diff --git a/marbletutor/README.md b/marbletutor/README.md
index 6a0b05b..991f353 100644
--- a/marbletutor/README.md
+++ b/marbletutor/README.md
@@ -24,13 +24,17 @@ python -m marbletutor search "stars"
 Then learn toward it, by name or `mt_` id:
 
 ```bash
-python -m marbletutor learn "Star Brightness & Distance" --name Sam
+python -m marbletutor learn "Star Brightness & Distance" --name Sam --age 9-10
 ```
 
 - Type to talk to the tutor.
 - `/check` — ask the tutor to evaluate mastery of the current objective.
 - `/quit` — save progress and exit (resumes next run). Ctrl-C / Ctrl-D also
   save before exiting.
+- `--age 9-10` (or `--age 9`) pitches the tutoring at the learner's level.
+  Prerequisite topics below their band become a brisk show-what-you-know
+  check-in instead of a from-scratch lesson — the mastery bar itself never
+  changes. Also works on `search` to filter to age-appropriate topics.
 
 Progress is saved to `.marbletutor-state.json` in the current directory
 (gitignored); point `--state` elsewhere to keep separate learners.
diff --git a/marbletutor/cli.py b/marbletutor/cli.py
index 5312396..527be5a 100644
--- a/marbletutor/cli.py
+++ b/marbletutor/cli.py
@@ -24,6 +24,26 @@
 _DEPS_JSON = str(_REPO_ROOT / "data" / "dependencies.json")
 
 
+def _parse_age(text: str) -> tuple[int, int]:
+    """argparse type for --age: '9' → (9, 9); '9-10' → (9, 10)."""
+    parts = text.strip().split("-")
+    try:
+        if len(parts) == 1:
+            lo = hi = int(parts[0])
+        elif len(parts) == 2:
+            lo, hi = int(parts[0]), int(parts[1])
+        else:
+            raise ValueError
+        if not (3 <= lo <= hi <= 18):
+            raise ValueError
+    except ValueError:
+        raise argparse.ArgumentTypeError(
+            f"invalid age {text!r} — use a single age like 9 or a range like 9-10 "
+            f"(ages 3-18)"
+        ) from None
+    return lo, hi
+
+
 class ConsoleIO:
     def print(self, msg: str) -> None:
         print(msg)
@@ -101,15 +121,19 @@ def run_session(target: str, graph: TaxonomyGraph, store: MasteryStore,
                          f"say it again, or /quit.]")
 
 
-def _run_search(query: str) -> int:
+def _run_search(query: str, age: tuple[int, int] | None = None) -> int:
     graph = TaxonomyGraph.load(_TOPICS_JSON, _DEPS_JSON)
-    hits = graph.search(query)
+    hits = graph.search(query, age=age)
     if not hits:
-        print(f"No topics matching {query!r}.", file=sys.stderr)
+        qualifier = f" for ages {age[0]}-{age[1]} (drop --age to widen)" if age else ""
+        print(f"No topics matching {query!r}{qualifier}.", file=sys.stderr)
         return 1
     for t in hits:
         print(f"{t.id}  {t.name}  [{t.subject} / {t.domain}, ages "
               f"{t.age_start}-{t.age_end}]")
+    if age:
+        print(f"(showing topics overlapping ages {age[0]}-{age[1]}; "
+              f"drop --age to see all)", file=sys.stderr)
     return 0
 
 
@@ -119,14 +143,19 @@ def main(argv: list[str] | None = None) -> int:
     learn = sub.add_parser("learn", help="Tutor toward a target topic")
     learn.add_argument("target", help="Target topic name or mt_ id")
     learn.add_argument("--name", default="you", help="Learner's name")
+    learn.add_argument("--age", type=_parse_age, default=None,
+                       help="Learner's age (e.g. 9 or 9-10): pitches the tutoring "
+                            "at their level and fast-tracks below-band prerequisites")
     learn.add_argument("--model", default=None, help="Override the claude model")
     learn.add_argument("--state", default=DEFAULT_STATE, help="Mastery state file")
     search = sub.add_parser("search", help="Find topics by name keyword")
     search.add_argument("query", help="Substring or approximate topic name")
+    search.add_argument("--age", type=_parse_age, default=None,
+                        help="Only show topics overlapping this age (e.g. 9-10)")
     args = parser.parse_args(argv)
 
     if args.cmd == "search":
-        return _run_search(args.query)
+        return _run_search(args.query, age=args.age)
 
     if not claude_available():
         print("Error: the `claude` CLI was not found on your PATH. Install Claude "
@@ -135,7 +164,8 @@ def main(argv: list[str] | None = None) -> int:
 
