Every year, children who are turning six sit for the Madrasah Entrance Test to see if they qualify for a place in a full‑time madrasah. For many first‑time parents, the process can feel unfamiliar, but the purpose of the test is straightforward: madrasahs want to understand whether a child is ready for the dual curriculum academic system and language demands of primary school. The demand usually overweighs the number of seats available, every year. To date, there are about 4 full time madrasah in Singapore for primary level. Only 2 out of the 4 schools accept boys. The other 2 are all-girls school.
The test usually covers four main subjects — English, Mathematics, Malay, and Arabic. Children are assessed on early literacy, numeracy, and their ability to recognise letters, read simple words, and understand basic vocabulary. Some madrasahs also include oral components in English, Malay, and Arabic, where children may be asked simple questions or short conversations. Islamic knowledge is part of the assessment too, such as reciting short surahs and basic daily duas.
The timeline typically begins with registration in Feb or Mar and test being in Apr of May (subject to changes), and results released a few months later. Because the test includes multiple languages and foundational skills, many families start preparing gradually from as early as three years old. This early exposure helps children build confidence and familiarity, making the experience smoother when they finally sit for the test at age six.
Safaa Safiyyah offers a range of age‑appropriate resources, including Arabic books for kids, to support parents in this preparation journey and make early learning more enjoyable at home. Click here to browse. And be sure to follow us for more updates on this journey as we are currently in the hot season for MET 2026.