School MattersAnderson Secondary School vs Bowen Secondary School
Compare recorded PSLE entry ranges, CCAs, DSA programmes and location, with intake years shown alongside the data.
At a glance
| Compare | Anderson Secondary School | Bowen Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Co-Ed School | Co-Ed School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | Autonomous | Not listed |
| Zone | North | North |
| Address | 10 Ang Mo Kio Street 53 | 2 Lorong Napiri |
| Nearest MRT | Ang Mo Kio, Yio Chu Kang | Hougang, Serangoon, Sengkang |
| Listed CCAs | 20 | 19 |
| DSA listings | 8 | 5 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 8 CCA listings. Anderson Secondary School also lists Basketball (Girls and Boys), Biological Science (Girls and Boys), Chinese Dance (Girls), Concert Band (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Bowen Secondary School also lists Badminton (Girls and Boys), Basketball (Boys), Boys' Brigade (Boys), Football (Girls and Boys) 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 0 DSA programme listings. Anderson Secondary School also lists Basketball (Boys), Chinese Dance (Girls), Concert Band (Girls and Boys), Malay Language (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Bowen Secondary School also lists Badminton (Girls and Boys), Community Youth Leadership (Girls and Boys), Entrepreneurship (Girls and Boys), Football (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 Anderson Secondary School: Ang Mo Kio, Yio Chu Kang; for Bowen Secondary School: Hougang, Serangoon, Sengkang. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Anderson Secondary School | Bowen Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 7–11 | 2026 · 12–16 |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 21–23 | 2026 · 21–24 |
| 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
Anderson Secondary School
MOE’s heritage account traces Anderson to a primary school founded in 1960, a secondary girls’ school in 1964 and a co-educational school in 1965. It moved to Ang Mo Kio Street 53 in 1993 and became one of the first six autonomous schools in 1994. Its science-research niche was established in 2000, followed by recognition as a Cluster Centre of Excellence for Science in 2005. This is Anderson Secondary’s institutional history, separate from the present Anderson Primary formed by a later merger.
The Science department distinguishes its Science Research Programme from a Science Talent Programme. The latter lists Olympiad preparation and external competitions such as the C.B. Paul Science Quiz and National STEM Challenge. The department’s emphasis is on investigation and communicating ideas, but an activity or historical award does not establish how many pupils participate. A child keen on laboratory work should ask how research groups are formed, what mentoring they receive and whether enrichment involves additional time beyond ordinary Science lessons.
Bowen Secondary School
Bowen Secondary started in Ang Mo Kio in 1982 and moved to 2 Lorong Napiri in December 1999. The following January it began single-session operation with 1,374 pupils. The school marked its 40th anniversary in 2022. These dates distinguish the founding school from its present campus. The history page also shows changes to the school emblem, including a temporary anniversary version, providing a useful introduction to the school’s identity before looking at today’s programmes.
Secondary 1 students spend two terms using design thinking to investigate school issues, such as classroom cleanliness or canteen queues, and pitch prototypes. Secondary 2 has a five-week service-learning programme with weekly visits to partners such as MINDS, AWWA or Bright Vision Hospital, alongside design workshops and reflection. Upper-secondary pupils choose a social cause and share their work at Bowen Congress. A smaller ALP Interest Group offers deeper design work. The distinction between cohort experiences and the additional group matters when comparing opportunities.
CCAs and programmes
Anderson Secondary School
- Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Girls and Boys)
- Biological Science (Girls and Boys)
- Chinese Dance (Girls)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Environmental Science (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Girl Guides (Girls)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
- Malay Dance (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls and Boys)
- Netball (Girls)
- Robotics (Girls and Boys)
- Student Leadership (Council) (Girls and Boys)
- Table Tennis (Girls)
- Volleyball (Girls)
- Wushu (Girls and Boys)
Bowen Secondary School
- Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys)
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Girls and Boys)
- Girl Guides (Girls)
- Indian Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
- Malay Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Media Resource Library (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
- National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC) (Girls and Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Boys)
- Netball (Girls)
- Table Tennis (Boys)
- Taekwondo (Girls and Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at Anderson Secondary School
- Basketball (Boys)
- Chinese Dance (Girls)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Malay Language (Girls and Boys)
- Netball (Girls)
- Table Tennis (Girls)
- Volleyball (Girls)
- Wushu (Girls and Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at Bowen Secondary School
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Community Youth Leadership (Girls and Boys)
- Entrepreneurship (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Girls and Boys)
- Marching Band (Girls and Boys)
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between Anderson Secondary School and Bowen 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: Anderson Secondary School 2026 · 7–11; Bowen Secondary School 2026 · 12–16. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Anderson Secondary School 2026 · 21–23; Bowen Secondary School 2026 · 21–24. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Anderson Secondary School 2026 · 25–28; Bowen 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.