Twelfth grade
Twelfth Grade is the name in many parts of the world for the twelfth and final year of formal or compulsory education, typically the final year of secondary school and K–12. Students in twelfth grade are usually 17-18 years old. Some countries have a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all.
Australia
In Australia, the twelfth grade is referred to as Year 12. In New South Wales, students are usually 16 or 17 years old when they enter Year 12 and 17 or 18 years during graduation. A majority of students in Year 12 work toward getting an ATAR. Up until the start of 2020 the OP was used. Both of these allow/allowed them access to courses at university. In Western Australia, this is achieved by completing the WACE; in South Australia, this is achieved by completing the SACE; in Victoria, this is achieved by completing the VCE; in the Australian Capital Territory, this is achieved by completing the AST and in New South Wales this is achieved by completing the HSC.Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, educational institutions offering the 11th–12th grade education are known as colleges. In the 12th grade, students study in one of the three streams: science, humanities, and business studies. After completing 12th grade, they have to sit for the Higher Secondary Certificate examinations.Belgium
In Belgium, the twelfth grade is the sixth and last year of secondary school. It is called 6e secondaire, 6de middelbaar and 6te sekundäre in French, Dutch and German respectively. Those being the three official languages of Belgium.Canada
In Canada, the equivalent is Grade 12. In Quebec, secondary school ends at Secondary V equivalent to Grade 11, followed by CÉGEP, trade school or work.Finland
The twelfth grade is the third and usually last year of high school or secondary school. The students graduate from high school at around 18, with some 17 or 19. The twelfth grade is shorter than previous because the twelfth graders' lessons end in February and they go on to take their final exams shortly afterward. Compulsory education ends after the twelfth grade, and it is completely optional for a student to continue into fourth-year.France
The equivalent grade in France is Terminale. It is the third and last year of lycée, whereby students must sit a test called the Baccalauréat to complete the year. French-language schools that teach the French government curriculum use the same system of grades as their French counterparts. This is not compulsory, as education in France is only compulsory until students turn 16.Lebanon
In Lebanon, twelfth grade is the third year of high school, also referred to as the third year of higher secondary education, the class of seniors, or the last class of the school. Students in twelfth grade in Lebanon are between the ages of 17 and 18.Netherlands
In the Netherlands, senior year is named by the school level. From low to high: "VMBO", "HAVO" and "VWO". VMBO is composed of four years, with 12th grade being the fourth and final year. A higher school level is the HAVO, which lasts for five years. The highest school level is VWO, which lasts for six years. So at the HAVO, students are considered senior if they are in "5th class", whereas at VWO, in "6th class" respectively. The last year mainly focuses on preparing for the final exams, after which students should be ready to go to college or university. Usually, 4th and 5th grade students are aged 16 to 17 and those who are in 6th grade usually are aged 17 to 18.New Zealand
In New Zealand, 12th grade is known as Year 13. Students in Year 13 are usually 17–18 years old. This is the last year of secondary school. In Year 13, students complete NCEA Level 3, which involves getting a certain number of 'credits' from different external exams and other internal assessments. Students must gain 80 achieved credits or higher to pass the year.Philippines
In the Philippines, Grade 12 or Ultimate Year is the final year of Senior High School and High School curriculum under the new K–12 that was first implemented on May 20, 2008 and became effective on April 24, 2012, as part of its 9-year implementation process from 2008, to June 5, 2017. It is also the last year of high school, and the basic and compulsory education in the country before graduates choose to enter tertiary education, entrepreneurship, or employment. Students are usually 17–18 years old.The last school year to fully use the 1945–2017, or K–4th Year system, was SY 2011–2012. Kindergarten was made obligatory, which served as a requirement for the effectivity of K–12 and process of phasing out the K–4th Year on April 24, 2012. The other grades are still the same as before, while the last to use this system is SY 2016–2017. By the said school year, Grade 6 is the only grade that is still under the 1945 K–4th Year system, while the rest are now under K–12. By 2017–2018 on June 5, 2017 when Grade 12 was implemented, the implementation process of K–12 that spanned for 9 years was completed which entirely phased out the older K–4th Year system and newer curriculum is now in full and only use at that point.
Subjects on Grade 12 are enrolled on a semestral basis as in Grade 11. Afterwards, Grade 12 students will take the last National Achievement Test called the Basic Education Exit Assessment, although this is not a requirement for graduation or college enrollment. Finally, graduation rites are held, being the next grade to do so after Grade 6 for elementary school graduates.