What the AEIS Is and Who It Is For

The Singapore Ministry of Education opened the AEIS channel — the Admission Exercise for International Student, known as the international student admissions examination — in order to bring in outstanding talent. Passing the AEIS is the only way for an international student to enter a Singapore government primary or secondary school.

The AEIS is an important admissions route for international students entering Singapore government primary and secondary schools. It assesses a student's English and mathematics ability in order to judge whether they have the academic level needed to adapt to the Singapore education system. Because government school places are limited, the AEIS is competitive.

Children can register for the AEIS from age seven, and after passing it they can enter a government primary school. The Ministry of Education advises international students to enrol in an international school so that the child's normal schooling is not delayed.

What the Exam Covers and When It Is Held

The AEIS covers English and mathematics and is held at the end of September each year. Before 2022, both the primary and secondary stages of the AEIS included English and mathematics tests.

Students who do not pass the end-of-September AEIS can register for the S-AEIS (Supplementary Admissions Exercise for International Students) held at the end of February the following year; those who pass enter their school at the end of April that year. The S-AEIS supplementary exercise runs from February to March the following year and is intended for students who did not pass the AEIS.

Registration Conditions

Students who meet the following conditions can register for the AEIS. A student must first pass the KET or PET exam before they can register for the AEIS mathematics test.

Preparing for the AEIS

Preparation for the AEIS can point towards entering a government school, or towards preparing for an entrance examination to enter an international school. Another route is to enrol in a language school to prepare for the O-Level examination, enter a polytechnic or junior college, or use O-Level results to apply for foundation programmes at universities in countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia.

How Difficult Is Entry to a Government School?

Passing the AEIS is the only route into a Singapore government primary or secondary school for an international student, and government school places are limited, which makes the AEIS competitive. The exam itself tests English and mathematics, and the result determines whether the student is judged to have the academic level needed to adapt to the Singapore education system.

Because the S-AEIS exists as a supplementary exercise for students who did not pass the September AEIS, a student who is not successful in one sitting has a further registration window at the end of February the following year, with entry at the end of April for those who pass.

FAQ

What is the AEIS?

The AEIS is the Admission Exercise for International Student, an admissions examination opened by the Singapore Ministry of Education to bring in outstanding talent, and passing it is the only way for an international student to enter a Singapore government primary or secondary school.

What subjects does the AEIS test?

The AEIS covers English and mathematics, and it is held at the end of September each year. Before 2022, both the primary and secondary stages of the AEIS included English and mathematics tests.

What happens if my child does not pass the AEIS?

Students who do not pass the end-of-September AEIS can register for the S-AEIS, the Supplementary Admissions Exercise for International Students, held at the end of February the following year, and those who pass enter their school at the end of April that year.

Can my child register for the AEIS mathematics test directly?

No. A student must first pass the KET or PET exam before they can register for the AEIS mathematics test.

At what age can a child register for the AEIS?

Children can register for the AEIS from age seven, and after passing the AEIS they can enter a government primary school.