Primary 2/3 Mathematics
Part 1: 29 multiple-choice questions in 25 minutes. Part 2: 17 short-answer questions in 40 minutes. Calculators are not allowed. For short-answer questions, the method and final answer must be shown clearly.
阅读中文版本中文阅读 / 中文版
International student admissions · 家长实用指南
AEIS Singapore 2026 Guide: Dates, Eligibility, CEQ & Test Format
A clear, fact-checked guide for families preparing for Singapore’s Admissions Exercise for International Students (AEIS). Use it to understand the route, plan preparation and avoid confusing AEIS with S-AEIS.
Last reviewed: 7 August 2026 · Always check MOE and SEAB for the latest application instructions.
2026 status: Applications for the 2026 AEIS have closed. MOE lists the 2026 AEIS tests in Singapore from Tuesday, 1 September to Thursday, 3 September 2026. The guide below remains useful for families preparing for a future cycle, but dates and requirements must be rechecked each year.
What is AEIS?
AEIS is the admissions exercise for international students seeking entry to Singapore mainstream primary or secondary schools in the following academic year. It is not a school ranking exercise and passing a test does not guarantee a place.
For successful applicants, placement depends on test performance, available vacancies and, where possible, the declared residential area. Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents should follow the appropriate local admission route instead.
| Exercise | Usual timing | Levels covered | Typical start if successful |
|---|---|---|---|
| AEIS | Application usually starts in July; tests usually take place in September. | Primary 2–5; Secondary 1–3 | January of the following academic year |
| S-AEIS | Application usually starts in January; tests usually take place in late February or early March. | Primary 2–4; Secondary 1–2 | April or May of the same academic year |
These are the current MOE descriptions, not a promise that every future cycle will use identical dates.
AEIS 2026 timeline
| Stage | 2026 information | Parent action |
|---|---|---|
| Application | Closed. MOE opened the 2026 AEIS application period in July 2026. | For the next cycle, monitor MOE early and prepare documents before registration opens. |
| AEIS tests | 1–3 September 2026, in Singapore. | Check the child’s entry proof for the assigned venue and reporting time. |
| Outcome | Released through the official admissions process after the tests. | Do not treat a test score as a guaranteed school offer. |
Check MOE’s AEIS page before relying on any date, fee or document requirement.
Primary CEQ requirement: what parents need to know
Primary AEIS applicants must first meet the relevant Cambridge English Qualifications (CEQ) requirement before submitting an AEIS Primary Mathematics application. The relevant qualification and minimum Cambridge English Scale score depend on the child’s age and intended level.
Important: Do not copy a KET/PET score from an old blog or tuition brochure. Use MOE’s current age-and-test eligibility checker for the exact qualification, score and result-validity requirement for your child. Requirements can change between cycles.
- Check the child’s age against the intended admission year.
- Use MOE’s eligibility checker to identify the required CEQ level and minimum score.
- Book the CEQ early enough for the Statement of Results to be available during AEIS registration.
- Submit the CEQ Statement of Results as instructed. SEAB’s 2026 application guidance says primary applicants submit the relevant statement of results; the certificate itself is not required.
Open the official MOE eligibility criteria and checker · Read SEAB application procedures
AEIS test formats parents should prepare for
Primary 4/5 Mathematics
Part 1: 30 multiple-choice questions in 35 minutes. Part 2: 8 short-answer and 6 open-ended questions in 50 minutes. Calculators are not allowed, and working must be shown.
Secondary English
The 2-hour-10-minute paper has writing, then comprehension and language use. The writing length is 200–300 words for Secondary 1, 250–350 for Secondary 2 and 300–400 for Secondary 3.
Secondary Mathematics
Part 1 has 34 multiple-choice questions in 30 minutes. Part 2 has 20 short-answer questions and 10–15 open-ended questions in 1 hour 45 minutes. Calculators are not allowed.
Secondary English also includes 50 compulsory multiple-choice questions: 15 comprehension items, 15 comprehension-cloze items, 10 vocabulary items and 10 grammar items. These numbers are from SEAB’s current test-details page.
What to practise: a realistic preparation strategy
| Phase | Focus | What a parent can check |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1–2 | Diagnostic and syllabus mapping | Can the child read Singapore question wording and identify the required operation or evidence? |
| Weeks 3–6 | Core Mathematics and English gaps | Does the child improve after correcting mistakes, rather than only completing more questions? |
| Weeks 7–9 | Timed sections | Can the child allocate time, shade answers carefully and leave enough time to check? |
| Final week | Light consolidation and logistics | Entry proof, passport copy, pencils, venue, sleep and travel plan are ready. |
Primary Mathematics
Build fluency with fractions, ratio, percentage, measurement, geometry and multi-step word problems. Practise explaining a method in a clean sequence: identify the known information, represent the relationships, calculate and state the answer with units.
Secondary English
Alternate composition planning with short timed writing. Train comprehension by requiring evidence from the passage, and review vocabulary and grammar errors in a personal correction log.
The AEIS tests are aligned to topics taught in Singapore mainstream schools at the level preceding the one applied for. Use the MOE primary syllabus and relevant secondary syllabus as the content reference.
AEIS questions parents often ask
Is AEIS the same as S-AEIS?
No. AEIS is normally for entry in the following academic year and covers Primary 2–5 and Secondary 1–3. S-AEIS is a supplementary exercise for same-year admission and covers Primary 2–4 and Secondary 1–2.
Can a child apply for Primary AEIS without CEQ?
Primary applicants need the relevant CEQ result before submitting the AEIS Primary Mathematics application. The exact qualification and score should be checked using MOE’s current eligibility checker.
Are calculators allowed in AEIS Mathematics?
No. SEAB states that calculators are not allowed for the primary and secondary AEIS Mathematics tests.
Does passing AEIS guarantee a school place?
No. MOE states that admission is not guaranteed. Placement depends on the child’s performance and available vacancies, with residential area considered where possible.
Are official AEIS past-year papers available?
Parents should not assume that commercial “past papers” are official. Use the official test format and syllabus as the reference, and label original practice questions honestly.
Official sources
Practise the skills behind the test
Once your child knows the target level, use timed Mathematics and English practice to identify gaps, then review each mistake carefully.
Try free worked practice