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Last Updated: 18 January 2023

Supplementary Placement Exercise (SPE)

1. Overview

What is SPE

SPE is a centralised merit-based placement exercise conducted for Returning Singaporeans who wish to join a secondary school at Secondary 1, 2 or 3 at the beginning of the next academic year. Your child can apply for the SPE if they’re unable to make it back to Singapore in time for SPERS-Sec that typically takes place in September.

SPE is not compulsory and does not guarantee admission to your school of choice. It is intended for those who prefer the convenience of a centralised placement exercise.

  • In view of the COVID-19 situation, the conduct of the SPERS-Sec and SPE exercises will be aligned to the national safe management measures leading up to and during the actual test dates. All applicants are required to comply with prevailing guidelines as announced by the Ministry of Health prior to the test date to ensure the safety of our applicants and examiners MOE will keep applicants updated should there be any changes or cancellation of these exercises. In this regard, we encourage RS students who are seeking a secondary school place near their Singapore residence to make use of the Assured School Placement service.
  • The Assured School Placement service is a convenient admission route whereby we will guarantee your child a place in a school with vacancies as near to your residential address as possible, even before your child returns to Singapore. Your child need not sit for any centralised test, although the school may conduct school-based assessments, interview, or both, to determine the level and course for your child. Learn about it.

Key Dates


From Mon, 3 October 2022

Create account

Create an account for your child in the Candidates Portal (CP). Find out more here.

Mon, 3 Oct to Fri, 18 Nov 2022

Apply

Submit your child's application online through the CP.

By Tue, 29 Nov 2022

Receive entry proof

If your application is approved and payment is successful, you will receive an email informing you to retrieve your child’s entry proof from the CP.

Tue, 6 Dec 2022

Take tests

Your child will take tests for English and Mathematics in Singapore.

Mon, 16 Jan to Wed, 18 Jan 2023

Select preferred schools

Based on your child's performance in the tests, you will receive an email on Friday, 13 January 2023 with the list of schools that they are eligible for. Submit your child's school choices using the SPE Internet System (SPE-IS) by 5pm on Wednesday, 18 January 2023.

Wed, 1 Feb 2023

Receive posting results

View your child's posting results by logging in to the SPE-IS from Wednesday, 1 February to Sunday, 5 February 2023. Your child has to report to school by Wednesday, 8 February 2023.

How to apply