Educational comparison

I got my comparability report back from NARIC and I'm confused 

Well, the first part is easy; it says my Bachelor of Arts is comparable to British Bachelor degree standard.

However, for my high school diploma (the confusing part):

It says "Is considered comparable to GSCE (grades A*-C)/ Credit Standard Grade standard. Provided an average of at least C is obtained in subjects which have counterparts in the GSCE syllabus and have been studied to Grade 12 level."

What does this mean? Is this good? I got all A's in high school and studied past the 12th grade level, spending my last year in high school takiing Advance Placement (college level) courses. What would I put on a CV, if I were going to include this information in a CV?

I think that most British Employers look at the highest level qualification as their main measure of educational achievment and won't be too bothered about understanding the lower levels - but they may be interested to know which subjects you studied in your advanced placement courses.

If you were applying to me (and, yes, I am British and have been responsible for selecting staff here in the UK) I would find your CV most positive if it stated something like:

Batchelor of Arts Degree in Ancient Spanish History from the University of Birmingham, Alabama, USA, 1996 - 1999. Equivalent to BA degree in the UK; see attached independent (NARIC) report.

In order to qualify for the Batchelor of Arts program, I studied Spanish, History, Mathematics and Economics in my final high school year; in prior years my studies were in History, Geography, Mathematics, English, Spanish, Physics and Chemistry, and I got "Grade A's" in all of them.  There is no exact equivalent comparision to GCSEs and A levels in the UK, as explained by the NARIC report.

With - of course - all your details correct and not my fictitious ones, and the NARIC report attached stating clearly who NARIC are.

GCSEs are the final tests taken at the end of compulsary education that demonstrate (supposedly) competence in a given subject area.  Your HS diploma is the equivalent of a passing grade on GCSEs in the subjects you took as a senior in HS. 

By reading your CV, employers will know you are not a British applicant.  Having a bachelor's degree is what's most important.  I'd be surprised if anyone asked you if you had the equivalent of GCSEs. 

I was thinking that I would probably only mention my Bachelor's Degree. Especially since I graduated from high school over 20 years ago.  At this point in my life, I'm sure prospective employers are more interested in my work history than my education anyway.  I was mostly curious.  Thanks

I have no reference of my high school education on my CV at all. But then again, I have 2 masters degrees and am working on a PhD. But even so, I wouldn't put high school stuff on any CV of mine, US or UK - no matter what higher ed I had done. Like you, it's been 20 years and, espcially over here, it just invites confusion.

Agree

What would you put down if you didnt have any university education, and ONLY had a high school diploma, even if it was 20+ years ago?

That you have passing scores in GCSE equivalents in the subjects you took in HS (English, math, science, history, etc.).

Just reviving this topic as I'm working on job apps today and one of them is actually asking for GCSE and A-level information 

So thanks to this thread I'm clear on the GCSE bit, but what about A-levels? Would that be the equivilent of my Jr. College AA degree which was essentially the general ed. part of my BA?

God, isn't it enough that I'm working on a flipping Master's???!!!

Oh wait, a little more research and now I think A-levels are any high school subjects that I did as Advanced Placement? Is that right??

I spent my entire senior year in high school doing nothing but Advanced Placement courses. NARIC counted it all as GSCE. They did not give me credit for any A Levels. I never went to a Community College, and I don't have an Associate Degree, just my Bachelor's.

We go from GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) which we take at 15/16 to A level (Advanced Level) which we take at 18 (usually but not always....since I did mine at 33)....we'd normally take about 8 GCSE's and most employers want 5 grade C's or above. We'd normally take 3 or 4 A levels........and if we are thinking of going on to a degree course, we'd choose relevant subjects. (e.g. if you want to be a chemical engineer, you'd probably want to do chemistry A level to get on a relevant degree programme).

My understanding is that your degree usually takes 4 years and the first year is probably the equivalent of our A level courses. Although a friend tells me that, roughly, A levels are equivalent to an AA.

If you had a HSD, an AA and a Good Degree..you have the equivalent of (respectively) our GCSE's, A levels and Degree.......but as in previous threads...most employers are more interested in your highest qualification....since someone might take a degree as an adult student who had never attained any GCSE's or A levels.

Hope that helps a bit.