Age-Grade Placement Guide
"At what age is my child ready for school?"
"I've just moved to a new country and I am not sure what grade my child should transfer to?"
At GEMS schools, we are regularly asked about the appropriate age for school admissions in the UAE. That's why we've put together this helpful guide and detailed table for you.
School ages by grade or year
When it comes to the UAE, how do you understand what grade a 10 year old, a 12 year old or a 13 year old is in? This table lists the equivalent ages across different national curriculums. However, it should only be used as a guideline. We take the time to meet each and every new learner and their family before they start with us.
|
Age as of August 31 of each school year |
British Curriculum (UK) |
American Curriculum |
Australia/ NZ |
South Africa |
|
|
"Year" |
"Grade" |
"Year" |
"Year" |
||
|
2 years old |
Schools for Age 2 |
Nursery |
Nursery |
-- | -- |
|
3 years old (toilet trained) |
Schools for Age 3 |
FS1 (Nursery) |
PreK or Nursery |
-- |
-- |
|
4 years old (toilet trained) |
Schools for Age 4 |
FS2 (Reception) |
KG1 |
KG |
-- |
|
5 years old |
Schools for Age 5 |
1 |
KG2 |
Prep |
Reception |
|
6 years old |
Schools for Age 6 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
7 years old |
Schools for Age 7 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
8 years old |
Schools for Age 8 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
9 years old |
Schools for Age 9 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
10 years old |
Schools for Age 10 |
6 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
11 years old |
Schools for Age 11 |
7 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
|
12 years old |
Schools for Age 12 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
|
13 years old |
Schools for Age 13 |
9 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
|
14 years old |
Schools for Age 14 |
10 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
|
15 years old |
Schools for Age 15 |
11 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
|
16 years old |
Schools for Age 16 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
|
17 years old |
Schools for Age 17 |
13 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
School Age Cut-off Requirements in Dubai
Children enrolling in FS1 or Pre-KG in schools in Dubai starting in September must be three years old on or before August 31 of that year. Children enrolling in Pre-KG in schools starting in April must be three years old on or before March 31 of that year.
For more information, please visit the KHDA FAQ.
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