Primary and secondary education in Singapore adopts the Commonwealth education system and focuses on traditional exam-oriented education, so it enjoys a high reputation in the field of basic education in Asia. These schools are managed by Singapore's Ministry of Education (MOE) and are widely referred to as public schools. Singapore's education system, while mature and efficient, is often confusing due to its complexity.

In Singapore, students in government primary and secondary schools can gain admission to top government secondary schools through the Primary Six Certificate Examination. In addition, they can be admitted to higher education institutions such as junior colleges and polytechnics through the O-level examination. Therefore, it is often said that entering a government school is equivalent to taking the first step to the door of a famous school. This unique education system benefits students in Singapore and provides a solid foundation for future career development.

The Primary Six Certificate Examination (PSLE) plays a crucial role in Singapore's education system. Hosted by Singapore's Ministry of Education, the national unified examination not only assesses the ability of Primary six students to progress to the secondary school curriculum, but is also responsible for assigning students to secondary schools that are suitable for them.

Since last year, the marking of the Singapore Primary Six Examination has undergone significant changes. It now uses an "eight-level" scoring rating system, rather than relying on T-value scores calculated against the same class of candidates. The total score of each subject level is similar to the score calculation method used in the O-level examination. The change aims to gain a more comprehensive understanding of students' academic performance and better help them find the right path for their future study career.

The O-level examination is another important component of Singapore's education system. The exam is held annually, starting in July and continuing until the end of November. Its examination results are widely recognised and accepted, not only within Singapore, but also in other countries of the Commonwealth. This provides students with more international development opportunities and enables them to more confidently demonstrate their academic strength and potential in the international arena.

Apart from the Primary Six Certificate Examination (PSLE) and O-level examinations, secondary school students in Singapore have another option, which is to enroll in junior colleges for senior secondary courses through the Direct Admission (DSA) enrolment scheme. This program allows students to gain admission to secondary school by demonstrating strengths, skills or special achievements in the fourth or fifth year of secondary school, without relying solely on PSLE or O-level test results. This provides students with more flexible avenues, giving them the opportunity to showcase their talents in the areas where they excel and enter a learning environment that is more suited to them.

In the field of education in Singapore, the J-PACT examination is an academic proficiency test organized by the Singapore Association of Principals. The exam consists of two subjects, English and mathematics. The type and difficulty of the questions are comparable to those of the local O-level examinations in Singapore, providing students who take the examinations with an opportunity to fully assess their academic abilities.

The J-PACT exam is usually held between October and November each year, with one exam scheduled each week so that candidates can choose their own time according to their own circumstances. The test not only helps students remain academically competitive, but also provides schools with an assessment tool that provides a comprehensive picture of a student's academic level, allowing them to better develop lesson plans and provide personalized learning support.

The DSA-JC program (Direct School Admission to Junior Colleges) allows students to apply to junior colleges (JC) by demonstrating strengths or achievements in addition to their initial O-level grades. This program provides students with a channel that does not depend on test scores, allowing them to compete for admission to junior colleges based on their academic and non-academic excellence.

At the same time, the DSA-JC program also gives students the right to choose academic and non-academic programs that suit their development at the junior College. This provides students with more opportunities to develop diverse interests, allowing them to showcase their strengths and talents outside of academia.

The prerequisite for applying for the DSA-JC program is usually that students must have excellent academic records (including mathematics, science, Chinese and English) or have outstanding talent in other fields, such as sports, calligraphy and music. Application requirements may vary from school to school, so students should carefully understand the requirements and standards of each school before applying and be fully prepared. Through the DSA-JC program, students can fully show their potential and abilities, and find a learning environment and development path suitable for their own development.

In the process of applying for a Singapore Government primary school, the most direct way is to enter the school without passing the examination. However, because the policy has been widely welcomed, there have been large enrollments.

Primary school admission is usually given priority to Singapore students, and the application is somewhat "hereditary", that is, if the student has an older brother or sister studying at the school, or if the parent is a former student of the school and is a member of the alumni association, these students will be given priority.

For international students, to apply, they first need to meet the age requirements, and then they need to conduct a lottery, so whether they succeed in the final process is a matter of luck.

With the exception of Primary 1, international students wishing to enroll in government primary and secondary schools in Singapore must pass the AEIS examination organised by the Ministry of Education. The passing rate of the exam has fluctuated around 20% over the years, making it more difficult to get in.

It is important to note that the number of places set aside for foreign students at each school usually does not exceed 10% of the overall enrollment. Therefore, relatively speaking, the success rate of entering Singapore government primary and secondary schools through the AEIS examination is higher than that of primary and secondary schools. In addition, the AEIS exam is divided into English and math parts, and after passing the exam, students are required to determine whether they can be assigned to a school based on the availability of vacant places in their area. These processes make it more challenging for international students to apply for admission to government primary and secondary schools in Singapore.