1) Myth of IPSLE

IPSLE does not guarantee admission into the schools in Singapore. The school principal has the authority to admit students based on their criteria acceptable to the Ministry of Education such as school entrance exams.

“The Singapore international Primary School Examination (iPSLE) is the international version of Singapore’s Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), an examination offered to all pupils at the end of Primary Education. The iPSLE was introduced in 2005 with the aims of providing certification and benchmarking for overseas schools, including those that have adopted the Singapore primary school curriculum. It provides a recognised certification of the knowledge and achievement that pupils have attained.”

Anglo works with St. Gabriel’s college ,  Bangkok, the largest IPSLE centre for students who still insist to have an IPSLE certificate.

…credited to Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board

2) International Student Admissions

MOE conducts a centralised admissions exercise—Admissions Exercise for International Students (AEIS)—around Sep/Oct annually for new international students who wish to join our mainstream public primary and secondary schools in January of the following year.

AEIS involves a centralised test on English and Mathematics, and applicants who pass the test will be offered a place in a suitable school. The exercise is for new international students seeking admission into Primary 2–5 and Secondary 1–3. Primary 6 and Secondary 4 are critical levels where students sit for major examinations held towards the end of the year. Parents should be mindful that it would not be in the students’ interest to be admitted to these critical levels of Primary 6 and Secondary 4.

Details for the 2010 AEIS centralised tests for admissions in 2011 are now available on the AEIS webpage.

…credited to Ministry of Education Singapore

3) Singaporeans Returning Home

In recognition of the different needs of the returning Singaporeans, MOE has provided several options as outlined below for school admission so that Returning Singaporeans can choose one or more options based on their individual needs.

For example, returning Singaporeans who has a strong preference for a particular school may choose to approach the school directly to seek admission. Returning Singaporeans can also apply to MOE for assistance to be placed into a school, indicating his / her schools of choice. Alternatively, returning Singaporeans may apply to participate in the special school placement exercises, such as the “School Placement Exercise for Returning Singaporeans” (SPERS) or the “Direct School Admission Exercise” (DSA), to seek admission.

…credited to Ministry of Education Singapore

4) Overview

4.1: Planning For Long Term Study?… click here for more information

4.2: Summary of Returning Singaporean

The Pupil Placement Section (PPS) of the Ministry of Education (MOE) advises Singaporean expatriates on matters relating to their children’s education and assists them in the placement of their children in Singapore schools upon their return. As a returning Singaporean expatriate you could also apply directly to the principal of the school to which you wish your children to be admitted.

Rejoining your Child’s Former School

Students who are planning to go overseas but wish to rejoin their former schools upon their return to Singapore can apply for Leave of Absence.

The Leave of Absence scheme was introduced in 1999 assist in the re-entry of students who accompany their parents in their overseas postings. It is open to children who are Singapore citizens or Permanent Residents. Your child/ children would be allowed to apply for Leave of Absence from a primary school until the end of Primary 6, from a secondary school till the end of Secondary 4 or 5 (whichever is applicable) or a pre-university institution till the end of JC 2 or Pre-U 3 (whichever is applicable).

Once the student is granted the Leave of Absence, a placement in the school would be made available to him when he returns, provided that the Leave of Absence is renewed and payment is made yearly.

Admission / Re-admission to Primary Schools

There are two categories, as follows:

• Singaporean expatriates with children who are due to enter Primary 1 should register their child/ children while overseas during the Primary 1 Registration Exercise opened July/August every year.
• Once the child/ children has been allocated a place, parents may apply for Leave of Absence for their child if they are not due to return when school starts in the new academic year.
• Parents can obtain such forms at the Singapore embassies, High Commissions, Singapore clubs overseas and MOE website.

• Such admission will be subjected to the provision of documentary proof that the student has completed the previous level, and subjected to the student meeting the age criteria for that level.
• Students seeking admission to a pre-university course should produce their GCE ‘O’ Level results transcripts or certificate or its equivalent for assessment of eligibility.Admission is also dependent on the availability of vacancy in the school or the preferred junior college and MOE does not guarantee students in the placement of their preferred schools and institutions.

• Returning Singapore citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents who would like to apply for the admission to any of the top 30 secondary schools and junior colleges will have to sit for a Centralised Qualifying Test (CQT). A list of the schools with this requirement can be found in the MOE website.

• To qualify it also depends on the student’s performance in the CQT and the availability of placement in the school or junior college. On top of that, the school or junior college may want the applicant to sit for its own assessment tests in English, Mathematics and the Mother Tongue Language. The tests are to ascertain the student’s eligibility for the level, stream and class to which the student is requesting for entry.

• Successful applicants will receive a Letter of Eligibility which then permit them to look for vacancies in the preferred top schools. Unsuccessful applicants could approach schools or junior colleges that are not in the top 30 list. This Letter of Eligibility will be sent out within 7 days after the student has sat for the test.

• All applications for the test have to reach MOE at least 7 days in advance of the preferred test date. The application form can be found at its website. Applicants can complete the form and test fee and then have them submitted – with a copy of the student’s Birth Certificate or not, Identity Card, Entry Permit/Re-entry Permit to the MOE Customer Service Centre.

• Students seeking entry to schools or junior colleges that are not in the top 30 list need not sit for CQT. They can approach these schools.

• Otherwise, for admission to a secondary school, the parent or guardian could apply through PPS for school placement if they require any assistance.

1 North Buona Vista Drive, Singapore 138675

Tel : (65) 6872 2220

Fax : (65) 6775 4487, (65) 6776 8616

Email : moe_returnhome@moe.gov.sg

Website: www.moe.edu.sg