The question every relocating family asks
What year group is my child in?
UK Year, American Grade, Indian Class and IB stage — side by side, by your child’s age. From 2026–27 the UAE’s official admissions age cut-off is 31 December of the admission year (moved from 31 August, per the Ministry of Education’s December 2025 decision) for schools starting in August or September. April-start Indian-calendar schools keep a 31 March cut-off.
| Age at cut-off | UK (NCfE) | US / American | Indian (CBSE/ICSE) | IB | Milestones |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3–4 | FS1 | Pre-K | Nursery | PYP | |
| 4–5 | FS2 | KG1 | LKG | PYP | |
| 5–6 | Year 1 | KG2 | UKG | PYP | |
| 6–7 | Year 2 | Grade 1 | Class 1 | PYP | |
| 7–8 | Year 3 | Grade 2 | Class 2 | PYP | |
| 8–9 | Year 4 | Grade 3 | Class 3 | PYP | |
| 9–10 | Year 5 | Grade 4 | Class 4 | PYP | |
| 10–11 | Year 6 | Grade 5 | Class 5 | PYP (final) | |
| 11–12 | Year 7 | Grade 6 | Class 6 | MYP | |
| 12–13 | Year 8 | Grade 7 | Class 7 | MYP | |
| 13–14 | Year 9 | Grade 8 | Class 8 | MYP | |
| 14–15 | Year 10 | Grade 9 | Class 9 | MYP | GCSE course begins (UK) |
| 15–16 | Year 11 | Grade 10 | Class 10 | MYP (final) | GCSEs (UK) · Class 10 boards (India) |
| 16–17 | Year 12 | Grade 11 | Class 11 | DP 1 | A-Level / BTEC begins (UK) |
| 17–18 | Year 13 | Grade 12 | Class 12 | DP 2 | A-Levels · US diploma · Class 12 boards · IB DP exams |
The fine print that matters. The new 31 December cut-off applies to new admissions from 2026–27 — children already enrolled keep their current year group. Children transferring between schools or curricula, or arriving from abroad, are placed by their last completed grade under approved equivalency procedures, so an entrance assessment can occasionally place a child a year up or down. Indian-curriculum schools run April to March with the 31 March cut-off. And names vary — some American schools say KG1/KG2, others Pre-K/K; the ages above are the anchor. Always confirm final placement with the school.
Next steps: find schools that fit, or browse by curriculum — British, American, Indian, IB.