Check the school first, then the subject

Start with the school list before you make a tuition decision. A secondary computing course can only become a real subject choice if your child’s school offers it. Once you know that answer, read the K349 outline with your child rather than deciding from the word “computing” alone.

K349 has five modules: Computing Fundamentals, Algorithms and Programming, Spreadsheets, Networking, and Impact of Computing. That means the subject is not only about writing code. Your child will also meet topics such as computer systems, networks, data, and the impacts of computing.

G1, G2 and G3 are different levels, not three names for one course

G1, G2 and G3 have separate syllabuses. G1 Computing is Syllabus K127 and includes Document Processing, Media Software and Programming. G2 Computing is Syllabus K237 and includes Spreadsheets, Media Software and Programming. Both are implemented from 2026 with the Secondary Three cohort and have their first examination in 2027.

G3 is Syllabus K349. Its five modules include Algorithms and Programming, but they sit alongside Computing Fundamentals, Networking and the Impact of Computing.

Look and understand the assessment format

The G3 assessment is split into two papers. Paper 1 is a two-hour written examination worth 60% of the total marks. Paper 2 is a two-hour-30-minute lab-based examination worth 40%, taken on a computer with spreadsheet, Python and JupyterLab software.

That split is useful when you talk with your child. Ask whether they are willing to explain a computing idea in writing as well as build, test and correct work on a computer. A child who likes only the idea of coding may be surprised by the written and theory side. A child who enjoys both careful thinking and practical problem-solving has a clearer reason to take G3 Computing.

When structured help is useful

If your child chooses G3 Computing and needs regular support, Computhink Academy offers weekly lessons over Secondary 3 and Secondary 4 for theory and practical work. The fee is $667 per term for nine 1.5-hour lessons, held at Computhink@ToaPayohLibrary in Singapore.

The useful question for a first lesson is simple: can your child explain where they get stuck, then try the next step with guidance? Bring a recent school exercise or a programming question to the free trial class and see how they respond to that rhythm of practice.

Questions parents often ask

Is G3 Computing still O-Level Computing?

It is the renamed successor. O-Level Computing uses Syllabus 7155 through the final O-Level examinations in 2026. G3 Computing uses Syllabus K349 from the first G3 examinations in 2027.

Is G3 Computing just a programming subject?

No. Programming is one part of K349. The syllabus also covers Computing Fundamentals, Spreadsheets, Networking and the Impact of Computing. The assessment includes both a written paper and a lab-based paper.

What should we check before choosing it?

Check whether the school offers the subject, then read the five K349 modules and the two-paper assessment format with your child. That gives you a concrete picture of the work before they begin Secondary 3.

If G3 Computing is offered at your child’s school and the subject suits the way they like to learn, a free trial class can show you the weekly theory-and-practical format before you commit.