Every country has its own way of how its education system is allocated into different stages. No matter the allocation, every country’s priority is to make it easier and at the same time efficient for their students. They prioritize how and in what way their culture and history will be best consumed.
India is no exception when it comes to constantly finding new ways to improve and develop its education system. Up until July of 2020, the educational system of India was based on the 10+2 system, meaning that it was divided into two stages of schooling 10 years and then two years of higher secondary schooling. The students would complete the 10 years and get rewarded with a Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and a Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) after completing the 12th year.
However, in July 2020, the New Education Policy was implemented which reshaped the educational system of India. As a result, one of the major changes it brought was that it replaced the 10+2 system with a 5+3+3+4 system. The last 4 years of education are collectively called ‘secondary education’ which covers the age from 14 to 18 years.
Secondary education is divided into two stages, from grade 9-10 and grade 11-12. These 4 years of education are given in a high school. It may be collectively called a high school, nevertheless, the last 2 years of high school, from grade 11-to 12, are recognized as to be called a secondary school in India. The secondary school is further split into halves, meaning that the last year of secondary school, the 12th grade is called a senior secondary school.
Since we have briefly described the current educational system of India, it is only fair to know its commencement. To best understand the current education system of India, we must take a look at the history of its education system and how it has changed over the years.
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Is high school and secondary school the same in India?
The school system in India is confusing, but not complicated to understand. The Indian school system has four levels which are called lower primary which is divided into five standards (age 6 to 10), the upper primary is divided into two (11 and 12), high school is divided into three (13 to 15), and higher secondary into two (17 and 18). Primarily, students study the same curriculum, except for regional changes and their mother tongue until the end of high school.
Different schools have different terms to refer to different classes, for instance,some schools refer to courses of 11th and 12th as high school, and for other schools, high school may refer to classes from 6th to 12th. Secondary education covers students aged 14 to 18 and the last two years are referred to as Higher Secondary (HS), or Senior Secondary. Moreover, the two final years can also be called the “+2” stage. Considering all the information, you can say that, high school and secondary school are the same as it mainly depends on each school.
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Most of the time, high school is referred to as the classes of 9th to 10th, and secondary school is referred to as the classes of 11th to 12th. Furthermore, in some regions, high school is referred to as the classes of 9th to 12th, and secondary school is referred to as the 4-year of bachelor’s degree in an undergraduate program.
Here’s a table that will make you better understand how the classes are mostly categorized.
| Stages | Grades | Ages |
| Primary School | 1st grade to 5th the grade | 6 years to 10 years |
| Middle School | 6th grade to the 8th grade | 11 years to 14 years |
| Junior High school | 9th grade to 10th grade | 14 years to 16 years |
| Senior High school | 11th grade to 12th grade | 16 years to 18 years |
What do they call high school in India?
As every school has its own way of categorizing classes, there’s no definition for high school in India, even in a general way.
It’s quite complicated to come to the conclusion of what high school is called in India because every school refers to it with reference to different classes. In some schools, high school is referred to as the classes from 11th to 12th, while in other schools, high school is referred to as the courses of 6th to 12th.
However, in most regions of the world, high school is referred to as the classes of 9th to 10th, while in other regions, it’s referred to as the classes of 9th to 12th.
What does secondary school mean in India?
In India, secondary schoolbegins in grade nine and ends in grade twelve. It’s made up of two levels, typically called the lower and upper secondary school, and 17 to 18 aged teenagers are the students.
Generally, secondary school can be defined in two ways, one is that it’s used to refer to the classes of 11th to 12th, and another way to define it is that, secondary school is also referred to as the4-year of bachelor’s degree in an undergraduate program.
History of the educational system in India
India initiated their education in the simplest and the most traditional way, with the name ‘Gurukul’. Gurukul was the first and foremost system of how education will be imparted to the young in India, which was initiated dating back to around 5000 BC.
It started off in the most traditional way of India, where the students not only received knowledge through books but, in addition to that, were taught about religious, spiritual, and physical welfare studies, where even the mode of communication was the ancient Sanskrit language. The students were required to live with their teacher or in close proximity to the school, for the particular reason of developing an emotional bond between the teacher and students for the better transmission of knowledge.
