Five years ago, about 90 per cent of Nanyang Technological University (NTU) undergraduates were admitted based solely on their A-level or polytechnic grades, with the rest needing interviews, portfolios and aptitude tests to supplement their grades to secure a place.

This year, more than one-third won places based on more than just their grades, or 38 per cent of NTU's 6,400 freshmen.