Application for Qualifying Test

International students who are seeking mainstream school admission into Primary 2-5 and Secondary 1-3 at the beginning of the following academic year are encouraged to take part in the Admissions Exercise for International Students (AEIS) to enjoy the convenience of centralised testing and the offer of a school place if they are successful. To register for AEIS, please visit the AEIS webpage for more details.

International students, who are unable to participate in the AEIS and still wish to seek mainstream school admission, may sit for and pass the Qualifying Test (QT) before approaching their preferred schools directly.

To facilitate school admission as early in the academic year as possible, there will be (tentatively) about three QT sessions between January to February, and one QT session per month from March to June of each year.

Qualifying Test Dates and Registration Period

The dates of the upcoming QT (tentative) are shown below. Applicants are to note that they may register for one test date only and are strongly encouraged to consider their availability for the test date carefully before applying.

QT Date (Tentative) Registration Period (Tentative)
13 Jan 2010 Registration has closed.
3 Feb 2010 Registration has closed.
26 Feb 2010 Registration has closed.
24 Mar 2010 3 Feb 2010 – 3 Mar 2010
21 Apr 2010 3 Mar 2010 – 31 Mar 2010
18 May 2010 30 Mar 2010 – 27 Apr 2010
15 Jun 2010 27 Apr 2010 – 25 May 2010

More information on future QT date(s) will be updated on this website when available.

Please note that registration for the QT may be closed before the closing date(s) stated above if all available places for the QT date have been taken up.

Eligibility

The QT is applicable for new international students who wish to seek admission to mainstream public schools:

Please go to the category that is applicable to you for detailed information on your school application process:

The QT is not applicable for international students who:

International students are also not allowed to apply for more than one QT date.

Fees and Required Supporting Documents

Fees

The QT fee is S$200.00 (inclusive of GST) and is non-refundable and non-transferable to other test dates. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consider their availability for the test date carefully before applying.

Applicants may make payment via one of the following modes:

Required Supporting Documents

QT applicants are required to provide a photocopy of the following supporting documents:

For Applicant:

  1. Birth Certificate
  2. Data Page of Passport
  3. Deed Poll (if any)

For Applicant’s Parents:

  1. Data Page of Passport
  2. Deed Poll (if any)
  3. Employment Pass/Work Permit (if any)

If the documents are in other languages, an accurate English translation must accompany the photocopies. All documents submitted for application purposes will not be returned to applicants.

Application Process

Step 1:

Applicants can register for their preferred test date by completing the QT Online Application within the respective registration periods shown below. Please note that applicants are required to provide a valid email address as part of the application.

QT Date (Tentative) Registration Period (Tentative)
13 Jan 2010 Registration has closed.
3 Feb 2010 Registration has closed.
26 Feb 2010 Registration has closed.
24 Mar 2010 3 Feb 2010 – 3 Mar 2010
21 Apr 2010 3 Mar 2010 – 31 Mar 2010
18 May 2010 30 Mar 2010 – 27 Apr 2010
15 Jun 2010 27 Apr 2010 – 25 May 2010

Step 2:

After completing and submitting the QT Online Application, applicants would be directed to an acknowledgement page. Applicants should submit their fee payments and a photocopy of their supporting documents immediately by post to the following address:

Business Services Division
Centre for Assessment Training and Services (QT)
Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board
298 Jalan Bukit Ho Swee
Singapore 169565

Please note that mail from some countries may take some time (as long as 3 weeks or more) to reach our office in Singapore.

Applicant can also choose to submit the supporting documents by hand at:-

Ministry of Education
Customer Service Centre
1 North Buona Vista Drive
Singapore 138675

Please note that only complete applications, including payment and documentation, will be processed.

QT applicants must submit their fee payment and a photocopy of supporting documents within one week of the submission of application or the respective deadlines shown below, whichever is earlier. Incomplete applications and/or late submissions will be rejected.

