Common Ages

Students may be slightly younger or older than stated below, due to variation between states and territories. Some schools vary in whether Year 7 is part of the Primary or Secondary years, as well as the existence of a Middle School system such as in the Northern Territory. The name for the first year of Primary school varies considerably between states and territories, e.g. what is known as Kindergarten in ACT and NSW may mean the year preceding the first year of Primary school or even the year before this in other states and territories.

Primary

·  Pre-school / Kindergarten: 4-5 year olds

·  Kindergarten / Preparatory / Pre-Primary / Reception / Transition (ACT and NSW / QLD, TAS and VIC / WA / SA / NT): 5-6 year olds

·  Year 1: 6-7 year olds

·  Year 2: 7-8 year olds

·  Year 3: 8-9 year olds

·  Year 4: 9-10 year olds

·  Year 5: 10-11 year olds

·  Year 6: 11-12 year olds

·  Year 7: 12-13 year olds (QLD, SA, WA)

Secondary

·  Year 7: 12-13 year olds (ACT, NSW, TAS,VIC) (Middle School NT)

·  Year 8: 13-14 year olds

·  Year 9: 14-15 year olds

·  Year 10: 15-16 year olds (High School NT)

·  Year 11: 16-17 year olds

·  Year 12: 17-19 year olds

Comparison of ages and Year levels across States and Territories

Year(s) In School / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13
Australian Capital Territory / Primary School / High School / College
Kindergarten / Year 1 / Year 2 / Year 3 / Year 4 / Year 5 / Year 6 / Year 7 / Year 8 / Year 9 / Year 10 / Year 11 / Year 12
New South Wales / Primary School / High School
Kindergarten / Year 1 / Year 2 / Year 3 / Year 4 / Year 5 / Year 6 / Year 7 / Year 8 / Year 9 / Year 10 / Year 11 / Year 12
Northern Territory / Primary School / Middle School / High School
Transition / Year 1 / Year 2 / Year 3 / Year 4 / Year 5 / Year 6 / Year 7 / Year 8 / Year 9 / Year 10 / Year 11 / Year 12
Queensland / Primary School / High School
Preparatory / Year 1 / Year 2 / Year 3 / Year 4 / Year 5 / Year 6 / Year 7 / Year 8 / Year 9 / Year 10 / Year 11 / Year 12
South Australia / Junior primary school / Primary school / Secondary School/High School
Reception / Year 1 / Year 2 / Year 3 / Year 4 / Year 5 / Year 6 / Year 7 / Year 8 / Year 9 / Year 10 / Year 11 / Year 12
Tasmania / Primary School / High School / College
Preparatory / Grade 1 / Grade 2 / Grade 3 / Grade 4 / Grade 5 / Grade 6 / Year 7 / Year 8 / Year 9 / Year 10 / Year 11 / Year 12
Victoria / Primary School / Secondary School / VCE
Preparatory / Grade 1 / Grade 2 / Grade 3 / Grade 4 / Grade 5 / Grade 6 / Year 7 / Year 8 / Year 9 / Year 10 / Year 11 / Year 12
Western Australia / Primary School / High School
Pre-Primary / Year 1 / Year 2 / Year 3 / Year 4 / Year 5 / Year 6 / Year 7 / Year 8 / Year 9 / Year 10 / Year 11 / Year 12

In the Northern Territory, primary schools often include a pre-school. In Western Australia, primary schools often include two pre-school years. Beginning in 2007, the Northern Territory introduced middle schools for Years 7-9 and High School for Years 10-12. Australian Capital Territory, South Australia and Tasmania have a "Year 13" for students wishing to take extra time to complete their final year.

State or
Territory / Minimum
age / Age in the year
before Year 1 / Compulsory age / Nomenclature year
before school / Nomenclature year
before Year 1
ACT[24] / 4.8 / Age 5 on 30 April / Year in which
child turns 6 / Pre-school / Kindergarten
NT[25] / 4.6 / Age 5 on 30 June / Year in which
child turns 6 / Pre-school / Transition
NSW[25] / 4.5 / Age 5 on 31 July / Year in which
child turns 6 / Pre-school / Kindergarten
QLD[26] / 4.6 / Age 5 on 30 June / Year in which
child turns 6.64 / Kindergarten /
Pre-school / Preparatory
SA[27] / 5.0 / In the term
after 5th birthday / 6 years of age / Pre-school / Reception
TAS[25] / 5.0 / Age 5 on 1 January / Year after
turning 5 / Kindergarten / Preparatory
VIC[28] / 4.8 / Age 5 on 30 April / Year in which
child turns 6 / Kindergarten / Preparatory
WA[25] / 4.6 / Age 5 on 30 June / Year in which
child turns 6.6 / Kindergarten / Pre-Primary

Children that have been identified as gifted may begin school earlier than the stated minimum age in some states and territories.