The Chinese school system has twelve grades after kindergarten: six years of primary school, three years of junior high school and three years of senior high school, often called the 6-3-3 structure. Children usually start Grade 1 at age six, and the first nine years are compulsory under the national Compulsory Education Law. Chinese grades are numbered in a way that lines up closely with US grades, so a student in Grade 11 in China (高二, the second year of senior high school) is usually sixteen or seventeen, the same age as a US 11th grader.
This guide from Qingdao No. 1 International School of Shandong Province (QISS) explains how the Chinese school system works, how ages map to grades, and what it means for families moving between Chinese and international schools.
How the Chinese School System Is Organised
China’s Compulsory Education Law, published in English by the Ministry of Education, sets nine years of compulsory education, starting at age six. The Beijing municipal government’s guide to primary and secondary education describes twelve years in three stages, with six years of primary school as the main model and three years of junior secondary school.
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See QISS admissions →The Three Stages
- Primary school (小学, xiǎoxué): Grades 1 to 6, usually ages six to twelve.
- Junior high school (初中, chūzhōng): three years, often called 初一, 初二 and 初三 (Grades 7 to 9), usually ages twelve to fifteen.
- Senior high school (高中, gāozhōng): three years, called 高一, 高二 and 高三 (Grades 10 to 12), usually ages fifteen to eighteen.
Primary and junior high school together make up the nine compulsory years. Senior high school is not compulsory, and entry is usually decided by the senior high school entrance examination (中考, zhōngkǎo) taken at the end of Grade 9. Some regions use a five-year primary and four-year junior high pattern instead, but the total is still nine years.
Kindergarten Before Grade 1
Before primary school, many children attend kindergarten (幼儿园) for up to three years, usually from about age three. Kindergarten is not part of compulsory education. Our guide to international kindergartens in China explains the options for young children.
Chinese Grades by Age, With US Equivalents
The table below shows the usual age at the start of each school year. Exact placement depends on a child’s birthday and the school’s cut-off date.
| Chinese stage | Chinese grade | Usual age | US grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary school | Grade 1 (一年级) | 6 to 7 | Grade 1 |
| Primary school | Grade 3 (三年级) | 8 to 9 | Grade 3 |
| Primary school | Grade 6 (六年级) | 11 to 12 | Grade 6 |
| Junior high | 初一 | 12 to 13 | Grade 7 |
| Junior high | 初三 | 14 to 15 | Grade 9 |
| Senior high | 高一 | 15 to 16 | Grade 10 |
| Senior high | 高二 | 16 to 17 | Grade 11 |
| Senior high | 高三 | 17 to 18 | Grade 12 |
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Talk to admissions →So, for families who search for how old 11th grade is in China: a student in 高二 is usually sixteen or seventeen, and a student in 高三, the final year, is usually seventeen or eighteen.
Key Exams in the Chinese System
Two exams shape the later school years:
- The zhongkao (中考) at the end of junior high school decides which senior high school a student can attend.
- The gaokao (高考) at the end of senior high school is used for admission to universities in mainland China.
Our guide to gaokao vs SAT explains how the gaokao compares with the SAT used by many US universities.
The School Year in China
The Chinese school year usually starts in September and has two semesters, with a winter break around the Lunar New Year and a summer break in July and August. International schools in China often follow a similar August or September start, which makes it easier to move between systems at the start of a school year.
Moving Between Chinese and International Schools
Because the grade numbers line up, a child moving from a Chinese school to an American-curriculum international school usually joins the grade that matches their age. Our overview of the American curriculum grade by grade shows what each US grade covers. The bigger differences are in language and curriculum rather than in grade numbering:
- Language of instruction: international schools teach mainly in English, so many students need English language support at first.
- Curriculum: the US curriculum builds towards a high school diploma, AP courses and tests such as the SAT, rather than the zhongkao and gaokao.
- Timing: moving is usually easiest at the start of a stage, such as Grade 7 or Grade 10, because each system builds towards its own exams.
Our guide to international school age requirements explains how international schools place students by age, our comparison of international and local schools in China covers the wider choice, and our guide to transferring schools mid-year covers moving during the year.
How QISS Fits In
QISS follows a US curriculum from Early Childhood to Grade 12 and is accredited by WASC and CIS. Students apply through our application process, which includes an English proficiency assessment for students applying to Grades 2 to 12. Students also study Chinese through our Chinese Language and Culture program.
If your family is weighing a move between the Chinese and international systems, you are welcome to visit our campus and talk it through with our team.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many grades are in the Chinese school system?
The Chinese school system has twelve grades after kindergarten: six years of primary school, three years of junior high school and three years of senior high school. This is often called the 6-3-3 structure, although some regions use five years of primary school and four years of junior high school.
How old is a student in Grade 11 in China?
A Grade 11 student in China, in the second year of senior high school (高二), is usually sixteen or seventeen years old. That is the same age as a typical 11th grader in the United States.
At what age do children start school in China?
Children in China usually start Grade 1 of primary school at age six. The national Compulsory Education Law sets six as the normal starting age, and many children attend kindergarten for up to three years before that.
Is senior high school compulsory in China?
No. Compulsory education in China covers the nine years of primary and junior high school. Senior high school, Grades 10 to 12, is optional, and places are usually decided by the zhongkao entrance exam at the end of Grade 9.
Can my child move from a Chinese school to an international school?
Yes. Because Chinese and US grade numbers line up closely, children usually join the grade that matches their age. The main adjustments are learning in English and moving to a different curriculum, so many international schools assess English proficiency as part of admission.
