International schools in Singapore place children by age following the curriculum of the school, not the Singapore national system. British curriculum schools use UK year group names Reception through Year 13, with the 31 August cut-off. American curriculum schools use Kindergarten through Grade 12. This guide gives you the exact age-to-year-group mapping used by international schools in Singapore in 2026.
British international schools in Singapore place students according to their age on 31 August. Match your child's age on 31 August to find their year group.
| Age on 31 Aug | UK Year Group | US Grade | Key Stage | Milestone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Nursery | Pre-K | EYFS | Early Years |
| 4 | Reception | Pre-K | EYFS | Early Years |
| 5 | Year 1 | Kindergarten | KS1 | |
| 6 | Year 2 | Grade 1 | KS1 | |
| 7 | Year 3 | Grade 2 | KS2 | |
| 8 | Year 4 | Grade 3 | KS2 | |
| 9 | Year 5 | Grade 4 | KS2 | |
| 10 | Year 6 | Grade 5 | KS2 | |
| 11 | Year 7 | Grade 6 | KS3 | Secondary starts |
| 12 | Year 8 | Grade 7 | KS3 | |
| 13 | Year 9 | Grade 8 | KS3 | |
| 14 | Year 10 | Grade 9 | KS4 | IGCSE begins |
| 15 | Year 11 | Grade 10 | KS4 | IGCSE exams |
| 16 | Year 12 | Grade 11 | Sixth Form | A-Levels / IB begins |
| 17 | Year 13 | Grade 12 | Sixth Form | A-Levels / IB exams |
Schools shown for informational purposes only. doris does not rank or promote any school.
The 31 August cut-off is standard across British curriculum schools, mirroring how year groups work in England. A child moving from a UK school to Singapore will slot into the same year group without any adjustment.
Most international schools in Singapore run August to June, divided into three terms. The Singapore national school year runs January to November. Families enrolling mid-year should contact admissions directly to confirm timing and availability.
Waiting lists are common at the most popular schools, particularly at Year 7 and Year 12. Applying nine to twelve months ahead is strongly recommended.
Early Years (EYFS): Nursery at age 3, Reception at age 4. The Singapore national system begins Primary 1 at age 6, so a child in Reception at a British international school is two years ahead of a peer entering the national system.
Primary: Year 1 at age 5. Key Stage 2 covers Years 3 to 6, ages 7 to 11.
Secondary: Year 7 at age 11. The IB pathway is widely available in Singapore, with several large schools offering the full PYP, MYP and Diploma continuum from early years through to Year 13.
IGCSE and Sixth Form: Year 10 at age 14 begins Cambridge IGCSE. Year 12 at age 16 begins A-Levels or the IB Diploma.
A child who is 10 on 31 August enters Year 6 at a British curriculum school, or Grade 5 at an American curriculum school. Year 6 is the final year of primary school.
Reception is for children aged 4 turning 5. In the Singapore national system, children enter Primary 1 at age 6. A child in Reception at a British international school is two school years ahead of a child starting the national system.
Singapore's national system uses Primary 1 to Primary 6 and Secondary 1 to Secondary 4 or 5. The national year runs January to December, confirmed by the Ministry of Education. Children must be at least 6 years old by 1 January of the year they enter Primary 1.
| Singapore National Stage | Age | UK Year Group | US Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary 1 (P1) | 6–7 | Year 2 | Grade 1 |
| Primary 2 (P2) | 7–8 | Year 3 | Grade 2 |
| Primary 3 (P3) | 8–9 | Year 4 | Grade 3 |
| Primary 4 (P4) | 9–10 | Year 5 | Grade 4 |
| Primary 5 (P5) | 10–11 | Year 6 | Grade 5 |
| Primary 6 (P6) | 11–12 | Year 7 | Grade 6 |
| Secondary 1 (Sec 1) | 12–13 | Year 8 | Grade 7 |
| Secondary 2 (Sec 2) | 13–14 | Year 9 | Grade 8 |
| Secondary 3 (Sec 3) | 14–15 | Year 10 | Grade 9 |
| Secondary 4 (Sec 4) | 15–16 | Year 11 | Grade 10 |
| Junior College 1 (JC1) | 16–17 | Year 12 | Grade 11 |
| Junior College 2 (JC2) | 17–18 | Year 13 | Grade 12 |
Schools shown for informational purposes only. doris does not rank or promote any school.
A child transferring from the national system to an international school will be assessed individually, with age as the primary placement factor. For a full breakdown of fees, see our Singapore international school fees guide. For curriculum options, our IB vs British curriculum comparison covers the key differences.
| School | Location | Curriculum | Ages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tanglin Trust School | Portsdown Road | British, IGCSE, A-Levels, IB DP | 3–18 |
| Dulwich College Singapore | Bukit Batok | British, IGCSE, IB DP | 2–18 |
| Dover Court International School | Dover | British, IGCSE, IB DP | 3–18 |
| Singapore American School | Woodlands | American, AP | 3–18 |
| Canadian International School | Lakeside / Tanjong Katong | IB (PYP, MYP, DP) | 2–18 |
Schools shown for informational purposes only. doris does not rank or promote any school.
What year group is a 7 year old in at an international school in Singapore? A child who is 7 on 31 August enters Year 3 at a British curriculum school, or Grade 2 at an American curriculum school. This is the start of Key Stage 2.
Do international schools in Singapore use the Primary and Secondary naming system? No. British international schools use Reception through Year 13. American schools use Kindergarten through Grade 12. Primary 1 to Primary 6 and Secondary 1 to Secondary 4 are used only in Singapore's national school system.
My child is in Primary 6. What year group will they enter at an international school? Primary 6 is typically age 11 to 12, placing them in Year 7 or Year 8 at a British international school depending on their birthday and the 31 August cut-off. The school will carry out an individual assessment before confirming placement.
What is the difference between Junior College and Sixth Form? Junior College in Singapore covers ages 16 to 18, leading to A-Levels. Sixth Form at a British international school covers Year 12 and Year 13 at the same ages, also leading to A-Levels or the IB Diploma. Both prepare students for university entry.
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This guide was written by Aziza F, part of the doris editorial team. doris sources school data from institutions worldwide and speaks directly with parents navigating the school search process. Fee data reflects published and publicly available information for the 2026 to 2027 academic year and is reviewed annually. External sources: Ministry of Education Singapore, primary school admissions, MOE Singapore, school terms and holidays 2026. Schools are listed for informational purposes only. doris does not rank or promote any school.