After the Illawarra Grammar School Briefing: Questions for Parents and an AEAS Guide

A follow-up briefing for Chinese families after the Study NSW session on The Illawarra Grammar School, covering parent questions on day-school living arrangements, homestay, guardianship, English requirements and AEAS preparation.

The parent questions to ask first

After the Study NSW briefing on The Illawarra Grammar School, Chinese families should start with the practical questions: living arrangement, homestay, guardianship, English readiness, AEAS timing and whether the student can realistically enter the target year level.

Because TIGS is a day school, families should not assume the same arrangement fits every age group. The school’s public information says Year 7 to Year 12 international students may live with carefully selected homestay families. For younger students, and for any family considering a parent or nominated relative arrangement, the precise welfare and visa pathway should be confirmed with the school and official Australian visa guidance.

Homestay and guardianship: what to confirm

TIGS states that homestay for students is managed by UOW College Homestay, and that a Homestay Coordinator is available to manage issues that may arise. TIGS also says guardianship can be provided for students under 18.

Parents should ask how families are selected, how ongoing checks work, whether dietary needs can be recorded, what happens in an emergency, how transport to school is arranged, and whether the student must join the school homestay programme unless a relative arrangement is officially approved.

English requirements and AEAS at TIGS

TIGS publishes a clear English requirement structure. Kindergarten to Year 3 applicants have no published English language proficiency requirement. Year 4 to Year 10 applicants who use English as a second language must meet the published AEAS levels.

The published TIGS thresholds are Year 4 at 30 or above, Year 5 at 35 or above, Year 6 at 40 or above, Year 7 and Year 8 at 61 or above, Year 9 at 71 or above, and Year 10 at 81 or above. TIGS also notes that Years 4 to 6 applicants who do not meet the prerequisite may be required to attend the school’s Targeted English Program, with a fee applying.

What AEAS measures

AEAS is not a simple pass-or-fail test. AEAS says its test is designed for school-aged students and assesses English language and learning standards from primary years through to senior secondary years.

The AEAS Report gives schools and families a wider picture: English score out of 100, English sub-test and stanine scores, general ability, mathematical reasoning, recommended weeks of intensive English and suggested school entry level. This is why families should treat AEAS as both an admissions tool and an education-planning report.

AEAS booking and preparation notes for China families

For China testing, AEAS currently lists the test fee as RMB 3350 and asks students to register online, including student details, parent details, current school information, the school year level and year of entry, schools being applied to, ID or passport information, agent details if relevant, and a passport-style photo.

Preparation should begin at least three to six months before the preferred school intake where possible. Students should work on reading, vocabulary, listening, writing, speaking, mathematical reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, but the goal is not just to train for question types. The real goal is to show whether the student can move into an English-medium Australian classroom with the right level of support.

Fees, outcomes and final checks

The 2025 TIGS homestay rates list accommodation and welfare at AUD 434 per person per week, with a placement fee and termly management fee. Families should treat these as a published 2025 reference point and ask for the latest 2026 or intake-specific fee schedule before budgeting.

Families should also ask about recent international student destinations, the proportion choosing the University of Wollongong, subject pathways, HSC or IB outcomes where relevant, and how the school supports new students in the first term. A good decision is not just about school reputation; it is about whether the child’s age, English level, living arrangement and family plan fit the school’s real operating model.

This article is general educational information only. Current admissions requirements, deadlines and official decisions should always be checked with the relevant institution or qualified professional adviser.