Ok, so I’m an American student and I’m just wondering about the UK education system. Many uk schools require GCSE scores and I’m just wondering what tests or grades correspond to A levels, B levels etc here in the US?
There really is no equivalent. For an American student applying for UK universities, the uni will generally require (in addition to a HS diploma) acceptable scores on some combination of SAT Subject Tests/AP/IB, which is uni will list on its site.
So if a school requires a Math GCSE level B, i need a test score? I can’t really find what I would need to turn in… @skieurope
Typically 600+ in the subject test for a B in the GCSE.
But check with each course.
I don’t even think it needs to be the subject test - just the ordinary SAT should be sufficient to be the broad GCSE equivalent.
If you tell us which universities you’re looking at, and which courses, we may be able to advise better.
@Conformist1688 uni of St. Andrews and uni of Edinburgh and I may apply to kings college
Think of adding Durham ?
You need ot look at their USA requirements, do not worry about GSCE,
@MYOS1634 why? I haven’t looked at many I really only used QS rankings to find the ones that were highly ranked in philosophy
@VickiSoCal I am well aware of the USA requirements, but St. Andrews requires, for philosophy, that I have a GCSE level B in English and math/science. Those are the faculty requirements.
Those will all be very familiar with the US school system. Their websites will all say what they expect from US students.
@Conformist1688 I know the USA requirements, but, for example, the faculty requirements for St. Andrews say I need a GCSE level B in math and English. I was just wondering, in AP scores and subject test scores what that was.
Ignore it. Philosophy already requires higher than that in English and Math or Science.You only need to look at this page:
https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/subjects/entry/usa/
And the subject specific requirements for Philosophy which is an AP 4 or 5 in English, Science or Math, and one other subject.
For undergraduate studies, look at University Leagues Tables (CompleteUniversityGuide or Guardian). Pay attention to student: faculty ratios and placement rates as well as “tariff” (admission requirements).
Durham, because it’s a more residential college.
I’d pick LSE over King’s (more well-known).
You can look at the new UCAS entry “tariffs”. An AP 5 is now worth 28 points, an AP 4 24 points, an AP 3 20 points.
With the new tariff, St Andrews wants about 200 points, Durham 205, LSE 185, Queen’s Belfast 147.
Completeuniversityguide uses the old tariffs.
@MYOS1634 so I looked into the tariff thing UCAS made and tried the calculator… They don’t seem to have American standardized tests like ACT or SAT on it, so with my current tests I come up just short of 100…
You need to put your senior year predicted scores in.
Where are you seeing that requirement for an AP in a science/math for philosophy, Vicki? I can only see that they ask U applicants for GCSEs in those, which is lower level than AP. I’m pretty sure the math section of the basic SAT would satisfy that requirement, and the APs can all be other subjects.
If you have any concerns, then e-mail the admissions office; I’m sure they will be happy to help.
Yeah I was wrong on that.
Many philosophy programs do have a pretty high math requirement, as it demonstrates an aptitude for logic.And since high school students don’t usually take philosophy they are looking for something to stand in.
@VickiSoCal @Conformist1688 this is the email I received:
There are no pre-requisite subjects for studying Philosophy at St Andrews. Math II, SAT II subject test will be sufficient to meet the Faculty entrance requirements. A score of 700+ is equivalent to an AP test score of 5.