     graph = TaxonomyGraph.load(_TOPICS_JSON, _DEPS_JSON)
     store = MasteryStore.load(args.state)
-    tutor = ClaudeTutor(load_system_prompt(), learner_name=args.name, model=args.model)
+    tutor = ClaudeTutor(load_system_prompt(), learner_name=args.name,
+                        model=args.model, learner_age=args.age)
     io = ConsoleIO()
     now = lambda: datetime.now(timezone.utc).isoformat()
     try:
diff --git a/marbletutor/graph.py b/marbletutor/graph.py
index f09359b..1910a4e 100644
--- a/marbletutor/graph.py
+++ b/marbletutor/graph.py
@@ -88,16 +88,22 @@ def load(cls, topics_path: str, deps_path: str) -> "TaxonomyGraph":
     def topic(self, topic_id: str) -> Topic:
         return self._topics[topic_id]
 
-    def search(self, query: str, limit: int = 15) -> list[Topic]:
+    def search(self, query: str, limit: int = 15,
+               age: tuple[int, int] | None = None) -> list[Topic]:
         """Find topics by name: substring matches first, then fuzzy matches.
 
         Case-insensitive; results are deterministic (name-sorted within each
-        tier) and capped at `limit`."""
+        tier) and capped at `limit`. With `age=(lo, hi)`, only topics whose
+        age band overlaps [lo, hi] are returned."""
         q = query.strip().lower()
         if not q:
             return []
+
+        def in_band(t: Topic) -> bool:
+            return age is None or (t.age_start <= age[1] and t.age_end >= age[0])
+
         hits = sorted(
-            (t for t in self._topics.values() if q in t.name.lower()),
+            (t for t in self._topics.values() if q in t.name.lower() and in_band(t)),
             key=lambda t: (t.name.lower(), t.id),
         )
         if len(hits) < limit:
@@ -105,9 +111,10 @@ def search(self, query: str, limit: int = 15) -> list[Topic]:
             names = sorted({t.name for t in self._topics.values()})
             for name in difflib.get_close_matches(query, names, n=limit, cutoff=0.5):
                 for tid in self._by_name.get(name.lower(), []):
-                    if tid not in seen:
+                    t = self._topics[tid]
+                    if tid not in seen and in_band(t):
                         seen.add(tid)
-                        hits.append(self._topics[tid])
+                        hits.append(t)
         return hits[:limit]
 
     def resolve(self, name_or_id: str) -> str:
diff --git a/marbletutor/tutor.py b/marbletutor/tutor.py
index 5c5be47..28412cc 100644
--- a/marbletutor/tutor.py
+++ b/marbletutor/tutor.py
@@ -103,31 +103,78 @@ def _name(topic_text: str, learner_name: str) -> str:
     return topic_text.replace("{{name}}", learner_name)
 
 
-def build_teach_prompt(topic: Topic, learner_msg: str, learner_name: str, opening: bool) -> str:
+def _age_lines(topic: Topic, learner_age: tuple[int, int] | None) -> tuple[str, str]:
+    """(pitch_line, opening_directive) for the learner's age.
+
+    Below-band topics switch the opening from teach-from-scratch to a brisk
+    check-in — an older learner test-outs of foundational material instead of
+    sitting through a lesson pitched years beneath them."""
+    if learner_age is None:
+        return "", ""
+    lo, hi = learner_age
+    span = f"{lo}-{hi}" if lo != hi else str(lo)
+    pitch = (f"The learner is {span} years old — pitch your language, tone and "
+             f"examples at that age, regardless of the topic's own age range.\n\n")
+    if topic.age_end < lo:
+        directive = (
+            f"NOTE: this topic is normally taught to younger children (ages "
+            f"{topic.age_start}-{topic.age_end}); for {learner_name_placeholder} it is "
+            f"foundational review. Do NOT teach it from scratch — briefly frame the "
+            f"idea in one sentence, then invite them to show what they already know "
+            f"about it, so they can clear it quickly and move on."
+        )
+    else:
+        directive = ""
+    return pitch, directive
+
+
+# `_age_lines` composes the directive before knowing the learner's name; this
+# placeholder is substituted by the caller.
+learner_name_placeholder = "{{learner}}"
+
+
+def build_teach_prompt(topic: Topic, learner_msg: str, learner_name: str,
+                       opening: bool, learner_age: tuple[int, int] | None = None) -> str:
     if not opening:
         return learner_msg
     evidence = "\n".join(f"- {e}" for e in topic.evidence)
+    pitch, directive = _age_lines(topic, learner_age)
+    directive = directive.replace(learner_name_placeholder, learner_name)
+    opening_style = (
+        directive if directive else
+        f"Start teaching now, from the very beginning: warmly greet {learner_name}, "
+        f"introduce the idea in one or two plain sentences with a concrete everyday "
+        f"example, then end with ONE small, inviting question to get them thinking. "
+        f"Keep it short — this is the opening of a conversation, not a lecture."
+    )
     return (
         f"You are beginning a brand-new objective with {learner_name}. This is the "
         f"FIRST turn of this objective and {learner_name} has not said anything yet — "
         f"so do not thank them, evaluate them, or refer to any answer, because there is "
         f"nothing to react to yet.\n\n"
+        f"{pitch}"
         f"Objective: {topic.name} ({topic.type}, ages {topic.age_start}-{topic.age_end})\n"
         f"Description: {topic.description}\n\n"
         f"Where this is heading (for your guidance only — do not read this list aloud, "
         f"quiz against it, or evaluate it now; you will build toward it over several "
         f"turns):\n{evidence}\n\n"
-        f"Start teaching now, from the very beginning: warmly greet {learner_name}, "
-        f"introduce the idea in one or two plain sentences with a concrete everyday "
-        f"example, then end with ONE small, inviting question to get them thinking. "
-        f"Keep it short — this is the opening of a conversation, not a lecture."
+        f"{opening_style}"
     )
 
