Frequently Asked Questions
General
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What does MOE mean by “International Student”?
“International Student” refers to a student in Singapore who is not a Singapore Citizen (SC) or a Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR) and who requires a valid pass to study in Government, Government-Aided and Independent schools. The valid pass refers to Immigration Exemption Order (IEO), Dependant’s Pass (DP) or Student’s Pass (STP).
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What are the admission procedures for international students seeking admission in academic year (AY) 2008?
There is no change for international students seeking school admission in AY2008.
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Are international students required to offer Mother Tongue Language as a subject?
As part of the Singapore education system, all students are required to offer their Mother Tongue Language as part of the curriculum.
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What if my Mother Tongue Language is not Chinese, Malay or Tamil?
You may apply for exemption from the Mother Tongue Language requirement after admission, through your school. Alternatively, you may apply to offer a foreign language in lieu of the requirement.
Admissions Exercise for International Students (AEIS)
Application
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What is the Admissions Exercise for International Students (AEIS)?
Starting from admissions in AY2009 onwards, MOE will be conducting a centralised admissions exercise around September-October each year for new international students who wish to join our mainstream public primary and secondary schools in January of the following year.
The Admissions Exercise for International Students (AEIS) consists of a centralised test on English and Mathematics that assesses the applicants’ English literacy, numeracy and reasoning abilities. Applicants who pass the test will be offered a place in a suitable school, based on availability of school vacancies and their test performance.
International students seeking admission to mainstream public schools in Singapore should note that English is the medium of instruction and are strongly encouraged to prepare themselves before sitting for the AEIS tests. They should be familiar with the English and Mathematics syllabus of the level preceding the one they are applying for.
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Who should take part in AEIS?
International students who do not have a place in a local school and who wish to seek admission into Primary 2-5 and Secondary 1-3 levels in January 2009 are eligible to take part in AEIS.
For more details on admission procedure, please refer to our International Student Admissions website.
Can international students who are attending commercial schools take part in AEIS?
International students who are preparing for admission to mainstream public schools in commercial schools can also take part in AEIS.
Can international students take part in the Direct School Admission exercise for secondary schools (DSA-Sec) as well as AEIS?
International students may take part in DSA-Sec and AEIS. However, international students should note that in the event that they are successfully allocated a school place under the DSA-Sec exercise, their AEIS application would become void. International students should also note that the AEIS fee is non-refundable.
What are the admission options for international students who wish to seek admission to Primary 1 (P1)?
International students seeking admission to P1 may apply for a place through Phase 3 of the annual P1 Registration Exercise. For more details, please refer to our Primary One Registration website. International students who are not able to make it for the P1 Registration Exercise can apply to schools directly after Phase 3. For more details, please refer to our International Student Admissions website.
What are the admission options for international students who wish to seek admission to junior colleges?
International students who wish to seek admission to junior colleges should apply to them directly. For more details, please refer to our International Student Admissions website.
Can international students seek admission to Primary 6 or Secondary 4 or 5 through AEIS?
Our schools generally do not admit students directly to Primary 6 or Secondary 4 or 5 as it would not be in the students’ interest to be admitted during these critical examination years.
Can an international student apply for the test at the level more than 2 years above his/her correct age for admission?
No. MOE does not recommend admission to levels where international students will be more than two years older than their classmates. The permissible age range for admission is available at the age criteria section.
Can international students apply for more than one level for the secondary admission or more than one test for primary admission?
International students can only sit for one of the following tests, viz. P2/P3, P4/P5, Sec 1, Sec 2 and Sec 3.
Can international students apply for both test dates?
No. International students can only choose one of the two test dates. Only applications that are in order would be processed.
Will the AEIS centralised test be held in other countries?
The AEIS centralised test is only available in Singapore. Please refer to the AEIS section for details regarding online application.
What are the options for international students who are unsuccessful in AEIS?
Applicants are strongly encouraged to prepare themselves before sitting for the AEIS tests and should be familiar with the English and Maths syllabus of the level preceding the one they are applying for.
Applicants who have taken part in 2008 AEIS and are unsuccessful may apply to take AEIS in 2009 at the same or higher level. Alternatively, they may apply to sit for the Qualifying Test in 2009 (if they have not sat for the QT before).
What are the admission options for international students who cannot make it for the AEIS exercise?
International students who cannot make it for the AEIS exercise can apply to their schools of choice directly. Please refer to our International Student Admissions website for more details.
Instead of taking part in AEIS, can an international student just sit for the Qualifying Test and apply directly to the schools in November?
Yes. However, international students who apply directly to schools should note that admission will be subject to vacancies available around the time of application and the schools’ admission criteria. Hence, if you can make it for the AEIS tests on 22 Sep 08 and 13 Oct 08, we would like to encourage you to consider taking part in AEIS to enjoy the convenience of centralised testing and the offer of a school place if you are successful.
Testing Phase
How can international students prepare for the AEIS centralised test?
Applicants should note that English is the medium of instruction in Singapore and are strongly encouraged to prepare themselves in advance of the test.
Applicants should be familiar with the English and Maths syllabus of the level preceding the one they are applying for. For instance, an applicant who wishes to sit for Secondary 3 should be familiar with Secondary 2 content. An applicant who wishes to seek admission to Primary 3 and is assigned the P2/P3 test should be familiar with Primary 1 and Primary 2 content. An applicant who wishes to seek admission to Primary 2 and is assigned the P2/P3 test should be familiar with Primary 1 content. Details can be found at the Subject Syllabuses section.
International students who are successfully admitted to mainstream public schools are strongly encouraged to prepare themselves in advance for a new school environment where English is the language of classroom instruction, and to familiarise themselves with the relevant curriculum for their level. International students who wish to undertake preparatory courses before or at the start of their entry into schools could refer to the Singapore Education website.
School Offer Phase
Can applicants choose their schools under AEIS?
No. Applicants who pass the AEIS centralised test would be offered a place in a suitable school, primarily based on available school vacancies and their performance in the centralised test. Where possible, the school offer will also take into account the applicants’ address or the region they are residing in.
What are the schools that might be offered under AEIS?
AEIS covers admission to mainstream public schools. However, applicants should note that admission is strictly subject to the availability of school vacancies. Only applicants who pass the AEIS centralised test would be offered a place in a suitable school for AY2009, based on available school vacancies and their performance in the centralised test.
Is school admission under AEIS guaranteed?
Admission is not guaranteed as the offer of a school place is subject to the availability of school vacancies and the applicants’ performance in the AEIS centralised test.
Will test results be given to applicants?
There will be no test results. Applicants who pass the AEIS centralised test would be offered a place in a suitable school, based on available school vacancies and their performance in the centralised test, while unsuccessful applicants will also be notified.
Can international students reject the school that they have been offered?
No. Successful applicants are required to report to their offered school.