How to check primary-school distance before buying

A new-launch condo's “near a popular school” claim should be checked against the exact address and the child's actual Primary 1 registration year. Walking time, a developer map and a straight line from a sales brochure do not establish the official home-school distance category or admission. Use MOE's current process and keep future eligibility separate from today's marketing statement.

Which address does MOE use?

MOE's address-used-for-registration page, checked on 11 October 2026, says the address used for P1 registration should normally be the parents' official residential address on their NRICs. It explains conditions for using a purchased new or resale property address and says families who gain priority through a home-school distance category must be able to meet the 30-month stay requirement. The page was last updated on 30 September 2026 and specifically encourages parents to check the confirmed category in the year of the registration exercise. A buyer should not assume an uncompleted condo can be used simply because an agent points to it on a map.

MOE's distance-priority page explains the citizenship and distance order when a school has more applicants than vacancies. It also says the P1 framework will change starting with the 2027 registration exercise for children starting P1 in 2028. This is a reason to date a current answer, not to predict how a child's later application will be decided. MOE's school-choice guide also asks families to consider a child's interests, commute, school culture and support needs, not distance alone.

How do you test a brochure claim?

Write the exact project address and, when available, the block or building outline, the school and the child's likely P1 exercise year. Use MOE's official distance checker or its OneMap School Query route for the current category, then record the date and any “indicative” wording. MOE says the home-school distance is measured from the school boundary to the building outline of the official residential address and can change when plans or boundaries change. A marketing phrase such as “within 1km” should be treated as a representation until checked for the exact official address and year.

For an illustrative family buying an uncompleted unit in 2026 with a child expected to enter P1 in 2029, a current map can help identify a question, but it cannot guarantee the address will qualify in a later exercise or that the family can meet the stay condition. The family should ask the developer about the contractual completion stage, check MOE's rules when the relevant exercise approaches and consider a school plan that does not depend on one future distance category. This is a fictional family, not a project's eligibility finding.

What should go in the purchase file?

Keep the developer's written claim, the exact URL and date of the official check, the school and exercise year, the expected possession date from the contract, and unanswered questions. If a sales statement differs from the official result, ask for the source and do not pay a booking fee on the assumption that it will later resolve in your favour. URA's home-buyer guide tells buyers to review mandatory project information and the contract before committing. School eligibility is a family decision that may outlast a marketing campaign.

Use the new-launch research file to retain dated evidence, the home research brief to balance school and other needs, and research guides for related checks. You may send NewLaunchGuru an editorial question about a school-distance claim; we do not determine MOE eligibility or promise a property or agent referral.

Common questions