Yes? No? Maybe?

TRANSFER CREDIT FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL

EXAMINATIONS

OVERSEAS ASSOCIATION FOR COLLEGE ADMISSION COUNSELING 2013 ANNUAL CONFERENCE

KATE FREEMAN, International Consultants of Delaware EMILY TSE, International Educational Research Foundation

MARJORIE SMITH, University of Denver

¡  Review credentials that cause the most discussion and confusion

¡  Give suggestions for transfer credit/advanced placement/course transfer

¡  Provide information and data to explain suggestions ¡  Give you more information when reviewing institutional policy

GOALS FOR THIS SESSION

¡  Changes in educational systems ¡  Changes in content of external examinations ¡ We’ve always done it, but we don’t know why

WHY THE CONTROVERSY?

¡  External vs. internal ¡ Mandatory vs. optional

SECONDARY SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS

¡  13th year ¡  Required for access to university study ¡  Validation by state or national examination board ¡  In-depth study in a limited number of subjects ¡  Indicates high level of academic achievement/rigor

WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDER CREDIT

¡  12 years or less ¡  Not always the credential required for university admission ¡  Level of academic rigor not at a post-secondary level ¡  High passing rates (see France)

WHY YOU SHOULDN’T CONSIDER CREDIT

General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) ¡ External examination after completion of secondary school (11 years) ¡ Offered by 7 examining bodies ¡ Sit for 5 – 6 subjects ¡ Comparable to completion of high school in U.S. and Canada TRANSFER CREDIT? Not recommended ¡ Not at a post-secondary level

UNITED KINGDOM GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF SECONDARY EDUCATION (GCSE)

General Certif icate of Education Advanced Subsidiary Level (GCE “A/S” Levels) ¡ External examination after completion of 1st year of Sixth Form ¡ Usually sit for 2-3 subjects ¡ Grades of A – E (all considered passing) TRANSFER CREDIT? Yes ¡ 3 – 5 semester credits for each subject pass ¡ You must determine acceptable grade for transfer credit ¡ Examining boards provide information on what is covered in each subject

UNITED KINGDOM G EN ERA L C ERT IF ICAT E OF ED U CAT ION A DVA N C ED S U B S ID IA RY LEVEL

( G C E “A/S” LEVELS )

General Certif icate of Education Advanced Level (GCE “A” Levels) ¡ External examination after completion of 2nd year of Sixth Form ¡ Usually sit for 2-3 subjects ¡ Grades of A – E (all considered passing)

TRANSFER CREDIT? Yes ¡  6 – 10 semester credits for each subject pass ¡ You must determine acceptable grade for transfer credit ¡ Examining boards provide information on what is covered in each subject

UNITED KINGDOM GENERAL CERTIF ICATE OF EDUCATION ADVANCED LEVEL

(GCE “A” LEVELS)

¡  Technical and vocational programs of fered in UK and internationally ¡  Name changed to Pearson as of Apri l 2013 (formerly Edexcel) ¡  Qualifications wil l be known as Pearson BTEC ¡  30% of UK university admissions BTEC students ¡  95% of UK higher education institutions accept BTEC students ¡  Admission generally requires a GCSE ¡  List of BTEC qualifications:

http://www.edexcel.com/btec/Pages/Qualifications.aspx BTEC National Cer tif icate ¡  1 year of post-GCSE study TRANSFER CREDIT? Yes ¡  Up to one year (~30 semester credits) BTEC National Diploma ¡  2 years of post-GCSE study TRANSFER CREDIT? Yes ¡  Up to two years (~60 semester credits)

UNITED KINGDOM BUSINESS AND TECHNICIAN EDUCATION COUNCIL (BTEC)

UNITED KINGDOM BUSINESS AND TECHNICIAN EDUCATION COUNCIL (BTEC)

BTEC Higher National Certificate ¡ 1 year following BTEC National Certificate TRANSFER CREDIT? Yes ¡ Up to one year (~30 semester credits) BTEC Higher National Diploma ¡ 2 years following BTEC National Diploma TRANSFER CREDIT? Yes ¡ Up to two years (~60 semester credits) if in dif ferent field from BTEC National Diploma ¡ Comparable to a bachelor’s degree if in same field as BTEC National Diploma

