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How primary school exams work around the world

Every region tests children differently. Choose yours to see when the exams happen, what the scores mean and how your child can prepare calmly.

Last updated

Choose a region

Each guide covers the school system, key dates, the exams, the scores and how exams feel for children.

12 regions

Exam calendar 2026–27

Published exam dates and indicative school periods, grouped by month. Indicative periods must be confirmed with your school.

September 2026

  • England & Wales · Reception baseline assessment (September – October 2026 (indicative; check locally))
  • Canada · Fall literacy and numeracy screening (September – October 2026 (indicative; check locally))
  • Canada · Foundation Skills Assessment (28 September – 6 November 2026)

October 2026 / Autumn 2026 (indicative; check locally) / Autumn 2026 – early 2027 (indicative; check locally) / Fall – winter 2026 (indicative; check locally)

  • Belgium · KOALA language screening (10 October – 30 November 2026)
  • England & Wales · 11+ results (October 2026 (indicative; check locally))
  • England & Wales · Deadline for secondary school applications (31 October 2026)
  • Scotland · Parents' evenings (Autumn 2026 (indicative; check locally))
  • Northern Ireland · Pupil cards available (October 2026 (indicative; check locally))
  • Ireland · Post-primary applications (Autumn 2026 – early 2027 (indicative; check locally))
  • United States · Gifted screening and referrals (Fall – winter 2026 (indicative; check locally))
  • Canada · Grade 3 and 4 assessments — results collection (19 October – 27 November 2026)

November 2026 / Term 4 2026 (indicative; check locally)

  • Northern Ireland · SEAG Paper 1 (14 November 2026)
  • Northern Ireland · SEAG Paper 2 (21 November 2026)
  • New Zealand · End-of-year tests (Term 4 2026 (indicative; check locally))
  • South Africa · Western Cape systemic tests (Term 4 2026 (indicative; check locally))
  • South Africa · End-of-year exams (November 2026 (indicative; check locally))

December 2026

  • United States · Winter benchmark tests (December 2026 – February 2027 (indicative; check locally))
  • New Zealand · End-of-year report (December 2026 (indicative; check locally))
  • South Africa · Final report card (December 2026 (indicative; check locally))

January 2027

  • Netherlands · LVS mid-year tests (January – February 2027 (indicative; check locally))
  • Netherlands · AVI and DMT (mid-year) (January – February 2027 (indicative; check locally))
  • Netherlands · Doorstroomtoets (25 January – 12 February 2027)
  • Belgium · LVS tests and AVI (mid-year) (January – February 2027 (indicative; check locally))
  • Scotland · P1 registration (January 2027 (indicative; check locally))
  • Northern Ireland · SEAG results (23 January 2027 (planned by SEAG) (indicative; check locally))
  • Northern Ireland · Post-primary applications (Late January – February 2027 (indicative; check locally))
  • Canada · Middle years assessments — results collection (18 January – 26 February 2027)
  • Australia · New school year (Late January – early February 2027 (indicative; check locally))
  • New Zealand · New school year (Late January – early February 2027 (indicative; check locally))
  • South Africa · New school year (Mid-January 2027 (indicative; check locally))

February 2027

  • Netherlands · Provisional schooladvies (Before 1 February 2027)
  • Belgium · Registration for secondary school (February – April 2027 (indicative; check locally))

March 2027

  • Netherlands · Doorstroomtoets result sent to the school (By 15 March 2027)
  • Netherlands · Final schooladvies (By 24 March 2027)
  • England & Wales · Secondary school offers (1 March 2027)
  • Scotland · Placing requests for S1 (By March 2027 (indicative; check locally))
  • United States · State tests (March – May 2027 (indicative; check locally))
  • Australia · NAPLAN (10 – 22 March 2027)

April 2027

  • Scotland · Placing request decisions (By April 2027 (indicative; check locally))

May 2027 / Term 2 2027 (indicative; check locally)

  • Netherlands · LVS end-of-year tests and AVI (end) (May – June 2027 (indicative; check locally))
  • England & Wales · Key Stage 2 SATs (10 – 13 May 2027)
  • Northern Ireland · Post-primary school places (May 2027 (indicative; check locally))
  • Northern Ireland · Registration for the next SEAG test (From mid-May 2027 (indicative; check locally))
  • Ireland · Standardised tests (May – early June 2027 (indicative; check locally))
  • United States · Spring benchmark tests (May – June 2027 (indicative; check locally))
  • Canada · EQAO assessments (4 May – 8 June 2027)
  • Canada · Ministry exams (From 31 May 2027)
  • New Zealand · Mid-year tests (Term 2 2027 (indicative; check locally))
  • South Africa · Mid-year exams (May – June 2027 (indicative; check locally))

June 2027

  • Belgium · CEB exam (21, 22, 24 and 25 June 2027)
  • England & Wales · Multiplication tables check (7 – 18 June 2027)
  • England & Wales · Phonics screening check (Week of 14 June 2027)
  • Scotland · Transition visits and end-of-year report (June 2027 (indicative; check locally))
  • Ireland · End-of-year report (June 2027 (indicative; check locally))
  • Ireland · Education Passport (June 2027 (indicative; check locally))

July 2027 / Summer – fall 2027 (indicative; check locally)

  • England & Wales · SATs results (July 2027 (indicative; check locally))
  • United States · State test score reports (Summer – fall 2027 (indicative; check locally))
  • New Zealand · Mid-year report (July 2027 (indicative; check locally))

August 2027 / Term 3 2027 (indicative; check locally)

  • Scotland · New school year (Mid-August 2027 (indicative; check locally))
  • Ireland · New school year (Late August 2027 (indicative; check locally))
  • Australia · NAPLAN reports to parents (Term 3 2027 (indicative; check locally))

How much pressure?

Exams carry different weight in each region. This is how the main exam of primary school compares.