Eleventh grade (also known as 11th Grade, Grade 11, or Junior year) is the eleventh year of
formal or
compulsory education
Compulsory education refers to a period of education that is required of all people and is imposed by the government. This education may take place at a registered school or at home or other places.
Compulsory school attendance or compulsory sc ...
. It is typically the 3rd year of high school. Students in eleventh grade are usually 16-17 years of age.
Australia
In Australia,
Year 11 is the twelfth year of education and fifth year of high school education. Although there are slight variations between the states, most students in Year 11 are aged around fifteen, sixteen, or seventeen. In
Queensland
Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...
, Year 11 students are the youngest in the country, as they usually enter at age fifteen.
In
New South Wales
New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...
, Year 11 is the shortest year as it only lasts three whole terms. Students commence Year 12 in Term 4 instead of completing a fourth term of Year 11.
Year 11 is followed by
Year 12
Year 12 is an educational year group in schools in many countries including England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. It is sometimes the twelfth or thirteenth year of compulsory education, or alternatively a year of post-comp ...
, the final year of high school.
Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, students get admitted in the 11th grade after passing the
Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations. Educational institutions offering the 11th–
12th grade education are known as colleges. To study in the 11th grade, students must choose one of the three streams. (i.e.,
science
Science is a systematic discipline that builds and organises knowledge in the form of testable hypotheses and predictions about the universe. Modern science is typically divided into twoor threemajor branches: the natural sciences, which stu ...
,
humanities
Humanities are academic disciplines that study aspects of human society and culture, including Philosophy, certain fundamental questions asked by humans. During the Renaissance, the term "humanities" referred to the study of classical literature a ...
,
business studies
Business studies, often simply called business, is a field of study that deals with the principles of business, management, and economics. It combines elements of accountancy, finance, marketing, organizational studies, human resource manageme ...
.)
Belgium
In Belgium, the 11th grade is called "5e secondaire" in the French speaking part of the country, "5de middelbaar" in the Dutch speaking part and "5te sekundäre" in the German speaking part of Belgium.
Brazil
In
Brazil
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
, the eleventh grade is the ''"segundo ano do ensino médio"'', meaning "second grade of high school". Students tend to be 16 years old.
Bulgaria
In Bulgaria, the 11th grade is the penultimate year of the high-school (
gymnasium) stage. Students tend to be 17–18 years old.
Canada
In all provinces and territories except
Quebec
Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...
, a student continues to
Grade 12 to complete their high school (or secondary) education. In Quebec, Grade 11 (sec. 5) is the final year of secondary education, followed by
CEGEP (college), a pre-university level unique to Quebec.
Colombia
In Colombia, all eleventh-grade students are required to complete an internship, known as alphabetisation, to distinguish it from university-level internships. These internships typically focus on community service, with students engaging in activities such as teaching in schools, assisting in hospitals, or supporting libraries.
Additionally, students must take the
ICFES National Test, a standardized exam required for graduation and higher education admission. They are also required to present themselves for the
Colombian Army
The National Army of Colombia () is the land warfare service branch of the Military Forces of Colombia. With over 361,420 active personnel as of 2020, it is the largest and oldest service branch in Colombia, and is the second largest army in the ...
draft. However, since most eleventh-grade students are 16–17 years old, the army cannot legally recruit them due to age restrictions. In most cases, participation in the draft process is substituted by paying a monetary fee.
Egypt
Among Egyptian students it is called تانية ثانوي (tanya thanawy), which means "the second year of secondary school". In this year, students have the choice to enter either the scientific or literature section. In the scientific section, applied mathematics, biology, chemistry and physics are studied, while in the literature section, history, geography, philosophy and psychology are studied. Both sections study Arabic, foreign languages and mathematics as common subjects between them. After finishing 3 years of secondary school, students can apply to a college depending on their chosen section.
Finland
In Finland there are three years of high school. 11th grade is the second.
France
The equivalent is the
Première, which is the penultimate year of
Secondary education in France
In France, secondary education is in two stages:
* ''Collèges'' () cater for the first four years of secondary education from the ages of 11 to 14.
