SwimSafer Stage 5 Silver Singapore: Test Criteria, Skills & Requirements
Timed 50m swims across three strokes, a 9-step survival sequence with PFD retrieval and the H.E.L.P. posture, and an online theory quiz — preparing swimmers for the SwimSafer Gold stage.
What is SwimSafer Stage 5 Silver?
🏊 Target swimmers
Children and adults who have passed Stage 4 Bronze, including the continuous 100m swim and both Bronze survival sequences.
⏱️ Key new skill
Swimming to a time standard — 50m front crawl, breaststroke and backstroke each within a target time — plus a crouching dive entry.
📋 Assessment format
Timed practical skills at a SportSG Centralised Assessment Centre, plus the SwimSafer Theory online quiz.
🏆 Leads to
Passing Silver prepares swimmers directly for SwimSafer Stage 6 Gold, the final stage of the programme.
Stage 5 Silver test criteria: what’s assessed
- Straddle jump entry. Enter deep water using a straddle jump.
- Backward somersault. Perform a backward somersault, rotating cleanly in the sagittal plane.
- Feet-first surface dive. Submerge using a feet-first surface dive.
- Underwater swim. Swim through hoops for 3 metres along the pool bottom.
- Fast front crawl. Swim 45 metres front crawl quickly.
- Signal for help. Wave and call for help — a PFD is thrown by a rescuer.
- Retrieve & wear PFD. Retrieve and wear the PFD while treading water.
- H.E.L.P. posture. Demonstrate the Heat Escape Lessening Posture for 30 seconds.
- Swim to safety. Swim 25 metres with the PFD on, then climb out of the water.
Understanding the sagittal plane for a clean backward somersault
What is the sagittal plane? It’s an imaginary vertical plane that divides the body into left and right halves. Picture a straight line running from your head down to your feet, splitting your body into a left side and a right side — any movement where you go forward or backward happens in this plane.
When performing a backward somersault from a vertical or back-float position, the whole body should rotate within the sagittal plane, without twisting or drifting sideways.
The result: loss of balance, incomplete rotation, and a poor finishing position that isn’t upright.
Why choose AQZOG for SwimSafer Stage 5 Silver?
✅ MOE-recognised SwimSafer provider
AQZOG is an approved SwimSafer 2.0 provider under Singapore’s national water safety programme.
🧑🏫 Certified, experienced coaches
All instructors hold current SwimSafer 2.0 coaching accreditation and first-aid certification.
🏖️ Holiday programmes & weekly classes
Flexible scheduling with structured holiday intensives and regular weekly classes.
📈 Step-by-step CAMS preparation
We guide families through every stage of the CAMS assessment booking and preparation process.
SwimSafer Stage 5 Silver — frequently asked questions
What are the prerequisites for SwimSafer Stage 5 Silver?
Swimmers should have completed SwimSafer Stage 4 Bronze, including the continuous 100m swim and both Bronze survival sequences, before starting Silver preparation.
What is difficult about SwimSafer Stage 5 Silver?
The swim timing requirements — 50m front crawl, breaststroke and backstroke each within a target time — and the backward somersault are what most students find hardest.
What items are hard to do and need more training?
Backstroke technique, the feet-first surface dive, underwater swimming skills and the backward somersault are the areas our coaches see students needing the most extra practice on.
What are the tips to improve and pass the Stage 5 test?
Do more drills of your weaker strokes, get a coach to time your swims regularly, and focus your practice on the specific items you’re not yet confident with. Consistent, targeted effort over a few weeks makes the biggest difference.
Ready to start SwimSafer Stage 5 Silver?
Join AQZOG’s next intake. Small classes, SportSG-certified coaches, full parent progress updates.
Book a $40 Trial Lesson