GCE "A" Level

What level is the British "GCE "A" Level"? High school? College?

Do you know what the Canadian/American equivalent would be?

 

If memory serves, it's high school level in the British system; and there is no American equivalent.


Cheers,

 

Simply put. The 'A' level is equivelent to subjects in the Honours Graduation Diploma (Gr 13) in Ontario Canada (the only province having Grade 13 up unitl recently).

It is Form 6 in the UK, and British universities usually like to accept someone with 'O' Levels + at least a minimum of 2 'A' s depending on the program that they are entering.

In Ontario the U of T & Ryerson, list in there entry requirements for foreign applications a statement along the lines of the Brit requirement that they will accept.

For a standard Canadian going to the UK the requirement would be the GR 12 Diploma (advanced program/university level prep).

Was this what you wanted?

J.R (ic)

 

John

Thank you. I applied to a British school and they told me I needed to take a "GCE A Level in any academic subject." Upon doing so I would receive entry.

I am curious as to whether this means taking an entire program or one course? How long would it take? etc...?

 

If your applying for a specific program, Business, Engineering, Arts etc. The university may ask you have an 'A' level in English for all degrees, in addition for example 'A's in Maths for the Engineering degree program, Commerce for the Business degree program, and Art for the Art degree program.

Which 'A' level are they asking you for?

Generally 'A's are single subjects and not a complete course.

If you have any college course passed beyond matriculation (High school diploma), then why not tell them you have the 'A' level equivelent?

J.R (ic)

 

John

It is the University of Londons Law program and they said a GCE "A" level in any academic subject would be acceptable.

Maybe taking a college course would be a good solution?

 

Typically, American universities will award up to 10 semester hours of credit per A-level. This will be awarded at the 100 or 200 band. Often the amount of credit awarded depends on the A-level grade achieved. Some institutions may not award credit for A-levels, but I know of none. The foregoing information can be verified by a google search at no expense to the researcher.

I received 5 credits each for my Scottish Higher. The Higher grade comprised one year academic study less than that of A-level. The semester hour credit was awarded as that "usually earned in the first and second year at a US college or university".

Lawrie Miller
author: BA in 4 Weeks and Accelerated Master's Degrees by Distance Learning
http://geocities.com/ba_in_4_weeks/

 

My two GCE "A" Level (Economics and Pure Maths.) were awarded with 16 semester hours (8 semester hours each) in my USNY degree programme some 18 years ago.

 

How long would one GCE A Level course last? Would it take weeks, months or a year or more to complete?

Anyway to earn it from Canada?

 

Kane, further info at the following link.

http://www.dfes.gov.uk/qualifications/mainSection.cfm?sID=43&ssID=83

You could also do a web search to see other ways to do the 'A' Level by distance and external examination/assessment, if your that keen to do an 'A' level?.

Go back to London, and ask them if they will accept a Grade 13 subject as equivelent? Grade 13/OAC subjects can still be studied in Ontario I believe for one more year.

Some Canadian universities offer pre-university course that are equivelent level to Grade 13. I know the U of T offer these programs in the Toronto area. Maybe otherS elsewhere in the country. This would probably be the best route once you get the approval from London.

Do your homework first, by matching the course subject to the 'A' Level requirements, then get the approval, so that you can do the 'A' equivelent in Canada.

If I remember, an OAC would be better for you to do than an 'A' Level.

J.R (ic)

 

I passed 4 Oxford & Cambridge A levels (Pure Maths, Applied Maths, Physics, Chemistry) back in the mid-seventies. My picture was in the local paper because I was one of only 2 people in the area who received 4 "A" grades at A-level that year!

It's hard for me to believe that A-levels would be worth any college credit. But I have (almost) stopped being surprised about what you can credit for.

 

Since high school immediately precedes college in the US, you are saying that A-level is at a standard equivalent to 12 grade (US). American readers are invited to inspect past papers in Pure Maths, Applied Maths, Physics, Chemistry, at A-level (available on the Web as I recall), and compare them with examinations taken in 12th grade.

They then might like to compare the same A-level exams with those taken in freshman year at college. My judgment, and apparently that of every US college and university, is that A-level is at least at that level and most likely at US college 200 level.

The notion that credit is being awarded willy-nilly in respect of these credentials has no merit.


Lawrie Miller
author: BA in 4 Weeks and Accelerated Master's Degrees by Distance Learning
http://geocities.com/ba_in_4_weeks/

 

My two "A" Levels were from University of London GCE and both were graded "A". It was assessed by the International Education Research Foundation, Inc. as equivalent to 16 semester units of work at lower level (i.e. Year 1 course) in an accredited college or university in the United States.

GCE "A" Level at that time was difficult (I don't know how about it now). For example, Economics had three papers (Paper 1 Essay Questions - 3 hours, Paper 2 MC - 1.25 hours, Paper 3 Data Response Questions - 1.75 hours). It covered both Microeconomics and Macroeconomics. I don't think that it is easier than US College Year 1 Economics or CLEP exam.