* ''Lycées'' () provide a three-year course of further secondary education for students between ...
(followed by the
Terminale).
Greece
In Greece, the 11th grade is called the second year of
lyceum school, high school, or upper secondary school. (Deutera Lykeiou – Δευτέρα Λυκείου) It is the penultimate year of secondary education, but it is not compulsory to attend.
Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, 11th grade is called Form 5. Students attending local schools in Hong Kong will study four core subjects in preparation for the
HKDSE. (Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination) These include Chinese language, English language,
mathematics
Mathematics is a field of study that discovers and organizes methods, Mathematical theory, theories and theorems that are developed and Mathematical proof, proved for the needs of empirical sciences and mathematics itself. There are many ar ...
, and citizenship and social development.
India
In India, Class 11 is the first year of
senior secondary education, as part of the country's 10+2 system of schooling. It follows the completion of
secondary education
Secondary education is the education level following primary education and preceding tertiary education.
Level 2 or ''lower secondary education'' (less commonly ''junior secondary education'') is considered the second and final phase of basic e ...
(up to Class 10), and serves as an important preparatory phase for students who intend to continue to
Class 12 and subsequently pursue higher education.
Structure and Streams
Upon entering Class 11, students select one of the academic streams offered, based on their career aspirations and academic strengths. The major streams available are:
* Science
** Subjects include Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Computer Science, and others.
** Suitable for careers in engineering, medicine, pure sciences, and research.
* Commerce
** Subjects include Accountancy, Business Studies, Economics, Mathematics, and others.
** Suitable for careers in business, finance, accounting, and commerce-related fields.
* Humanities / Arts
** Subjects include History, Political Science, Geography, Sociology, Psychology, and others.
** Suitable for careers in law, social sciences, humanities, civil services, and media.
* Vocational Courses
** Various state boards and central boards offer vocational streams aimed at skill development and employability.
Curriculum and Assessments
Class 11 does not have a centralized public examination at the national level. Instead:
* Students undergo periodic assessments conducted by their respective schools.
* Final examinations are held at the end of Class 11, organized internally by schools or as per guidelines set by their affiliated boards.
* The performance in Class 11 is critical as it forms the foundation for Class 12 studies and is considered during
internal assessments for board examinations.
Boards of Education
Class 11 is offered under multiple education boards in India, including:
* The
Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
* The
Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE).
* Various
State Boards of Education.
Each board may have its own syllabus, textbooks, and examination schemes, although the general structure of streams remains similar.
Importance
Class 11 is considered a crucial academic year because:
* It introduces students to more specialized and in-depth study of subjects aligned with their chosen streams.
* It prepares students for the rigor of Class 12 board examinations.
* Performance in Class 11 is often used for eligibility to participate in entrance exam preparatory courses, Olympiads, and scholarship tests.
* Students begin preparations for national-level competitive examinations such as
JEE,
NEET, and
CUET during this stage.
Compulsory Education Policy
Though Class 11 is essential for pursuing higher education in India, it is not part of compulsory education. According to the
Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, education is only compulsory up to the age of 14 (Class 8). However, for students wishing to continue their academic journey or pursue careers that require formal qualifications, Class 11 is a necessary step.
Indonesia
In Indonesia, after appearing for Class X Boards, the students opt for the programs they want to study.
There are three programs:
* Science, which comprises physics,
chemistry
Chemistry is the scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a physical science within the natural sciences that studies the chemical elements that make up matter and chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules a ...
and
biology
Biology is the scientific study of life and living organisms. It is a broad natural science that encompasses a wide range of fields and unifying principles that explain the structure, function, growth, History of life, origin, evolution, and ...
* Social, which comprises economy, geography and sociology
* Language, which comprises
foreign languages, Indonesian literature and
anthropology
Anthropology is the scientific study of humanity, concerned with human behavior, human biology, cultures, society, societies, and linguistics, in both the present and past, including archaic humans. Social anthropology studies patterns of behav ...
