Last reviewed: 28 October 2026
Looking for the IGCSE to CBC grade equivalent for your child? The short answer: a child in British Year N usually fits CBC Grade N or Grade N−1, depending on birth month and the month you move. Year 10 (the first IGCSE year) usually lines up with CBC Grade 9 or Grade 10. The chart below shows every year group, then explains the one transfer point that needs extra care: Grade 9.
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Why There Is No Single Official Conversion
Kenya has no published table that converts British or Cambridge year groups to CBC grades. Schools place children mainly by age, previous reports and an entry assessment. Two calendar differences make simple conversion tricky:
- Different school years. Kenyan public and most CBC private schools run January to November in three terms. Many British-curriculum schools in Kenya run September to July, like the UK.
- Different age cut-offs. In England a year group runs from 1 September to 31 August births. CBC is built around age, with the Basic Education Act, 2013 setting school-going age at four (the usual PP1 age), so CBC grades follow the calendar year.
That is why two children of the same age, one born in March and one in November, can land in different British year groups but the same CBC grade.
IGCSE to CBC Grade Equivalent Chart
Use the “usual age” column first. If your child is among the youngest in their British year (born September to December), the higher CBC grade in the range is less likely.
| British year / Cambridge stage | Usual age during the year | Likely CBC grade |
|---|---|---|
| Reception | 4–5 | PP1 or PP2 |
| Year 1 (Primary Stage 1) | 5–6 | PP2 or Grade 1 |
| Year 2 (Stage 2) | 6–7 | Grade 1 or Grade 2 |
| Year 3 (Stage 3) | 7–8 | Grade 2 or Grade 3 |
| Year 4 (Stage 4) | 8–9 | Grade 3 or Grade 4 |
| Year 5 (Stage 5) | 9–10 | Grade 4 or Grade 5 |
| Year 6 (Stage 6) | 10–11 | Grade 5 or Grade 6 |
| Year 7 (Lower Secondary Stage 7) | 11–12 | Grade 6 or Grade 7 |
| Year 8 (Stage 8) | 12–13 | Grade 7 or Grade 8 |
| Year 9 (Stage 9) | 13–14 | Grade 8 or Grade 9 |
| Year 10 (IGCSE year 1) | 14–15 | Grade 9 or Grade 10 |
| Year 11 (IGCSE exams) | 15–16 | Grade 10 or Grade 11 |
| Year 12 (AS Level) | 16–17 | Grade 11 |
| Year 13 (A Level) | 17–18 | Grade 12 |
Cambridge describes Cambridge IGCSE as a course for roughly 14 to 16 year olds, normally taught over two years. In CBC terms, that is the end of junior school and the start of senior school.
A Quick Way to Check Your Child
- Write down the child’s age on 1 January of the year they will join the Kenyan school.
- Subtract 5. That number is the most common CBC grade for that age (a child who is 12 in January usually joins Grade 7).
- Compare it with the chart. If the chart and the sum agree, you have a strong starting point.
- Ask the receiving school for its own cut-off and assessment. Their decision is final for admission.
This rule of thumb is ours, not an official formula. It simply reflects that CBC expects PP1 at about four and Grade 1 at about six.
The Grade 9 Trap: Why Timing Matters Most
Most transfers are smooth below Grade 9. Grade 9 is different because learners sit the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) at the end of it, and senior school placement uses KJSEA together with school-based assessment from earlier grades.
Learners joining CBC from a foreign or alternative system at this stage must first pass a KNEC qualifying test before they can register for KJSEA. As reported by Kenyans.co.ke, KNEC’s 2025 KJSEA qualifying test ran in June and covered learners from foreign countries and alternative systems in Kenya. Dates for 2027 had not been published when we checked, so contact the school and your Sub-County Director of Education early.
If your child is in Year 9 or early Year 10, joining CBC in January of Grade 9 is usually far easier than arriving mid-year.
Subject Gaps to Expect
- Kiswahili: compulsory in CBC. Children from abroad often need catch-up time.
- Science: CBC junior school teaches Integrated Science, while IGCSE splits Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
- Pre-Technical Studies and Agriculture: new to most IGCSE learners.
- Projects: CBC counts school-based projects and performance tasks, not only exams.
The full step-by-step process is in our guide to transferring from IGCSE to a CBC school. For the other direction, see switching between CBC and IGCSE, and compare grading in the IGCSE grading system explained.
Help Your Child Catch Up Fast
Once you know the grade, test where your child stands. Try a free round on the CBC Challenge, then browse revision papers by grade. A Weekly Pass (KSh 100) or Monthly Pass (KSh 500) opens full papers with marking guides, which is the quickest way to spot CBC topics your child never met in the British system. Families returning home can also read returning to Kenya: school placement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What CBC grade is Year 7?
British Year 7 children are usually 11–12, which matches CBC Grade 6 or Grade 7. Children born early in the calendar year more often fit Grade 7, the start of junior school.
Is IGCSE equal to Grade 10 in CBC?
IGCSE is a two-year course for about 14 to 16 year olds, so it overlaps CBC Grades 9 to 11. Year 10, the first IGCSE year, usually matches Grade 9 or Grade 10.
Is there an official IGCSE to CBC grade equivalent table?
No. Kenya has not published one. Schools place children by age, reports and an entry assessment, so use the chart as a starting point only.
Can my child join CBC in Grade 9 from IGCSE?
Yes, but learners from foreign or alternative systems must pass a KNEC qualifying test before registering for KJSEA. Joining at the start of the year gives the most time to prepare.
Does Kenya equate IGCSE certificates?
KNEC equates foreign certificates through its online system, but its rules do not equate foreign certificates awarded within Kenya. Ask KNEC and the receiving school before you move.
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