Age Criteria for Admission of International Students
The Right Age
International students should ensure that they satisfy the age requirements for the levels they are seeking admission to. MOE does not recommend admission to levels where international students will be more than two years older than their classmates.
The following age ranges are for new international students seeking admission and former international students seeking re-admission into schools.
| Level | Permissible Age Range (as at 1st January of Year of Admission) |
|---|---|
| Primary 1 | 6 to 8+ |
| Primary 2 | 7 to 9+ |
| Primary 3 | 8 to 10+ |
| Primary 4 | 9 to 11+ |
| Primary 5 | 10 to 12+ |
| Primary 6 | This is a critical level where students sit for the major examinations i.e. Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) held towards the end of the year*. Schools will normally not admit new IS at this level. |
| Secondary 1 | 12 to 14+ |
| Secondary 2 | 13 to 15+ |
| Secondary 3 | 14 to 16+ |
| Secondary 4 | This is a critical level where students sit for the major examinations i.e. the GCE ‘N’ or GCE ‘O’ Level Examinations held towards the end of the year*. Schools will normally not admit new IS at this level. |
| Secondary 5 | This is a critical level where students sit for the major examinations i.e. the GCE ‘O’ Level Examination held towards the end of the year*. Schools will normally not admit new IS at this level. |
| Pre-University 1 | 16 to 18+ |
| Pre-University 2 | This is a critical level where students sit for the major examinations i.e. the GCE ‘A’ Level Examination held towards the end of the year*. Schools will normally not admit new IS at this level. |
| Pre-University 3 | This is a critical level where students sit for the major examinations i.e. the GCE ‘A’ Level Examination held towards the end of the year*. Schools will normally not admit new IS at this level. |