Education of Lady Louise and the Earl of Wessex

[Royalist.in.NC]

Originally Posted by CrownPrincessJava

In the UK (and Australian systems), honours levels are classified as 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Under 2nd class honours, there is level 1 and level 2. Level 1 is considered a credit grade (65-74%) and level 2 is pass level (60-65%).

Thanks so much! But I still don’t get what a 2.1 or 2.2 means? What is the first 2? Is the second 2 “first or second level”?

[Royalist.in.NC]

Originally Posted by muriel

The school leaving exam, at age 18, which is a key input into the university admissions process is the A-levels. You are required to take 3 A levels, though a number of children take 4 and use the best 3 for their grades.

The GSCEs are taken at the end of Year 11, when you are 16. The predecessor to these were the O levels. These exams are not usually a major input into your university admission process, but mark the end of your broad education covering 10-11 subjects. Somebody close to me recently did his, and had exams in Maths, English Literature, English Language, Physics, Chem, Biology, History, Ancient History, Product Design, French and Latin.

Wow! In our state we have EOG’s (end of grade) beginning in 3rd Grade and EOC’s (end of course) given for high school courses needed for 12th grade high school graduation. Universities in the US look at a combination of SAT/ACT national test scores and GPA (grade point average) which comes from course grades of which EOC’s are a part.

You don’t realize how complex these systems are until you start talking about them!

[Heavs]

Originally Posted by Royalist.in.NC

Thanks so much! But I still don’t get what a 2.1 or 2.2 means? What is the first 2? Is the second 2 “first or second level”?

The 2nd honours degree classification is split into two parts. So a 2:1 (Two One) is better than a 2:2. (Two Two)

2:2 is often considered the minimum qualification when applying for graduate jobs. And is sometimes known as a Desmond (Tutu).

[Denville]

Originally Posted by Royalist.in.NC

Thanks so much! But I still don’t get what a 2.1 or 2.2 means? What is the first 2? Is the second 2 “first or second level”?

the first 2 means a second class honour.. the second 1 or 2 means level one, or level 2.... A 2:1 is better than a 2:2

[Alison H]

It's like upper second honours or lower second honours. I've got no idea why it isn't just 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th, rather than splitting second class into two ... I'm sure there's some reason which made a huge amount of sense back in the day!

[Royalist.in.NC]

Originally Posted by Iluvbertie

William and Harry also boarded. They were sent to boarding school when they were aged 8 - as was Edward, Andrew and Charles.

Zara also boarded at Gordonstoun and Eugenie at Marlborough - a few years behind Catherine.

Of the older cousins the only one who didn't board in high school was Beatrice due to going to St George's at Ascot.

Wellington College takes day pupils and is in Berkshire so he may very well attend there. Eton is full boarding only - no day pupils.

So I am assuming that it is only the wealthy who board their kids? I cannot imagine sending an 8 year old away from home to go to school!

[Denville]

Originally Posted by Alison H

It's like upper second honours or lower second honours. I've got no idea why it isn't just 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th, rather than splitting second class into two ... I'm sure there's some reason which made a huge amount of sense back in the day!

well very few got a first, very few got a fourth? (or a third) so the bulk would be 2nd class.

[Royalist.in.NC]

Originally Posted by Heavs

The 2nd honours degree classification is split into two parts. So a 2:1 (Two One) is better than a 2:2. (Two Two)

2:2 is often considered the minimum qualification when applying for graduate jobs. And is sometimes known as a Desmond (Tutu).

So is there a 1.1 or a 1.2 for first class honor?

[Denville]

Originally Posted by Royalist.in.NC

So I am assuming that it is only the wealthy who board their kids? I cannot imagine sending an 8 year old away from home to go to school!

Only the wealthy can afford boarding school..

[Heavs]

Originally Posted by Royalist.in.NC

So I am assuming that it is only the wealthy who board their kids? I cannot imagine sending an 8 year old away from home to go to school!

