Your daughter is an artistic gymnast at, let's say, a US JO level 6 and you are wondering how that would compare to the Swiss programs 1-6? Well, so do we... Really, it seems to be impossible to find out what exactly the (US) Junior Olympic (JO) levels entail. Youtube helps somewhat, but it's only bits and pieces. Anybody who can enlighten us? If so, please Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist gegen Spambots geschützt! JavaScript muss aktiviert werden, damit sie angezeigt werden kann. to Alexander.

Anyway, we can tell you all about the Swiss programs (yay!), but we were only able to find out some rather generic info on the US JO levels. The following is for the US, and we really have no idea how it is in the UK or e.g. Australia.

The facts:
In the US there are 10 levels, starting at 1. In Switzerland there are only 7 levels, called programs. Our little ones start at the age of 5-6 with the entry level program "EP". A gymnast usually stays in a program for two years. However, depending on their abilities, they could advance to the next program after one year. They cannot go back, and after two years they have to advance. This leads to the fact that, usually, one would find:

age 5-6 in EP
age 7-8 in P1
age 9-10 in P2
age 10-12 in P3
age 13-15 in P4 or P5 (P5 being young elite)
age 16 and up in P6 (divided into amateurs and elite)

After P3 the rules are less definite but in most cases where girls join us (temporarily) from abroad that age range is not relevant; they are usually in the range of P1-P3.

EP through P3 have compulsory + bonus elements, P4 and up follow the FIG WAG code of points, with P4 having some special rules to make it a bit easier (e.g. less deduction from the E-score if not enough elements are performed).

Just in case your are wondering about how it works in the US with the ten levels (quote from USA gymnastics):

The Women's Junior Olympic Program is divided into three major segments.

1. The Developmental Levels 1 through 4 may be used as a non-competitive and achievement-oriented program for use within a gym’s pre-team program, or they may be used as an introductory/recreational competitive program. States may also offer State Championships for these levels.
2. The second part consists of Compulsory Levels 5 and 6. Both of these levels are progressive in nature, building upon the skills required at the previous level. Competitive opportunities are provided up to and including the USA Gymnastics State Championships.
3. The third segment is Optional Levels 7-10. Levels 7 and 8 have difficulty restrictions, while Levels 9 and 10 have no restrictions in the skill choice. Composition is evaluated at all Optional Levels, except Level 7.

• Level 7 has competitive opportunities up to and including State Championships.
• Additional competitive opportunities are provided for Levels 8-10, with the Level 10 competitive season culminating at the Jr. Olympic National Championships, Level 9 at the Eastern or Western Championships and Level 8 at the Regional Championships.

In Switzerland P1 can already take part in the national championship, and our gymnasts always take part in nationwide championships (don't worry, it's a small country ;-) ).

Still, we don't know what exactly e.g. a level 6 gymnast actually does, i.e. which elements she performs/has to perform on the vault, floor, uneven bars and the beam. The following table (again from USA gymnastics; 01/2012) gives an idea how the US system works but also doesn't help much in the "element section":

This shows that a gymnast apparently needs to achieve a certain score in her current level to be able to move to the next level. How that score has to be achieved remains unclear to us. At least we see that this is very different from the system in Switzerland as only the age determines the level/program. Theoretically, a 12 year old could perform elements and routines of P1 but that doesn't happen. She could certainly not qualify for the national championship if she would do that.
In cases where the gymnast is not able to perform all required elements of her current level and therefore (usually) also not the ones from the next level, she will stay in her current program one year longer and if after that time she is still not up to par with the requirements she will most likely have to quit. There is no such thing as e.g. a level 5 junior division.

So, in the end it appears that a level 5 (children) seems to compare to our P1 with a level 6 being a very good P1. Having looked at some videos, a level 7 seems to be somewhat comparable to P2, with level 8 being a very good P2, more likely a P3. But unless we see the actual elements required for each level we cannot make a definite comparison.
Nonetheless, maybe this already helps to give you an idea. Also, you could always stop by and watch our girls perform - that will make it pretty obvious.