Ireland
In Ireland, it is Fifth Year or Cúigú Bhliain of Secondary School. (for 15 to 17-year-olds, as there is an optional year beforehand) In this year, students prepare for their
Leaving Certificate.
Lebanon
11th Grade is also known as grade 11 or premiere. Students are divided into either scientific (which then proceeds to become life science
S or SV or general science (GS or SG) in grade 12, as well as economics (ES or SE) which proceeds to become economics (ES or SE) or humanities (H) in grade 12. The choice of division is done according to grades and sometimes according to what the student wants to do in college. A student can go from scientific to economics later in grade 12, but not the opposite.
Nepal
In Nepal, students complete their SEE boards. Afterwards, they used to start 11th Grade as starting of "college level education". It is now considered higher secondary education. Students can take in 3 different streams, plus 2. (11, 12)
* Science
* Arts
* Management
Mathematics,
social studies, Nepali, and English are compulsory subjects in all streams, but the students can opt to take one subject between math and social.
Israel
In Israel, eleventh grade is known as "Yud-Aleph" (11 in Hebrew numerals, י"א). Ages of the students average at around 16-17.
Eleventh grade is when Israeli students do their final tests for most of the subjects for their high school diploma (Called "te'udat bagrut", roughly translates to 'diploma of maturity').
It is considered to be the hardest and most stressful year, because in most schools, There's a final test for every subject besides English, Maths, and their Megamot (1-2 classes the student chooses, it's mandatory to choose at least 1).
Palestinian Territories
In 11th Grade, ages of the students average at around 16–17. 11th Grade is when Palestinian students do their final tests for most of the subjects for their high school diploma.
Many students consider it to be the hardest, and most stressful year. In most schools, they do the final test for every subject besides English, math, and
Arabic
Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...
.
Malaysia
In Malaysia, 11th grade also known as Form 5 in secondary school. The students at this stage are 17 years old, and it is the fifth and last year in the secondary school. (compare to Form 6/12th grade) This year is critical as the students in this stage sit for one of the biggest and most important national exams; the
Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) Exam. This is a crucial exam that determines the future of the student. (Form 6, A-Levels, foundation, or Diploma) Some of them even start work immediately after their SPM.
Mexico
In some parts, 11th Grade is the second year of high school. Most students enter this grade at the age of 16, but some might enter as early as 15 or as late as 17.
Norway
In Norway, the eleventh year of education is the first year of ''Videregående skole'', equivalent to high school. It is not referred to as the 11th Grade, but rather the first grade of ''Videregående,'' or VG1. Although ''
Videregående skole'' is not compulsory for Norwegians, approximately 93% of people aged 16–18 enroll. There is no upper age limit for starting or finishing ''Videregående skole'', but students cannot enroll earlier than the year they turn 16.
New Zealand
In New Zealand, ''Year 12'' is the equivalent of 11th Grade, with students aged 16 or 17 during the years. It is the fourth year of secondary school and the twelfth year of compulsory education. During Year 12, most students complete Level 2 of the
National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA), the country's main national qualification for secondary school students. Students in Year 12 typically study English (or
Te Reo Māori) and a minimum of five
elective subjects with mathematics highly recommended.
Pakistan
11th Grade is the first of the two years in college (12th Grade being the last and final year before university education) and is equivalently referred to as "first year." Students in this year level are 15 to 16 years old. Students get to select from the following subjects:
Pre-medical (biology, physics, chemistry)
Pre-engineering (math, physics, chemistry)
Commerce
Humanities
Science
Home economics
Home economics, also called domestic science or family and consumer sciences (often shortened to FCS or FACS), is a subject concerning human development, personal and family finances, consumer issues, housing and interior design, nutrition and f ...
Arts
And the compulsory subjects
Urdu
Urdu (; , , ) is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in South Asia. It is the Languages of Pakistan, national language and ''lingua franca'' of Pakistan. In India, it is an Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of Indi ...
