Understanding Year Level & Grade Equivalents
Every country structures its education system differently. From grades and year levels to elementary and primary, the terms can vary greatly and cause confusion for parents. The charts on this page provide a comparison of the major education systems, the grade/year level equivalents for each, and the age of the students within those levels. Students at NIST are placed in year levels based on their age. These year levels in turn form the three programmes of the International Baccalaureate: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP).
Students joining NIST’s elementary programme are placed in year levels based on their age as this benefits their academic, social and emotional development. While age and academic performance do not always have a strong correlation, we believe it is important that children have the opportunity to interact with peers their own age. This social and emotional development plays an important role in their learning and helps them flourish independent of their academic ability. Students joining NIST’s secondary programme will be placed according to their age and academic year level with our Admissions Committee taking the full application into account when offering a placement.
The Impact of a NIST Education
With its international focus and transdisciplinary approach, the IB programme allows easy transition to and from other systems. Building on this, the NIST curriculum provides a strong foundation that enables students to succeed in other schools, and excel upon studying at universities around the world.
2023-2024 School Year
| Date of Birth | Class at NIST | Australia | India | Japan | New Zealand | Thailand | UK | US/Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 Sep. 2019 - 31 Aug. 2020 | Early Years 1 (PYP) | Pre-school | Nursery | Kindergarten 1 | - | Kindergarten 1 | Reception | Pre-school |
| 01 Sep. 2018 - 31 Aug. 2019 | Early Years 2 (PYP) | Pre-school | Kindergarten 1 | Kindergarten 2 | Kindergarten | Kindergarten 2 | Reception | Pre-school |
| 01 Sep. 2017 - 31 Aug. 2018 | Year 1 (PYP) | Kindergarten/Prep | Kindergarten 2 | Kindergarten 3 | Year 1 | Kindergarten 3 | Year 1 | Kindergarten |
| 01 Sep. 2016 - 31 Aug. 2017 | Year 2 (PYP) | Year 1 | Standard 1 | Elementary Grade 1 | Year 2 | Prathom 1 | Year 2 | Grade 1 |
| 01 Sep. 2015 - 31 Aug. 2016 | Year 3 (PYP) | Year 2 | Standard 2 | Elementary Grade 2 | Year 3 | Prathom 2 | Year 3 | Grade 2 |
| 01 Sep. 2014 - 31 Aug. 2015 | Year 4 (PYP) | Year 3 | Standard 3 | Elementary Grade 3 | Year 4 | Prathom 3 | Year 4 | Grade 3 |
| 01 Sep. 2013 - 31 Aug. 2014 | Year 5 (PYP) | Year 4 | Standard 4 | Elementary Grade 4 | Year 5 | Prathom 4 | Year 5 | Grade 4 |
| 01 Sep. 2012 - 31 Aug. 2013 | Year 6 (PYP) | Year 5 | Standard 5 | Elementary Grade 5 | Year 6 | Prathom 5 | Year 6 | Grade 5 |
| 01 Sep. 2011 - 31 Aug. 2012 | Year 7 (MYP) | Year 6 | Standard 6 | Elementary Grade 6 | Year 7 | Prathom 6 | Year 7 | Grade 6 |