FRANCE DIPLÔME DU BACCALAURÉAT

Baccalauréat ¡ External examination after completion secondary school (12 years) ¡ Exam subjects based on track

TRANSFER CREDIT? Not recommended ¡ Passing rate is more than 80% ¡ Credit not awarded at French post-secondary institutions ¡ http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/28/world/europe/a-rite-of-passage-for-french-students-receives-a-poor-grade.html?pagewanted=all

QUÉBEC, CANADA DIPLÔME D’ETUDES COLLÉGIALES

Diplôme d’etudes collégiales/Diploma of Collegiale Studies ¡ Awarded after completion of two-year university preparatory program ¡ Preceded by 11 years of secondary education

TRANSFER CREDIT? Yes ¡ Up to one year of transfer credit ¡ Award credit for courses that are most advantageous to student’s proposed program of study at your school

QUÉBEC, CANADA DIPLÔME D’ETUDES COLLÉGIALES

ALBERTA, CANADA ADVANCED HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA

Advanced High School Diploma ¡ Awarded after completion of three years of secondary school ¡ Enriched courses; more math and science than General High School Diploma ¡ Preferred diploma for university admission

TRANSFER CREDIT? Not recommended ¡ Not at a post-secondary level ¡ Credit not awarded at Alberta colleges and universities

HONG KONG HONG KONG DIPLOMA OF SECONDARY EDUCATION

Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) ¡ External examination after completion of secondary school (12 years) ¡ First awarded 2012 ¡ Replaces Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE)

TRANSFER CREDIT? Not recommended ¡ Not at a post-secondary level ¡ University programs increased to 4 years from 3 years

GERMANY ZEUGNIS DER ALLGEMEINEN HOCHSCHULREIFE

Zeugnis der allgemeinen Hochschulreife (a.k.a. Abitur) ¡ After 12-13 years ¡ Exams coordinated at state level ¡ Uniform Examination Standards TRANSFER CREDIT? Maybe ¡ Depends on year awarded ¡ As of 2012-13 academic year, all lander (states), except Schleswig-Holstein (2016), will have a 12-year system ¡ Identical content (12 vs. 13 yrs)

GERMANY ZEUGNIS DER ALLGEMEINEN HOCHSCHULREIFE

GERMANY ZEUGNIS DER ALLGEMEINEN HOCHSCHULREIFE

ITALY DIPLOMA DI ESAME DI STATO

Diploma di Esame di Stato (Diploma of State Examination) ¡ Commonly awarded after 13 years of study (5 + 3 + 5 structure) ¡ Previously Diploma di Maturità (prior to 1998)

TRANSFER CREDIT? Maybe ¡ “Specializing Tracks/Schools” : Classical, Scientific, Linguistic…

ITALY DIPLOMA DI ESAME DI STATO

ITALY DIPLOMA DI ESAME DI STATO

Marks Noted on Left-Hand Side ¡ Average from the written exams ¡ Oral exam score

¡ Points/credits from internal assessment

ITALY DIPLOMA DI ESAME DI STATO

Explanation on the Right: ¡ 1st written: Official language ¡ 2nd written: Core Area ¡ 3rd written: Ability to integrate knowledge from final year ¡ Oral: Mastery of language and ability to connect knowledge

ITALY DIPLOMA DI ESAME DI STATO

ICELAND STÚDENTSPRÓF

Stúdentspróf (Matriculation Examination) ¡  14 years (commonly 10 + 4

structure) ¡  Primarily INTERNAL examination ¡ Ministry determines program

objectives, assessment and administrative practices

¡  Schools evaluated every 5 yrs TRANSFER CREDIT? Maybe ¡  140 credits required for graduation ¡  4-5 subjects with greatest weight

