
A Complete Guide for International Students
The AEIS Exam 2025, short for the Admissions Exercise for International Students, is an important gateway for foreign students who wish to enroll in Singapore’s mainstream primary and secondary schools. One of the most critical sections of this exam is the English Composition Writing paper. This component evaluates a student’s ability to express ideas clearly and logically in written English, which is essential for academic success in Singapore’s English-medium education system.

Overview of the Composition Writing Component
In the AEIS Exam 2025, students taking the English test at the primary or secondary level will be required to write a composition. For example, Secondary 2 candidates must write a composition between 250 to 350 words, choosing one out of four given topics. These topics often revolve around personal experiences, descriptive scenes, reflective essays, or narrative stories. Primary-level students are usually given visual or situational prompts to guide their writing.
This section of the AEIS Exam 2025 measures various aspects of writing proficiency, including grammar, vocabulary, sentence structure, paragraphing, idea development, coherence, and creativity. The ability to communicate effectively and organize ideas logically is essential to scoring well.
Types of Composition Topics
The AEIS Exam 2025 may present candidates with a variety of composition types. These typically include:
- Narrative Writing – Writing a story or recounting an experience (e.g., “The Most Memorable Day of My Life”).
- Descriptive Writing – Painting a picture using words (e.g., “Describe your favourite place in your hometown”).
- Reflective Writing – Sharing thoughts on a topic (e.g., “What makes a good friend?”).
- Situational Writing – Writing based on a given scenario or event, possibly including dialogues or letters.
Familiarity with these genres helps students prepare and plan their compositions more effectively.
Key Skills to Demonstrate
To excel in the English Composition section of the AEIS Exam 2025, students must showcase a range of language and writing skills:
- Content Relevance: Staying on topic and developing the composition around the chosen theme or prompt.
- Organization: Structuring the composition with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
- Language Use: Employing accurate grammar, varied sentence structures, and appropriate vocabulary.
- Creativity: Demonstrating originality and flair in expressing ideas.
- Coherence and Flow: Ensuring logical transitions between paragraphs and maintaining a consistent tone.
A composition that checks all these boxes is more likely to stand out to examiners.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Many students make avoidable mistakes in the composition writing section of the AEIS Exam 2025. These include:
- Off-topic writing: Failing to understand the prompt properly can lead to irrelevant content.
- Poor grammar: Frequent errors in tenses, punctuation, or sentence structure reduce the clarity and quality of writing.
- Repetition: Using the same words or phrases repeatedly, which makes writing dull and less engaging.
- Lack of planning: Jumping straight into writing without organizing ideas often leads to disjointed or incomplete compositions.
- Incomplete conclusions: Ending abruptly without summarizing or concluding the piece weakens its impact.
By being aware of these pitfalls, students can refine their approach and improve performance.
Sample Composition Prompt and Outline
Prompt: “Write about a time you helped someone in need.”
Outline:
- Introduction:
- Briefly introduce the context (when and where it happened).
- Mention who needed help.
- Body:
- Describe the situation and the challenges the person was facing.
- Explain how you helped and what actions you took.
- Include your feelings and thoughts during the event.
- Conclusion:
- Reflect on the outcome and what you learned from the experience.
- Express how the experience changed you or how it made you feel.
Using a structured outline ensures clarity and logical progression in writing.
Tips to Prepare for AEIS Composition Writing
- Read Regularly: Reading storybooks, articles, and essays helps improve vocabulary and exposes students to good writing styles.
- Practice Often: Writing compositions weekly helps build confidence and allows students to experiment with different topics and structures.
- Seek Feedback: Getting teachers or tutors to review written pieces provides valuable insights into areas for improvement.
- Learn from Samples: Analyzing high-scoring compositions helps students understand what works and how to apply similar strategies.
- Improve Grammar and Vocabulary: Strong language skills enhance clarity and help express ideas more precisely.
- Use a Composition Template: Following a consistent format makes it easier to organize thoughts and ensure completeness.
Time Management During the Exam
In the AEIS Exam 2025, students are typically given a limited amount of time (e.g., 30 to 50 minutes) to complete the composition. Efficient time management is crucial:
- 5 minutes – Planning and brainstorming ideas.
- 30-35 minutes – Writing the draft.
- 5-10 minutes – Reviewing and editing for grammar, spelling, and coherence.
Practicing under timed conditions helps students get used to this pace and reduces anxiety during the actual exam.
Conclusion
English Composition Writing is more than just stringing sentences together; it is about crafting a story or argument that resonates with the reader. For students taking the AEIS Exam 2025, strong writing skills can make a significant difference in overall performance. By understanding the expectations, practicing regularly, and avoiding common mistakes, international students can approach the English composition component with confidence and skill. Preparation is the key — and with dedication, success in the AEIS Exam 2025 is entirely within reach.