| 01 Sep. 2010 - 31 Aug. 2011 | Year 8 (MYP) | Year 7 | Standard 7 | Middle School Grade 1 | Year 8 | Matayom 1 | Year 8 | Grade 7 |
| 01 Sep. 2009 - 31 Aug. 2010 | Year 9 (MYP) | Year 8 | Standard 8 | Middle School Grade 2 | Year 9 | Matayom 2 | Year 9 | Grade 8 |
| 01 Sep. 2008 - 31 Aug. 2009 | Year 10 (MYP) | Year 9 | Standard 9 | Middle School Grade 3 | Year 10 | Matayom 3 | Year 10 | Grade 9 |
| 01 Sep. 2007 - 31 Aug. 2008 | Year 11 (MYP) | Year 10 | Standard 10 | High School Grade 1 | Year 11 | Matayom 4 | Year 11 | Grade 10 |
| 01 Sep. 2006 - 31 Aug. 2007 | Year 12 (DP) | Year 11 | Higher Secondary 1 | High School Grade 2 | Year 12 | Matayom 5 | Year 12 | Grade 11 |
| 01 Sep. 2005 - 31 Aug. 2006 | Year 13 (DP) | Year 12 | Higher Secondary 2 | High School Grade 3 | Year 13 | Matayom 6 | Year 13 | Grade 12 |
2022-2023 School Year
| Date of Birth | Class at NIST | Australia | India | Japan | New Zealand | Thailand | UK | US/Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 Sep. 2018 - 31 Aug. 2019 | Early Years 1 (PYP) | Pre-school | Nursery | Kindergarten 1 | - | Kindergarten 1 | Reception | Pre-school |
| 01 Sep. 2017 - 31 Aug. 2018 | Early Years 2 (PYP) | Pre-school | Kindergarten 1 | Kindergarten 2 | Kindergarten | Kindergarten 2 | Reception | Pre-school |
| 01 Sep. 2016 - 31 Aug. 2017 | Year 1 (PYP) | Kindergarten/Prep | Kindergarten 2 | Kindergarten 3 | Year 1 | Kindergarten 3 | Year 1 | Kindergarten |
| 01 Sep. 2015 - 31 Aug. 2016 | Year 2 (PYP) | Year 1 | Standard 1 | Elementary Grade 1 | Year 2 | Prathom 1 | Year 2 | Grade 1 |
| 01 Sep. 2014 - 31 Aug. 2015 | Year 3 (PYP) | Year 2 | Standard 2 | Elementary Grade 2 | Year 3 | Prathom 2 | Year 3 | Grade 2 |
| 01 Sep. 2013 - 31 Aug. 2014 | Year 4 (PYP) | Year 3 | Standard 3 | Elementary Grade 3 | Year 4 | Prathom 3 | Year 4 | Grade 3 |
| 01 Sep. 2012 - 31 Aug. 2013 | Year 5 (PYP) | Year 4 | Standard 4 | Elementary Grade 4 | Year 5 | Prathom 4 | Year 5 | Grade 4 |
| 01 Sep. 2011 - 31 Aug. 2012 | Year 6 (PYP) | Year 5 | Standard 5 | Elementary Grade 5 | Year 6 | Prathom 5 | Year 6 | Grade 5 |
| 01 Sep. 2010 - 31 Aug. 2011 | Year 7 (MYP) | Year 6 | Standard 6 | Elementary Grade 6 | Year 7 | Prathom 6 | Year 7 | Grade 6 |
| 01 Sep. 2009 - 31 Aug. 2010 | Year 8 (MYP) | Year 7 | Standard 7 | Middle School Grade 1 | Year 8 | Matayom 1 | Year 8 | Grade 7 |
| 01 Sep. 2008 - 31 Aug. 2009 | Year 9 (MYP) | Year 8 | Standard 8 | Middle School Grade 2 | Year 9 | Matayom 2 | Year 9 | Grade 8 |
| 01 Sep. 2007 - 31 Aug. 2008 | Year 10 (MYP) | Year 9 | Standard 9 | Middle School Grade 3 | Year 10 | Matayom 3 | Year 10 | Grade 9 |
| 01 Sep. 2006 - 31 Aug. 2007 | Year 11 (MYP) | Year 10 | Standard 10 | High School Grade 1 | Year 11 | Matayom 4 | Year 11 | Grade 10 |
| 01 Sep. 2005 - 31 Aug. 2006 | Year 12 (DP) | Year 11 | Higher Secondary 1 | High School Grade 2 | Year 12 | Matayom 5 | Year 12 | Grade 11 |
| 01 Sep. 2004 - 31 Aug. 2005 | Year 13 (DP) | Year 12 | Higher Secondary 2 | High School Grade 3 | Year 13 | Matayom 6 | Year 13 | Grade 12 |
