Class size
Maximum 4 students
Students are grouped by learning pace, not just by level — if no existing session matches your child’s pace, we open a new one.
English tuition for Hwa Chong International School students
Live online English tuition for Hwa Chong International School students in secondary 1–4. Bring recent schoolwork and teacher feedback so our tutors can see where your child needs help and plan the lessons.
Secondary 1–4
Courses and years
School-based English before the IB Diploma
Years 1–4
Bring recent schoolwork and the current topic list so we can choose a suitable class.
Study guide · 01
English and Language Arts in the first four years
Schools organise their own English courses in the years leading towards IB. For example, ACS (Independent) publishes a Years 1–4 Language Arts curriculum that brings together literary reading, writing and communication. SJI’s Years 1–4 Integrated Programme develops subject foundations and inquiry. HCIS teaches English Language in its Years 1–2 Foundation and Years 3–4 Pre-IB programmes.
Bring a recent comprehension answer, analytical paragraph, essay or presentation. The tutor uses it to see where your child needs help and plans lessons around the school’s current work.
Study guide · 02
Close reading: explain what the detail contributes
Begin with a precise observation about a passage. A character may say one thing while an action suggests another; a narrator may withhold information; a repeated image may change as the story develops. Select the words that support your reading and explain the connection. Naming a technique becomes useful when it helps answer the question.
We start with a short paragraph. The student gives an interpretation, chooses a detail and explains why it supports their reading. They then try another extract. For poetry and drama, we also discuss images, pauses and stage directions.
The task
“Mira said she was pleased, then folded the invitation into a square so small it disappeared in her hand.” How does the action develop the reader’s understanding?
Worked response
Mira’s words suggest approval, but concealing the invitation hints that her feelings are less straightforward. The contrast invites the reader to question whether she is as pleased as she claims.
The answer connects the action to an interpretation. A fuller passage would be needed to explain the reason for her reaction.
Study guide · 03
Writing: give each paragraph a job
Start with an answer to the essay question, then choose the points and evidence that support it. An analytical essay explains the writer’s choices. An argumentative essay develops reasons and considers another view. Plan the paragraphs before drafting.
Before editing sentences, read the draft as a whole. Does each paragraph add a point? Does its evidence support that point? Can the reader follow the order? We help students revise one part, then use what they learned in their next piece of writing.
Study guide · 04
Speaking: practise explaining and responding
In a discussion or presentation, explain an idea and give an example. Listen carefully to follow-up questions: you might be asked for another reason, a different interpretation or more detail.
Students rehearse short responses, and the tutor asks follow-up questions. Talking through an answer often shows where an essay needs more explanation. We use the school’s presentation brief to decide what to prepare.
Your class
Lessons and practice, every week
Class registration for the 2027 school year is open.
Trial
$30 subsidised trial rate
A dedicated trial session at a different timeslot is offered at a subsidised rate of $30. We’ll help you explore the available options.
Class format
Live online
Weekly duration
1.5 hours
Levels
Secondary 1–4
Between lessons
Subject practice on the DeepThink platform
Practice is included as part of the classes.
Registration
2027 school year
Open now. Request a trial class and we will message you to confirm the level and schedule.
Meet your tutor
Try a English class
Class registration for the 2027 school year is open. Bring recent schoolwork to help us plan a useful first lesson.
About Hwa Chong International School
About Hwa Chong International School
Hwa Chong International School (HCIS) is a co-educational, independent international school in Bukit Timah, Singapore, founded in 2005. Part of the Hwa Chong family of schools and affiliated with — but distinct from — Hwa Chong Institution, it serves a mixed local and international student body and offers an integrated secondary curriculum, with optional Cambridge IGCSE, leading to the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.
Founded: 2005
Motto: Continual Pursuit of Excellence
School Overview
Hwa Chong International School (HCIS) is a co-educational, independent international school in Bukit Timah, in the Central Region of Singapore. Founded on 1 January 2005, it is part of the Hwa Chong family of schools and is an affiliated school of Hwa Chong Institution (HCI). HCIS is, however, a distinct school in its own right and differs considerably from HCI in academic standards, enrolment, and faculty: where Hwa Chong Institution follows the local academic track, HCIS is built around a global education model and serves a largely international student body. The school takes "Continual Pursuit of Excellence" as its motto.
HCIS offers secondary education on the International Baccalaureate (IB) pathway, running an integrated six-year programme for students broadly from the ages of around 13 to 18. About half of its students are Singapore citizens or permanent residents — a reflection of Ministry of Education policy on local enrolment at international schools — while the remainder are international students drawn from dozens of countries. The campus sits at 663 Bukit Timah Road, within the wider Hwa Chong site, giving the school an established setting close to central Singapore.
Curriculum and the IB Pathway
HCIS runs an integrated six-year curriculum that leads to the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) in the final two years. In the earlier years students follow a foundation curriculum, and at the end of the middle years they may sit the Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examinations before progressing into the IB Diploma. This is an international pathway and differs in both content and assessment from the Singapore MOE secondary syllabus: there is no compulsory Singapore-Cambridge O-Level route, and the IB Diploma is built around six subject groups together with the IB core of Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay, and Creativity, Activity, Service.
