Asia • In
Bahrain, the minimum age for the first grade is six years old. • In
Bangladesh, First Grade (known as
prothom sreni) begins in January when a student is six years old. • In
China, First Grade, known as (
yī nián jí), begins in September when a child is six years old. • In
India, children start school at age six after the NEP 2020 Act. • In
Iran, children start school at age seven. • In
Israel, children enter the first grade (
kita aleph) the year they turn six or seven. • In
Japan, First Grade, commonly (
shō ichi), begins in April when a child is six years old. • In
Malaysia's education system, First Grade (or most commonly, Standard or Year 1) begins at age seven. • In the
Philippines, Grade 1 () is the first year of Primary Level and Elementary School curriculum. Students are usually 6–7 years old, but some students, mostly females, can start at ages 5-6. • In
Singapore, First Grade (or more commonly, "Primary 1"), begins when a child is six years old. Child at least 6 years old on 1 January of a given year gain admission to P1. • In
South Korea, First Grade, known as (
il-hak-nyeon), begins in March when a child is six or seven years old. • In
Sri Lanka, children enter Class 1 or 2 when they are six or seven years old.
Europe • In
Belgium, children aged 6 or 7 years old enter (French Community) or "" (Flemish Community) (first year of
elementary education). • In
Bulgaria, the minimum age for first graders is 6 years old. The
Bulgarian term is
(purvi klas''), 'first class'. • In the
Czech Republic, children aged 6 to 7 years old enter the first year of elementary school (). • In
Estonia, children aged 7 to 8 years old enter first grade. • In
Finland, children are aged 6 to 7 at the beginning of this grade. Before first grade, children attend
pre-school (first year after kindergarten) at age 5-6. • In
France, children aged 5 to 6 years old enter first grade, which corresponds to the (preparatory course), more commonly called
C.P. • In
Germany, first grade corresponds to (literal translation:
first class). • In
Greece, children are six years old at the beginning of first grade. The first school year of
primary education is referred to as First Grade of Primary (). • In
Iceland, children enter the first grade (1.bekk) the year they turn six. • In
Ireland, the equivalent is known as "First Class" or . Students are usually 6–7 years old at this level, and it serves as the 3rd year of primary school. • In
Italy, first grade corresponds to , also called . • In
Kazakhstan, children aged 6 to 7 years old enter (birinşi sınıp, first grade). • In the
Netherlands, first grade corresponds to Group 3, the third year of primary education. • In
Norway, children enter the first grade the year they turn six. • In
Poland children enter their first year of school () aged seven (from 2012 to 2016 the entry age was six; prior thereto, it was also seven). • In
Portugal, children enter their first year of school () aged five or six. • In
Romania, children start First Grade at 7 or 8. • In
Russia, children aged 6 to 8 years old enter (pervyy klass, first grade). • In
Slovenia, children are aged 5 years and 8 months to 6 years and 8 months at the beginning of this grade. • In
Sweden, children are 7 years old when entering first grade (), and 6 years old when beginning "", the first year after kindergarten. • In
Spain, children are five to six years old when they enter the first year of elementary school (). • In
Ukraine, children aged six to seven years old enter (pershyy klas, first grade). • In
Serbia, children aged six to seven years old enter (prvi razred, first grade).
United Kingdom In
England and
Wales, the first year of primary school is called
reception, with
pupils 4 to 5 years old. However, the first compulsory school year is
Year One, when children are five. As most primary schools have a reception class which is treated like a compulsory school year, i.e. the children wear a uniform and have the same school hours, most children start school at reception. The first grade is the equivalent of
Year Two.
Scottish pupils usually enter the corresponding stage one year younger. In
Northern Ireland. they are two years younger. In
Scotland, first grade is equivalent to Primary 3. Pupils in Primary 3 are 7 to 8 years old. Scotland, these grades are primary school, as Primary 1 starts after kindergarten (
nursery school) at 4 to 5 years of age. Primary school continues through Primary 7.
North America Canada In
Canada, the equivalent is Grade 1.
United States In
arithmetic, students learn about
addition and
subtraction of
natural or
whole numbers, usually with only one digit or two digits, and about measurement. Basic
geometry and
graphing may sometimes be introduced.
Clock and
calendar time, as well as
money, may also be in the
curriculum. In
language arts, first graders are taught the fundamentals of
literacy, including reading
sentences, writing very simple statements, and mastery of the
alphabet, building on what they have learned in kindergarten or other forms of pre-school. Expectations for first grade have changed due to
Common Core Standards. The curriculum is typically based on standards developed by educators in each state. Most states use the Common Core Standards, so most schools across the country use similar curricula. First graders are expected to read and comprehend stories ranging in length and difficulty. They are also expected to show an improved fluency rate during the school year, with the ability to read stories by the end of the year. Students are also typically introduced to the concept of
social studies, with an emphasis on establishing ideas of history or
civics in either a personal or larger sense. Some states focus on the basics of
US history and
patriotism, with a focus on the
Founding Fathers and the time surrounding the
American Revolution; other states require social studies focus on family relationships in first grade, leaving community, state, and national studies to higher grades. Basic
geography is also taught in the first grade. Focus on the school's municipal area and culture, along with basic state geography, is also be focused upon in first grade in some states. First-grade
science classes usually involve the discussion of matter, plant and animal science, earth materials, and balance and motion, along with the
human body and basic health and
nutrition.
Science as inquiry is taught and practiced in first grade classes. Students are encouraged to observe the world around them and begin asking questions about things they notice.
Africa • In
Sudan, children usually start grade 1 at age 6 or 7. • In
South Africa, children start grade 1 at age 6 or 7, depending on their curriculum (whether CAPS or Cambridge schooling system, etc.).
Oceania In
Australia, first grade is called Year 1 in some states. It is the second year of school after Kindergarten (called Prep in some states), and children are usually between 6 and 7 years old when entering. In
New Zealand, first grade is called "Year 2." Children generally start this level when they are 6 or 7 years old.
South America In
Brazil, first grade is the
primeiro ano do Ensino Fundamental I. That is, the minimum age for first grade was changed from 7 (84 months) to 6 years (72 months) when the "alphabetization" grade, called simply Alfabetização (literacy), was renamed first grade, with all following grades renamed as well. All students must be 6 years old before an assigned cut-off date. In
Uruguay, first graders are usually six years old. However, regulations stipulate students must be six years old before April 30 in that given year. == See also ==