primary

🧩 Sample Practice Questions by Domain

The P3 High-Ability Identification Exercise tests general cognitive potential across three core domains. Below are 10 original PSLE Hero practice questions organized by domain to help parents understand the question formats and skills assessed.

🔢 Quantitative Reasoning (Q1–Q4) 🔤 Verbal Reasoning (Q5–Q7) 🧩 Spatial & Deduction (Q8–Q10)

🔢 Domain 1: Quantitative & Mathematical Reasoning

Assesses pattern recognition, numeric sequences, double differences, and balance-scale logic.

Question 1: Geometric Number Sequence (Multiplicative Pattern)

What is the next number in this sequence?
2, 6, 18, 54, ___

(A) 108 (B) 162 (C) 124 (D) 216

✅ Solution & Explanation

Option (B) 162. Each term is multiplied by 3 to get the next term.

2 × 3 = 6 | 6 × 3 = 18 | 18 × 3 = 54 | 54 × 3 = 162

Skill Assessed: Identifying constant multiplicative rules across term progressions.

Question 2: Perfect Square Progression

Find the missing number in the pattern:
1, 4, 9, 16, 25, ___

(A) 30 (B) 32 (C) 36 (D) 49

✅ Solution & Explanation

Option (C) 36. The sequence represents consecutive square numbers (1², 2², 3², 4², 5², 6²).

1² = 1 | 2² = 4 | 3² = 9 | 4² = 16 | 5² = 25 | 6² = 36

Skill Assessed: Recognizing quadratic growth and square number properties.

Question 3: Two-Tier Difference Sequence (Double Differences)

What is the next number in this sequence?
2, 5, 10, 17, 26, ___

(A) 33 (B) 35 (C) 37 (D) 40

✅ Solution & Explanation

Option (C) 37. Look at the differences between consecutive terms: +3, +5, +7, +9. The differences increase by +2 each step. The next difference is +11.

+3, +5, +7, +9  →  Next difference: +11
26 + 11 = 37

Skill Assessed: Two-level difference analysis (second-order arithmetic progressions).

Question 4: Balance Scale & Algebraic Substitution

On a balance scale:
• 2 Stars weigh the same as 3 Circles.
• 1 Circle weighs the same as 4 Squares.

How many Squares weigh the same as 1 Star?
(A) 4 (B) 6 (C) 8 (D) 12

✅ Solution & Explanation

Option (B) 6. Replace Circles with Squares.

1 Circle = 4 Squares  →  3 Circles = 3 × 4 = 12 Squares
2 Stars = 12 Squares  →  1 Star = 12 ÷ 2 = 6 Squares

Skill Assessed: Equivalence substitution and non-routine algebraic reasoning.

🔤 Domain 2: Verbal Reasoning & Language Logic

Assesses word relationships, vocabulary nuances, functional analogies, and categorization.

Question 5: Classical Word Analogy (Antonym Pair)

Complete the word relationship:
HOT is to COLD as ANCIENT is to ___?

(A) Old (B) Modern (C) Historic (D) Past

✅ Solution & Explanation

Option (B) Modern. HOT and COLD are exact antonyms. The direct antonym of ANCIENT is MODERN.

Skill Assessed: Identifying exact semantic opposite relationships.

Question 6: Part-to-Whole Relationship Analogy

Complete the word relationship:
CHAPTER is to BOOK as ROOM is to ___?

(A) Door (B) House (C) Wall (D) Furniture

✅ Solution & Explanation

Option (B) House. A Chapter is a structural constituent part of a Book; a Room is a structural constituent part of a House.

Skill Assessed: Structural component analogy (Part : Whole relationship).

Question 7: Classification & Categorical Odd-One-Out

Which word does NOT belong with the other three?

(A) Eagle (B) Penguin (C) Bat (D) Ostrich

✅ Solution & Explanation

Option (C) Bat. Eagle, Penguin, and Ostrich are all birds (Aves). A Bat is a mammal (Chiroptera).

Skill Assessed: Biological category hierarchy and attribute classification.

🧩 Domain 3: Spatial Visualization & Deductive Reasoning

Assesses mental 2D/3D rotation, grid pattern movement, and multi-variable logical constraint ordering.

Question 8: 90° Clockwise Mental Rotation

If you rotate the capital letter "F" 90° clockwise, which direction do the two horizontal arm strokes point?

(A) Upward (B) Downward (C) Left (D) Right

✅ Solution & Explanation

Option (B) Downward. In standard orientation, the stem points down and the two arms point right. Rotating 90° clockwise turns the stem horizontal pointing right, causing the two arms to rotate from pointing right to pointing downward.

Skill Assessed: 2D mental rotation and spatial coordinate tracking.

Question 9: Matrix Grid Corner Cycle

In a 3×3 square grid, a shaded dot moves around the four outer corners in a clockwise direction in each step:
• Step 1: Top-Left corner
• Step 2: Top-Right corner
• Step 3: Bottom-Right corner

Where will the dot be located at Step 4?
(A) Top-Left (B) Bottom-Left (C) Center (D) Bottom-Right

✅ Solution & Explanation

Option (B) Bottom-Left. The dot cycles clockwise around the 4 corners: Top-Left → Top-Right → Bottom-Right → Bottom-Left.

Skill Assessed: Cyclic spatial trajectory tracking within geometric matrices.

Question 10: Multi-Variable Deductive Constraint Ordering

Read the following clues:
1. Ali is taller than Ben.
2. Ben is taller than Chen.
3. David is shorter than Chen.

Who is the tallest and who is the shortest?
(A) Ali is tallest, David is shortest
(B) Ben is tallest, Chen is shortest
(C) Ali is tallest, Chen is shortest
(D) David is tallest, Ali is shortest

✅ Solution & Explanation

Option (A) Ali is tallest, David is shortest. Arrange in inequality order from tallest to shortest:

Ali > Ben > Chen > David

Skill Assessed: Deductive logic ordering from transitive relational constraints.

👨👩👧 Parent Preparation Checklist

How can you best support your P3 child for the GEP screening test 2026 replacement?

Don't panic-drill: The test assesses aptitude, not curriculum knowledge.
Encourage games: Introduce puzzles, strategy games, and reading for fun.
Discuss observations: Practice talking about pictures and stories (builds verbal reasoning).
Play spatial games: Tangrams, building blocks, and jigsaw puzzles are excellent tools.
Tackle non-routine problems: Let your child attempt non-routine math problems without time pressure.
Focus on the process: Encourage the process of thinking, not just getting the right answer.
Remember: There are multiple entry points (P3, P4, P5) — one test doesn't define everything.

🔗 How This Connects to PSLE

The skills assessed in the P3 identification exercise — logical reasoning, pattern recognition, spatial thinking — are the SAME higher-order thinking skills that top PSLE scorers use. Building these skills early gives your child a strong foundation for PSLE in P6.

Build Thinking Skills on PSLE Hero

Help your child develop the logical reasoning, pattern recognition, and problem-solving abilities that matter — from P3 all the way to PSLE. Try real questions with step-by-step solutions.

Practise on PSLE Hero
Or try free sample questions →

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