year where parents have to decide what kind of school their children should master: The "Mittelschule" that usually ends with 9th grade, the "Realschule" that ends with 10th grade and allows pupils to get a better starting point for their choice of working place or the "Gymnasium" that ends either with 12th grade or 13th grade (depending on the state) and is the only direct way to go to university. Greece's equivalent In Greece, the fourth school year of primary education school is referred to as the Fourth Grade of Primary (Tetarti - Τετάρτη Δημοτικού). India's equivalent In India, where children enter Class 4 at the ages 9 to 10 it is called Lower Primary, it is known as the fourth grade. 5-7 standard categories as Upper Primary(UP). Lower Primary gives the basic education necessary for a kid and when they gets to the UP section, advanced knowledge will be provided as lessons or modules. Ireland's equivalent In The Republic of Ireland, the equivalent is Fourth Class or Rang a Ceathair (for 9- to 10-year-olds), which is year 6 of Primary School. New Zealand's equivalent In New Zealand, this level of class is called Standard 3 or Year 5. Children generally start at this level between the ages of nine and ten. Portugal's equivalent In Portugal, what North Americans would call the fourth grade (quarto ano, 4º ano to Portuguese people) is the fourth and last year of the four-year 1º Ciclo do Ensino Básico which also includes the first grade, the second grade, and the third grade. Students take final exams (provas finais) for Portuguese and Mathematics at the end of the fourth grade since the school year of 2012/2013. United Kingdom In England, compulsory education begins with the first new term of the Reception year following a child's 5th birthday. In practice, many children enter Reception at the beginning of the school year, aged 4. Fourth grade is the equivalent of 'Year 5' (ages 9–10) in England and Wales, Primary 6 in Northern Ireland and Primary 6 in Scotland - the sixth year of compulsory education in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. United States' equivalent In the United States, most children enter the public school education system between ages 4–6 and start with Kindergarten. Kindergarten historically has not been required in all states. Children are divided into year groups or grades based on age or test results,