,
Islamic
Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...
studies, (1st year only) and Pakistan studies. (2nd year only) The students can select the preferred subject on the basis of SSC results. (9th and 10th grade)
Philippines
In the Philippines, 11th Grade or Penultimate Year () is the first year of Senior High School and the fifth year of the High School curriculum. Topics discussed depend on the four tracks and their strands.
* Academic Track
**ABM (Accountancy, Business & Management)
**
STEM (Science,
Technology
Technology is the application of Conceptual model, conceptual knowledge to achieve practical goals, especially in a reproducible way. The word ''technology'' can also mean the products resulting from such efforts, including both tangible too ...
, Engineering & Mathematics)
**HUMSS (Humanities &
Social science
Social science (often rendered in the plural as the social sciences) is one of the branches of science, devoted to the study of societies and the relationships among members within those societies. The term was formerly used to refer to the ...
s)
**GAS (General Academic Strand)
**Pre-Baccalaureate Maritime
* Technical-Vocational Track
**Agri-Fishery arts
**Home economics
**
Industrial arts
**
Information Communications Technology (ICT)
**TVL Maritime
* Sports track
* Arts and design track
Since 13 June 2016, with the start of school year 2016–2017 as part of the
K–12's 9-year implementation process. Students are usually 16–17 years old. Students can also start at the age of 15–16 years old.
Russia
The 11th Grade is final year of secondary education as well as the end of the high school. It is also an
examination-al year, when training to USE is being more powerful than in
tenth grade. Priority of education in this year is given to repeat the material learned in high school (
fifth to
tenth years) in mathematics, Russian language, and in exam subjects by pupils' choice.
Singapore
In Singapore, 11th grade is equivalent of Secondary 5 level.
Only people taking N Levels (normal academic levels) will go to secondary 5, those in express streams will take their O levels (ordinary levels) in secondary 4, and then continue to a Junior College for 2 years or
Polytechnic for 3 years.
Spain
The closest equivalent to the eleventh grade is the first year of
Bachillerato. It is for pupils aged 16 to 17. It is a year of many changes when pupils can start to choose what they would like to study in the future at university. There are three types of "Bachilleratos":
Main subjects: Spanish, English,
Physical education
Physical education is an academic subject taught in schools worldwide, encompassing Primary education, primary, Secondary education, secondary, and sometimes tertiary education. It is often referred to as Phys. Ed. or PE, and in the United Stat ...
and philosophy.
Science: math, physics and chemistry and biology and geology (health-orientated degrees) or
technical drawing
Technical drawing, drafting or drawing, is the act and discipline of composing drawings that visually communicate how something functions or is constructed.
Technical drawing is essential for communicating ideas in industry and engineering. ...
.
Humanities/Sociology:
Latin
Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
and Greek or math oriented for sociology and economy, history and literature.
Arts: music, drama class, design, history of art.
Sweden
This is the first year of Upper Secondary School.
United Kingdom
England and Wales
Year 12
Year 12 is an educational year group in schools in many countries including England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. It is sometimes the twelfth or thirteenth year of compulsory education, or alternatively a year of post-comp ...
, or Lower Sixth form, is comparable to the 11th grade in the US. It is the sixth and penultimate year of secondary education. During Year 12, students usually take the first half of three or four
A-Level or equivalent subjects. Some students take
Advanced Subsidiary Level
The A-level (Advanced Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as a school leaving qualification offered by Education in the United Kingdom, the educational bodies in the United ...
(AS-Level) exams at the end of Year 12.
Students then enter Year 13 (equivalent to 12th grade) continuing to study three or four A-Levels, with most (65.8%) taking three A-Levels at 18.
Successful completion generally results in the award of A-Level qualifications, though
BTECs can be received.
Scotland
In Scotland, fifth year (of secondary education) or S5 is optional. Pupils will generally sit
Higher qualifications which form the core entry requirements for university. It is followed by an optional final sixth year. (also known as S6) The students ages normally range from 16 to 17 in this year.
Northern Ireland
The system is similar to the English one at this age.
