As a parent sending your child to study in Singapore for the first time, do you feel lost and anxious?
Worried that you are neither an alumni member nor the child of a school teacher, do not have children attending the same primary school, and are at a disadvantage in the competition for admission?
In fact, children's access to school is not limited to a specific group of people, as long as you are careful, there is always a chance for your child to enter the primary school of their choice.
Now, let's embark on this journey together to lay a solid foundation for your child's future. New to international students?
Check it out here! We'll reveal the secrets to getting your child into a primary school in Singapore worry-free!
Singapore's school system is widely accommodating to international students, including government, international, and private schools.
Singapore Government Primary School
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Path 1: Small all the way in
For international students, the Elementary School is the only opportunity that does not require an entrance exam, but the number of places is limited. Singapore government schools will give priority to local students before considering international students. Applicants are required to register according to their child's date of birth, and can apply for kindergarten at least 3 years old and Primary 1 at 6 years old. Those who are out of age or fail to apply for the first time are required to take the AEIS test.
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途径二:参加AEIS或S-AEIS考试
In addition to the Elementary School, international students from Primary 2 to 5 are required to pass the AEIS examination for admission. Those who fail to pass the S-AEIS exam can take the S-AEIS exam. The AEIS exam only tests English and Mathematics. It is important to note that the final year of primary and secondary schools in Singapore is not allowed to take the transfer test, so Primary 6 and Secondary 4 (the four-year junior high school system in Singapore) may need to be downgraded. This strategy is designed to help students adapt to the new linguistic Xi environment, keep up with school Xi, and focus on their mental health.
Tips：
Starting in the 2023 school year, the Ministry of Education will make significant adjustments to the AEIS-Primary (AEIS-Pri) exam at the primary level. Since the establishment of AEIS-Pri, the test content covers two subjects: English and Mathematics. However, from July 2023, AEIS-PRI will no longer conduct English exams. Instead, students must take the Cambridge English Qualifying Exam (CEQ) and meet or exceed the required cut-off score. This change aims to better assess students' English proficiency and ensure that they are equipped to communicate effectively in an international educational environment.
Fee settings
International Primary School
Countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia have a large number of expatriates from multinational companies around the world, so there are also international schools in the local area to ensure the Xi of the children of expatriate families.
There are several international schools dotted throughout Singapore. These international schools are rich in variety and style, ranging from international schools such as Hwa Chong and St. Joseph, which are of local origin in Singapore, to international schools of foreign origin such as Laishi, Dulwich College and Southeast Asia United.
The IB results of Singapore International School have been ranked first in the world for many years in a row, far exceeding the global average. Tuition fees are more affordable than those in Europe and the United States, and working families can also afford them.
At the same time, the international school recruits teachers and recruits students from all over the world, and the school's nationality ratio of teachers and students is coordinated, and the international atmosphere is full, just like a "small United Nations", which can not only broaden the children's international horizons, but also facilitate multicultural integration.
In addition, the Singapore government requires that Singaporean citizens are not allowed to go to international schools in primary school unless there is a special reason, so the audience of international schools is mainly international students.
Admission Requirements
Compared to government schools, admission to international schools is simpler. Because there are many international schools in Singapore and have independent independent enrollment rights, the chances of international students successfully applying for admission are still relatively high.
Some international schools use internationally recognized general tests for entrance exams, while some international schools use self-proclaimed entrance exams, involving English, mathematics, etc., and the specific test methods need to refer to the school's official website requirements.
Of course, some international schools will require a native level of English and high admission requirements. Some schools have English support classes to help students whose first language is not English to make the transition, and they can enter mainstream classes through regular exams.
However, it should be noted that when it comes to junior high school and above, the school will have certain threshold requirements for the English proficiency of applicants, and because the number of foreigners in Singapore has increased in the past two years, the number of places in top international schools has also become difficult to apply.
If you are interested in international schools in Singapore, you can contact our consultants through the link below.
Teaching system
The three main curricula of international schools in Singapore are:
International Baccalaureate (IB)
AP (Advanced Placement)
A-Level (Commonwealth Basic Education System)
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The IB Diploma is recognized by nearly 1,000 universities around the world, and is a good springboard for students who plan to transfer to Europe and the United States.
AP
AP is the main reference standard for college admissions in the United States, and the school teaching of the AP system is in line with that of primary and secondary schools in the United States, which is suitable for children who intend to transfer and go to the United States in the future.
Private Elementary School
In Singapore, there are two well-known schools in private primary schools: Sam Yuk Primary and Secondary School and St. Francis Methodist School.
Among them, the curriculum of Sanyu Primary and Secondary School is exactly the same as that of government primary schools, aiming to provide students with educational resources comparable to those of public schools.
Singapore Sanyu Primary and Secondary School
Sanyu Adventist School
Singapore Sam Yuk Primary and Secondary School is a non-profit Christian school with a long history as a full-time school established in 1996 by the merger of Singapore Sam Yuk Secondary School (established in 1958) and Church School (established in 1908).
Singapore Sanyu Primary and Secondary School is the only autonomous school approved by the Ministry of Education of Singapore to provide both primary education, secondary education and preparatory courses. Textbooks prescribed by the Ministry of Education of Singapore are used.
Children enrolled in Sanyu Primary and Secondary Schools can participate in the PSLE Primary 6 Examination and O Level held by the Singapore Ministry of Education, just like students in Singapore government primary and secondary schools. Sanyu is also the only school other than a government primary school that can take the Primary 6 entrance examination.
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| 2024年国际学生学费 |
Primary school tuition fee is S$17,199/year (about RMB90,000/year)
Secondary school tuition fee is S$19,849/year (about RMB110,000/year)
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| Entrance exam content |
English, Mathematics, English Interview
St. Francis Methodist School, Singapore
St Francis Methodist School
Founded in 1960, St. Francis Methodist School (SFMS) has a history of more than 60 years and is one of the first seven private institutions in Singapore to be awarded the Ministry of Education's Quality Education qualification in June 2003. It currently has a primary, secondary and high school with students from more than 20 countries.
In addition to the local system in Singapore, we also offer IGCSE, IBDP and WA Certificate of Education.
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| Tuition |
Depending on the program and grade, the tuition fee for a year is between S$20,000 and S$30,000
(about RMB 100,000 to RMB 160,000)
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| Entrance exam time |
Year-round enrollment
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| Entrance exam content |
Primary 1-2 students do not need a written test, only an interview
Grade 3 and above are required to take a written test in English and Mathematics.