I'm having some problem understanding the breakdown of Thai schools because it's never been explained to me. For example, below is the breakdown for America...

Kindergarden - Approximately Age 5

Grades 1-12 - Approximately Ages 6-18

Associate's Degree - 2 years

Bachelor's Degree - 4 years

Master's Degree - 6 years

What's all this P1 and M3 stuff I'm seeing in relation to Thai schools?

They mean Anuban, Prathom and Mattyom ( sp) which ( I'm British) would roughly be the equivalent of infant, middle and high school when I were a lad. So P1 would be Prathom 1 and M3 would be Mattyom 3. As an example an M3 student would be about 14-15 years old.

Depending on the school, the grades run from Nursery to Grade 12.

Nursery: 2 year olds.

Kindergarten 1: 3 year olds (KG 1) These are all Anuban

Kindergarten 2: 4 year olds (KG 2)

Kindergarten 3: 5 year olds (KG 3)

Prathom levels are equivalent to Grade 1 to Grade 6:

Prathom 1 (P1)--Grade 1 (6 year olds)

Prathom 6 (P6)--Grade 6 (11 year olds)

Mathyom is Junior High School (middle school) and High School.

Mathyom 1 (M1) is Grade 7

Mathyom 2 (M2) is Grade 8 M1 to M9 is lower high School.

Mathyom 3 (M3) is Grade 9 (Junior High school or middle School)

Mathyom 4 (M4) is Grade 10

Mathyom 5 (M5) is Grade 11 M4 to M6 are upper High school.

Mathyom 6 (M6) is Grade 12 (High School)

Thanks for that detailed post Scott...exactly the information I was looking for!

Our P1's join the school at 5 years of age, same as the British equivalent.

Typically, American children start school at Prathom level 1 year later than Brit kids.

I am involved in work for several schools. The Prathom 1 students must be within a few months of turning 6 when they start P. 1.