The Swedish schools and education have changed a lot since the last century. When the old people were young they had black and white books without pictures. Back then the students had to write with their left hand. If they did not the teachers would whip them until they learned to use their left hand to write beautifully. They had different grades than us. We have thin computers and high-speed wireless internet. We can use any hand we want and write uglier than anything as long as anyone can read it. The grades back then was a scale from 1 to 5 where a high number is good and a low number is bad. Number 2 or below and you will not pass, 3 is good, 4 is very good and 5 is excellent. Nowadays we only have 4 grades. They are fail, pass, pass with distinction and pass with special distinction.
Children often start pre-school when they are 7 years old. It is not mandatory but many parents want their child to be prepared for the real school. The mandatory school starts at age 8 with first class and ends at the age of 16 with ninth class. That is the primary school, which is divided into 3 parts. First is Junior level, followed up by intermediate level and finally upper level. After primary school awaits optional upper secondary school. Although it is optional almost everyone says yes. Unlike many other countries, Sweden has two terms and two main holidays. The autumn term is first ended by a the christmas holiday. After that is the spring term which is followed by the summer break.
Source: Picture
