For many international families relocating to Singapore, the Admissions Exercise for International Students (AEIS) is the first major academic hurdle their child faces. It is a centralised entrance exam that determines whether your child will be placed in a local government school — and the preparation process can feel overwhelming without a clear map of what to study.

The good news is that the AEIS syllabus is directly tied to Singapore’s MOE curriculum, which means there is a clear and structured path to follow. Whether your child is aiming for Primary 3 or Secondary 2, this guide walks you through exactly what the AEIS covers at each level — from the specific Mathematics topics and English components to the exam format and how many questions to expect. By the end, you will have a practical, level-by-level study plan to build from.

What Is the AEIS Exam?

The Admissions Exercise for International Students (AEIS) is conducted by Singapore’s Ministry of Education (MOE) and administered by SEAB. It is open to non-Singapore Citizens and non-Permanent Residents between the ages of 7 and 16 who wish to enter mainstream government schools. The exam covers Primary 2 to Primary 5 and Secondary 1 to Secondary 3, and is typically held in September or October each year, with successful applicants beginning school in January of the following year.

It is important to note that there is no AEIS intake for Primary 1, Primary 6, or Secondary 4, as these levels coincide with the Primary 1 registration exercise, the PSLE, and the O-Level examinations respectively. Students who miss the main AEIS exercise or do not pass on their first attempt have a second opportunity through the Supplementary Admissions Exercise for International Students (S-AEIS), which is held around February or March each year.

The Golden Rule: Study the Level Before Your Target

Before diving into specific topics, it helps to understand one fundamental principle that governs the entire AEIS syllabus. According to MOE’s official guidelines, students are assessed on the content taught in the level preceding the one they are applying for. This means that if your child is applying for Secondary 3, they should be thoroughly familiar with Secondary 2 content. If they are applying for Primary 3, they should revise Primary 2 Mathematics.

This “one level back” rule applies consistently across both subjects and both school levels. It is a deliberate design choice: MOE wants to confirm that incoming international students can comfortably handle what they have supposedly already mastered before stepping into the new year. For families planning ahead, this rule is your starting point for building a focused study schedule rather than trying to cover everything at once.

AEIS Primary Level Syllabus (P2–P5)

The AEIS at the primary level underwent a significant change from 2022 onwards. Previously, students sat for both English and Mathematics papers. Today, the structure has been revised so that primary applicants prove their English ability separately through a Cambridge English Qualification (CEQ) test, and then sit only a Mathematics paper under AEIS itself. This is an important distinction that many families are still unaware of.

Primary English: CEQ Instead of a Written Paper

Since 2022, SEAB no longer offers a separate AEIS English paper for primary-level applicants. Instead, students must take the relevant Cambridge English Qualifications (CEQ) test administered by Cambridge Assessment English (CAE) and meet the required score before they can register for the AEIS Mathematics test. Think of it as a two-step process: the CEQ confirms English readiness, and the AEIS Mathematics test evaluates academic placement. Primary applicants should schedule their CEQ early, as results must be ready before the AEIS registration window opens, which is typically in July.

The specific CEQ test required depends on the level being applied for. Students aiming for lower primary entry generally sit for the A2 Key for Schools (KET), while those targeting upper primary entry typically need the B1 Preliminary for Schools (PET). If your child’s English foundation needs strengthening before attempting the CEQ, this is an area where targeted support from a qualified tuition centre can make a meaningful difference early in the preparation journey.

Primary Mathematics (P2/P3 Test)

Primary-level applicants are grouped into two Mathematics tests based on their intended entry level. Students applying for Primary 2 or Primary 3 sit the P2/P3 test, which consists of two parts: Part 1 is 29 multiple-choice questions completed in 25 minutes, and Part 2 is 17 short-answer questions completed in 40 minutes. Calculators are not permitted, and students must show their working steps clearly for all written items.

The content for this test is closely aligned with the MOE Primary Mathematics Syllabus for lower primary. Students aiming for P3 entry should be solid in P2 topics, which include:

• Whole Numbers: Numbers to 1,000; addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; two-step word problems
• Fractions: Simple fractions of shapes or sets; halves and quarters; addition and subtraction of like fractions
• Measurement: Length, mass, volume, time, and money
• Geometry: Basic 2D shapes, patterns, and simple figures
• Data Handling: Picture graphs and simple bar charts

Singapore’s mathematics curriculum uses a spiral approach, meaning concepts introduced at lower primary are revisited and deepened at higher levels. Students who are new to the Singapore curriculum should pay particular attention to multi-step word problems, which require both mathematical skill and the ability to interpret questions written in English — a dual challenge for many international students.