The stereotype is the upper class who send their kids to boarding school from 7 years old. But in my experience it's not quite like that any more. With a lot of families where both parents work there are a lot of middle class families who take advantage of weekly or flexi boarding. Of course you have to be able to afford the fees.

There are about 40 state boarding schools in the UK.

[Erin9]

Originally Posted by Heavs

The 2nd honours degree classification is split into two parts. So a 2:1 (Two One) is better than a 2:2. (Two Two)



2:2 is often considered the minimum qualification when applying for graduate jobs. And is sometimes known as a Desmond (Tutu).

So if you graduated from university with 3.1 or 3.2 that wouldn’t do you much good?

Is graduating with a 1.1 or 1.2 pretty rare?

[Denville]

As far as I know there's only one class of first, not 1:1 etc. and the same with third class.

[Iluvbertie]

Originally Posted by Erin9

So if you graduated from university with 3.1 or 3.2 that wouldn’t do you much good?

Is graduating with a 1.1 or 1.2 pretty rare?

A first is just a first and a third is just a third.

Only the seconds are divided into a 2.1 and 2.2.

There are four levels - 1st, 2.1, 2.2 and 3rd.

How they are awarded can vary by university but you do want a 1st or 2.1 for preference - which the younger royals all earned.

One thing to remember is that standards in the UK, as in many other countries, have dropped to allow more students to qualify to go to university.

[Erin9]

Originally Posted by Iluvbertie

A first is just a first and a third is just a third.



Only the seconds are divided into a 2.1 and 2.2.



There are four levels - 1st, 2.1, 2.2 and 3rd.



How they are awarded can vary by university but you do want a 1st or 2.1 for preference - which the younger royals all earned.



One thing to remember is that standards in the UK, as in many other countries, have dropped to allow more students to qualify to go to university.

Thank you. That’s very helpful.

Good point about standards going down in general.

[Kaye1850]

This has been very illuminating ~ thanks to all who took time to explain!

[Somebody]

What are the percentages in each of the categories (because that is the best way to compare grading systems)?

[Prinsara]

Getting a first at university is a major mark of distinction. More than any kind of cum laude, I think. (Dependent, of course, on the university.)

And getting a third is basically embarrassing.

[Erin9]

I have a question about A levels.

I may be confused, but this was my understanding:

They’re standard tests that are used heavily for college entrance. You’re required to take 3, but some kids take 4 so they can use the best of the 3 grades.

So….I thought I read Harry only had 2 A levels with grades of a B and D- can’t recall the subjects. Didn’t he have to take 3 A levels? Or have standards changed? Or is that 3 are required to go to university?

Or I’m just lost. Lol

[Prinsara]

Originally Posted by Erin9

I have a question about A levels.

I may be confused, but this was my understanding:

They’re standard tests that are used heavily for college entrance. You’re required to take 3, but some kids take 4 so they can use the best of the 3 grades.

So….I thought I read Harry only had 2 A levels with grades of a B and D- can’t recall the subjects. Didn’t he have to take 3 A levels? Or have standards changed? Or is that 3 are required to go to university?

Or I’m just lost. Lol

I don't know what Sandhurst requires in the way of A-levels, but Harry didn't go to university. Getting a D is also pretty embarrassing, so it's like he only really had one. (Going back, his Uncle Edward didn't do much better.)

[Erin9]

Originally Posted by Prinsara

I don't know what Sandhurst requires in the way of A-levels, but Harry didn't go to university. Getting a D is also pretty embarrassing, so it's like he only really had one. (Going back, his Uncle Edward didn't do much better.)

I guess what I’m wondering is- could Harry not have gone to university at all with only 2 A levels? Agreed a D is a pretty bad grade so that couldn’t have been helpful really. He nearly failed.

I know he didn’t go to university, but was it literally not an option based on performance?

I don’t want to go OT- I’m just trying to generally understand how A levels work. And this seems to be a way to clarify it.