ICELAND STÚDENTSPRÓF

SWITZERLAND EIDG ENÖS S IS C H MAT URIT ÄT /MAT URIT É FÉDÉRAL

B AC CA LAURÉAT / MAT URIT À FEDERA LE

Eidgenössisch Maturität/Maturité fédéral/Baccalauréat/Maturità federale (Federal Maturity Certif icate) ¡  After 12-13 years ¡  Prior to 1995, academic tracks: classical languages, modern languages, math and sciences, economics… ¡  Federally recognized vs. Cantonal TRANSFER CREDIT? No ¡  Since reforms, no “specialization” ¡  Subjects: 7 core, 1 focal, 1

supplementary

SWITZERLAND EIDG ENÖS S IS C H MAT URIT ÄT /MAT URIT É FÉDÉRAL

B AC CA LAURÉAT / MAT URIT À FEDERA LE

¡  First issued in 1999/2000

NORWAY VITNEMÅL FRA DEN VIDERGÅENDE SKOLEN

Vitnemål fra den vidergående skolen (Certif icate from Upper Secondary School) ¡ Combination of internal and external

assessment ¡  1997: shift to 13-year structure (7 + 3 + 3) ¡ 3 academic streams: general; sports

and physical education; music, dance and drama

TRANSFER CREDIT? Maybe ¡  Further specializations within

general academic stream ¡  Approximately 4 exam subjects

NORWAY VITNEMÅL FRA DEN VIDERGÅENDE SKOLEN

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE

International Baccalaureate (IB) ¡  Since the late 1960s, over 140 countries ¡ Common 2-year pre-university

curriculum, regardless of location ¡  Externally validated ¡  6 subjects: 3 higher, 3 standard ¡  Also extended essay & analytical

reasoning section (TOK)

TRANSFER CREDIT? Yes ¡  For the higher level subjects

¡  Secondary = secondary; credential gives access to post-secondary education

¡  Double dipping: same subjects getting secondary school credits and transfer credit

¡  Suggests that the U.S. system is inferior

COMMENTS FROM THE CUNY SYSTEM

Kate Freeman – kfreeman@icdeval.com Emily Tse – etse@ierf.org Marjorie Smith – msmith@du.edu Session posted at http://www.icdeval.com/about/publications

QUESTIONS?

THANK YOU!

Gracias Cảm ơn bạn

Merci 감사합니다

Obrigado 谢谢

Cпасибо Grazie

ششككرراا Danke ध"यवाद

σας ευχαριστώ Salamat ありがとう

Terima kasih

תודה

General Certificate of Education Advanced Level

SURVEY FINDINGS

Other responses: •  In process of proposing a

policy to award credit •  Only based on credentials

evaluation and department review

GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION ADVANCED SUBSIDIARY LEVEL

SURVEY FINDINGS

Other responses: •  Case-by-case •  Typically award half as much

credit as A levels •  No, because we do not

consider them as rigorous

FRANCE – BACCALAURÉAT

SURVEY FINDINGS

Other responses: •  Only for coeficients of 4 and

higher with grades of 10 and above

•  Varies by school

GERMANY – ABITUR

SURVEY FINDINGS

Other responses: •  Only for the 13 year

ITALY – DIPLOMA DI MATURITÀ

SURVEY FINDINGS

Other responses: • Have never seen one • Awarded in rare cases • Credit considered based on student’s major upon faculty review

QUÉBEC – DIPLÔME D’ETUDES COLLÉGIALES

SURVEY FINDINGS

Other responses: • We consider first 12 academic courses to be comparable to Ontario Grade 12; number of credits awarded depends on how many courses completed after first 12 • Only if both years were completed and only for the 2nd year • Only academic subjects awarded transfer credit

OTHER EXAMINATIONS OR DIPLOMAS FOR WHICH STUDENTS REQUEST/DEMAND TRANSFER CREDIT/ADVANCED STANDING

SURVEY FINDINGS

IB diploma Bulgaria: Diploma za Sredno Obrovanie Demark: Studentereksament Finland: Ylioppilastutkinto Lebanon: Baccalauréat Romania: Baccalauréat European: Baccalauréat Malaysia: STPM Scotland: Higher Levels Israel: Bagrut CXC: Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations Anything done at a colegio or other cognate for “college” Cambridge Pre-U Austria: Matura

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