|
"A" Level |
Advanced Level |
|
"AS" Level |
Advanced Subsidiary Level |
|
Access |
UK version of GED |
|
Advanced Higher |
Scottish version of "A" Level |
|
Advanced Level |
Upper tier of GCSE/GCE. 2 year course examination taken at 18, roughly equivalent to US 'AP's |
|
Advanced Subsidiary |
Upper tier of GCSE/GCE. 1 year course similar to Scottish 'Higher'
Examinatioin |
|
AEB |
Associated Examination Board - Subsidiary of AQA |
|
AICE |
Advanced International Certificate of Education. International version
of UK 'A' Level |
|
AQA |
Assessment and Qualification Alliance (Examination Board) |
|
BTEC |
Trade name for Higher Nationals from EDEXCEL Board |
|
CCEA |
Council for Curriculum Examinations and Assessment (Examination Board) |
|
CIE |
Cambridge International Examination Board - International section of
UCLES |
|
Cambridge Program |
US trade name for IGCSE from Cambridge Examination Board |
|
Comprehensive School |
High School |
|
Council for Curriculum Examinations and Assessment |
Northern Ireland Examination Board |
|
EDEXCEL |
Largest examination board in UK - based in London |
|
Examination Board |
Non- profit making organization licensed to issue UK government accredited
qualifications |
|
Examination Center |
Center where GCSE examinations and assessments take place. Generally a
school or college but can be anywhere. British Consulates and Royal Navy
Warships have been registered as examination centers. |
|
FE |
Further Education |
|
Form |
Year Class - starts at First Form age 11 |
|
Further Education College |
Community College |
|
GCE |
General Certificate of Education. fore runner to GCSE - Still in use |
|
GCSE |
General Certificate of Secondary Education, modern development of GCE.
In 5 subjects at 'C'grade or above equivalent to a US High School Diploma |
|
Grammar School |
Selects students on the basis of academic ability at age 11 |
|
Higher |
Upper tier in Scottish Program. Taken at 17 in 5 subjects |
|
Higher National |
UK Associate Degree Program |
|
Higher National Certificate |
Lower tier of Associate Degree Program |
|
Higher National Diploma |
Upper tier of Associate Degree Program |
|
Honours Degree |
A UK University degree is generally at 'Honours' level, roughly equivalent
to a US Masters. If you fail the Honours Examination but have otherwise
completed the course you will be awarded an 'Ordinary', or Bachelors
Degree. |
|
HN |
Higher National |
|
HNC |
Higher National Certificate |
|
HND |
Higher National Diploma |
|
IGCSE |
International General Certificate of Education |
|
International General Certificate of Education |
GCSE program adapted for international use. Currently operated by two
boards UCLES and EDEXCEL. Emphasis on international compatibility may not
be suitable to USA (same language) |
|
Intermediate 1 |
Scottish Standard Grade examination at below 'C' Grade GCSE |
|
Intermediate 2 |
Scottish Standard Grade examination at above 'C' Grade GCSE |
|
Independent School |
Private School |
|
Key Stage |
Assessment point in students progress - test in final year |
|
Key Stage 1 |
Age 4-6 = USA K1 - K2 |
|
Key Stage 2 |
Age 7-9 = USA K5 - K6 |
|
Key Stage 3 |
Age 11-13 = USA K8 - K10 |
|
Key Stage 4 |
Age 14-16 = USA K11 - K13 |
|
KS |
Key Stage |
|
Masters Degree |
There are two types of Masters in the UK system. A 'taught' Masters course
in different subject, but at roughly the same level as an Honours Degree,
or a 'research' Masters, which is a higher Degree at a level intermediate
to a PhD. |
|
National Curriculum |
UK government outline of what children should know. Fairly loose except
on basic skills such as literacy and maths at primary level. |
|
National Qualification |
Qualification directly comparable across the UK |
|
National Qualifications Framework |
Framework by which all examination board qualifications are equvalent
ie UCLES IGCSE = AEB GCSE = Scottish 'Standard Grade'. Some countries,
such as Hong Kong and Malaysia submit their qualifications for comparison
to NQF |
|
NEAB |
Northern Examination & Assessment Board - Subsidiary of AQA |
|
NQ |
National Qualification |
|
NQF |
National Qualifications Framework |
|
"O" Level |
Ordinary or General Level |
|
OCR |
Oxford Cambridge & RSA (Examination Board) |
|
Primary |
Age 5 - 11 |
|
Primary School |
Age 5 - 11 School |
|
Private Candidate |
A candidate whole applies to a examination centre to take GCSE
examinations but has not studied at the school or college |
|
Public Candidate |
A candidate who is taking a GCSE examination at the school or college
where they have studied |
|
Public School |
(Confusingly) Private School |
|
QCA |
Qualifications and Curriculum Authority |
|
Qualifications and Curriculum Authority |
UK government board that inspects and controls examination boards
ensuring all qualification meet NQF standards |
|
Reception |
First year in school, starts at age 5 |
|
Royal Society of Arts |
Examination Board - now part of OCR |
|
SCOTVEC |
Trade name for Higher Nationals from SQA Board |
|
Scottish Degree |
Scottish Universities have a 4 year first degree program starting at 17
the same as the USA. Beware though. A US High School Diploma is NOT
equivalent to Scottish Highers. You will need 'AP's as entrance
qualifications to a Scottish University. |
|
Secondary School |
Age 11 - 18 Schools |
|
Selective School |
Selects students on the basis of academic ability |
|
Short Course |
Accelerated Course |
|
Sixth Form |
Post 16 age school education |
|
SQA |
Scottish Qualification Authority (Examination Board) |
|
Standard Grade |
Scottish Qualification similar to GCSE - at two levels 'Intermediate 1
(General) and Intermediate 2 (Credit) |
|
Subjects |
Number and type of subjects studied in GCSE examinations. The minimum of 5
studied. Very able students may study 9. All examinations at one level are
exactly equal in credit value. |
|
SVQ |
Scottish Vocational Qualification - now replaced by Vocational GCSE's |
|
UCLES |
University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate - Subsidiary of OCR |
|
Vocational |
Qualifications not aimed at college entrance, generally practical
skills |
|
WJEC |
Welsh Joint Education Committee (Examination Board) |