Primary Mathematics (P4/P5 Test)

Students applying for Primary 4 or Primary 5 sit the P4/P5 test, which is more demanding in both content and structure. Part 1 consists of 30 multiple-choice questions in 35 minutes, while Part 2 comprises 8 short-answer and 6 open-ended questions in 50 minutes. Open-ended questions require extended working and are designed to test deeper reasoning, so students must be comfortable showing their full method — not just the final answer.

Students targeting P5 entry should have a confident grasp of P4 content, including:

• Whole Numbers and Operations: Large numbers, factors and multiples, prime numbers
• Fractions and Decimals: Mixed numbers, improper fractions, comparing and ordering decimals
• Ratio and Percentage: Finding ratio, expressing one quantity as a percentage of another
• Measurement: Area and perimeter of composite figures, volume, converting units
• Geometry: Angles, perpendicular and parallel lines, properties of quadrilaterals and triangles
• Data and Statistics: Tables, line graphs, bar graphs, and pie charts (introduced at P4 under the revised 2026 syllabus)

One key skill that trips up many international students is the bar model method, widely used in Singapore Mathematics to solve complex word problems. Students unfamiliar with this visual approach often struggle even when they understand the underlying arithmetic. Building familiarity with bar modelling — and practising how to decode Singapore-style word problem phrasing — is one of the highest-value investments a student can make before sitting the AEIS.

AEIS Secondary Level Syllabus (S1–S3)

At the secondary level, the AEIS format remains unchanged and tests both English and Mathematics directly — there is no separate CEQ requirement for secondary applicants. Both subjects are assessed in a single sitting, and the content difficulty scales with the entry level being applied for. Students sit one of three secondary tests: S1, S2, or S3, with each assessing content from the level before their intended entry point.

Secondary English: Writing and Language Use

The Secondary AEIS English paper runs for 2 hours and 10 minutes and is split into two parts. Part 1 is a writing component, where students choose one topic from a set of prompts and write a composition. Part 2 is a Comprehension and Language Use section consisting of 50 compulsory multiple-choice questions. Together, these two parts assess a student’s ability to read, write, and apply the English language at a level appropriate for Singapore’s secondary curriculum.

Here is a closer look at what each part involves:

• Part 1 – Writing: For S1, 2 topics are given and the composition should be 200–300 words. For S2 and S3, 4 topics are set and the required lengths are 250–350 words and 300–400 words respectively. Narratives, descriptive, and argumentative styles may be expected.
• Part 2 – Comprehension and Language Use: This section covers comprehension based on 2 passages (15 items), comprehension cloze based on 2 passages (15 items), vocabulary (10 items), and grammar (10 items).

For students preparing for the Secondary English paper, the focus should be on building genuine reading comprehension skills — not rote memorisation. The test is designed to assess how well a student understands meaning, tone, and context in real passages. Grammar questions cover tenses, prepositions, conjunctions, and sentence structure, while vocabulary items test synonyms, antonyms, and contextual word usage. Strong and consistent reading habits, combined with regular essay writing practice, are the most effective preparation strategy for this section. Students enrolled in secondary tuition programmes that cover these areas systematically tend to make the fastest progress.

Secondary Mathematics: Algebra, Geometry, and Beyond

The Secondary AEIS Mathematics paper is widely regarded as the more challenging of the two subjects, given how advanced Singapore’s mathematics curriculum is compared to many other countries. The paper has two parts: Part 1 is 34 multiple-choice questions completed in 30 minutes, and Part 2 consists of approximately 20 short-answer and 10 to 15 open-ended questions completed in 1 hour and 45 minutes. Calculators are not permitted, and students must show full working steps for all written questions — a rule that catches many unprepared students off guard.