Situation may be changed now. Other factors such as grades, subjects, and credentials evaluation agencies may affect the number of credits awarded.

 

Kane, I had another thought for you on the entrance to London, and their request for you to do any 'A' level subject, in addition to the other information on this thread by other posters.

Ask them , that if you do any ONE, 100 level 1st year subject from a Canadian university (night school), would this count as a single 'A' level equivelency..this may work in your favour?

J.R (ic)

 

We can go round the houses....but

We can go 'round the houses' (a very British expression!) with all of this but, generally speaking a good 'A' level grade pass is equivalent to a first or second year university level course in a 'typical' (whatever we mean by 'typical' but I thinkw e do!) US university. Of course, there are exceptions. The 'A' level is probably the hardest and most intense examination a British students has to take. I recall my history teacher telling my class that nearly 40 years ago! My niece felt just the same having recently got her university degree and teaching credential and, at age 23, is in her second year of teaching. So, despite changes in examinations the feeling is the same that the Britiash 'A' level examination is difficult. The present Blair government has sought to change the 'A' level and if you've read anything int he press and/or seen things on TV, the whole thing has been a complete shambles. The system can and shoudl be changed but, like so many things this government is doing, it is 'throwing out of the window' what 'is best' about the UK education system and not replacing it with much (if anything) that is as robust as that abandoned. At present a First Class Honours Degree is 'generally' regarded as being equivalent to a US 'average' university master's degree. That's documented all ovefr the place! I'm not stating this to 'score points'. Each country has different needs, different cultures and size of populations so the two cannot be the same. All this stated, let me give you just two examples of the type of question an 18 year old is faced with in an unseen, timed written 3 hours examination paper. These are questions I actually had in my 'A' level exams all those years ago and similar questions still appear. They are not geared to presenting facts but test your ability with ideas, analysis, etc.

HISTORY PAPER (I'd chosen English 17th Century History-The Stuarts, Cromwell, etc) and you had 3 hours to answer 4 questions (usually out of 8) of this type:

This little man Laud is the most hated man in all England. Discuss
(Archbishop Laud was one of Charles I most ruthless supporters and basically governed England and subdued the Irish and changed the Established Church.)

The liberty of a people consists in having a government, but not having a share in it. This statement is attributed to Charles I as he was led away to his execution in 1649. Discuss in relationship to his reign in general and domestic policy particularly

I also studied English Literature at 'A' level. The prescribed texts for my year (aged 18) included John Milton's 'Samson Agonistes'. Students now struggle with this (and similar texts) these days because they have liitie, or no, background in biblical studies. When Iw as at school Religious Education lessons were compulsory by law so you hasd this biblical background. Typical 'A' level question:

In Samson Agonistes, Milton purged himself of some perilous stuff that had festered there since his wife's dessertion. Discuss.

Again, 3 hours to answer 4 or 5 questions of this type out of 8!

You'd be hard pushed to find many US universities that demand this level of analysis and understanding at age 18, let alone 21!

Final comment:

Someone posted that English was required at 'A' level for entry to university. No, this is not correct. You had to (and it has now since been re-introduced) have a pass at 'O' level (ordinary) level in English Language and Mathematics. 'O' level is the examination taken at age 16 in schools in the UK.

Well, this has gone on...apologies!

 

tefax, the up to date input from over home, really clears up some of the questions asked by Kane.

Back to his original question though, which was: Where can he do an 'A' since this is what London is asking for from him.

From the local brit residing in the UK, can you suggest or recommend an alternative for him getting into London (since they are asking him for this tough as hell 'A' subject), by any other credit subject that YOU think will satisfy his qualification for entry?

From a Canadian perspective, I have tried to help this poor Canuck, but have not heard back from him in days, maybe he sees it too tough to do..who knows.

Your support to Kane would be appreciated.

Thanks.

J.R (ic)

 

Poor Canuck here *S*

I have been looking into the "A" Level and by comparison it seems to be a last year secondary school program equivalent to Ontarios "OAC's" though it does seem to be more difficult, but since the London LLB will be more difficult I plan to get use to it.

I emailed U of L and have yet to hear back. I was thinking of a first year course from a College of Applied Arts and Technology.

 

Kane, wait till you hear back from L;ondon, and dont as telfax noted, under estimate the 'A' its tougher than an OAC.

Keep us all informed on how you make out. By the way..which city in Canada do you reside?

J.R (ic)

 

I live in Barrie, Ontario. I think a first year college course would suffice, if not at least is an accredited credit.

U of L said any academic subject is acceptable so at least it is open.

 

Well done, try to get that credit at Georgian college, and speak to somone that runs the advanced English, Maths, Economics or even Law subjects that are post secondary level.

J.R (ic)