Answer the questions.

1. At what age do pupils in Belarus take exams?

2. What exams did you sit last year?

3. Did you pass them successfully?

4. Have you ever failed any exams?

5. What exams are you going to sit in grade 11?

6. Are school-leaving exams compulsory or optional?

2 a) Read the information from exams helpline and say:

a) at what age schoolchildren finish compulsory education;

b) what exams they take and at what age;

c) what compulsory subjects are;

d) what optional subjects are.

Q 1. What exams do people take in Great Britain?

A. Students in England take GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) exams at the end of the final year of their compulsory school education. So, at 16 students can either fin­ish school and get a job, or go on to further studies.

Q 2. And if you want to enter uni­versity?

A. Those who want to enter uni­versity stay on at school or attend college for a two-year A Level course. Then they apply for any degree course at any university, if they meet the entry requirements.

Q 3. What are GCSEs?

A. GCSEs are the main examina­tions taken by UK students to com­plete the first stage of secondary or high school education.

Q 4. What subjects can you study?

A. There is a broad range of GCSE subjects to choose from. Some subjects at this level are compul­sory and others optional. Compulsory (or core) subjects: Math­ematics, English, and Computer Studies. Optional subjects: Accounting, Art, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Eco­nomics, Geography, Natural Economy and Physics.

Q 5. What do GCSEs consist of?

A. Depending on which subjects you choose, you'll receive lessons taught in the classroom or laboratory. In some cases you'll also take part in educational field trips. You'll be expect­ed to complete homework and independent or group research projects. Student progress is regularly tested.

Q 6. How are you assessed?

A. For each GCSE subject you receive a final grade from A (highest) to G.

GCSE grades show achievement at secondary school lev­el. Some universities specify minimum grades in certain sub­jects as part of their entrance requirements. Later on, some companies will only consider your application if you have achieved specific grades in particular subjects.

Q 7. What are A Levels?

A. A levels are studied between the ages of 16-18 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. They are the most popular route into UK higher education institutions. To enter one of the top UK universities you'll usually need 3 or 4 good A Level grades.

Q 8. What subjects can you study?

A. Those who want to specialise in Science, Medicine and Engineering could, for example take Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Those who decide to study Business, Humanities and Law could take Maths, Economics, Accountancy, Business Studies, English Literature and Psy­chology.

Q 9. What marks do you get?

A. For each A Level subject you take, you'll receive a grade from A to E. You can translate your A Level and AS Level grades into UCAS (Universities & Colleges Admissions Service) tariff points as follows.

A Levels: A* - 140, A - 120, B - 100, C - 80, D - 60, E - 40.

AS Levels: A - 60, B - 50, C - 40, D - 30, E - 20.

Many companies will also evaluate your application for a job on the basis of your A Level grades, as well as your degree.

Q 10. Is it difficult to study for A Level?

A. It's not easy but in addition to academic study, students develop independent thinking, study skills, team working, re­search and analysis. It will also help you to decide what you would like to study at degree level.

Date: 2016-03-03; view: 1935