The ABC language of the UK education system

Can someone give me a hand please? I'm applying to Coventry University for the Autumn 2008 term. The courses I'm interested in have prerequisites as all courses do however I'm clueless to what GCSE and A level, etc actually means. What is a GCSE equivalent to in USA education? And A-level? Here are the entry requirements for one of the courses I'm interested in: 

5 GCSE's at grade A-C including English language and 240-280 tariff points or equivalent qualifications.

WTF does all that mean?

I could be completely wrong, but...  Aren't GCSE's those tests that students take here when they are like 15-16 years old?  And then A-levels are tests taken at 17-18 years old?  I read somewhere (probably on here!) that A-levels would be equivalent to the high school diploma in the US, so the grade would be looking at your high school grades for those subjects. I think the A-level would supercede the GCSE, wouldn't it?

Hee hee - I could be talking completely out my ar*e, but as no one had responded to you yet, Pebs -- I wanted to offer something.

I'm sure Mindy knows!  Mindy?

I'm sure Mindy knows!  Mindy?

I know what they are, but I don't know what they're equivalent to.  Sorry. 

Where are all our Uni students?

Ok, here was some discussion of this on here previously:

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=939.msg82594#msg82594

I think Lola knows what she's talking about!

Thing is on my application I can choose up to four different courses each with their own specific entry requirements. I called the university yesterday to enquire about it and she said "apply for what you want and you'll get an answer in a few months'. Duh, I would like to understand a bit about entry requirements first before killing a few months of just waiting only to find out I didn't meet the entry requirements.

I'll check out Lola's post. Thanks!

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=34092.0

Probably more than you ever wanted to know.... but from the research I've done, GSCE's seem to be equivalent to a US high school diploma, with higher-level HS subjects (such as AP classes) broadly equivalent to A-levels (but there's really no direct translation.) Some disagree, but that was the most consistent interpretation that I found.

Thanks for all the valuable links everyone. I'm just wondering how a university would consider a student like me. I graduated from high school in 1985. I had 4 years of  H.S. French and English. I have two years of community college and an AA in Commerical Art. I have taken various classes over the years including a few psychology, literature, and foreign language in the USA. Here in the UK I've completed 180 points at Open University. But not sure what all this mish mash would translate to. I'm not sure my US college credits would even transfer here not that I would care really. But I'm pretty sure my Open University points would transfer.

I guess I'll just apply and hope for the best!

I think it will ultimately depend upon what you are applying for. Your HS diploma and AA will be worth something but you will most likely need transcripts to show what you took for that. I suspect that if you are going for liberal arts courses (which I suspect you are?) you won't encounter too much trouble.

Yes, either Journalism and English or Journalism and Media

I think I'll be OK. It's just all so confusing.