 
-def build_gate_prompt(topic: Topic, learner_name: str, strict: bool = False) -> str:
+def build_gate_prompt(topic: Topic, learner_name: str, strict: bool = False,
+                      learner_age: tuple[int, int] | None = None) -> str:
     evidence = "\n".join(f"- {e}" for e in topic.evidence)
     probe = _name(topic.assessment_prompt, learner_name).strip()
     probe_line = f"A useful check to have in mind: {probe}\n\n" if probe else ""
+    if learner_age:
+        lo, hi = learner_age
+        span = f"{lo}-{hi}" if lo != hi else str(lo)
+        probe_line += (
+            f"The learner is {span} years old — write the feedback pitched at that "
+            f"age, but judge the evidence exactly as written: the learner's age "
+            f"does not change the bar.\n\n"
+        )
     strict_note = (
         "\nYour previous reply was not valid JSON. Reply with ONLY the JSON object, "
         "nothing else.\n" if strict else ""
@@ -188,11 +235,13 @@ def gate(self) -> Verdict: ...
 
 class ClaudeTutor:
     def __init__(self, system_prompt: str, learner_name: str, model: str | None = None,
-                 invoke: Callable[..., tuple[str, str]] | None = None):
+                 invoke: Callable[..., tuple[str, str]] | None = None,
+                 learner_age: tuple[int, int] | None = None):
         self._system = system_prompt
         self._name = learner_name
         self._model = model
         self._invoke = invoke or _default_invoke
+        self._age = learner_age
         self._topic: Topic | None = None
         self._session_id: str | None = None
         self._opened = False
@@ -216,16 +265,18 @@ def _require_topic(self) -> Topic:
     def teach(self, learner_msg: str) -> str:
         topic = self._require_topic()
         prompt = build_teach_prompt(topic, learner_msg, self._name,
-                                    opening=not self._opened)
+                                    opening=not self._opened,
+                                    learner_age=self._age)
         text = self._run(prompt)
         self._opened = True
         return text
 
