At the end of Year 11, pupils aged 16 (in England, Wales and Northern Ireland) take a public examination called the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) (at Ordinary level (O level)) in a number of subjects, usually between 8 and 10. These consist of a mixture of internally assessed coursework and end-of-year examinations set and marked by independent examination boards. The results appear as grades A-G, where A is the top grade (a starred A* was introduced in 1994 for the best of the A grades). A, B or C grades are normally regarded as equivalent to the pass grades.
After sitting the exams, secondary students may leave school to enter the workforce, pursue training programmes at technical or vocational schools**, or continue studying for two more years at Sixth Form Colleges.
Further education (Sixth Form)
After GCSE (O level), more able pupils (usually university-bound ones) enter the Sixth Form (Years 12, 13). The curriculum of the sixth form is narrowed to about 5 subjects, of which the pupils will specialize in 2 or 3. The two-year course at Sixth Form College leads to the Advanced Level (A level) GCSE examination. The examination is usually taken after Year 13 (at the age of 17-18). Candidates may take as many subjects as they like. Three A levels are usually enough to gain entry to most universities*.
Higher education
The UK has a vast variety of higher education opportunities to offer students with over 100 universities providing various degree programs for students from the UK and around the world. In the UK about one-third of all students go on to some form of higher education and this number is well over 50% for students from Scotland. This makes competition for places very fierce and so it is advised to apply early for courses.
All UK universities enjoy academic freedom.
UK Universities admission
Stage 1: UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).
As nearly all British higher education institutions are members of UCAS, all those wishing to study for first degrees in the UK must apply through UCAS. Applicants submit a single application via UCASs website with a list of up to five courses for which they are applying, in no order of preference. All five choices are confidential during the application process so universities and colleges considering an application cannot see any of the candidates other choices. Applications must be completed by the middle of the January of the year that the student wishes to start university.
The application also includes current qualifications, employment and criminal history, a personal statement and a reference (which generally includes predicted grades if the applicant is still in education).
Stage 2: The universities concerned.
The application is forwarded by UCAS to the institutions applied to. Each applicant is first considered by the university admission board. The university admission board either sends the applicant an immediate refusal or, if there are no reasons for the latter, passes the candidates papers to the academic department concerned.
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Stage 3: The academic departments concerned.
1. Members of this or that academic department examine the candidates application and make him/her an offer of a place. Offers are either conditional, i.e. dependent on future examination performance, or unconditional.
2. Once the applicant has received responses from all the institutions applied to, he/she must respond by accepting up to two choices, whereas the remainder are declined.
Stage 4: Final place confirmations.
Final place confirmations are generally made in mid-August, when the results of the A-level examinations become available. The University admissions department sees whether the candidate has fulfilled his/her conditions and if he/she has, sends him/her a definite offer.
The Universities of Oxford and Cambridge have additional requirements to prospective applicants because of the high volume of applications. In addition to the usual UCAS system, selection is based on candidate-submitted written work; interviews, which are held between applicants and college tutors; and, in some subjects, written admission tests prior to interview.
