Overview of International School Systems in Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, there are three main types of international school systems: British, American, and Canadian. However, there are also a few international schools that offer their own national curriculum for citizens of specific countries, such as Australian international schools, Japanese international schools, French international schools, and Korean international schools.

British System

In general, international schools following the British system admit students to Year 1 at the age of five. The secondary school phase consists of seven years, so students would spend a total of thirteen years from primary to secondary school graduation. International schools following the British system also offer different types of examinations. For example, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), which is open to all students, can be taken at schools like ESF and German Swiss International School. Some British-based international schools adopt a purely British curriculum and examination system, such as the IGCSE and A-Level. Examples include Kellett School and Harrow International School Hong Kong.

American and Canadian System

In the American and Canadian systems, students begin Grade 1 at the age of six, and the combined duration of primary and secondary school is twelve years. The main type of examination in the American system is the SAT, which is used by schools like Hong Kong International School and Christian Alliance International School. International schools following the Canadian system primarily use the OSSD, OECD, and Alberta examination systems. Examples include Canadian International School, Delia School of Canada, and Canadian Academy International School.

Others

Additionally, some international schools offer their own national curriculum for citizens. For instance, Australian international schools provide the Australian National Curriculum (primary), New South Wales Curriculum (secondary), and the High School Certificate examination from Kindergarten to Grade 12. The French sections of international schools are managed by the French Overseas Education Administration (AEFE) and follow the French national education curriculum, including the "Diplôme National du Brevet" and the French "Baccalauréat."

See the chart for grade level equivalencies

Age	Hong Kong	UK	US	Canada	Australia
3	K1	Nursery	Pre-K	Pre-Reception	Kindergarten
4	K2	Reception	Pre-K	Reception	Kindergarten
5	K3	Year 1	Kindergarten	Preparatory	Preparatory
6	Primary 1	Year 2	Grade 1	Grade 1	Year 1
7	Primary 2	Year 3	Grade 2	Grade 2	Year 2
8	Primary 3	Year 4	Grade 3	Grade 3	Year 3
9	Primary 4	Year 5	Grade 4	Grade 4	Year 4
10	Primary 5	Year 6	Grade 5	Grade 5	Year 5
11	Primary 6	Year 7	Grade 6	Grade 6	Year 6
12	Secondary 1	Year 8	Grade 7	Grade 7	Year 7
13	Secondary 2	Year 9	Grade 8	Grade 8	Year 8
14	Secondary 3	Year 10	Grade 9	Grade 9	Year 9
15	Secondary 4	Year 11	Grade 10	Grade 10	Year 10
16	Secondary 5	Year 12	Grade 11	Grade 11	Year 11
17	Secondary 6	Year 13	Grade 12	Grade 12	Year 12

Each academic system has its own characteristics, teaching philosophies, and methods. If parents are interested in learning more about international schools or want to know which academic system is suitable for their children, please contact us. We can provide valuable information and assistance to help you navigate through various international school options, understand the teaching approaches, and determine the best fit for your child's educational needs. Feel free to reach out to us for further inquiries and personalized guidance.