     def gate(self) -> Verdict:
         topic = self._require_topic()
-        text = self._run(build_gate_prompt(topic, self._name))
+        text = self._run(build_gate_prompt(topic, self._name, learner_age=self._age))
         verdict = parse_verdict(text)
         if verdict is None:
-            text = self._run(build_gate_prompt(topic, self._name, strict=True))
+            text = self._run(build_gate_prompt(topic, self._name, strict=True,
+                                               learner_age=self._age))
             verdict = parse_verdict(text)
         return verdict or Verdict(False, {}, "I couldn't evaluate that yet — let's keep going.")
diff --git a/tests/test_cli_loop.py b/tests/test_cli_loop.py
index 5ded014..97e0ba4 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli_loop.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli_loop.py
@@ -217,3 +217,57 @@ def test_main_search_no_match_returns_1(monkeypatch, capsys):
     rc = cli.main(["search", "zzzzqqqq"])
     assert rc == 1
     assert "no topics" in capsys.readouterr().err.lower()
+
+
+def test_parse_age_accepts_single_and_range():
+    from marbletutor.cli import _parse_age
+    assert _parse_age("9") == (9, 9)
+    assert _parse_age("9-10") == (9, 10)
+
+
+def test_parse_age_rejects_garbage():
+    import argparse
+    from marbletutor.cli import _parse_age
+    for bad in ("banana", "10-9", "1-99", "9-10-11", ""):
+        with pytest.raises(argparse.ArgumentTypeError):
+            _parse_age(bad)
+
+
+def test_main_learn_threads_age_to_tutor(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    from marbletutor import cli
+    from marbletutor.graph import Topic, TaxonomyGraph
+    topics = {"id1": Topic("id1", "CONCEPTUAL", "S", "D", "Solo", "d", 5, 7, ("e",), "p")}
+    fake_graph = TaxonomyGraph(topics, {}, {})
+    captured = {}
+
+    class FakeTutor:
+        def __init__(self, *a, **kw):
+            captured.update(kw)
+
+    class DeclineIO:
+        def print(self, msg): pass
+        def input(self, prompt): return "/quit"
+        def confirm(self, prompt): return False
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(cli, "claude_available", lambda: True)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(cli.TaxonomyGraph, "load", lambda *a, **k: fake_graph)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(cli, "ClaudeTutor", FakeTutor)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(cli, "ConsoleIO", DeclineIO)
+    rc = cli.main(["learn", "Solo", "--age", "9-10", "--state", str(tmp_path / "s.json")])
+    assert rc == 0
+    assert captured.get("learner_age") == (9, 10)
+
+
+def test_main_search_age_filters(monkeypatch, capsys):
+    from marbletutor import cli
+    from marbletutor.graph import Topic, TaxonomyGraph
+    topics = {
+        "young": Topic("young", "CONCEPTUAL", "S", "D", "Stars for tots", "d", 5, 7, ("e",), "p"),
+        "older": Topic("older", "CONCEPTUAL", "S", "D", "Stars for kids", "d", 9, 11, ("e",), "p"),
+    }
+    monkeypatch.setattr(cli.TaxonomyGraph, "load",
+                        lambda *a, **k: TaxonomyGraph(topics, {}, {}))
+    rc = cli.main(["search", "stars", "--age", "9-10"])
+    out = capsys.readouterr().out
+    assert rc == 0
+    assert "older" in out and "young" not in out
diff --git a/tests/test_graph.py b/tests/test_graph.py
index 778ffd9..d72cd8d 100644
--- a/tests/test_graph.py
+++ b/tests/test_graph.py
@@ -46,3 +46,15 @@ def test_search_falls_back_to_fuzzy():
 
 def test_search_empty_query_returns_nothing():
     assert graph().search("   ") == []
+
+
+def test_search_age_filter_keeps_only_overlapping_bands():
+    g = graph()
+    hits = g.search("dinosaur", age=(9, 10))
+    assert hits
+    assert all(t.age_start <= 10 and t.age_end >= 9 for t in hits)
+
+
+def test_search_without_age_is_unfiltered():
+    g = graph()
+    assert len(g.search("dinosaur")) >= len(g.search("dinosaur", age=(9, 10)))
diff --git a/tests/test_tutor_driver.py b/tests/test_tutor_driver.py
index 2259459..6476047 100644
--- a/tests/test_tutor_driver.py
+++ b/tests/test_tutor_driver.py
@@ -139,3 +139,44 @@ class P:
     text, sid = tutor_mod._default_invoke("hi", "sys", None, None)
     assert seen.get("stdin") == sp.DEVNULL
     assert (text, sid) == ("ok", "s")
+
+
+def test_teach_opening_pitches_at_learner_age():
+    p = build_teach_prompt(TOPIC, "", learner_name="Sam", opening=True,
+                           learner_age=(9, 10))
+    assert "9-10" in p                       # learner age stated
+    assert "foundational" in p.lower()       # 4-6 topic is below a 9-10 learner
+    assert "already know" in p.lower()       # test-out invitation
+
+
+def test_teach_opening_age_matched_topic_has_no_testout():
+    p = build_teach_prompt(TOPIC, "", learner_name="Sam", opening=True,
+                           learner_age=(4, 6))
+    assert "4-6" in p
+    assert "foundational" not in p.lower()   # in-band: teach normally
+
+
+def test_teach_opening_without_age_unchanged():
+    p = build_teach_prompt(TOPIC, "", learner_name="Sam", opening=True)
+    assert "foundational" not in p.lower()
+    assert "first turn" in p.lower()         # existing framing intact
+
+
+def test_gate_prompt_age_never_lowers_the_bar():
+    p = build_gate_prompt(TOPIC, learner_name="Sam", learner_age=(9, 10))
+    assert "9-10" in p
+    assert "does not change the bar" in p.lower()
+
+
+def test_claude_tutor_threads_age_into_prompts():
+    seen = []
+    def fake_invoke(prompt, system, session_id, model):
+        seen.append(prompt)
+        return ("ok", "s")
+    t = ClaudeTutor("SYS", learner_name="Sam", learner_age=(9, 10),
+                    invoke=fake_invoke)
+    t.start_topic(TOPIC)
+    t.teach("")
+    t.gate()
+    assert "9-10" in seen[0]                 # teach opening carries the age
+    assert "9-10" in seen[1]                 # gate carries the age