Admissions
Admission to HCIS is by direct application to the school rather than through Singapore's PSLE posting exercise or the Direct School Admission scheme, which apply only to local MOE schools. Families apply for a particular entry point, and places are offered on the basis of the school's own assessment of each child's readiness and suitability for the IB-oriented programme, alongside the availability of places in the relevant year group.
As an international school, HCIS admits students of many nationalities, and roughly half of its enrolment is made up of Singapore citizens and permanent residents in line with Ministry of Education policy on local students at international schools. Because demand at popular entry points can be high, prospective families are generally encouraged to begin the application process well ahead of the intended start date. The school's admissions office publishes the current entry points, assessment steps, and fee information, and remains the authoritative source for families who are applying.
Facilities and Co-Curricular Activities
HCIS occupies a campus at 663 Bukit Timah Road, set within the broader Hwa Chong site, which gives the school an established physical setting with facilities for academic study, sport, and the arts. As a secondary school on the IB pathway, it combines classroom learning with a programme of co-curricular activities intended to develop students beyond examinations alone.
The school has a track record of looking outward through its activities. In November 2007 HCIS hosted an International Youth Forum on Global Warming, attended by students from several countries, and in March 2009 it was one of three IB schools in Singapore chosen to host the International Baccalaureate Asia Pacific Regional Workshop. Events of this kind reflect the school's international orientation and its place within the wider IB community in the region. Families looking for the current list of sports, performing-arts groups, clubs, and service activities should consult the school directly, as specific offerings vary from year to year.
School Community and Culture
HCIS describes itself through its motto, "Continual Pursuit of Excellence," and is part of the Hwa Chong family of schools while serving a distinctly international community. Its student body is genuinely mixed — about half local Singaporeans and permanent residents and about half international students from dozens of countries — which gives the school a cross-cultural character within a Singaporean setting. Although affiliated with Hwa Chong Institution, HCIS maintains its own identity, faculty, and global education model rather than following the local academic track.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hwa Chong International School
Is Hwa Chong International School a good school?
Hwa Chong International School is an established co-educational international school in Bukit Timah, founded in 2005 as part of the Hwa Chong family of schools. It offers secondary education on the International Baccalaureate pathway, serves a mixed local and international student body, and has hosted regional IB events, including the International Baccalaureate Asia Pacific Regional Workshop in 2009. Families should consult the school for current programme details and outcomes.
Is Hwa Chong International School the same as Hwa Chong Institution?
No. Although Hwa Chong International School (HCIS) is affiliated with Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) and part of the same family of schools, it is a separate and distinct school. The two differ considerably in academic standards, enrolment, and faculty: HCI follows the local academic track, while HCIS is an international school built around the IB pathway and a global education model.
What curriculum does Hwa Chong International School follow?
HCIS runs an integrated six-year curriculum on the International Baccalaureate pathway. Students follow a foundation curriculum in the earlier years, may sit Cambridge IGCSE examinations at the end of the middle years, and complete the IB Diploma Programme in the final two years. This is an international pathway and does not lead to the Singapore-Cambridge O-Level as a compulsory route.
Does Hwa Chong International School offer the IB Diploma Programme?
Yes. HCIS offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) in the final two years of its six-year curriculum, including the IB core of Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay, and Creativity, Activity, Service. Diploma Mathematics is offered as either Analysis and Approaches or Applications and Interpretation, each at Standard or Higher Level.
How does admission to Hwa Chong International School work?
Admission is by direct application to the school, not through the PSLE posting exercise or Direct School Admission, which apply only to local MOE schools. Families apply for a specific entry point, and places are offered based on the school's own assessment of the child's readiness and the availability of places. The school's admissions office publishes the current requirements and fees.
What ages and grades does Hwa Chong International School take?
HCIS is a secondary school offering an integrated six-year programme, broadly serving students from around the ages of 13 to 18, from the first year of secondary study through to the completion of the IB Diploma.
Where is Hwa Chong International School located?
The school is at 663 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 269783, in the Central Region of Singapore, on the wider Hwa Chong site along Bukit Timah Road.
Does Hwa Chong International School take local Singaporean students?
Yes. Unusually for an international school, about half of HCIS students are Singapore citizens or permanent residents, with the larger share being permanent residents — a reflection of Ministry of Education policy on local enrolment at international schools. The remaining students come from dozens of countries.
How is IB Mathematics at Hwa Chong International School different from the local Singapore syllabus?
IB Mathematics is part of the International Baccalaureate Diploma and differs from the MOE secondary and A-Level syllabuses in both content and structure. Students take either Analysis and Approaches or Applications and Interpretation rather than E-Math, A-Math, or H2 Mathematics, so support matched to the IB is more relevant than general O-Level or A-Level preparation.
Does Hwa Chong International School offer IGCSE?
Yes. Within its integrated six-year curriculum, students at HCIS may sit the Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examinations at the end of the middle years before progressing into the IB Diploma Programme. IGCSE functions as a milestone on the way to the Diploma rather than as a separate exit qualification.
What is the history of Hwa Chong International School?
HCIS was founded on 1 January 2005 as part of the Hwa Chong family of schools and as an affiliated but distinct international school alongside Hwa Chong Institution. In its early years it built an international profile, hosting an International Youth Forum on Global Warming in 2007 and, in 2009, one of three Singapore venues for the International Baccalaureate Asia Pacific Regional Workshop.
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