So, you’ve just survived finals, you’re riding that post-submission high (or maybe collapse), and then you see this email in your inbox: “FGO Declaration Window Now Open!”

Cue the panic.
  “What is this again? Is it like S/U?”
  “Should I declare it now or later?”
  “Wait—will this mess up my minor or my second major?”

Don’t worry—you’re not alone. FGO can feel like yet another confusing acronym that NTU throws at us, but once you break it down, it’s actually a pretty great safety net.

Let’s talk about what it is, how it works, what SSS students should watch out for, and some tips.

What is FGO Anyway?

FGO stands for Flexible Grading Option, and it’s NTU’s upgraded version of the old S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory) system. It kicked in from Academic Year 2024/25 onwards.

The main idea? Give students more flexibility and a safe space to explore courses outside of their comfort zones without being haunted by a bad grade dragging down their CGPA forever.

Think of it as NTU telling you, “Hey, it’s okay to try something new—you won’t be punished for failing.”

How Does It Work?

Let’s say you took a course and got:

• A, B, C or D: You can choose to convert it into a Pass (P).
• F: You can convert it into No Record (NR)—basically, like it never happened.

But here’s the thing:

• Once you declare FGO, that course’s grade won’t count toward your CGPA anymore.
• You do get AU credit if it’s a Pass.
• If it’s an NR (i.e., a fail), you don’t get the AUs.
• And yeah—you can’t take it back once declared.

You make your declaration after results are out, during a short window (for Semester 2 AY24/25, it’s 2–4 June 2025). Miss that window? Too bad—no appeals allowed.

 

Where Do These FGO Grades Appear?

This part is a bit sneaky but also helpful:

• P grades (Pass) will appear on both internal and external documents—your Degree Audit, RER (Record of Exam Results), and Transcript.
• NR (No Record) only shows up internally in your Degree Audit. It won’t be on your transcript, so nobody outside NTU sees it.

Think of it this way: if you failed a course and declared FGO, employers and grad schools won’t even know you took that course. Kind of a get-out-of-jail-free card.

Why Should SSS Students Care?

As a Social Sciences (SSS) student, you probably deal with a mix of qualitative essays, stats, econ models, and core modules that sometimes feel oddly specific. And then there are the electives—those “cool” ones you sign up for because you thought it’d be a chill semester, but then the readings are 300 pages/week and the prof is a sadist.

That’s where FGO comes in clutch.

Here’s why you might care:

• Trying something completely new (e.g., coding, philosophy, business, or hardcore science)
• You thought you’d get a B+ but ended up scraping a D
• You’re managing a heavy semester with multiple projects, internships, or mental health stuff
• You accidentally tanked one mod but did fine in the rest

FGO Limits: How Many Can You Use?

Not unlimited, unfortunately.

Here’s the quota for full-time undergrads:

• 3-year programmes: 12 AU
• 4- and 5-year programmes (not Biomedical Science):
  • If you joined from Year 1: 12 AU
  • If you joined directly in Year 2: 9 AU
• Biomedical Sciences students: 9 AU

So for most of us in SSS, it’s 12 AU max across your entire candidature. That’s around 3 or 4 courses, depending on how many AU each one is.

Tip: Use them wisely. Don’t blow them all in Year 1 and 2 unless you’re absolutely sure.

Which Courses Are Eligible?

Now this part depends on your cohort. NTU made this a bit more complicated than it needs to be, but here’s the lowdown:

If you’re:

• A full-time student admitted in AY2020-2021 or earlier, or joined Year 2 in AY2021-2022:
  • You can use FGO on:
    • Prescribed Electives (GER-PE)
    • Unrestricted Electives (UE)
    • MPEs that are tagged with a UE option

If you’re:

• A full-time student admitted from AY2021-2022 onwards:
  • You can use FGO on:
    • Broadening and Deepening Electives (BDE)
    • MPEs tagged with a BDE option

Important catch:
If you declare FGO on an MPE-BDE course, it gets reclassified as a BDE in your record. That means it won’t count toward your MPE graduation requirement anymore, so you’ll need to take another MPE.

SSS students, especially those doing interdisciplinary second majors or minors, take note of this!

P.S. Do note that you can FGO higher-level modules too, such as your 4k modules.

What About Minors and Second Majors?

If you’re taking a second major or a minor, here’s the rule breakdown:

• AY2020-2021 and earlier OR Year 2 direct admits in AY2021-2022:
  • You can’t use FGO for courses that go toward your second major or minor.
• AY2021-2022 Year 1 admits and later (including AY2022-2023 onwards):
  • Second Major: You can use FGO for up to 12 AU of second major courses.
  • Minor: You can use FGO for up to 6 AU of minor courses.

Pro tip: If you’re unsure what year your programme considers you, check your matriculation letter or ask your school office. NTU’s definitions of “admission year” can be a little funky.

When Should You Declare?

Right after the exam results are released, and it usually lasts for 2-3 days after the release of results. For AY24/25 Sem 1, that’s from 2 to 4 Jan 2025 and for AY24/25 Sem 1, from 2 to 4 June 2025.

Set a calendar reminder. Set five. NTU doesn’t take late declarations. At all. Not even if your internet died or you were sobbing in bed over your GPA. Also: Declarations are final. Once you submit, there’s no “undo” button. So take some time to weigh your options carefully.

Tips from a Fellow SSS Student (That’s Me 👋)

Let’s be real—sometimes a bad grade just happens. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

1. Don’t waste it on a B+ if your CGPA can take it.
   Save FGO for when it really matters—like when you tank a 4AU course with a D.
2. Don’t mess up your grad requirements.
   If you use FGO on an MPE and it turns into a BDE, you still owe the school another MPE. Plan ahead!
3. Think strategically.
   You can consider using your FGO in your final semester, where you can look at all your uni grades and S/U the modules you did worst in! That way, you may be able to graduate with a higher GPA. Alternatively, if you’re applying for exchange/internships/scholarships etc which have GPA requirements, you may want to consider using FGO on a few modules that could pull your GPA up enough to give you an edge. Ultimately, however, it’s up to you – so use FGO strategically!
4. Talk to someone.
   Email your school office or academic advisor if you’re unsure. Don’t guess.

FGO is honestly one of the better policies NTU has rolled out. It gives you breathing room and lets you try things without the constant fear of “Oh no, my GPA!” But like all good things, it comes with conditions, exceptions, and fine print.

So take the time to understand how it works, how it applies to you specifically, and how it fits into your larger goals at NTU. Whether you’re aiming for honours, grad school, a chill uni life, or just trying to survive each semester—FGO can help if you use it right.

Just don’t FGO blindly. Be strategic. Be informed. Be kind to yourself.

And good luck with the declaration!

References

Cover image source

NTU Intranet Information on FGO

Written by: Ernest Then Shi Sheng

Edited by: Tyra Ang