However, as of today, to keep up with the pace of the world, the educational system of India has gone through drastic changes. The modern system of education was introduced by Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay, in the 1830s. As seen today, the modernized curriculum took precedence over the curriculum of Gurukul, which included moral, ethical, and spiritual learning.
As opposed to that, the modern curriculum comprised of the subjects that focused on technology and were taught in the English language. As the subjects like science and mathematics took precedence over the subjects like metaphysics and philosophy, the emphasis was put on the competitive system of examination and grades, contrary to the educational system of Gurukul.
What are the types of schools in India?
As mentioned above, the educational system of India is divided into 4 stages, which are: the foundational stage, preparatory stage, middle stage, and secondary stage. Similarly, the schools are split accordingly to the stages.
- The foundational stage is from the age of 3 to 8 years which is split into two stages. The first one is 3 years of preschool and the second one is 2 years of primary school where the studies are primarily based on activity and the development of language skills.
- The second stage is called the preparatory stage which is from the age of 8 to 11 years. In this stage, students are introduced to the subjects like mathematics, science, and languages, as well as, skills like writing and reading, which are taught in primary school.
- The third stage is the middle stage which is from the age of 11 to 14 years. This stage covers the grades from six to eight, where students are taught to grasp the concepts of critical learning of subjects like humanities, arts, and science which are taught in middle school.
- The secondary stage starts from the age of 14 to 18 years, where the students are provided with multiple subjects as options to choose from as per their interests. This stage covers the classes from 9 to 12, where the students are taught critical thinking and about their chosen subjects in depth. This stage is taught in high school.
Check out the video below to learn more about the schools in India.
To Conclude
Every country has its own ways of defining its different stages. Secondary education is divided into two stages, from grade 9-10 and grade 11-12.
4 years of education are called high school, and the last 2 years of high school are called secondary schools in India. The secondary school is further divided into two, meaning that the final year of secondary school which is the 12th grade is called a senior secondary school.
Every school has its own way of categorizing the stages of classes, thus it’s quite complicated to define high school in India.
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FAQs
What are the 3 stages of high school? ›
Sophomore year or 10th grade. Junior year or 11th grade. And Senior year or 12th grade.
What is 11th and 12th called in India? ›Senior Secondary School/Higher Secondary School
Senior Secondary Schools in India include classes 11th to 12th and consiste of students aged between 16-18 years usually. At this level of education, students can choose their preferred stream and subjects.
In most countries, high school consists of grades from 9th to 12th. In India, though, 12th is considered Intermediate or HSC (Higher Secondary Certificate). The HSC examination is conducted by different state boards, such as the Maharashtra Board, the MP Board, West Bengal Board, etc.
What is high school level in India? ›Secondary education lasts 4 years. Students aged 14 to 18 complete the following 2 stages: lower secondary education, concluded with exams for a Standard X diploma; upper secondary education, concluded with exams for a Standard XII diploma or a Vocational Standard XII diploma.
What are the 4 stages of high school? ›The four stages of high school in America are freshman year, sophomore year, junior year, and senior year.
How old are you in 12th grade? ›It can be called the class of seniors or the last class of the school. People in the twelfth grade are between the ages of 17 and 18.
What is US high school equivalent in India? ›The American High School Diploma is considered equivalent to passing Grade 12 by the Association of Indian Universities, which then would allow our students to apply for colleges in India and all over the world on just the basis of the High School Diploma itself.
What is 13th grade called in India? ›Thirteenth grade, grade thirteen, or super senior year is the final year of secondary school in some jurisdictions.
How old are 11th graders in India? ›The students at this stage are 17 years old, and it is the fifth and last year in the secondary school. (Compare to Form 6 or known as 12th grade).
What grade is a 14 year old in India? ›A ranges from Grade 7 (13 years old) across Grade 8 (14 years old) to Grade 9 (15 years old). In India, 8th grade is the last grade before high school.
What are 10th graders called in India? ›
Also the tenth grade is called as "Class 10" and it is also known as SSLC, SSC, HSLC and Matriculation in different regions and states of India.
What are the school levels in India? ›The school system in India has four levels: lower primary (age 6 to 10), upper primary (11 and 12), high (13 to 15) and higher secondary (17 and 18).
