1 A total of 1,145 students at Raffles Institution (RI) sat for the 2023 GCE A-Level Examinations. This number comprises students from the six-year Raffles Programme (RP), as well as students admitted at Year 5 (JC 1) via the Direct School Admission (DSA) and Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE).
2 The school is proud of the impressive achievements of the Class of 2023. Not only have they attained excellent results in their A-Level Examinations as the graduating batch in the year of Raffles Institution’s Bicentennial celebrations, they were also instrumental in leading various events and activities to commemorate the school’s milestone 200th anniversary.
3 In their two-year journey towards their A-Levels, the Class of 2023 demonstrated great tenacity in achieving their academic and co-curricular goals. More importantly, beyond working to meet their personal targets, they exercised boundless energy and creativity in contributing to the school and serving different communities in need. Indeed, the Class of 2023 will be remembered for upholding the trailblazing spirit of innovation found in Rafflesians past, and for continuing their legacy of making a positive difference in the lives of others.
Academic Excellence
4 98 per cent of students achieved three H2 passes, with a pass in General Paper or Knowledge & Inquiry.
5 45 per cent of students offering four H2 subjects scored distinctions in all four subjects. 60 per cent of students scored at least three H2 distinctions in their content-based subjects. Overall, 492 students attained at least 6 Distinctions.
6 One in three students also obtained a full University Admission Score (UAS) of 90. The mean UAS was 85, while the median UAS was 88.
Excelling in Many Spheres
7 In the academic domain, Rafflesians from the Class of 2023 performed very well at the International Olympiads in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, as well as Astronomy & Astrophysics, where the students achieved three Gold awards and three Silver awards for Singapore.
8 Our student athletes also did well in the National School Games, which saw a return to normalcy after the disruptions due to the pandemic. Within the A Division alone, our students achieved 14 Gold, 15 Silver and 4 Bronze medals. Of special note is the A Division Boys’ Water Polo championship title won by our water polo team, who brought home the trophy after five years. Another sweet victory came in Track and Field, where both our A and B Division Boys’ teams clinched the Divisional Titles, ending a 33-year wait. The last time the school had won the A and B Division double championship in the same year was in 1990.
9 In the arts and aesthetics domain, our students shone at the Singapore Youth Festival, achieving five Certificates of Distinction through Chamber Ensemble, Chinese Orchestra, Chorale, Guitar Ensemble and Symphonic Band, as well as one Certificate of Accomplishment through Modern Dance.
Serving Communities in Need
10 The Class of 2023 spearheaded a total of 118 community service projects, making concerted efforts to plan and execute a wide range of programmes to make a meaningful difference and support diverse communities in need. Through their diligent efforts in making a tangible contribution to society, they learned how to effectively meet the needs of beneficiaries and learned from their life experiences. Being actively involved in community service has also played a pivotal role in shaping our students’ character, allowing them to leave an indelible mark on others.
11 Several students from the Class of 2023 were actively involved in the inaugural RI Mentoring Programme, a 10-year commitment involving our students volunteering as mentors and tutors to Primary 4 students from 10 primary schools and following up with them to Primary 6. The programme was indeed a rewarding experience for our students and their mentees, where they were able to grow and learn in the process and pick up important life skills. It also demonstrated our students’ commitment to making a difference in the lives of others.
Marking RI’s Bicentennial
12 Notably, our students took on the challenge of creating special celebratory moments and projects as part of the school’s 200th anniversary celebrations, knowing that they stood in a unique place in the history of the school as the Bicentennial batch. For example, they implemented the RI200 Acts of Kindness initiative, a school-wide movement to create more awareness and appreciation of simple kindnesses for others and from others. Overall, 2,000 kindness stories have been received from our staff and students since the start of this movement. They conceptualised and led the electrifying Opening Act of the RI200 Founder’s Day celebrations held at the Singapore EXPO for more than 5,000 participants.
13 The school celebrates the efforts, achievements, and unique contributions of the Class of 2023. We would like to thank the RI Board of Governors, our team of dedicated teachers and support staff, parents, as well as alumni from the larger Rafflesian community for supporting our students and without whom their stellar performance would not have been possible. Together, the Rafflesian community has united to once again nurture a generation of young people who stand ready to uphold its tradition of excellence and service to the nation.