International schools in South Korea place children by age, not by the Korean national grade 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 South Korea in 2026.
British international schools in South Korea 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 at British curriculum schools. A child arriving from a UK school enters the same year group in Seoul without adjustment.
Most international schools in South Korea run an August to June academic year. South Korea has a notable quirk for international families: the Korean age system adds one year to a child's age compared to the Western system. Every person in Korea is considered one year old at birth, and everyone ages up together on New Year's Day rather than on their birthday. International schools always use Western age for placement, so this does not affect year group assignment, but it can cause confusion when Korean neighbours, teachers or family friends refer to your child's age. It is worth knowing before you arrive. The Korean national year runs March to February, a significant difference. Families transferring from the national system mid-year should discuss timing directly with admissions. Note that South Korea uses a Korean age system where everyone is considered one year older than the Western age; international schools always use Western age for placement.
Early Years (EYFS): Nursery at age 3, Reception at age 4. The Korean national system begins elementary school at age 7 (Western age), two years later than British international schools.
Primary: Year 1 at age 5. Key Stage 2 covers Years 3 to 6, ages 7 to 11.
Secondary: Year 7 at age 11. Cambridge IGCSE begins at Year 10, and A-Levels or the IB Diploma begin at Year 12.
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 and Key Stage 2.
Reception is for children aged 4 turning 5. The Korean national system begins elementary school at age 7 in Western years. A child entering Reception at a British international school is therefore three years ahead by name, though Korean kindergarten (ages 4 to 6) precedes elementary school.
South Korea's national system uses Grades 1 to 6 for elementary school (Western ages 7 to 12), Grades 7 to 9 for middle school (ages 13 to 15), and Grades 10 to 12 for high school (ages 15 to 18). The national year runs March to February. Note that ages in the Korean system are one year higher than Western ages; this guide uses Western ages throughout.
| Korean National Stage | Western Age | UK Year Group | US Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 (Elementary) | 7–8 | Year 3 | Grade 2 |
| Grade 2 | 8–9 | Year 4 | Grade 3 |
| Grade 3 | 9–10 | Year 5 | Grade 4 |
| Grade 4 | 10–11 | Year 6 | Grade 5 |
| Grade 5 | 11–12 | Year 7 | Grade 6 |
| Grade 6 | 12–13 | Year 8 | Grade 7 |
| Grade 7 (Middle School) | 13–14 | Year 9 | Grade 8 |
| Grade 8 | 14–15 | Year 10 | Grade 9 |
| Grade 9 | 15–16 | Year 11 | Grade 10 |
| Grade 10 (High School) | 15–16 | Year 11 | Grade 10 |
| Grade 11 | 16–17 | Year 12 | Grade 11 |
| Grade 12 | 17–18 | Year 13 | Grade 12 |
Schools shown for informational purposes only. doris does not rank or promote any school.
The Korean national system starts at Grade 1 at Western age 7, two years later than British international schools. The March to February national calendar means transfers mid-year need careful timing. Schools will assess transfer students individually before confirming year group placement.
For curriculum decisions, our IB vs British curriculum comparison covers the practical differences in depth.
| School | Location | Curriculum | Ages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul Foreign School | Seoul | British, Cambridge IGCSE, A-Levels | 3–18 |
| Korea International School | Seoul | American, AP | 3–18 |
| Dwight School Seoul | Seoul | IB (PYP, MYP, DP) | 3–18 |
| Seoul International School | Seoul | American, AP | 5–18 |
| Yongsan International School of Seoul | Seoul | American, AP | 3–18 |
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 South Korea? A child who is 7 (Western age) 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 South Korea use the Korean Grade system? No. British international schools use Reception through Year 13. American schools use Kindergarten through Grade 12. Korean Grade 1 to 12 naming is used only in the national school system.
How does the Korean age system affect year group placement at international schools? International schools in South Korea use Western age for placement, not Korean age. Korean age adds one year to a person's age, so a child who is 7 in Western years would be considered 8 in the Korean system. Always confirm your child's Western age when applying.
My child is in Grade 5 at a Korean national school. What year group will they enter at an international school? Korean Grade 5 is typically Western age 11 to 12, placing them in Year 7 or Year 8 at a British international school. The March to February Korean calendar means mid-year timing needs to be discussed with the admissions team directly.
doris is a free, impartial international school discovery platform designed to help parents find the right international school for their children worldwide. Every school profile includes fees, curriculum, admissions, pupil numbers and more. Parents can compare schools, contact schools directly, access expert parent guides, and connect with a community of parents around the world. Start your search at doris.school.
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: Education in South Korea, Wikipedia, Evaluation World, South Korea education system. Schools are listed for informational purposes only. doris does not rank or promote any school.