At the age of 16, students must take a national exam called GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education). At this age, they take so called O-level (Ordinary level). It consists of 6 or 7 subjects. Students are awarded on a seven point scale, from A to G.
Students who pass this exam and wish to continue their studies usually choose to do A-levels (Advanced levels). They can study three main educational establishment - the sixth form of their school, a Sixth Form College (that provides better education and preparation for university studies), or a College of Further Education (which is specialized in vocational courses such as bussines and administration, tourism, industry and commerce...).
A-level exam is normally taken at the age of 18, after a two year period of full-time study. The exam is written, questions must be answered over a limited period of time. Cheating is severely punished. Students are informed on their results by letter about six weeks later.
Students specialize in two or three (or even four) related subjects, either humanities subjects, such as History, Geography, English, Economics, or science subjects, such as Maths, Biology, Chemistry or Physics. Students are marked on a seven point scale from A (the highest) to E, N (narrow failure) and U (unclassified).
Students who want to attend a university make their application. If the application is accepted, the university makes an offer It usually requires at least two A-level passes at a given grade, fo example at least two B grades and a C. If the student fails to get these grades, his of her application will most likely be rejected. A number of places available is limited so the students are in competition.
In 1989 a new exam called AS level (Advanced Supplementary level) was introduced. It allows students to study a wider range of subjects. The academic value of an AS-level is a half that of an A-level.
Before starting to study at the university, many students take a gap year, a year off. they do it in order to receive job experiences and to save up some extra money or they just need to take a break. Some of them decide to help on voluntary projects at home or overseas.
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