The Ministry of Education (MOE) school year calendar and school holidays differ from Singapore’s international schools, which usually follow an August to June academic year. MOE schools in Singapore operate on a January to November schedule, similar to schools in Australia and New Zealand.
Singapore MOE School Holidays
The Singapore MOE school year is divided into four terms. The first term starts in early January and runs until March, followed by a short break. The second term begins in late March and ends in May, leading into the mid-year holidays.
The third term starts in late June and continues until early September, while the fourth term runs from mid-September to November. Students then enjoy a long end-of-year break before the next academic year begins.
MOE Primary and Secondary School Calendar 2026
Semester 1
Term 1 – Friday, 2 January 2026 (for Primary 1 and Kindergarten 1) / Monday, 5 January 2026 (for Primary 2–6 and Kindergarten 2) to Friday, 13 March 2026
Term 2 – Monday, 23 March 2026 to Friday, 29 May 2026
Semester 2
Term 3 – Monday, 29 June 2026 to Friday, 4 September 2026
Term 4 – Monday, 14 September 2026 to Friday, 20 November 2026
(For schools used as national exam venues, Term 4 ends on Friday, 23 October 2026.)
MOE Primary and Secondary School Holidays 2026
Between Terms 1 & 2 – Saturday, 14 March to Sunday, 22 March 2026
Mid-Year Holidays (Between Semesters 1 & 2) – Saturday, 30 May to Sunday, 28 June 2026
Between Terms 3 & 4 – Saturday, 5 September to Sunday, 13 September 2026
End of School Year – Saturday, 21 November to Thursday, 31 December 2026
Scheduled School-Wide Holidays 2026
-
Youth Day: Sunday, 5 July 2026 → School holiday on Monday, 6 July 2026
-
Teachers’ Day: Friday, 4 September 2026
-
Children’s Day (Primary Schools only): Friday, 2 October 2026
MOE Primary and Secondary School Examinations
Singapore’s MOE primary and secondary students undergo regular assessments and examinations throughout the year. While the exact schedule may differ slightly between schools, here is a general outline:
Primary School Examinations
-
End-of-Year Examinations: Held around October or November, covering the full academic year.
-
Primary 6 (P6) PSLE: Students in their final year of primary school take the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) — a national exam determining placement in secondary schools.
Secondary School Examinations
-
Mid-Year Examinations: Usually held in May or June, covering Semester 1 topics.
-
End-of-Year Examinations: Typically held in October or November, covering the full year’s syllabus.
-
National Examinations (Sec 4 & 5): Students sit for the Singapore-Cambridge GCE O-Level (for Secondary 4) or GCE N-Level (for Secondary 5) examinations.
