Grade Placement

Because there are such a variety of different systems across the world, your grade placement here at MEF IS may be a little different to what you are accustomed to. When placing your child in the correct grade level, we will look at the following criteria.

  • Students must have successfully completed their previous grade level to be placed in the next grade level in MEF IS when the Academic Year starts in September.
  • If an application is submitted after the school year starts, during midterm or in Semester II, the student’s current Grade Progress Report or Semester/Trimester Report Card or Transcript must also be submitted.
  • The Academic Year runs from September to June and one school year is completed in 10 months. However, in Southern Hemisphere countries such as Australia, Korea or Japan, the academic year runs on a different schedule. Therefore, students who come from these countries and apply to enter MEF IS in the second half of the academic year will not be placed in the next grade level until September because of having missed the first 5-6 months of that school year.
  • A proficient level of English is required for enrolment in Grades 9-12.

See the table below for placement students based on the UK equivalent and age of the student.  The age level of the student is a rough guide, as it is important that your child has completed the previous grade level in order to be accepted into the next. MEF IS accepts student enrolments for ages 3 through to 18. You can also reference the academic records required for your application in this table.

MEF IS GRADE LEVEL Year of Birth UK EQUIVALENT YEAR REQUIRED ACADEMIC RECORDS / TRANSCRIPTS
Preschool 2020 Nursery (if available)
Pre-Kindergarten 2019 Reception (if available)
Kindergarten 2018 Year 1 – Primary School (if available)
Grade  1 – Primary School 2017 Year 2 – Primary School Kindergarten/Year 1 Report Card
Grade  2 – Primary School 2016 Year 3 – Primary School Kindergarten & Grade 1/Year 1 & 2 Report Cards
Grade  3 – Primary School 2015 Year 4 – Primary School Grades 1 & 2/Year 2 & 3 Report Cards
Grade  4 – Primary School 2014 Year 5 – Primary School Grades 2 & 3/Year 3 & 4 Report Cards
Grade  5 – Primary School 2013 Year 6– Primary School Grades 3 & 4/Year 4 & 5 Report Cards
Grade  6 – Secondary School 2012 Year 7 – Secondary School Grades 4 & 5/Year 5 & 6 Report Cards
Grade  7 – Secondary School 2011 Year 8 – Secondary School Grades 5 & 6/Year 6 & 7 Report Cards
Grade  8 – Secondary School 2010 Year 9 – Secondary School Grades 6 & 7/Year 7 & 8 Transcripts
Grade  9 – Secondary School 2009 Year 10 – Secondary School Grades 7 & 8/Year 8 & 9 Transcripts
Grade 10*– Secondary School 2008 Year 11*– Secondary School Grades 8 & 9/Year 9 & 10 Transcripts*
Grade 11*– Secondary School 2004 Year 12*– Secondary School Grades 9 & 10/Year 10 & 11 Transcripts*
Grade 12*– Secondary School 2006 Year 13*– Secondary School Grades 9 & 10 & 11/Year 10-11-12 Transcripts*

* Entry into Grades 10-11-12 will be considered on a case by case basis.

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