What are 9th graders called in India? ›After the National Education Policy 2020 9th grade in India is the freshman year of high school.
What grade is a 16 year old in India? ›Secondary school: Ninth and tenth standard/class/grade (for 14- to 16-year-olds) Higher secondary or pre-university: 11th and 12th standard/class/grade (for 16- to 17-year-olds).
What is 10th and 12th class called in India? ›SSC stands for Secondary School Certificate (Class 10th), and HSC stands for Higher Secondary Certificate (Class12th)
What is 10th grade called? ›Freshman Year (9th grade) Sophomore Year (10th grade) Junior Year (11th grade) Senior Year (12th grade)
What grade should a 17 year old be in? ›The 10th grade is the second year of a student's high school period (usually aged 15–16) and is referred to as sophomore year, so in a four year course the stages are freshman, sophomore, junior and senior.
At what age graduation is completed in India? ›| Primary | Elementary School | 1–8 |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary | Secondary School | 9–12 |
| Tertiary | First University Degree (Bachelor's) | 12–15 |
| Tertiary | First University Degree (Engineering & Technology) | 12–16 |
| Tertiary | Second University Degree (Master's) | 15–17 |
There are 11 states that require school attendance until age 17, while 16 states and the Virgin Islands only require schooling until age 16. Those states which have raised their minimum dropout ages above 16 may provide for exceptions with parental consent at ages 16 or 17.
What grade is 18 years old in USA? ›
Education system is more strict and more of homework as well. Compared to India, the syllabus and workload is relatively simplified and systematically organized in the US.
What do they call grades in India? ›Academic grading in India is based on a percentage system and they are called GPA or CGPA.
What is 12th grade called in USA? ›Secondary school consists of two programs: the first is “middle school” or “junior high school” and the second program is “high school.” A diploma or certificate is awarded upon graduation from high school. After graduating high school (12th grade), U.S. students may go on to college or university.
What happens after 12th grade in India? ›Tech , B.E, B.Sc, MBBS and BDS are the most popular courses after 12th science . B.Com, BBA and several other commerce courses are available for students. B.A. is the most popular course among arts stream students. Apart from these, several UG courses after Class 12 are available for all stream students.
How old is a 4th grader in India? ›In India, where children enter Class 4 at the ages 9 to 10 it is called Lower Primary, it is known as the fourth grade. 5-7 standard categories as Upper Primary(UP).
How old is a 7th grader in India? ›Students are around 12-13 years old in this stage of education.
How old are you in 2nd grade India? ›Answer: The minimum age for class 2 in Karnataka is 7 years. The Karnataka Education Department has increased the age from 5.10 to 6 years for Class 1. So, the minimum age for Class 2 must be 6.10 to 7 years.
What class is a 12 year old in India? ›3) The Middle Stage – Middle stage of education covering 3-4 years of academic study is formed by 5th-8thclass consisting of students aged between 12 to 14 years.
How old are you in 1st grade India? ›Currently, the age limit is 5 years 5 months. The commissioner of public instruction said that the new rule is applicable to prospective students. “The rule is in sync with the RTE rules as well as the new National Education POlicy. 21 states of the country had already implemented it.
Is 17 a minor in India? ›
India. In all 28 states and 8 union territories, a minor is referred to as someone under the age of 18. In rare cases minors aged 16 or 17 who are charged with extremely heinous crimes could sometimes be treated as an adult.
Is 11th grade high school in India? ›What is 11th grade in India? Senior Secondary Schools in India include classes 11th to 12th and consiste of students aged between 16-18 years usually. At this level of education, students can choose their preferred stream and subjects.
What happens after 10th grade in India? ›You can opt for courses in Mechanical, Civil, Chemical, Computer, Marine Technology, Textile Technology, Automobile, etc. The Polytechnic colleges offer diploma courses for 3 years, 2 years, 1 year. The 3-year diploma course in Engineering gets you a lateral entry in the 2nd year of B.E / B. Tech .
What is 12th pass called? ›In India, the HSC/Intermediate and PUC Certificates is known as "Class 12th Certificate" and also known as "+2 Certificate".
What are the 5 stages of education? ›- Pre-primary Stage: The pre-primary stage is the foundation of a child's behavior, knowledge, and skills. ...
