What are the GCSEs?

[Guest]

[EmmasOneandOnly]

Last night I watched the BAFTAs last night on BBC America . And Emma said something about Dan studying for his GCSEs. I just wanted to know what that was. Sorry if this is in the wrong forum .
     Mike

[Roz]

General Certificate of Secondary Education

They are the exams you take when you are 16 here in the UK and in many other parts of the world who use our system.

Generally we take about 9-14 GCSEs each I think. And each GCSE is on one subject - so you do one Maths, most people do two Engish (English Language and English Literature), then Physics Chemistry, Biology and the like.

They are graded from I think U (ungraded) F (fail) and then from E (poor) to A* (brilliant).

It's a long time since I did them so this might be a tad out of date

[ferdinand_the_yak]

The equivalent here would be the HSC in NSW and the VCE in Victoria... not sure what the others are in the other states.,...

It wuold be the SATs in the US, am I right?

[Boggle]

GCSE's are things i was quite bad at....

[Anna]

It would be the SATs in the US, am I right?

Yes, you're correct.  At age 16 it would be PSATs and before entering college it would be SATs.

[kbmum]

In addition to SATs, there are AP (Advanced Placement) exams in specific subjects.  If the score is high enough, a student can be exempt from an introductory college course or even get college credit.  There are also SAT Subject Tests.

[ferdinand_the_yak]

Too many exams!

[kbmum]

The AP exams and SAT subject tests aren't required at most colleges and universities.  Students take them when they know they'll do well, to impress the selection committees and to maybe get some college credit.

[EmmasOneandOnly]

Thanks, just wondering  

[Morningangel-Iola]

Before them there where O levels (we still have A level which are the next up). And I wouldn't be surprised if this is where O.W.Ls come from (owl level )