QT Date Fee/Document Submission Deadline
13 Jan 2010 23 Dec 2009
3 Feb 2010 13 Jan 2010
26 Feb 2010 4 Feb 2010
24 Mar 2010 3 Mar 2010
21 Apr 2010 31 Mar 2010
18 May 2010 27 Apr 2010
15 Jun 2010 25 May 2010

Step 3:

Applicants whose applications and payment are in order will receive an official confirmation email by the respective dates shown below, informing them of the QT venue, timing and instructions for applicants.

QT Date Confirmation Email
13 Jan 2010 By 6 Jan 2010
3 Feb 2010 By 27 Jan 2010
26 Feb 2010 By 19 Feb 2010
24 Mar 2010 By 17 Mar 2010
21 Apr 2010 By 14 Apr 2010
18 May 2010 By 11 May 2010
15 Jun 2010 By 8 Jun 2010

Please Note: Applicants should note that confirmation will be subject to their eligibility, the submission of complete applications within the relevant deadlines as well as the availability of test places for the date chosen. Enquiries on application status prior to the confirmation deadline will not be entertained.

QT applicants who receive the official confirmation email and do not turn up on the specified test date and time given to them will not be refunded. Any application for another QT date will be considered a separate application and will be charged accordingly. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consider their availability for the test date carefully before applying.

Preparing for the Qualifying Test

The QT will assess the applicants’ reasoning abilities and will take about 1.5 hours, including reporting formalities, a briefing and the test.

Applicants should be able to read alphabets and numbers and should also be familiar with and understand examination instructions given by the invigilators in English. Applicants who do not comply with instructions given by the invigilators may be disqualified from the QT.

Reporting for the Qualifying Test

All applicants are required to arrive at least thirty minutes before the start of the QT and should note that electronic devices (e.g. mobile phones, pagers, cameras, etc.) will not be allowed in the test hall. Applicants should also bring the following items:

Qualifying Test Outcome

The outcome of the QT will be sent to applicants’ specified addresses by email within 3 weeks of the test and will indicate whether the applicant is eligible or ineligible for admission to mainstream public schools.

Successful applicants may proceed to approach their preferred schools directly to apply for admission. Subject to the availability of vacancies, schools would consider them and typically conduct placement tests for subjects such as English, Mathematics and Mother Tongue (where applicable). Applicants should note that English is the medium of instruction in Singapore and are encouraged to prepare for such placement tests.

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.

For detailed information on the school application process, please refer to one of the following categories that is applicable to you.

International students may take the QT only once. Unsuccessful QT applicants may consider taking part in the next available Admissions Exercise for International Students (AEIS), which will tentatively be held in the 4th quarter of 2010.

Summary of Key Events and Dates (Tentative)

QT Date Registration Period Fee / Document Submission Deadline Confirmation Email Test Outcome
13 Jan 2010 25 Nov 2009 – 23 Dec 2009 23 Dec 2009 By 6 Jan 2010 By 3 Feb 2010
3 Feb 2010 16 Dec 2009 – 13 Jan 2010 13 Jan 2010 By 27 Jan 2010 By 24 Feb 2010
26 Feb 2010 8 Jan 2010 – 4 Feb 2010 4 Feb 2010 By 19 Feb 2010 By 19 Mar 2010
24 Mar 2010 3 Feb 2010 – 3 Mar 2010 3 Mar 2010 By 17 Mar 2010 By 14 Apr 2010
21 Apr 2010 3 Mar 2010 – 31 Mar 2010 31 Mar 2010 By 14 Apr 2010 By 12 May 2010
18 May 2010 30 Mar 2010 – 27 Apr 2010 27 April 2010 By 11 May 2010 By 8 Jun 2010
15 Jun 2010 27 Apr 2010 – 25 May 2010 25 May 2010 By 8 Jun 2010 By 6 July 2010

Frequently Asked Questions on the Qualifying Test.