- Primary Stage: The primary stage of school education consists of Classes I to V. ...
- Middle Stage: ...
- Secondary Stage: ...
- Higher Secondary Stage:
The best school ranking in India are based on the academic reputation of the school, the competency of the faculty members, and the extent of individual attention that students get in the school.
Is 18 an Indian minor? ›(1) Every person domiciled in India shall attain the age of majority on his completing the age of eighteen years and not before.
What is 11th and 12th called in USA? ›High school / Senior high school.
What is high school graduate in India? ›In India the high school starts from standard 9th to Standard 12th which is 4 years same as everywhere else in the world but in India you choose either Science,arts or Commerce after 10th to study for 11th and 12th which will determine which course you will be eligible for studying in college if it's science then ...
What is the school age in India? ›The Ministry of Education has directed all states and Union Territories to fix the minimum age for admission in Class 1 as six years, officials said on Wednesday.
What is a level in India? ›
Advanced Subsidiary (AS) Level (12 years of schooling), equated to the 11th grade of an Indian Board. GCE 'A' Levels (13 years of schooling), equated to the 12th grade of an Indian Board.
What are the levels of high school called? ›Freshman (ninth grade; the equivalent of the year 10 in the English System) Sophomore (tenth grade; the equivalent of year 11 in the English System) Junior (eleventh grade; the equivalent of year 12 in the English System) Senior (twelfth grade; the equivalent of year 13 in the English System)
What is Year 3 of high school called? ›(3) junior year, and someone in their third year is a junior. Junior can be abbreviated as "jr." in writing. (4) senior year, and someone in their fourth year is a senior.
What are the 3 types of school? ›- Types of schools.
- Government schools. The majority of students study in government schools where poor and vulnerable students study for free until the age of 14. ...
- Government aided Private Schools. ...
- Private Schools (unaided) ...
- International Schools. ...
- Home-Schooling. ...
- Open and Distance learning. ...
- International Education.
| Category | School Grade Level | Ages |
|---|---|---|
| High school | 9th grade / Freshman | 14-15 |
| 10th grade / Sophomore | 15-16 | |
| 11th grade / Junior | 16-17 | |
| 12th grade / Senior | 17-18 |
Freshman Year (9th grade) Sophomore Year (10th grade) Junior Year (11th grade) Senior Year (12th grade)
Why is 10th grade called sophomore? ›The 10th grade is the second year of a student's high school period (usually aged 15–16) and is referred to as sophomore year, so in a four year course the stages are freshman, sophomore, junior and senior.
What grade is a 15 year old in? ›| Student Age (as of September 1, 2023) | American Grade Equivalent |
|---|---|
| 17 years old | Grade 12 |
| 16 years old | Grade 11 |
| 15 years old | Grade 10 |
| 14 years old | Grade 9 |
These same terms apply in the same way to the four years of a standard high school: 9th grade is freshman year, 10th grade sophomore year, 11th grade junior year, and 12th grade senior year.
What is the school system in India? ›
The school system in India has four levels: lower primary (age 6 to 10), upper primary (11 and 12), high (13 to 15) and higher secondary (17 and 18). The lower primary school is divided into five “standards”, upper primary school into two, high school into three and higher secondary into two.
What is the education system in India? ›The education system is mainly divided into pre-primary, primary, elementary and secondary education, which is followed by higher studies. However, there are many drawbacks and loopholes in this system which if curbed can work for the overall development of the country.
What are the different types of Indian school? ›| Primary | Elementary School | 1–8 |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary | Secondary School | 9–12 |
| Tertiary | First University Degree (Bachelor's) | 12–15 |
| Tertiary | First University Degree (Engineering & Technology) | 12–16 |
| Tertiary | Second University Degree (Master's) | 15–17 |
Students are usually 16–17 years old.
How is American education system different from Indian? ›In India, successive educational programs are primary, secondary, higher-secondary, graduation (Bachelor's degree), master's, and doctoral studies. In contrast, the various levels of the US education system include elementary school, middle school, high school, and then higher education.
Does US high school have grade 13? ›Most jurisdictions in the United States require or offer only twelfth grade as the final year of secondary school. Some school districts in Oregon offer a thirteenth grade.