Primary and Secondary Schools in Singapore

Primary and secondary education in Singapore is run by the Ministry of Education (MOE). Its mainstream schools (government, government-aided and independent schools) are open to international students, alongside private and foreign system schools that teach other countries' curricula. In MOE schools, English is the language of classroom instruction, and every student also learns a Mother Tongue Language (Chinese, Malay or Tamil) as a second language.

School attendance is compulsory for Singapore citizens: all citizens born after 1 January 1996 must attend primary school for 6 years. For foreign families, the choice is usually between an MOE school, entered through a central admissions test, and a private or foreign system school with its own admission process.

How it works

• Primary school: 6 years, from Primary 1 to Primary 6, with subjects such as languages, mathematics, science, art, music and social studies
• Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE): taken at the end of Primary 6; most students are then placed in a secondary school through the Secondary 1 posting, after PSLE scores are released
• Secondary school: from the 2024 Secondary 1 cohort, Full Subject-Based Banding (Full SBB) lets students take each subject at an appropriate level instead of following a single course
• Post-secondary: junior colleges, Millennia Institute, polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE)

In primary school, subject-based banding already lets pupils combine subjects at standard and foundation levels. Full SBB was piloted in 28 secondary schools in 2020. According to MOE, 2027 is the year in which the first cohort sits a common national examination and receives a common national certification. The school year starts in January.

Two schools in our directory show the range. Damai Secondary School is an MOE secondary school that was formed in 2018 from a merger of two schools. Insworld Institute is a private institution in Singapore.

Admission

International students apply to MOE primary and secondary schools through the Admissions Exercise for International Students (AEIS) or the S-AEIS. The AEIS is for entry to Primary 2 to 5 and Secondary 1 to 3 in the following year. It typically starts in July, and successful applicants start school in January. All tests are held in Singapore. For admission in 2027, the AEIS tests took place from 1 to 3 September 2026; the S-AEIS application period opens in early January 2027, with tests planned for late February to early March 2027.

• Age: a child should not be more than 2 years older than the appropriate age for the level; new students are generally not admitted to Primary 6, Secondary 4 or Secondary 5
• Tests: AEIS-Primary covers mathematics, and primary applicants first need a minimum score in a Cambridge English Qualifications test; AEIS-Secondary covers English and mathematics, at the level below the one applied for
• Placement: admission is not guaranteed and depends on test results, vacancies and, where possible, the declared home area
• Student's Pass: needed unless the child holds a valid Dependant's Pass, Long-Term Visit Pass or Immigration Exemption Order
• Vaccination: children aged 12 or under who were not born in Singapore must meet diphtheria and measles vaccination requirements before applying for the pass
• Caregiver: a Singapore citizen or permanent resident over 21, or a parent living in Singapore

International students admitted to an MOE primary school must complete the PSLE to continue to an MOE secondary school. Exemption from the Mother Tongue Language can be requested from the principal after admission and is decided case by case.

Foreign system schools and privately funded schools run their own admissions. To enrol a foreign student who needs a Student's Pass, a foreign system school registered with the Skills and Workforce Development Agency (SWDA) must hold EduTrust certification.

Costs and funding

MOE schools charge monthly fees made up of school fees and miscellaneous fees. The amount depends on the student's nationality (Singapore citizen, permanent resident, ASEAN or other international student) and on the type of school. Fees for international students include GST. Independent schools and specialised schools set their own fees, as do private and foreign system schools. MOE's online fees checker gives the current amount for each case. The Student's Pass application has a non-refundable processing fee of S$45, according to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).

How to choose

• Curriculum: the Singapore national curriculum and PSLE, or a foreign curriculum at a foreign system school
• Language: English in MOE schools, plus a compulsory Mother Tongue Language
• Timing: AEIS applications open around July for entry the following January; the S-AEIS runs early in the year
• Age and level: check which level the child can enter and that it is not a level closed to new students
• Fees: compare MOE fees for the child's nationality with the fees of private schools
• Paperwork: Student's Pass, vaccination records and a caregiver in Singapore

Frequently asked questions

Can international students attend a public school in Singapore?

Yes. International students can seek admission to MOE primary and secondary schools, junior colleges and Millennia Institute. Entry to primary and secondary schools is through the AEIS or S-AEIS tests, held in Singapore.

What language are lessons taught in?

English is the language of instruction in MOE mainstream schools. Every student also takes a Mother Tongue Language; foreign students can ask the principal for an exemption after admission.

When does the school year start in Singapore?

In January. Students admitted through the AEIS, which typically starts in July, begin school in January of the following year.

Does my child need a Student's Pass?

Yes, unless the child already holds a valid Dependant's Pass, Long-Term Visit Pass or Immigration Exemption Order. The application is made online to ICA and costs S$45.