Lower Sixth Form (Year 13) pupils start on a two-year course; at the end of which they will hopefully have gained three 'A' Levels in their chosen subjects.
United States
In the US, a student in the eleventh grade is typically referred to as a junior.
The vast majority of students who are classified as juniors take the
SAT Reasoning Test and/or
ACT in the second semester of their third year of high school.
Math students usually take
algebra II, but classes like
trigonometry
Trigonometry () is a branch of mathematics concerned with relationships between angles and side lengths of triangles. In particular, the trigonometric functions relate the angles of a right triangle with ratios of its side lengths. The fiel ...
or
precalculus are sometimes offered for students who wish to take Advanced Placement math classes in their fourth, or senior year of high school. Depending on the location, there may be a combination of any of the listed subjects. They may also take easier courses such as
algebra I and
geometry
Geometry (; ) is a branch of mathematics concerned with properties of space such as the distance, shape, size, and relative position of figures. Geometry is, along with arithmetic, one of the oldest branches of mathematics. A mathematician w ...
if they do not have the required prerequisites for the more advanced courses that are listed above. Students who are advanced in mathematics often take
calculus
Calculus is the mathematics, mathematical study of continuous change, in the same way that geometry is the study of shape, and algebra is the study of generalizations of arithmetic operations.
Originally called infinitesimal calculus or "the ...
or statistics.
In science classes, third-year students are typically taught
biology
Biology is the scientific study of life and living organisms. It is a broad natural science that encompasses a wide range of fields and unifying principles that explain the structure, function, growth, History of life, origin, evolution, and ...
, physics, or
chemistry
Chemistry is the scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a physical science within the natural sciences that studies the chemical elements that make up matter and chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules a ...
, with a strong emphasis on laboratory work.
In English class, a college-preparatory curriculum commonly includes
American literature. Often,
English literature
English literature is literature written in the English language from the English-speaking world. The English language has developed over more than 1,400 years. The earliest forms of English, a set of Anglo-Frisian languages, Anglo-Frisian d ...
is taught in the third year of high school. Key works may include The
Glass Menagerie,
The Scarlet Letter,
The Crucible
''The Crucible'' is a 1953 play by the American playwright Arthur Miller. It is a dramatized and partially fictionalized story of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Province of Massachusetts Bay from 1692 to 1693. Miller wrote ...
,
The Great Gatsby,
Of Mice and Men
''Of Mice and Men'' is a 1937 novella written by American author John Steinbeck. It describes the experiences of George Milton and Lennie Small, two displaced migrant worker, migrant ranch workers, as they move from place to place in California ...
,
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,
The Grapes of Wrath, and works by authors like
Jonathan Edwards,
Amy Tan, and
Lorraine Hansberry.
In a social studies curriculum, third-year students in the United States are typically taught
US history, often covering the period from the 1870s to the 21st Century. These courses may also be taught in ninth or tenth grade. Students may also explore more advanced world culture and geography, as well as other social sciences such as psychology, economics, sociology, and government.
Many high school third-year students in the United States choose to take a
foreign language, even though it is not always required in all secondary school curricula.
While normally followed by twelfth grade, some colleges will accept excelling students out of this grade as part of an
early college entrance program. Alternatively, some students may choose to graduate early through
standardized testing
A standardized test is a test that is administered and scored in a consistent or standard manner. Standardized tests are designed in such a way that the questions and interpretations are consistent and are administered and scored in a predetermine ...
or
advanced credits.
See also
*
Educational stage
*
Ninth grade
Ninth grade (also 9th grade or grade 9) is the ninth or tenth Educational stage, year of Formal education, formal or compulsory education in some countries. It is generally part of middle school or secondary school depending on country. Students i ...
*
Tenth grade
*
Twelfth grade
Twelfth Grade (also known as Grade 12, Senior Year, Standard 12, 12th Standard, 12th Class, or Class 12th or Class 12) is the twelfth and final Educational stage, year of Formal education, formal or compulsory education. It is typically the final ...
*
Senior secondary education
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eleventh Grade
11
Secondary education