Five levels, one
continuous ladder.
A seven-year-old sequencing lights and a graduate writing embedded C++ are on the same ladder, not in different products. Each level assumes the one before it and nothing else.
Side by side
| Level | Ages | What they build | Tools | Kit | Certificate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spark | 7–9 | Moving robots, lights and sounds; sequences and loops | Studio blocks, Sim 2D | None needed | — |
| Explorer | 10–12 | Sensor-driven robots: line followers, obstacle avoiders | Studio, Sim, Starter Kit | Starter Kit | Yes |
| Builder | 13–15 | IoT builds: weather stations, smart farm, automation | Studio + Python, Flow, Pulse | IoT Kit | Yes |
| Maker | 16+ | Robot arms, rovers, computer vision, custom robots | Python, Sim 3D, robot builder | Arm or Rover Kit | Yes |
| Engineer | Tertiary & pro | Embedded C++, ROS 2 bridge, product prototypes | C++, SDK, Core, Link | Any, plus own boards | Yes |
The 2026 profile lists overlapping ages (7–10, 10–13, 13–16). These are tightened so a ten-year-old sits in one level, not two.
How the ladder behaves
Nothing is gated behind hardware
Every level can be started in the simulator. A kit makes it real; it does not make it possible.
Levels unlock, they do not expire
Challenge missions open as skills grow. Nobody is pushed forward on a timetable.
Ages are a guide, not a gate
A twelve-year-old who is ready for Builder should be in Builder.