MOE is launching a new AI Essay Marking System called AIMS for Chinese Language in secondary schools from September 2026. It is a teacher-assist tool hosted on the Student Learning Space (SLS) that helps mark routine elements like grammar, spelling and sentence structure — and teachers still review and curate all feedback before students see it. For parents and students, this means faster, more consistent baseline feedback on writing mechanics, while teachers spend more time coaching creativity, expression and ideas.
Source: MOE press release (1 Aug 2026)
Sources: MOE press release (1 Aug 2026) ; MOE — Minister's opening address, MTLS 2026
What AIMS Is
AIMS stands for the AI Essay Marking System, announced by Education Minister Desmond Lee at the 14th Mother Tongue Languages Symposium on 1 August 2026. Its purpose is to support secondary-school Chinese Language teachers in marking essays and giving feedback more quickly. It launches on the Singapore Student Learning Space (SLS) in September 2026, for Chinese Language at secondary level.
Source: MOE — Minister's opening address, MTLS 2026
Rollout at a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | AI Essay Marking System (AIMS) |
| Subject | Chinese Language (secondary schools) |
| Levels | Secondary (MOE has not specified exact year levels publicly) |
| Start | September 2026 |
| Platform | Student Learning Space (SLS) |
| Status | Launch on SLS (not described as a limited pilot) |
| Other Mother Tongue Languages | None announced in the verified MOE materials |
Sources: MOE press release (1 Aug 2026) ; Channel NewsAsia (1 Aug 2026)
Note on completeness: MOE's public materials do not specify exact secondary year levels or whether AIMS covers school-based assessments only. This article does not state those details, and does not claim any Malay- or Tamil-language equivalent, as that was not in the verified press release.
How AIMS Works: Teacher-in-the-Loop, Not Auto-Grading
MOE is clear that AIMS is a teacher-assist tool, not an auto-grader that replaces human judgement.
What AIMS does — and does not do
- What it does: helps teachers mark routine elements — grammar, spelling and sentence structure — for both handwritten and typewritten essays, and drafts feedback faster.
- Teacher control: “Teachers remain firmly at the centre of the feedback process” and retain full authority to review, refine and curate the feedback before students see it.
- Personalisation: teachers can tune AIMS' parameters for different proficiency levels, for more targeted feedback.
- What it does not do: it does not assign final marks or replace teacher judgement on creativity, depth of expression and quality of ideas — those remain teacher-led.
Source: MOE press release (1 Aug 2026)
In short: AIMS drafts baseline feedback on mechanics; teachers curate and add higher-order comments; students receive teacher-approved feedback.
Why MOE Is Introducing AIMS
MOE's stated rationale is to reduce repetitive marking so teachers can focus on higher-order coaching. By handling routine checks, teachers can spend more time on creativity, depth of expression and quality of ideas, and give more guidance to students who need it. Because teachers review and curate all output, feedback stays contextually appropriate.
On data privacy: the verified announcement does not detail specific privacy or accuracy safeguards beyond the teacher-review requirement. AIMS runs on SLS, which is an MOE-managed platform; follow any school-level guidance on data handling.
Sources: MOE press release (1 Aug 2026) ; MOE — Minister's opening address, MTLS 2026
Where AIMS Fits in MOE's AI-in-Education Tools
AIMS is part of MOE's broader use of AI on SLS — the same platform that hosts other MOE e-pedagogy tools. It follows the pattern of AI feedback assistants MOE has introduced for other subjects, now applied to Chinese Language essay writing at secondary level. AIMS was announced alongside the wider expansion of Mother Tongue Language programmes at the same symposium.
Source: The Straits Times (1–2 Aug 2026)
What It Means for Students and Parents
For students, AIMS aims to give faster, more consistent feedback on the basics of writing (grammar, spelling, sentence structure), so they can fix routine errors and then focus on ideas and expression with teacher guidance.
For parents, the key points
- Marking approach: essays are still teacher-marked. AIMS drafts feedback on routine elements; teachers review and curate before students see it.
