Twelfth Grade

Twelfth Grade, (also known as senior year or Senior 4 in the U.S), is the name given to the final year of secondary education in the United States and many other nations. In 98% of American High Schools, students are classified by grade (9th - Freshman, 10th - Sophomore, 11th - Junior, and 12th - Senior).

The final secondary school year is known by different terms around the world. It is simply referred to as the twelfth grade or grade 12 in English Canada); in Malaysia, it is known as the Lower Sixth Form and Upper Sixth Form; in the Republic of Ireland it is known as sixth year; in Singapore it is known as JC2 (Junior College 2). In Australia it is known as Year 12. In India it is known as XII standard or twelfth standard, and in some undergraduate colleges which offer XII standard it can also be known as Second year junior College (SYJC). In New Zealand and Great Britain, grade levels are not used. Instead, the final year of schooling is known as Year 13 in England, and Wales but sixth year in Scotland. In Northern Ireland pupils of this age enter Year 14.

The twelfth grade is the twelfth school year after kindergarten. Students are usually 17 to 18 years old. Twelfth grade is the last year of compulsory secondary education, or "high school" in the U.S.

Members of this grade level are commonly struck by "senioritis".

In most American schools, Seniors graduate several weeks before the end of the traditional school year.

United Kingdom

In England and Wales, "Year 13" (or "Upper Sixth") is the second and last year of A-Level certifications, which are completed at the end of "Year 13" (or "Upper Sixth") Students are usually 16-17 in Year 12 and 17-18 in Year 13. In Northern Ireland this takes place in Years 13 and 14. In both cases, these two years are entirely optional, but generally required for entry into higher education. In Scotland, this is 5th and 6th year. Sufficiently good marks in 5th year may be adequate for entry into higher education (Highers are the entry qualifications to university, of which can be sat in S5, S6 and college, with Advanced highers being the equivalent to year one of university[1] which can be sat following higher exams). There exist specific sixth form colleges dedicated to these years of education, sometimes known as "further education" to distinguish it from both secondary education, which is compulsory, and higher education, which implies university studies.

Germany

In Germany, students wishing to take the Abitur usually had to attend a thirteenth grade, but most states are shortening the gymnasium (the university-bound secondary school system in Germany) from nine to eight years.

India

In India, the equivalent grade is referred to as the "twelfth standard" or (in some regions "second year junior college" (SYJC). Most students who pass out of class 12 are 17-18 years old. With the introduction of separate entrance examinations for entry into medicine, engineering and law courses. Entrance exams usually comprise of multiple-choice-questions on physics, chemistry and biology (or mathematics) and are conducted separately on national and state levels. Additionally some highly coveted institutions hold their own entrance tests. These competitive exams are among the toughest in the world and competition is intense, for example over 300,000 students appear for the IIT-JEE exam, competing for 5,500 seats at the IITs. The CBSE and ICSE boards conduct twelfth standard courses nationally, while state boards operate at the state-level.

Canada

Prior to 2003, Ontario schools followed with an optional "Grade 13", which comprised the Ontario Academic Credit, a prerequisite for university acceptance in the province. In a collegiate institute, the majority of students would graduate from Grade 13, rather than Grade 12. Students of the grade were known as "Grade 13's" or "13's", never as "seniors" (an American term not used in Ontario).

In Quebec, there is no formal compulsory 12th year, as secondary education completes with Grade 11 (eleventh grade). This can be followed with optional CEGEP vocational/college preparatory program.