School MattersAhmad Ibrahim Secondary School vs Xinmin Secondary School
Compare recorded PSLE entry ranges, CCAs, DSA programmes and location, with intake years shown alongside the data.
At a glance
| Compare | Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School | Xinmin Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Co-Ed School | Co-Ed School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | Not listed | Autonomous |
| Zone | North | North |
| Address | 751 Yishun Avenue 7 | 11 Hougang Avenue 8 |
| Nearest MRT | Canberra, Yishun | Hougang |
| Listed CCAs | 16 | 19 |
| DSA listings | 6 | 14 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 6 CCA listings. Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School also lists Basketball (Girls and Boys), Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys), Environmental Science (Girls and Boys), Football (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Xinmin Secondary School also lists Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys), Badminton (Girls), Boys' Brigade (Boys), Chinese Dance (Girls) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Listings may be incomplete; confirm availability with each school.
- DSA programme
- The records share 1 DSA programme listing. Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School also lists Basketball (Girls), Community Youth Leadership (Girls and Boys), Critical Social Inquiry and Media Literacy (Girls and Boys), Music (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Xinmin Secondary School also lists Badminton (Girls), Boys' Brigade (Boys), Chinese Dance (Girls), Choir (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Listings may be incomplete; confirm availability with each school.
- The daily journey
- Nearby MRT stations listed for Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School: Canberra, Yishun; for Xinmin Secondary School: Hougang. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School | Xinmin Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 11–18 | 2026 · 8–13 |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 21–24 | 2026 · 21–23 |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 25–28 | 2026 · 25–28 |
Each range belongs to the intake year and programme shown. Affiliated and non-affiliated ranges are separate. D, M and P are Higher Mother Tongue requirements. Past ranges do not guarantee admission.
Get to know each school
Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School
Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary began in 1963 in Upper Thomson and moved to Yishun in 1985. Named after Singapore’s former Health and Labour Minister, it originally brought English- and Chinese-stream students together. Its history also records a distinctive responsibility: in 1967 it became the first pilot school for the Open Education Programme for blind students, integrating them into mainstream classes. This is a useful part of its identity, beyond an admission score or a list of awards.
The school says students with visual impairment continue to participate in school life alongside sighted peers. An August 2026 Straits Times profile features its resource teacher Penny Chong. For a family needing this provision, the next conversation should be specific: how lesson materials are adapted, who coordinates support, and how the child participates in practical lessons and CCAs. The school’s long involvement is relevant evidence of experience; an individual support arrangement still needs to be discussed with staff.
Xinmin Secondary School
Xinmin began as Sin Min School on 1 November 1945, initially teaching primary pupils. Its founders rented three bungalows after Yap Fun Hong sold five pigs to help fund education for the Hougang-Serangoon community. Secondary classes began in 1956, and performances helped raise money for facilities in 1958. MOE’s heritage record dates autonomous status to 2001 and the Creative Arts Complex to 2015. Its 80th anniversary was in 2025. These are historical milestones; earlier examination bands or rankings do not establish a current teaching-quality ranking.
MAKERS@Xinmin combines digital and analogue making across a specially designed two-year lower-secondary curriculum. All pupils in those years learn about AI applications and ethics, and design and prototype solutions to real problems. Examples include sustainability models using AI, eco-themed games and environmental-data analysis, with workshops, pop-up sessions and showcases. This is broader than a coding club for selected enthusiasts. Ask what the child will build, how teachers supervise tool use and how a pupil with little coding experience is helped to contribute within a group.
CCAs and programmes
Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School
- Basketball (Girls and Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Environmental Science (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Girls and Boys)
- Girl Guides (Girls)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls and Boys)
- Robotics (Girls and Boys)
- Scouts (Boys)
- Shooting (Girls and Boys)
- St John Brigade (Girls and Boys)
- Track and Field (Girls and Boys)
Xinmin Secondary School
- Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys)
- Badminton (Girls)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Chinese Dance (Girls)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Cross Country (Girls and Boys)
- Debating and Public Speaking (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Floorball (Boys)
- Girls' Brigade (Girls)
- Guzheng Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
- Rockwall Climbing (Girls and Boys)
- Shooting (Girls and Boys)
- St John Brigade (Girls and Boys)
- Students' Council (Girls and Boys)
- Volleyball (Girls and Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School
- Basketball (Girls)
- Community Youth Leadership (Girls and Boys)
- Critical Social Inquiry and Media Literacy (Girls and Boys)
- Music (Girls and Boys)
- Shooting (Girls and Boys)
- Track and Field (Girls and Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at Xinmin Secondary School
- Badminton (Girls)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Chinese Dance (Girls)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Cross Country (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Floorball (Boys)
- Girls' Brigade (Girls)
- Guzheng Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Rockwall Climbing (Girls and Boys)
- Shooting (Girls and Boys)
- St John Brigade (Girls and Boys)
- Volleyball (Girls and Boys)
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School and Xinmin Secondary School?
Start with programmes, the CCAs your child wants and the actual journey from home. Visit both schools to assess the daily environment. Counts and past results alone do not establish which school fits your child.
How do their recorded PSLE entry ranges compare?
PG3 · Non-affiliated: Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School 2026 · 11–18; Xinmin Secondary School 2026 · 8–13. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School 2026 · 21–24; Xinmin Secondary School 2026 · 21–23. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School 2026 · 25–28; Xinmin Secondary School 2026 · 25–28.
Do past admission records guarantee a place?
No. Ranges belong to the intake year and programme shown and can change. Keep affiliated and non-affiliated ranges separate and retain any D, M or P Higher Mother Tongue suffix.