- Feedback speed: because routine checks are accelerated, students may get baseline feedback sooner, allowing earlier revision.
- Exam marking: MOE describes AIMS as a teaching-and-learning tool on SLS. It does not state that AIMS will auto-mark high-stakes exams — final grading and exam marking remain under teacher and MOE examination processes.
- How to help at home: encourage your child to read the feedback carefully, discuss it with their teacher, and rewrite based on the curated comments. Consistent reading, speaking and short writing in Chinese at home still matters most.
Sources: MOE press release (1 Aug 2026) ; Channel NewsAsia (1 Aug 2026)
AIMS at a Glance: Does vs Does NOT Do
| AIMS does | AIMS does NOT do (per MOE) |
|---|---|
| Help teachers mark routine elements: grammar, spelling, sentence structure (handwritten and typed) | Replace teacher judgement on final marks or overall essay quality |
| Draft feedback that teachers review, refine and customise | Auto-send feedback to students without teacher review |
| Support personalisation by proficiency level | Focus primarily on creativity/ideas (those stay teacher-led) |
| Run on SLS for secondary Chinese Language from Sept 2026 | Auto-grade high-stakes exam scripts (not stated by MOE) |
Source: MOE press release (1 Aug 2026)
AIMS drafts baseline feedback on mechanics; teachers curate and add higher-order comments; students receive teacher-approved feedback.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AIMS replacing Chinese Language teachers in marking essays?
No. MOE states teachers remain firmly at the centre of the feedback process. AIMS helps mark faster, but teachers review, refine and curate the feedback before students see it.
Which subject and levels will use AIMS?
AIMS is for Chinese Language at secondary school level, launching in September 2026 on SLS. No Malay- or Tamil-language equivalent was announced in the verified MOE materials.
Will AIMS mark my child's exam scripts automatically?
MOE describes AIMS as a teaching-and-learning tool that handles routine marking and feedback. It does not state that AIMS will auto-mark high-stakes exam scripts; final grading and exam marking remain under teacher and MOE examination processes.
How will feedback be personalised?
Teachers can tune AIMS' parameters for different proficiency levels, for more targeted feedback, and curate the output so it is contextually appropriate for each student.
When will students start receiving AIMS feedback?
MOE has said AIMS launches in September 2026; exact timing may vary by school and class. Check with your child's Chinese Language teacher for specifics.
Related Resources
Mother Tongue Elective Programme 2027
How MOE is expanding Mother Tongue Language elective opportunities from 2027.
PSLE Score Calculator
Work out AL scores and PSLE outcomes, including Mother Tongue subjects.
The bottom line
AIMS is a teacher-assist AI tool for secondary Chinese Language essay feedback, launching on SLS in September 2026. It speeds up routine marking so teachers can focus on coaching creativity and expression — with teachers still reviewing and curating all feedback before it reaches students. For families, the practical impact is faster baseline feedback and more teacher time for higher-order guidance.
Note on completeness: This article is based on MOE's official 1 August 2026 press release and Minister's speech, plus reputable Singapore reporting. Where details (exact secondary year levels, exam-use policy, data-privacy specifics, or any other Mother Tongue equivalent) were not stated in the verified sources, they are omitted.
Sources
- 1.MOE — Press release (1 Aug 2026): Nurturing students' love for Mother Tongue Languages. moe.gov.sg
- 2.MOE — Minister Desmond Lee's opening address, MTLS 2026 (1 Aug 2026). moe.gov.sg
- 3.Channel NewsAsia (1 Aug 2026). channelnewsasia.com
- 4.The Straits Times (1–2 Aug 2026). straitstimes.com
- 5.CNA video (1 Aug 2026): Chinese Language teachers to use AI for marking essays from September. channelnewsasia.com
Cite this page: SGSchoolKaki Education Team, “MOE AIMS Singapore: AI Essay Marking for Chinese Language,” SGSchoolKaki, 15 Aug 2026, https://sgschoolkaki.com/blog/moe-ai-essay-marking-chinese-language-aims-2026.