Part 1: ADMISSIONS EXERCISE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN SINGAPORE

The entrance exam to Singapore mainstream schools, also known as public schools is not long away. This exam seems to be getting more and more difficult with the number of candidates founded increasing day by day. 

When Vietsing24h was founded 10 years ago, all primary and secondary students took the exam on the same day. This exam however has been evolved into 3 individual days one lately! In the COVID-19 situation currently, we wonder if there will be any changes this year?

Currently, while all students in Vietnam are staying home to avoid the spread of the Coronavirus, students and teachers in Singapore still go to school every day. According to the guidance from the government, they don't have to wear any masks if they do not fail ill. Students may, expectedly, still have a summer vacation in June and a winter break from November to December. Why do so many international students flock to Singapore?

1. The high-quality education

There is no other country where international students can be admitted in the local school system for excellent native students like Singapore!

Different from some developed countries around the world, such as the UK, USA, Australia, Canada or New Zealand... Singapore has a much stronger public education system than the private one due to the drastic investment of the government, not only in the economic development but also in the teacher training

Singapore's education system does not apply the mass training method but focuses on foster each student's skills. Every year, most excellent students will be chosen to move into a separate training environment. The student's performance will be compared to all of students in their grade of that school, not only in an individual class.

Especially, there are three main public secondary education streams: Express, Normal Academic (Normal A) and Normal Technical (Normal T). Instead of learning all the subjects, students can experience many series of “applied learning” programmes to bolster personal development and acquire real-world skills.

2. Integrate into indigenous peoples’ society and environment

The Singapore government restricts locals from studying at international schools as well as private ones so it's nearly for sure that your children's friends will be international students if they study at a private school or at an international one. It can be said that almost all your children's friends will be native students if they go to public schools.

3. Have more chances to succeed

With the policy of selecting talented people to serve the country, each year, Singapore government conducts 2 exams: the Admissions Exercise for International Students (AEIS) in September and the Supplementary Admissions Exercise for International Students (S-AEIS) in February for international students who wish to join the Singapore mainstream primary and secondary schools. These are extremely fierce exams with a ratio of one to ten! This is an extreme advantage for talented students! Your children can join in the local school system for excellent ones so they will have more chances to get success in their future!

Compared to the education systems in many other countries where almost all students do not need to take an entrance exam to primary and secondary schools, it can be said that this is a great benefit for excellent students to have a great learning environment as in Singapore. In fact, students who have studied at Singapore public schools are able to their jobs much easier than those from private schools. The recent survey released by the Committee for Private Education in Singapore found that 47% of private students find full-time work 6 months after graduation, compared with 78% for public university grads.

4. Lower tuition fees

The Singapore government offers preferential tuition rates for international students as the prime goal is to attract talents. They don't consider this as a source of state income like many other developed countries.

Studying abroad from primary school or secondary school is not easy, choosing the right path is extremely difficult. To study abroad and return hometown successfully, children must be really determined and be well oriented. Vietsing24h in Singapore has succeeded in choosing the right path for the students.

So when is the ideal time for children to take the entrance exam to Singapore public schools?
Read the next part at:

 Part 2: When is ideal time for students to study abroad in Singapore?

Part 3: EXCEPTIONAL DIFFERENCES IN TEACHING METHOD AND HOMESTAY SERVICE OF VIETSING24H

Publication date: 20/10/2020