School MattersMarsiling 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 | Marsiling 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 | 12 Marsiling Road | 11 Hougang Avenue 8 |
| Nearest MRT | Marsiling | Hougang |
| Listed CCAs | 15 | 19 |
| DSA listings | 10 | 14 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 5 CCA listings. Marsiling Secondary School also lists Badminton (Girls and Boys), Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys), Floorball (Girls and Boys), Malay Dance (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Xinmin Secondary School also lists Badminton (Girls), Chinese Dance (Girls), Choir (Girls and Boys), Cross Country (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 2 DSA programme listings. Marsiling Secondary School also lists Badminton (Girls and Boys), Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys), Environmental Science (Girls and Boys), Floorball (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 Marsiling Secondary School: Marsiling; for Xinmin Secondary School: Hougang. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Marsiling Secondary School | Xinmin Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 14–22 | 2026 · 8–13 |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 21–25 | 2026 · 21–23 |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 25–27 | 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
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.
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
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)
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 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)
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 Marsiling 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: Marsiling Secondary School 2026 · 14–22; Xinmin Secondary School 2026 · 8–13. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Marsiling Secondary School 2026 · 21–25; Xinmin Secondary School 2026 · 21–23. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Marsiling Secondary School 2026 · 25–27; 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.