Comparative ages, grades and exams - US vs UK

Age

UK Stage

UK Testing

UK School Year

US Exams (different states may have additional exams at certain ages)

US Grade

3-4

nursery

pre-school

foundation

reception

pre-K

5-6

year 1

kindegarten

6-7

key stage 1

SATS - Reading Writing/Maths/English

year 2

1st grade

7-8

year 3

2nd grade

8-9

year 4

3rd grade

9-10

key stage 2

year 5

4th grade

10-11

SATS - English Maths/Science

year 6

5th grade

11-12

year 7

6th grade

12-13

key stage 3

year 8

7th grade

13-14

SATS - English Maths/Science

year 9

8th grade

14-15

key stage 4

year 10

9th grade

15-16

GCSEs

year 11

AP courses may be offered, with commensurate exams; SATII subject tests optional

10th grade

16-17

year 12

PSAT; AP courses/exams;SATII subject tests; SAT; ACT; IB Diploma (first year)

11th grade

17-18

A2 A levels or IB

year 13

SAT; ACT; AP courses/exams; SATII subject tests; high school Diploma or IB Diploma completed

12th grade

AP (US)- Advanced Placement

SAT (US) = College Entrance Exams (can be taken several times)

ACT (US) = College Entrance Exams (universities may prefer SAT to ACT or vice versa, or may willingly accept either)

PSAT (US) = preliminary (practice for SAT; qualifying exam for National Merit Scholarships)

SATS (UK) = Standard Assessment Tests

GCSEs = General Certificate of Secondary Education

AS Levels = Advanced Subsidiary Level

A Levels = Advanced Levels

IB = International Baccalaureate

SATS (UK) = Standard Assessment Tests

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