Something I’ve been wanting to explore for a while now - The differences between the UK and US education systems. (Spurred by one of my friend’s claiming America has it harder, and the decision to explore this fact. Basically, it’s a bit of a rant.)
I think the main assumption that U.S. exams are difficult is the fact that you need to get 97-98% on exams to get an A+, whereas A* in England require 90%. Coupled with the fact that A’s in the US are 90-92% upwards, whereas in England you only need 80%, at first glance it could be seen that American exams are harder.
But the main difference isn’t the mark schemes. It’s the way exams are held. As far as research shows me, American grades go towards your GPA, from 0.00 to 4.00 (5.00 in some states). The exams you take, accumulating over middle school and high school go towards your final grades when you graduate high school or apply for college.
These exams are based on school terms / semesters, and are accumulative. And, if my research is right, students in the U.S have the capability of retaking tests if they don’t do well.
Apparently Americans study 6-8 subjects and each exam is an hour, with half of the exam being multiple choice and the other being a written essay.
However, in England, our exams take place at the end of our courses. GCSE’s from ages 14-16, and A-levels from 16-18. We start our two year course and take all of our exams at the end of it: There’s usually 2-3 exams per subject.
During GCSE’s, I personally took 9 subjects, with a total of 22 exams at the end of my course over June and July. The average exam is 90 minutes, so I had on average 33 hours of exams for GCSE’s on a whole. (That’s excluding the 18-hour drama exam I had to take).
People in UK don’t get to retake GCSE exams - the only retakes schools push for are those who get below a C in English or Mathematics - and they don’t get to retake A-level exams anymore.
At A-levels in the U.K, you typically study 3-4 subjects, in depth with a range of sub-groups. Personally I’m studying, Sociology / Psychology / English Literature and Language, each forcing me into 3 exams. That’s 18 hours of exams over a 3 week time period.
Okay Mint, you say, where are you going with this.
Give me a moment, I have a point.
In my psychology course, I have to learn 11 topics in depth. In just one topic, it’s necessary to be able to recall over 20 names, each with specific studies and specific evaluation. That’s 220 names for just PSYCHOLOGY.
Sociology, luckily, only has 5 topics. Sadly, you need about 50-60 names /studies/evaluation for 4 of those topics specifically, and you need to have about 40 extra names and studies to evaluation any question with. That’s an additional 240-280 names.
That’s up to 500 names that are necessary to remember to pass the course. All that need to be remembered over a 3 week exam period. All that are required to get marks. No multiple choice questions - well, maybe 6 multiple choice questions in all of psychology - because everything is essay based over here.
And then, to top it off, most of the English exams over here are closed book, meaning I have to be able to quote by memory and then analyse these quotes. Cramming, is practically impossible - they got rid of yearly exams three years ago, meaning retakes in second year of A-levels is impossible.
And universities don’t give concrete places. They give offers and if you don’t get the grades they say they’ll take you for, then oops you’ve got to go through clearing.
There’s a point to all this knowledge other than complaining about the exams I’m currently suffering through. It’s the place a point to the percentages necessary for grades that I pointed out earlier.
The grade boundaries are lower in the U.K because retakes are unheard of. Since we need to remember so much, need to recall over 500 names / 4 books / 50 poems, the grade boundaries give a little leeway for it’s students. If you make the percentages too high, then only two or three people would ever pass.
The grade boundaries in the U.S. then, are higher, since everything is on an accumulative scale. You give in essays and take tests that go towards a final GPA. Retakes are possible if necessary. Grade boundaries are higher since you study for one test per subject at a time.
Listen - I’m not saying either system is harder. (Although, if I’ve got you thinking one way or the other, that’s okay. I’ve got my own personal view on this that I’m not gonna go into right now).
I’m saying both systems are COMPLETELY different. It’s impossible to say that one is more difficult than the other without having studied both. U.S has higher grade boundaries, but that doesn’t mean that those getting those grades are any smarter than those studying in the U.K.
Let’s just say that both systems suck. And that we’re all suffering.
(Also, I’m not sure about America, but in the U.K, a lot of people say that A-levels are actually harder than the degrees we go into. Mostly because it’s all at the end of 2 years, whereas universities test after every term.)
If I’ve gotten anything about the U.S education system wrong, please tell me and I’ll adjust it! And what’s everyone else’s experience with the schooling system. Do you think you have it easier or harder?
jacobvanloon
germansingergirl
dailybridgerton
janainaart
tangentwithtanner
kaledo-art
yousharknotpass
