Entry Requirements
Admission Assessments
Assessments are conducted at the school. Overseas applicants will complete the interview and exam upon arrival in Macau.
Accepted students must confirm their enrollment by paying a deposit according to the current Fee Schedule within three days.
Priority is given to siblings of currently enrolled students; however, this does not guarantee them a place.
TIS has no financial or other interest in any nursery or pre-kindergarten facility and does not have any arrangement with such facilities to provide guaranteed or priority admission for their students.
Students currently within the enrollment area (attending a school in Macau) will not be considered for enrollment for the current school year after March 1. After this date, acceptance will only be for the subsequent school year commencing in September.
Parents needing further information are encouraged to contact the Admission Team at (853) 2853 3700 or 6203 8810 (via WhatsApp or WeChat) or at admission@tis.edu.mo.
Grade | Format of Assessments | Duration |
PK to SK | A play-based group interview is conducted with one parent accompanying each child. This allows our team to assess the child's readiness and aptitude in a supportive and interactive environment. Review of school reports. | 30-40 minutes |
Grades 1-3 | Applicants will take an admission exam that tests reading, early writing, and math, as well as their ability to engage in conversation. This helps us evaluate their academic preparedness. Review of school reports for the last two years. | 1 hour |
Grades 4-6 | Part 1: Applicants will sit a screener for Reading, Language Usage, and Math, as well as an independent written piece. Review of school reports for the last two years. Part 2: A follow-up interview with additional assessment will be conducted if successful on the screener. | 2.5 hours 30 minutes |
Grades 7-11 | Part 1: A computer-based test designed to evaluate applicants' thinking skills across four key areas: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, and Spatial Reasoning, along with an independent writing task to assess their written English proficiency. Review of school reports for the last two years plus the confidential reference from the current school. Part 2: A meeting with our principal will be held for both students and parents if the applicants are successful on the screener; additional testing may be required by the school when needed. | 2.5 hours 45 minutes |
How are students selected
The International School of Macao offers a rigorous program with English as the language of instruction. TIS follows the Alberta Programs of Study and is accredited by Alberta Education, which mandates that we maintain high academic standards and achievement among our students. To uphold these standards, TIS recognizes that not all students may benefit from or succeed in our program. Therefore, we must be selective in the admission and placement of students for the benefit of both current and prospective students.
In determining a student’s admission and placement at TIS, the Principal will consider the following factors:
The student’s Admissions Test results.
The student’s past educational performance and experiences.
The potential for the student to succeed in future studies at TIS.
The grade to which the student is applying.
Students will not be accepted into a grade more than one year above or below their age-appropriate level.
Acceptance may be conditional, requiring the student to receive ELL support, After School English Tuition (ASET), or After School Maths Tuition (ASMT) for a specified period. Parents will be responsible for all associated costs for these services.
Decisions regarding admission and placement can be appealed to the Board of Directors of the School.
Students may apply a maximum of two times per school year, with a minimum of six months between applications. During this period, parents are expected to seek tutorial assistance for their child to enhance their competencies and improve the likelihood of success in admission retesting.
Admissions and Placement
To enroll in our Pre-Kindergarten, a child must be at least 3 years old by December 31st of the year of enrollment.
For junior secondary education, students must have completed and passed primary education, with an upper age limit of 18 for receiving formal junior secondary education.
To enroll in senior secondary education, students must have completed and passed junior secondary education, with an upper age limit of 21 for receiving formal senior secondary education, including vocational and technical education.
Please note that non-Macao residents must possess a stay or residence permit for over 90 days issued by the authorized entity of the Macao SAR. Holders of a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card or a Re-entry Permit can stay in Macao for a maximum of 1 year, while British passport holders can stay for a maximum of 6 months.
Placements for all other grades are based on age and/or level of educational attainment.