What are AEIS and S-AEIS? What if my child doesn't pass?
AEIS (held each September–October, for entry into Primary 2–5 and Secondary 1–3) and S-AEIS (held early the following year, for entry into Primary 2–4 and Secondary 1–2) are two yearly exam windows for international students seeking a place at a Singapore government school. Passing the exam does not guarantee a place — MOE states clearly that whether a child is offered a place still depends on available vacancies and the residential area declared.
Context
These exams sit alongside the P1 route above as an alternative entry path, run once or twice a year rather than during the main P1 registration window.
What this means for your family
What this means for your family: treating AEIS/S-AEIS as a single make-or-break exam is not quite accurate. It is closer to two yearly attempt windows, constrained by vacancies. At primary level, there are two exam stages — an English proficiency test must be passed first before a child sits the mathematics paper.
Steps you can take now
- Check whether your child's current grade falls within AEIS (Primary 2–5 / Secondary 1–3) or S-AEIS (Primary 2–4 / Secondary 1–2) eligibility.
- Confirm that year's exam months in advance (AEIS is usually September–October, S-AEIS usually early the following year) — do not assume last year's exact dates.
- At primary level, prepare for the English test first; only after passing does your child sit the mathematics paper. Check the syllabus differences between the two ahead of time.
- Treat AEIS/S-AEIS as one route among several, keeping the international student P1 indication of interest and other options open rather than relying on a single path.
How to know you’re done
You know whether your child sits AEIS or S-AEIS, that year's exam month range, and you have compared this route against at least one alternative.
Sources and check dates
- SRC-MOE-AEIS-2027 · checked 2026-07-24
- SRC-MOE-SAEIS-2026 · checked 2026-07-24