School MattersTanjong Katong 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 | Tanjong Katong Secondary School | Xinmin Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Co-Ed School | Co-Ed School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | Autonomous | Autonomous |
| Zone | East | North |
| Address | 130 Haig Road | 11 Hougang Avenue 8 |
| Nearest MRT | Paya Lebar, Dakota | Hougang |
| Listed CCAs | 17 | 19 |
| DSA listings | 5 | 14 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 5 CCA listings. Tanjong Katong Secondary School also lists Audio Visual Aid (Girls and Boys), Basketball (Boys), Floorball (Girls), Football (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), 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. Tanjong Katong Secondary School also lists Basketball (Boys), Floorball (Girls), Football (Boys), Malay Language (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 Tanjong Katong Secondary School: Paya Lebar, Dakota; for Xinmin Secondary School: Hougang. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Tanjong Katong Secondary School | Xinmin Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 7–13 | 2026 · 8–13 |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 21–23 | 2026 · 21–23 |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | Not listed | 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
Tanjong Katong Secondary School
TK began as Tanjong Katong Secondary Technical School in 1956, initially serving boys. It admitted girls and introduced pre-university classes in the 1960s, dropped Technical from its name in 1993 and moved to Haig Road in 1998. It gained autonomous status in 2004. The band traces one branch to a 26-member brass band in 1965, later combined with TKGS before separating in 1989. The band page’s display awards and overseas competition examples are dated historical achievements, not a current ranking or a promise of opportunities for each new member.
The EMAS page describes a four-year programme linked to Higher Malay, with language and cultural workshops by level. TK pupils taking Higher Malay are included in EMAS; outside pupils attend the school’s Higher Malay lessons under a separate arrangement. MLEP-Sec is a different two-year upper-secondary pathway involving Malay literature. The school describes a choice for EMAS pupils to continue or switch, and entry criteria for other applicants. Its MLEP page still refers to O-Level subjects and JC incentives, so confirm current cohort requirements directly. Camps, immersion, scholarships and progression should not be assumed merely from enrolment at TK.
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
Tanjong Katong Secondary School
- Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys)
- Audio Visual Aid (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Floorball (Girls)
- Football (Boys)
- Girl Guides (Girls)
- Marching Band (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Sea) (Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls and Boys)
- Netball (Girls)
- Scouts (Boys)
- Shooting (Girls and Boys)
- Track and Field (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 Tanjong Katong Secondary School
- Basketball (Boys)
- Floorball (Girls)
- Football (Boys)
- Malay Language (Girls and Boys)
- Netball (Girls)
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 Tanjong Katong 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: Tanjong Katong Secondary School 2026 · 7–13; Xinmin Secondary School 2026 · 8–13. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Tanjong Katong Secondary School 2026 · 21–23; Xinmin Secondary School 2026 · 21–23. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Tanjong Katong Secondary School Not listed; 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.