What Is the Gifted Education Programme?
The Gifted Education Programme (GEP) is a specialised curriculum offered by Singapore's Ministry of Education for students identified as intellectually gifted. The programme runs from Primary 4 to Primary 6 at nine designated primary schools, providing an enriched and accelerated curriculum that develops critical thinking, creativity, and higher-order reasoning.
GEP students do not need to be enrolled at a GEP school from Primary 1. Selection takes place through a national assessment in Primary 3, and successful students are transferred to a GEP school for Primary 4 regardless of where they started.
The Nine GEP Primary Schools
- Anglo-Chinese School (Primary)
- Catholic High School (Primary)
- Henry Park Primary School
- Nan Hua Primary School
- Nanyang Primary School
- Raffles Girls' Primary School
- Rosyth School
- St. Hilda's Primary School
- Tao Nan School
How Are GEP Students Selected?
The GEP selection process takes place in two rounds during Primary 3:
Round 1 (August)
All Primary 3 students in Singapore take a screening assessment covering English language and Mathematics. Approximately the top 1% of scorers are invited to Round 2.
Round 2 (October)
Shortlisted students take a more comprehensive assessment covering English, Mathematics, and General Ability. Based on these results, approximately 0.4% of the Primary 3 cohort — around 500 students nationally — are selected for the GEP.
Should You Target a GEP School from P1?
This is a question many parents wrestle with. Enrolling your child in a GEP school from P1 gives them six years in that school community before GEP begins — building friendships and familiarity with the school culture. However, it is not a prerequisite for GEP selection.
If your target school is a GEP school and it aligns with other criteria (location, culture, programmes), it makes sense to pursue it. But do not stretch your registration strategy primarily for GEP — the majority of children who enter GEP transfer from non-GEP schools at Primary 4.
Life in GEP
GEP students study the standard national curriculum alongside enrichment modules that go deeper and broader than the mainstream syllabus. Emphasis is on independent inquiry, research projects, and collaborative problem-solving. GEP classes are typically smaller, and teachers are specially trained for gifted education.
Some parents worry about pressure in GEP. While expectations are high, the programme is designed to be intellectually stimulating rather than purely exam-focused. Children who thrive in GEP are typically those who love learning for its own sake and enjoy intellectual challenge.
Conclusion
The GEP is an excellent opportunity for intellectually gifted children, but selection is not something you can prepare your child for through tuition alone — the assessments are designed to measure innate ability and reasoning. Focus on choosing the right school for your child's overall development, and let their natural abilities shine through in the GEP screening when the time comes.