Everything parents need to know about phases, distance priority, balloting, and key dates
Primary 1 (P1) registration is the annual process where Singaporean children are admitted to primary schools. MOE runs this from July to August each year, using a phase-based priority system where children with siblings get first priority, followed by alumni, volunteers, and the general public.
For the 2027 intake (children born 2 Jan 2020 – 1 Jan 2021), registration takes place mid-2026. Within each phase, distance from home to school is the key tiebreaker.
| Phase | Eligibility | Balloting? |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Sibling currently in the school | Rarely |
| Phase 2A | Parent is alumni member & former student, or school staff | Common at popular schools |
| Phase 2B | Parent volunteer (≥40 hrs), church/clan member, community endorsement | Very common |
| Phase 2C | All Singapore Citizens and PRs | Almost always at popular schools |
| Phase 2C Supp. | Children not yet registered in any school | Always at popular schools |
Phases run sequentially — unfilled spots carry over. Popular schools often have few or no vacancies left by Phase 2C. In 2024, 88 out of 180 schools were oversubscribed in Phase 2C.
Within each phase, priority is given by home-to-school distance (straight line), then by citizenship (SC > PR).
Highest Priority
First pick within each phase.
Medium Priority
Considered after all within-1km placed.
Lowest Priority
Rare to get into popular schools.
When applicants exceed vacancies in a priority group (phase + distance + citizenship), MOE conducts computerized balloting — essentially a lottery.
Schools that ballot every year will likely ballot again. Check 3+ years of historical data to identify patterns — that's exactly what P1Buddy shows you.
| Phase | Expected Dates | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Early July 2026 | Online |
| Phase 2A | Mid-July 2026 | Online |
| Phase 2B | Late July 2026 | In-person |
| Phase 2C | Early August 2026 | Online |
| Phase 2C Supp. | Mid-August 2026 | In-person |
Exact dates announced by MOE in early 2026. Check MOE's website.
Start 6–12 months before registration. Visit open houses (Jan–Mar), talk to current parents.
Check eligibility for earlier phases. Parent volunteering requires 40+ hours and must apply 1–2 years in advance.
Look at 3+ years of balloting results. Some "popular" schools surprisingly have space in certain years.
List 3–5 schools. Include at least one "safe" school that historically doesn't ballot in your phase.
Use OneMap to check exact distances. Being 0.99km vs 1.01km makes a real difference.
Free tool — enter your postal code, see historical balloting data for every school near you.
Check Your Odds at P1Buddy.com →No — one school per phase. If unsuccessful, you can try another school in a later phase.
MOE will assign your child to a school with available vacancies, prioritizing schools near your home.
Schools do not accommodate change-of-school appeals after balloting. Choose carefully.
Yes — being within 1km gives significant priority. But you must update your NRIC address at least 30 days before registration.