School MattersBowen Secondary School vs Marsiling Secondary School
Compare recorded PSLE entry ranges, CCAs, DSA programmes and location, with intake years shown alongside the data.
At a glance
| Compare | Bowen Secondary School | Marsiling Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Co-Ed School | Co-Ed School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | Not listed | Not listed |
| Zone | North | North |
| Address | 2 Lorong Napiri | 12 Marsiling Road |
| Nearest MRT | Hougang, Serangoon, Sengkang | Marsiling |
| Listed CCAs | 19 | 15 |
| DSA listings | 5 | 10 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 7 CCA listings. Bowen Secondary School also lists Basketball (Boys), Choir (Girls and Boys), Football (Girls and Boys), Girl Guides (Girls) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Marsiling Secondary School also lists Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys), Concert Band (Girls and Boys), Floorball (Girls and Boys), National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Sea) (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 1 DSA programme listing. Bowen Secondary School also lists Community Youth Leadership (Girls and Boys), Entrepreneurship (Girls and Boys), Football (Girls and Boys), Marching Band (Girls and Boys), which do not appear in the other school's records. Marsiling Secondary School also lists Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys), Concert Band (Girls and Boys), English Drama (Girls and Boys), Environmental Science (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 Bowen Secondary School: Hougang, Serangoon, Sengkang; for Marsiling Secondary School: Marsiling. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Bowen Secondary School | Marsiling Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 12–16 | 2026 · 14–22 |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 21–24 | 2026 · 21–25 |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 25–28 | 2026 · 25–27 |
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
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.
Marsiling Secondary School
Marsiling Secondary began in 2000 at Woodgrove Secondary’s premises, moved to Marsiling Road in 2002 and officially opened its campus in 2003. It merged with Si Ling Secondary in 2017. MOE’s history explains that the merged school’s Chinese name, 士林中学, combines elements from the two predecessors. Its environmental-learning centre opened in 2007, and the school received the President’s Award for the Environment in 2012. Older accounts need to be read with those campus and merger changes in mind.
Eco-Sustainability through Inquiry-Based Learning uses STEM to work on environmental problems. Secondary 1 pupils use Arduino and sensors for ideas such as a smart bin or waste sorter. Secondary 2 combines Arduino or micro:bit with an energy-conservation prototype, then pitches it to peers and teachers. The school also describes vertical farming, rainwater collection and solar panels as learning resources. Environment Councillors take additional ambassador roles; that leadership opportunity is separate from the level programme.
CCAs and programmes
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)
Marsiling Secondary School
- Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys)
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Floorball (Girls and Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
- Malay Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Sea) (Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls and Boys)
- Red Cross Youth (Girls and Boys)
- Sepaktakraw (Boys)
- Strategy Games (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)
Listed DSA programmes at Marsiling Secondary School
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Environmental Science (Girls and Boys)
- Floorball (Girls and Boys)
- Leadership (Girls and Boys)
- Malay Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Sepaktakraw (Boys)
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between Bowen Secondary School and Marsiling 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: Bowen Secondary School 2026 · 12–16; Marsiling Secondary School 2026 · 14–22. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Bowen Secondary School 2026 · 21–24; Marsiling Secondary School 2026 · 21–25. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Bowen Secondary School 2026 · 25–28; Marsiling Secondary School 2026 · 25–27.
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.