The New Educational code of 1879
Reading
Writing
Arithmetic *
Standard I
To read a short paragraph from a book not confined to words of one syllable
 Copy in manuscript character a line of print, on slates or in copy books, at choice of managers; and write from dictation a few common words. Notation and numeration up to 1000. Simple addition and subtraction of numbers of not more than four figures, and the multiplication table to 6 times 12
Standard II
 To read with intelligence a short paragraph from an elementary reading book A sentence from the same book, slowly read once, and then dictated. Copy books (large or half-text) to be shown Notation and numeration up to 100,000. The four simple rules to short division (inclusive)
Standard III
 To read with intelligence a short paragraph from a more advanced reading book A sentence slowly dictated once from the same book. Copy books to be shown (small hand, capital letters and figures) Notation and numeration up to 1,000,000. Long division and compound addition and subtraction (money).
Standard IV
 To read with intelligence a few lines of prose or poetry selected by the inspector. Eight lines slowly dictated once from a reading book. Copy books to be shown (improved small hand) Compound rules (money) and reduction (common weights and measures) **
Standard V
 Improved reading Writng from memory the substance of a short story read out twice; spelling and grammar, and handwriting to be considered Practice, bills of parcels, and simple proportion.
Standard VI
 Reading with fluency and expression A short theme or letter; the composition, spelling, grammar, and handwriting to be considered. Proportion, vulgar and decimal fractions.
Notes:

* The work of girls will be judged more leniently than that of boys. . .

** The ' weights and measures ' . . should be only such as are really useful:- such as Avoirdupois Weight, Long Measure, Liquid Measure, Time Table, Square and Cubical Measure, and any measure which is connected with the industrial occupations of the district.
From: The Victorian Schoolroom by Trevor May

Standards roughly correspond to age. Six-year-old children were expected to reach Standard I. Standard VI is the expected level of an eleven-year-old child although children were not compelled to stay at school to that age until 1893. The leaving age was raised to twelve in 1899.