School MattersCHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) vs Hwa Chong Institution
Compare recorded PSLE entry ranges, CCAs, DSA programmes and location, with intake years shown alongside the data.
At a glance
| Compare | CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) | Hwa Chong Institution |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Girls' School | Co-Ed School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | Autonomous | IP · SAP |
| Zone | South | West |
| Address | 626 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh | 661 Bukit Timah Road |
| Nearest MRT | Toa Payoh | Tan Kah Kee |
| Listed CCAs | 21 | 32 |
| DSA listings | 10 | 22 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 0 CCA listings. CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) also lists Art and Crafts (Girls), Badminton (Girls), Basketball (Girls), Bowling (Girls) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Hwa Chong Institution also lists Audio Visual Aid (Boys), Badminton (Boys), Basketball (Boys), Canoeing (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. CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) also lists Badminton (Girls), Basketball (Girls), Bowling (Girls), Choir (Girls) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Hwa Chong Institution also lists Art Elective Programme (Boys) - IP, Badminton (Boys) - IP, Basketball (Boys) - IP, Bilingualism (Boys) - IP and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Listings may be incomplete; confirm availability with each school.
- Programme tags
- CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh): no IP or SAP tag listed; Hwa Chong Institution: IP / SAP. Check the specific programme your child would enter.
- The daily journey
- Nearby MRT stations listed for CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh): Toa Payoh; for Hwa Chong Institution: Tan Kah Kee. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) | Hwa Chong Institution |
|---|---|---|
| IP · Non-affiliated | Not listed | 2026 · 4D–6M |
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 6–10 | Not listed |
| PG3 · Affiliated | 2026 · 8–20 | Not listed |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 21–22 | Not listed |
| PG2 · Affiliated | 2026 · 21–25 | Not listed |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 25–28 | Not listed |
| PG1 · Affiliated | 2026 · 26–29 | Not listed |
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
CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh)
CHIJ’s Victoria Street convent school began in 1854; its history records separate primary and secondary administration from 1964. The move out of Victoria Street took place in December 1983, with Toa Payoh classes beginning in 1984. The secondary school became autonomous in 1994. From 1 January 2027 it will be named Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (Secondary), according to the May2026 announcement. Parents comparing the two Toa Payoh schools should keep their admissions and programmes separate.
The English page describes food reviews, letters about current issues and lower-secondary heritage walks used for descriptive writing. Literature tasks include filming scenes or writing from a character’s perspective. Secondary 3 has a level-wide interclass debate after examinations. IJ FLAIR brings language, art and music together for a week, including storytelling, choral reading and mini TED-style talks. CAP@IJ is a separate creative-writing programme: students are selected for demonstrated interest and potential, with workshops and competition opportunities.
Hwa Chong Institution
Hwa Chong Institution dates its roots to the Chinese High School, founded by Tan Kah Kee in 1919, and Hwa Chong Junior College, established in 1974. Their 2005 merger created the present institution: the former schools became its High School and College sections. The Chinese High became a SAP school in 1979 and independent in 1987; the college became independent in 2004. This distinction is useful when reading alumni accounts. A junior-college experience describes a later stage of the six-year pathway, rather than necessarily the daily experience of a new Secondary 1 pupil.
The September 2026 academic page organises the Integrated Programme into three stages: a general curriculum for exploring fields, deeper study in chosen areas, then consolidation towards Cambridge A Levels. Research tasks and projects can involve internal and external mentors. Sports, arts and service learning are also described as parts of the curriculum. The institution lists specialised programmes, including Art Elective, school-based gifted education and Science and Math Talent provisions. The general IP framework and a place in a particular specialist programme are separate matters; families need the entry and continuation requirements for the programme their child is considering.
CCAs and programmes
CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh)
- Art and Crafts (Girls)
- Badminton (Girls)
- Basketball (Girls)
- Bowling (Girls)
- Chinese Culture and Language (Girls)
- Choir (Girls)
- Community Service (Girls)
- Concert Band (Girls)
- Debating and Public Speaking (Girls)
- English Drama (Girls)
- Girl Guides (Girls)
- Guitar Ensemble (Girls)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls)
- Modern Dance (Girls)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Sea) (Girls)
- Netball (Girls)
- Red Cross Youth (Girls)
- Rhythmic Gymnastics (Girls)
- Robotics (Girls)
- Tennis (Girls)
- Track and Field (Girls)
Hwa Chong Institution
- Audio Visual Aid (Boys)
- Badminton (Boys)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Canoeing (Boys)
- Chinese Chess (Boys)
- Chinese Language, Drama and Debating (Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Boys)
- Chinese Weiqi (Boys)
- Choir (Boys)
- Cross Country (Boys)
- Debating and Public Speaking (Boys)
- English Drama (Boys)
- Fencing (Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Computing) (Boys)
- International Chess (Boys)
- Judo (Boys)
- Marching Band (Boys)
- Mathematics (Boys)
- Media Resource Library (Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Boys)
- Scouts (Boys)
- Shooting (Boys)
- Singapore Youth Flying Club (Boys)
- St John Brigade (Boys)
- String Ensemble (Boys)
- Table Tennis (Boys)
- Tennis (Boys)
- Track and Field (Boys)
- Volleyball (Boys)
- Water Polo (Boys)
- Wushu (Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh)
- Badminton (Girls)
- Basketball (Girls)
- Bowling (Girls)
- Choir (Girls)
- Concert Band (Girls)
- Debating (Girls)
- Netball (Girls)
- Rhythmic Gymnastics (Girls)
- Tennis (Girls)
- Track and Field (Girls)
Listed DSA programmes at Hwa Chong Institution
- Art Elective Programme (Boys) - IP
- Badminton (Boys) - IP
- Basketball (Boys) - IP
- Bilingualism (Boys) - IP
- Canoeing (Boys) - IP
- Chinese Language (Boys) - IP
- Chinese Weiqi (Boys) - IP
- Cross Country (Boys) - IP
- Entrepreneurship (Boys) - IP
- Fencing (Boys) - IP
- Humanities (Boys) - IP
- Infocomm (Boys) - IP
- Judo (Boys) - IP
- Leadership (Boys) - IP
- Mathematics (Boys) - IP
- Science (Boys) - IP
- Shooting (Boys) - IP
- Table Tennis (Boys) - IP
- Track and Field (Boys) - IP
- Volleyball (Boys) - IP
- Water Polo (Boys) - IP
- Wushu (Boys) - IP
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) and Hwa Chong Institution?
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?
IP · Non-affiliated: CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) Not listed; Hwa Chong Institution 2026 · 4D–6M. PG3 · Non-affiliated: CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) 2026 · 6–10; Hwa Chong Institution Not listed. PG3 · Affiliated: CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) 2026 · 8–20; Hwa Chong Institution Not listed. PG2 · Non-affiliated: CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) 2026 · 21–22; Hwa Chong Institution Not listed. PG2 · Affiliated: CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) 2026 · 21–25; Hwa Chong Institution Not listed. PG1 · Non-affiliated: CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) 2026 · 25–28; Hwa Chong Institution Not listed. PG1 · Affiliated: CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) 2026 · 26–29; Hwa Chong Institution Not listed.
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.