High school exchange requirements: age, grades and English

High school exchange requirements for the USA come down to three things: age, education level and English. Students who are between 15 and 18½ when the program starts and haven't graduated from high school can apply. Sponsors also look at grades, an English test score and an interview.

The good news? Nobody expects a perfect report card. Sponsors are looking for a steady student with a curious personality and a genuine wish to become part of a new family. For an overview of how the program works, see our high school exchange in the USA page.

Students must be at least 15 years old on the program start date and not older than 18 years and 6 months. Age is calculated from the day the program begins, not the day you apply: for the school year starting in August 2027, both limits are checked against that date. Some sponsors use an earlier cut-off date for the minimum age, so we'll confirm the right intake for your child's date of birth together.

Students must have completed no more than 11 years of primary and secondary education, not counting kindergarten. In Türkiye's 12-year school system, that means not having finished the final year of high school yet. The most comfortable plan is to apply in grade 9 or 10 and spend the following school year in America. Students who have finished grade 11 can also join, as long as they meet the age requirement.

The U.S. school decides which grade the student joins, based on age, English level, previous grades and course requirements.

Sponsors usually review transcripts from the last three years, and the bar varies from sponsor to sponsor: some ask for a GPA of at least 2.6 on a 4.0 scale, while others look for steady grades at around a "C" average overall.

Transcripts are translated into English and added to the application file, and teacher references describe how the student engages in class.

Sponsors check whether a student's English is strong enough to follow classes and make friends, using a test and an interview. One test accepted by many American high schools is ELTiS (English Language Test for International Students).

• What does it measure? Listening and reading skills in a school setting, along with vocabulary and grammar.
• How long does it take? About 35 minutes of listening and about 45 minutes of reading.
• How is it taken? Online or on paper, through authorized organizations.
• What score do you need? It depends on the sponsor; some, for example, ask for 216 or higher.

In the interview, students talk about themselves, their family, their hobbies and why they want to be an exchange student. Nobody expects flawless grammar; what matters is expressing yourself with ease. We practice for both the test and the interview together.

American schools require vaccination records for enrollment, and the required vaccines can vary from state to state. That's why the application includes a health form completed by a doctor, along with the vaccination card. Clearly listing any allergies, dietary needs or regular medication helps the sponsor find the best-matched host family.

We go through the order and timing of every application document, step by step, on our application and fees page.

This is the most overlooked of all the high school exchange requirements: students who have already taken part in a semester- or year-long high school exchange in the U.S., or attended an American school on an F-1 or J-1 visa, can't join this program. Tourist visits don't count, so having seen America on a family vacation is no barrier to applying.

1. Bring English into everyday life: shows without subtitles, English books and short conversation practice make a big difference.
2. Hand over some responsibility: tidying their own room and helping with chores is the best preparation for host family life.
3. Talk about flexibility and screen time: agree in advance on new foods, new rules and how often you'll call home.
4. Talk to the school early: find out how returning to school and credit recognition will work before you apply.

We describe day-to-day life in our host family and school life guide. For general questions, visit our FAQ page.