Iluvbertie
Imperial Majesty
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2004
- Messages
- 14,476
- City
- Bathurst
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- Australia
Thank so much - this was very helpful! One more question: what are A and O levels for? To get into university? And what are GCSEs?
We have the SAT or ACT national tests to get into undergraduate college or university and GREs to get into graduate school; but other specific tests for law and medicine.
Thanks again!
Did you read Harry Potter?
Remember OWLs and NEWTs.
A levels, O levels and GCSEs are a bit like that - externally set and marked exams based on a national syllabus. That means if a student studies GCSE History, for instance, every student who studied that course, in the country, will sit the same exam, at the same time and the papers will then be sent to another place to be marked to the same standard across the country.
A levels are the end of school and are a major part of what a student needs to get into university.
Going back for instance:
Charles earned 6 O levels and 2 A levels (History B and French C). Those grades weren't really good enough for Cambridge but he still went there and graduated with a 2.2 degree.
William earned 12 GCSEs and 3 A levels (Geography A, Biology C and History of Art B) Those grades were good enough for St Andrews where he graduated with a 2.1.
Harry earned 11 GCSEs and 2 A levels (Art B and Geography D).
Catherine earned 11 GCSEs and 3 A levels (As and both Maths and Art and a B in English). She also graduated from St Andrews with a 2.1.
Beatrice earned 3 A levels (can't find the number of GCSEs) - A in Drama and Bs in History and Film Studies before going on to graduate from Goldsmiths with a 2.1 in History and History of Ideas.
Eugenie also earned 3 A levels - As in Art and English Literature as well as a B in History of Art. She then graduated with a 2.1 from Newcastle University in English Literature and History of Art.
Diana famously didn't get any O levels even though she tried twice.
Louise is currently studying for her A levels which she will sit next year, I believe. From there she may take a gap year before university. Her father earned three A levels - 1 C and 2 Ds. Again these grades weren't good enough for Cambridge but he went there anyway and graduated with a 2.2 in History.