What is AEIS?
AEIS (Admissions Exercise for International Students) is Singapore's official annual entrance test for foreign children seeking places in government mainstream primary and secondary schools. It is administered by the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) and run by the Ministry of Education (MOE).
If your family is relocating to Singapore — or already living here — and your child is not a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident, AEIS is the primary pathway into the local school system. Places are limited, competition is stiff, and only about 1 in 5 applicants is offered a school place.
Key point: AEIS is not a pass/fail exam — it is a competitive ranking exercise. Your child is scored relative to all other applicants that year. Even scoring well does not guarantee a place; you must rank high enough relative to available vacancies.
AEIS Eligibility 2026
To register for AEIS, your child must meet all of the following criteria:
- Not a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident
- Aged between 7 and 17 years old as at 1 January of the year of admission
- Has not previously sat for AEIS or S-AEIS in the same academic year
- Parent(s) intend for the child to be based in Singapore for the school year they are applying for
- Applying for admission to Primary 2 through Secondary 4 (P1 entry uses a separate MOE procedure)
Important: Children applying for Primary 2 to Primary 5 must hold a valid Cambridge English Qualification (CEQ) at the appropriate level before they can sit the AEIS English paper. See the CEQ requirement section below.
AEIS Exam Format — What Is Tested?
AEIS tests two subjects: English Language and Mathematics. The papers are set at the level your child is applying for. The content aligns closely with the Singapore MOE syllabus for that level.
English Language Paper
The English paper tests:
- Vocabulary and grammar — multiple-choice and short-answer questions
- Reading comprehension — passages with questions testing understanding, inference, and vocabulary in context
- Writing — a composition or situational writing task (for higher levels)
- Listening comprehension — an audio-based component at some levels
Mathematics Paper
The Maths paper tests:
- Number and operations — arithmetic, fractions, decimals, percentages (primary levels) or algebra (secondary levels)
- Measurement and geometry — area, perimeter, angles, shapes
- Data handling and statistics — graphs, tables, averages
- Problem solving — multi-step word problems that test application, not just computation
A common trap: The Singapore Maths syllabus differs significantly from many international curricula — particularly in how word problems are structured and the use of the "model method." Children from international schools often score well in computation but struggle with Singapore-style problem solving without targeted preparation.
The Cambridge English Qualification (CEQ) Requirement
Since 2023, MOE has required that students applying for Primary 2 to Primary 5 hold a valid Cambridge English Qualification at the appropriate proficiency level before they may sit the AEIS English paper. This requirement does not apply to Secondary school applicants.
| Applying for Level | Required CEQ Level | Test Name | Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary 2 | A1 Movers | Cambridge YLE Movers | Required |
| Primary 3 | A2 Flyers | Cambridge YLE Flyers | Required |
| Primary 4 | A2 Key for Schools | Cambridge KET | Required |
| Primary 5 | B1 Preliminary for Schools | Cambridge PET | Required |
| Secondary 1–4 | None | — | Not Required |
Plan ahead: CEQ exams are held at specific times of year and must be booked well in advance. If your child does not yet hold the required qualification, start CEQ preparation early — ideally 4–6 months before your target AEIS sitting. Without a valid CEQ, your child cannot sit the AEIS English paper and will be disqualified from that sitting.
Not sure if your child needs a CEQ?
Book a free diagnostic assessment. We'll assess your child's current English level, advise on CEQ readiness, and build a preparation timeline for AEIS 2026.
AEIS 2026 Timeline
AEIS follows a fixed annual cycle. Here is what to expect for the September 2026 intake (which places students in Singapore schools from January 2027):
AEIS Success Rates — What the Numbers Mean
Historically, approximately 20% of AEIS applicants are offered a place in a government mainstream school. This figure varies by level and year, but the overall picture is consistent: this is a competitive exercise, not a routine enrolment process.
Several factors affect your child's chances:
- Level applied for: Some levels have more vacancies than others. Secondary levels typically have more places than Primary levels.
- Number of applicants: The total applicant pool varies each year depending on expatriate inflows to Singapore.
- Relative performance: Places are allocated to the highest-scoring applicants. A score that would have secured a place in a low-competition year may fail in a high-competition year.
- School preference: MOE allocates to schools based on both performance and available vacancies per school.
What this means practically: You cannot "just pass" AEIS. You need to score in the top tier of all applicants. For most children entering without Singapore-curriculum preparation, this requires structured, targeted preparation — not just reviewing the syllabus generally.
How to Prepare Your Child for AEIS — The Diagnostic-First Approach
Most families approaching AEIS for the first time make the same mistake: they buy practice papers and hope for the best. This generic approach wastes the limited preparation time and misses the specific gaps that cost marks.
The diagnostic-first approach works differently:
Step 1: Diagnostic Assessment (Week 1–2)
Before any preparation begins, your child takes a structured diagnostic test that maps their current level against the Singapore MOE syllabus for their target AEIS level. This reveals:
- Exactly which topics they have mastered vs. not yet covered
- The gap between their current level and the AEIS standard
- For English: specific weaknesses (e.g., comprehension vs. grammar vs. composition)
- For Maths: specific gaps (e.g., fractions, model method, problem-solving structure)
Step 2: Targeted Preparation (Weeks 3 onwards)
Lessons focus exclusively on the identified gaps — not topics your child already knows. This approach concentrates preparation time where it counts most. For AEIS preparation, this typically means:
- Singapore Maths model method — unique to the Singapore curriculum, unfamiliar to most international students
- English comprehension techniques — inference and vocabulary-in-context questions
- Composition writing frameworks — structure, vocabulary, grammar under time pressure
- Timed exam practice — managing time across the full paper format
Step 3: Tracked Progress and Adjustment (Ongoing)
Regular check-tests measure progress on each identified gap. If a topic is still weak after initial targeted practice, the approach is adjusted. By the time the exam arrives, your child has addressed every identified gap — not just worked through a generic syllabus.
How long does AEIS preparation take? We recommend a minimum of 3 months for children who are broadly at level, and 6 months for children with significant curriculum gaps (e.g., coming from a non-English-medium school or a very different Maths curriculum). Starting in April or May gives the optimal lead time before the August–September registration window.
Start with a Free Diagnostic Assessment
We'll test your child across the AEIS English and Maths syllabus, identify exactly where the gaps are, and give you a preparation roadmap — no obligation, no cost.
AEIS vs S-AEIS — Which Should Your Child Sit?
There are two AEIS sittings per year:
| Feature | AEIS (Main Intake) | S-AEIS (Supplementary) |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | August | January–February |
| Examination | September–October | February–March |
| School entry | January (following year) | April (same year) |
| Available places | More places | Fewer places |
| Best for | Most families; main pathway | Families who arrived after Sep; AEIS unsuccessful applicants |
Recommendation: Aim for the main AEIS intake. It has more places and is the primary admissions window. S-AEIS is a fallback option — available places are significantly fewer and competition is similarly intense.