A solution for combining a portion of data from a block of single level cells to a block of multi-level cells. The solution includes identifying word lines with only valid data and word lines with non-valid data in a selected block of single level cells, copying data from word lines with valid data to a destination block of multi-level cells and copying data from word lines in the selected block of single level cells with non-valid data to a separate compaction block of single level cells. The system includes a first controller module configured to scan for word lines with only valid data and pass a bitmap identifying valid and invalid word lines to a second controller module. The second controller module is configured to perform on-chip combining of data from valid word lines, and copy data from invalid data word lines to a compaction block of single level cells.