Okay, first off, I know that all studios are different and therefore have different requirements for moving up levels. I'm just looking for a general idea.

I'm starting at a new studio this week. I have a year of ballet experience but they're starting me in a complete beginner's class with 12-14 year olds (I'm 16) just to get an idea of where to place me. Just out of curiosity, what do you guys require from late starter ballet students before you move them up from a complete beginner's class to the next level? I can't really compare it to my old studio because their levels were determined entirely by age so you moved up once you were older.

If it helps to compare it to your own studio, here's how my new studio does their levels according to their website:
Ballet I (the class I'm starting in): No experience necessary for children above the age of seven. Children under the age of seven must have completed the 5 1/2-7 combo class.
Ballet II: 1-2 years of ballet training.
Ballet III: At least 2 years of ballet training. Pre-pointe is offered by permission of instructor.
Ballet IV: 3 or more years of ballet training. Pointe is offered by permission of instructor.
Ballet V: 5 or more years of ballet training. Pointe is offered by permission of instructor.
I don't know if that's helpful or not but I figured I'd post it anyways.

So yeah, I know you have no idea how things are done at my studio since every place has different requirements, I was just trying to get an overall sense of what other places want and when they move students up. Thank you!

Body awareness, knowledge of the basic terms, basic strength, knowing how to behave in class.

I've had lots of teenagers with 5-10 years ballet training, who were complete beginners according to me.
I've had teenagers without any dance training at all, being able to move up within weeks.

It does not only depend on the level of the student, but also of the group doing the next level. Sometimes my first years are a lot better then my second years, and I prefer to keep good beginners in the first years group.

My studio places people alot like your old studio, however, I tend to agree more with the way your new studio is doing it.
It's alot easier to learn the basics in a younger class and get moved up with a strong foundation rather than being thrown in a class with people your own age, trying to learn their harder steps and not having the basics down.

That being said, I'd stay in the current class, work on perfecting your basics(sometimes i even take lower classes - with 11 yr olds! and I'm 28! to refocus on my basics). A simple plie should never be easy for anyone. you should always be working. If something seems to easy, make sure you're doing it correctly. They will probably move you up once you get these basics down. This will make you a better grounded dancer in the long run.

We place students based on comphrension and technique of skills, behavior, attitude and commitment to dance.

I would say if you work hard, really concentrate in class and do your best to learn and execute movements correctly then you have the possibly to move up.

Ask your teacher what you would need to accomplish and work on in order to move up to the next level and then work your butt off. Good luck.

Our studio works from a syllabi to require each student in each class is on the same level as far knowledge and general technique. To move a student up, they must execute certain skills correctly, understand the terminology and prove she will continue to work hard in the next level. For our studio, the next level up from the begininng class (like you're in now) would be our jun./adv. class (because we are a newer/smaller studio) and so you would be required to execute certain basic ballet movements.

Thanks for the responses everyone! They were really helpful . I had my first class on Thursday. Even though I already knew how to do everything we learned in class, it was interesting to see how these things were taught.

Like I said, my old studio determined levels by age so I'd never taken a beginner class prior to Thursday. There were so many things I had to figure out for myself like what sickling or forcing turn out meant. Even though I know not to do them now, for some reason I really liked hearing my new teacher explain them to the class.

So yeah, even though I'd love to move up to a more challenging class, I feel like being kept in this one and re-learning things wouldn't be such a bad thing either.