School MattersRaffles Institution vs Temasek Secondary School
Compare recorded PSLE entry ranges, CCAs, DSA programmes and location, with intake years shown alongside the data.
At a glance
| Compare | Raffles Institution | Temasek Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Co-Ed School | Co-Ed School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | IP | Autonomous |
| Zone | South | East |
| Address | 1 Raffles Institution Lane | 600 Upper East Coast Road |
| Nearest MRT | Bishan, Marymount | Bedok, Tanah Merah |
| Listed CCAs | 39 | 17 |
| DSA listings | 25 | 5 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 3 CCA listings. Raffles Institution also lists Badminton (Boys), Boys' Brigade (Boys), Chinese Orchestra (Boys), Choir (Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Temasek Secondary School also lists Bowling (Girls and Boys), Canoeing (Girls and Boys), Choir (Girls and Boys), Concert Band (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. Raffles Institution also lists Badminton (Boys) - IP, Basketball (Boys) - IP, Chinese Orchestra (Boys) - IP, Choir (Boys) - IP and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Temasek Secondary School also lists Choir (Girls and Boys), English Drama (Girls and Boys), Leadership (Girls and Boys), Modern Dance (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Listings may be incomplete; confirm availability with each school.
- Programme tags
- Raffles Institution: IP; Temasek Secondary School: no IP or SAP tag listed. Check the specific programme your child would enter.
- The daily journey
- Nearby MRT stations listed for Raffles Institution: Bishan, Marymount; for Temasek Secondary School: Bedok, Tanah Merah. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Raffles Institution | Temasek Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| IP · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 4–6 | Not listed |
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | Not listed | 2026 · 8–11 |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | Not listed | 2026 · 21–22 |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | Not listed | 2026 · 25–26 |
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
Raffles Institution
RI was founded as Singapore Institution in 1823. Its move from Bras Basah to Grange Road came in 1972, followed by Bishan and independent status in 1990. Raffles Junior College was established in 1982 to take over pre-university enrolment and reintegrated with RI in 2009. MOE’s history dates the six-year Raffles Programme, leading to A Levels, to 2004. Families researching Year 1 should distinguish Years 1–4 provision from Years 5–6 activities and accounts; both now appear under the RI name.
The Years 1–4 history page describes historical inquiry, projects, learning journeys and engagement with experts and the wider community, alongside learning how historians construct arguments. Character and Leadership Education uses lessons and assemblies to develop values and social-emotional skills, with cohort and class community projects. These describe approaches and platforms rather than a fixed list of trips for every pupil. Families can ask what inquiry assignments require, how independent work is scaffolded and how community projects fit the ordinary academic timetable.
Temasek Secondary School
Temasek Secondary began in 1980, briefly sharing Bedok South Secondary’s premises before moving to its own Upper Changi Road campus that May. It officially opened in April 1982. Autonomous status and its Higher Malay Language centre followed in 1995; the move to 600 Upper East Coast Road came in 1999. MOE records student leadership as a hallmark from 2001, Cross-Cultural Awareness from 2014 and the Temasek Ignis Programme from 2016. These are the school’s own strands, distinct from Temasek JC’s Integrated Programme.
In S1 Project Culture, pupils work in groups to investigate a nationality living in Singapore, compare cultural practices and give an oral presentation. S2 Camp Culture is non-residential, combining visits and facilitated reflection; the page describes its broader Singapore-history and multicultural focus from 2018. Overseas school exchanges resumed after 2023, with examples in Thailand, Malaysia and other ASEAN countries. The local curriculum and overseas opportunities should be distinguished: families should ask which trips run for the coming cohort, how places are allocated and what participation costs.
CCAs and programmes
Raffles Institution
- Badminton (Boys)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Boys)
- Choir (Boys)
- Community Service (Rotary-Sponsored) (Boys)
- Concert Band (Boys)
- Cricket (Boys)
- Cross Country (Boys)
- Debating and Public Speaking (Boys)
- English Drama (Boys)
- Environmental Science (Boys)
- Fencing (Boys)
- Floorball (Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Heritage (Boys)
- Hockey (Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Computing) (Boys)
- International Chess (Boys)
- Judo (Boys)
- Mathematics (Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Boys)
- Photography (Boys)
- Physical Science (Boys)
- Publication (Boys)
- Red Cross Youth (Boys)
- Rugby (Boys)
- Sailing (Boys)
- Scouts (Boys)
- Shooting (Boys)
- Softball (Boys)
- Squash (Boys)
- String Ensemble (Boys)
- Swimming (Boys)
- Table Tennis (Boys)
- Tennis (Boys)
- Track and Field (Boys)
- Water Polo (Boys)
Temasek Secondary School
- Basketball (Boys)
- Bowling (Girls and Boys)
- Canoeing (Girls and Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Environmental Science (Girls and Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
- National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC) (Girls and Boys)
- Netball (Girls)
- Robotics (Girls and Boys)
- Shooting (Girls and Boys)
- Softball (Boys)
- Track and Field (Girls and Boys)
- Wushu (Girls and Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at Raffles Institution
- Badminton (Boys) - IP
- Basketball (Boys) - IP
- Chinese Orchestra (Boys) - IP
- Choir (Boys) - IP
- Communication (Boys) - IP
- Concert Band (Boys) - IP
- Cricket (Boys) - IP
- Cross Country (Boys) - IP
- Hockey (Boys) - IP
- Leadership and Character (Boys) - IP
- Malay Language (Boys) - IP
- Mathematics (Boys) - IP
- Music (Boys) - IP
- Rugby (Boys) - IP
- Sailing (Boys) - IP
- Science (Boys) - IP
- Shooting (Boys) - IP
- Softball (Boys) - IP
- String Ensemble (Boys) - IP
- Swimming (Boys) - IP
- Table Tennis (Boys) - IP
- Tennis (Boys) - IP
- Track and Field (Boys) - IP
- Visual Arts (Boys) - IP
- Water Polo (Boys) - IP
Listed DSA programmes at Temasek Secondary School
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Leadership (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Shooting (Girls and Boys)
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between Raffles Institution and Temasek 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?
IP · Non-affiliated: Raffles Institution 2026 · 4–6; Temasek Secondary School Not listed. PG3 · Non-affiliated: Raffles Institution Not listed; Temasek Secondary School 2026 · 8–11. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Raffles Institution Not listed; Temasek Secondary School 2026 · 21–22. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Raffles Institution Not listed; Temasek Secondary School 2026 · 25–26.
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.