The topics tested depend on the entry level, since students are always assessed on content from the level before they are applying to join. Here is a broad topic guide by entry level:

For S1 Entry (Study: Primary 6 and early Secondary content):

• Ratios, rates, and percentages
• Algebra basics: forming and simplifying expressions
• Area and volume of 2D and 3D figures
• Bar and line graphs; averages
• Basic problem-solving involving speed, distance, and time

For S2 Entry (Study: Secondary 1 content):

• Linear graphs and functions
• Solving simultaneous equations
• Pythagoras’ theorem and its applications
• Circle properties and angle calculations
• Basic probability and statistics

For S3 Entry (Study: Secondary 2 content):

• Algebraic manipulation and factorisation
• Similarity, congruence, and geometric proofs
• Trigonometry basics (sine, cosine, tangent)
• Cumulative data skills and statistical interpretation
• Multi-step problem-solving combining algebra and geometry

A consistent theme across all secondary levels is that the AEIS Mathematics paper rewards those who can apply their knowledge rather than simply recall it. Questions are designed to require logical reasoning and often involve multi-step problems where students must combine two or more concepts. This means drilling formulas in isolation is not enough — practising with structured mock papers and full working methods is essential.

Exam Format at a Glance

Understanding the structure of each paper helps students plan their time in the exam hall. Here is a quick reference summary of what to expect:

• AEIS Primary P2/P3 Maths: Part 1 — 29 MCQ (25 min); Part 2 — 17 short-answer questions (40 min). No calculators.
• AEIS Primary P4/P5 Maths: Part 1 — 30 MCQ (35 min); Part 2 — 8 short-answer + 6 open-ended questions (50 min). No calculators.
• AEIS Secondary English: Part 1 — Composition (level-based word count); Part 2 — 50 MCQ covering comprehension, cloze, vocabulary, and grammar. Total time: 2 hours 10 minutes.
• AEIS Secondary Maths: Part 1 — 34 MCQ (30 min); Part 2 — 20 short-answer + 10 to 15 open-ended questions (1 hour 45 min). No calculators.

One practical note: for all multiple-choice sections, students shade their answers on an Optical Answer Sheet (OAS), which requires a 2B pencil. Students should bring this along on exam day, along with a copy of their passport bio-data page and their entry proof issued by SEAB.

How to Prepare Effectively for the AEIS

With the syllabus roadmap in hand, the next question is how to prepare strategically. Experts consistently recommend starting at least 6 to 12 months ahead of the exam to allow enough time to build genuine conceptual understanding rather than cramming. Here are the key preparation principles that make the biggest difference:

• Map the prior-level syllabus first. Use the official MOE Primary Mathematics Syllabus or O-Level syllabus as your anchor. Create a checklist of topics from the level before your child’s target entry and work through them systematically.
• Master the bar model method for Maths. Singapore’s bar model (or model drawing) approach is central to solving word problems at the primary level. International students who invest time learning this visual problem-solving technique typically see significant score improvements.
• Practise under timed conditions. Both English and Maths papers are time-pressured. Regularly completing full practice sets under realistic exam conditions builds both speed and confidence.
• Show all working in Maths. Marks are awarded for method, not just the final answer. A student who shows clear steps but makes a minor arithmetic error can still earn partial marks. Students who only write the answer can score zero on multi-mark questions.
• Read widely to build English comprehension. Comprehension passages in the AEIS test meaning, tone, and inference — not just surface-level understanding. Regular reading of varied English texts builds the analytical reading skills required.
• Schedule CEQ early for primary applicants. The CEQ results must be ready before the AEIS registration window opens in July. Missing this deadline means waiting for another cycle.

Many families also choose to supplement self-study with structured tuition, particularly for students who are new to the Singapore curriculum. A tuition centre familiar with the MOE syllabus and AEIS format can help identify knowledge gaps quickly and provide targeted practice in the areas that matter most. At EduFirst Learning Centre, our Primary Tuition and Secondary Tuition programmes are designed around small class sizes of 4 to 8 students, ensuring that each child receives personalised attention and coaching that a large class simply cannot provide. For families based outside Singapore or those who prefer the flexibility of remote learning, our E-Lessons offer the same quality instruction online.

Final Thoughts

The AEIS is a well-structured examination, and understanding its syllabus level by level removes a great deal of the uncertainty that families feel when starting to prepare. The core principle — revise the level before your target — gives you an immediate, actionable focus. From there, consistent practice, familiarity with Singapore’s curriculum methods, and confident exam technique will carry your child through.

Whether your child is aiming for a primary or secondary level placement, starting early and studying the right content for their specific level is the most important thing you can do. Use this guide as your syllabus checklist, invest in quality practice materials, and do not hesitate to seek expert support where needed. With the right preparation, the AEIS is very much a surmountable challenge.