Curricula
Compare British, IB and American curricula
One table for the structural differences, one for where the same-age child lands in each system, and a plain reading of what those differences mean for a family that may move again.
Prepared by InternationalSchools.orgPublished July 2026Last reviewed July 2026
In short
- The clearest difference is when subject choice narrows: at 16 in the British system, never in the IB, gradually in the American system.
- Year numbering does not align. British Year 10 and American Grade 9 usually hold the same age group.
- Transfer friction is age-specific, not system-wide. Every system has years that are easy to join and years that are not.
- All three are widely recognised by universities, which set their own subject and grade requirements.
Structural comparison
Age range covered
- British
- 3 to 18
- International Baccalaureate
- 3 to 19 across four programmes
- American
- 3 to 18
How years are named
- British
- Nursery, Reception, then Years 1 to 13
- International Baccalaureate
- No IB numbering; the school's own grade or year names
- American
- Pre-K, Kindergarten, then Grades 1 to 12
Stage structure
- British
- Early Years, Key Stages 1 to 4, sixth form
- International Baccalaureate
- PYP, MYP, then DP or CP
- American
- Elementary, middle, high school
Main examination points
- British
- End of Year 11 and end of Year 13
- International Baccalaureate
- End of the two-year Diploma Programme
- American
- None required; optional AP examinations by subject
Assessment type
- British
- Internal to Year 9, then externally examined
- International Baccalaureate
- Criterion-based throughout; external only in the final programme
- American
- Continuous internal assessment recorded on a transcript
Breadth versus specialisation
- British
- Broad to 16, then three or four subjects
- International Baccalaureate
- Broad to 19: six subject groups plus a core
- American
- Broad to 18 within credit requirements
When subject choice narrows
- British
- Partly at 14, sharply at 16
- International Baccalaureate
- It does not narrow
- American
- Gradually, through course selection
Leaving qualification
- British
- IGCSE or GCSE at 16; A Level at 18
- International Baccalaureate
- IB Diploma, Career-related Programme certificate, or certificated courses
- American
- High school diploma, supported by transcript, GPA and any AP results
University recognition
- British
- Widely recognised; each university sets subject and grade requirements
- International Baccalaureate
- Widely recognised; each university sets points and subject requirements
- American
- Standard for US entry; elsewhere often read alongside AP results
Transfer friction
- British
- Low to Year 9; high in Years 11 and 13
- International Baccalaureate
- Low in PYP and MYP; highest in the second Diploma year
- American
- Lowest overall; care needed in Grades 11 and 12
Typical workload shape
- British
- Concentrated into examination years
- International Baccalaureate
- Spread across six subjects plus the core
- American
- Distributed evenly across four high school years
| Attribute | British | International Baccalaureate | American |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age range covered | 3 to 18 | 3 to 19 across four programmes | 3 to 18 |
| How years are named | Nursery, Reception, then Years 1 to 13 | No IB numbering; the school's own grade or year names | Pre-K, Kindergarten, then Grades 1 to 12 |
| Stage structure | Early Years, Key Stages 1 to 4, sixth form | PYP, MYP, then DP or CP | Elementary, middle, high school |
| Main examination points | End of Year 11 and end of Year 13 | End of the two-year Diploma Programme | None required; optional AP examinations by subject |
| Assessment type | Internal to Year 9, then externally examined | Criterion-based throughout; external only in the final programme | Continuous internal assessment recorded on a transcript |
| Breadth versus specialisation | Broad to 16, then three or four subjects | Broad to 19: six subject groups plus a core | Broad to 18 within credit requirements |
| When subject choice narrows | Partly at 14, sharply at 16 | It does not narrow | Gradually, through course selection |
| Leaving qualification | IGCSE or GCSE at 16; A Level at 18 | IB Diploma, Career-related Programme certificate, or certificated courses | High school diploma, supported by transcript, GPA and any AP results |
| University recognition | Widely recognised; each university sets subject and grade requirements | Widely recognised; each university sets points and subject requirements | Standard for US entry; elsewhere often read alongside AP results |
| Transfer friction | Low to Year 9; high in Years 11 and 13 | Low in PYP and MYP; highest in the second Diploma year | Lowest overall; care needed in Grades 11 and 12 |
| Typical workload shape | Concentrated into examination years | Spread across six subjects plus the core | Distributed evenly across four high school years |
Where the same-age child lands
Indicative only. Placement always depends on the individual school's age cut-off date and on assessment at entry.
Age 5 to 6
- British
- Year 1
- International Baccalaureate
- PYP
- American
- Kindergarten
Age 7 to 8
- British
- Year 3
- International Baccalaureate
- PYP
- American
- Grade 2
Age 10 to 11
- British
- Year 6
- International Baccalaureate
- PYP final year
- American
- Grade 5
Age 11 to 12
- British
- Year 7
- International Baccalaureate
- MYP
- American
- Grade 6
Age 14 to 15
- British
- Year 10
- International Baccalaureate
- MYP
- American
- Grade 9
Age 15 to 16
- British
- Year 11
- International Baccalaureate
- MYP final year
- American
- Grade 10
Age 16 to 17
- British
- Year 12
- International Baccalaureate
- DP year 1
- American
- Grade 11
Age 17 to 18
- British
- Year 13
- International Baccalaureate
- DP year 2
- American
- Grade 12
| Attribute | British | International Baccalaureate | American |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age 5 to 6 | Year 1 | PYP | Kindergarten |
| Age 7 to 8 | Year 3 | PYP | Grade 2 |
| Age 10 to 11 | Year 6 | PYP final year | Grade 5 |
| Age 11 to 12 | Year 7 | MYP | Grade 6 |
| Age 14 to 15 | Year 10 | MYP | Grade 9 |
| Age 15 to 16 | Year 11 | MYP final year | Grade 10 |
| Age 16 to 17 | Year 12 | DP year 1 | Grade 11 |
| Age 17 to 18 | Year 13 | DP year 2 | Grade 12 |
The single most common surprise for families is the British and American offset: the same numbered year is a year apart. Always confirm placement with the school in writing rather than converting numbers yourself.
What the differences mean in practice
- If you expect to move again within three years. Weight portability over everything else, and check where your child's age sits relative to each system's examination blocks.
- If your child already has a clear direction. Early depth is easier in the British system; the IB deliberately prevents it.
- If your child is a steady worker rather than an examination performer. Continuous assessment favours them; a single terminal examination series does not.
- If you know the university destination. Work backwards from that country's entry requirements. It is the only comparison that produces a definite answer.
Worked example
A 15-year-old moving in September
In the British system this is the start of Year 11: the final year of a two-year examination course, and the hardest possible entry point.
In the IB it is the final MYP year, which is demanding but not examination-locked. In the American system it is Grade 10, an ordinary year with credits assessed course by course.
Same child, same month, three very different levels of difficulty. This is why age and timing usually matter more than the choice of system in the abstract.
Common questions
Read each system in full: British, International Baccalaureate and American.
Continue reading
Transferring between curricula
All six directions, with the ages that work and the ages that do not.
Curricula library
What a curriculum is, and how it differs from a qualification.
How to find a school
Turning requirements into a shortlist you can actually evaluate.
How matching works
Eligibility gates, fit considerations, and the shortlist a family starts from.
Last reviewed: July 2026
Age alignment is indicative. Each school sets its own cut-off date and admissions assessment, so placement can differ by a year in either direction.
Sources
Something look wrong? Report a correction.