International qualifications 2013 (pdf) - CUKAS

Qualifications currently offered
language (English), social studies/science/vocational education,
and second foreign language/Chinese characters and classics
– all are optional (students select subjects required by the
colleges they wish to attend). The new CSAT adopts two ways
of marking: one is raw mark and the other is standard mark.
Subject areas (standard) Full (raw) mark Range
Verbal 100 0 – 200
Mathematical 100 0 – 200
English 100 0 – 200
Humanities and social studies or science 50 0 – 100
or vocational studies
Foreign languages 50 0 – 100
Kuwait
EVALUATION
Shahadat-al-thanawia-al-a’ama (General Secondary School
Certificate)
Acceptable at 60% or better in lieu of GCSE on a subject for
subject basis (except English language).
Would need to be supplemented by GCE A levels, Scottish
Highers or Advanced Highers, or a bridging course.
GRADING SYSTEM
The grading varies between subjects; the maximum and
minimum marks per subject are shown on the certificate. The
main Grading System generally used by HEIs is:
Grade Percentage Result
A 100 – 90 Excellent
B 89 – 80 Very Good
C 79 – 70 Good
D 69 – 60 Pass
EDUCATION SYSTEM
Education in Kuwait is compulsory from the age of six to 14,
following a 5+4+3 system – five years elementary, four years
intermediate and three years at high school. Intermediate
education culminates in the Intermediate School Certificate. To
progress to secondary education, students must achieve a
minimum of 50% in Islamic education, Arabic, English
language, mathematics, science and social studies. Secondary
schooling lasts for three years, with all final three years being
streamed. The General Secondary School Certificate is awarded
provided students achieve the pass mark of 50% in all
subjects. Arabic is the medium of instruction and English
language is compulsory throughout school education,
commencing in the first grade.
There are numerous private schools in Kuwait which, while not
free, are generously subsidised.
ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION
Kuwait has one university, several technical schools, with private
universities recently established. Admission to the university is on
the basis of the General Secondary School Certificate. Individual
departments set their entry requirements in the examination as a
whole (eg 75% in medicine), and in addition require a competitive
university entrance examination. The bachelor’s degree would
usually take four years, except in engineering and pharmacy (five)
and medicine (seven).
Latvia
EVALUATION
Atestāts par vispārējo vidējo izgl ī t ī bu (Certificate of General
Secondary Education)
May be acceptable for entry to higher education, with the exception
of English language skills, which should be tested separately.
Considered to be comparable in standard to GCE AS/Scottish
Higher.
GRADING SYSTEM
Centralised exams are marked A – F. For HE accession, usually
grades A – D are needed. In general, the grading system for
subjects appearing on the Certificate of General Secondary
Education (Atestāts par vispārējo vidējo izgl ī t ību) is as follows:
10 izcili (with distinction)
9 teicami (excellent)
8 ,Ioti labi (very good) A
7 labi (good) B
6 gandrīz labi (almost good)
5 viduvēji (satisfactory) D
4 gandrīz viduvēji (almost satisfactory) E lowest pass mark
3 vāji (weak)
2 ,Ioti vāji (very weak)
1 ,Ioti, ,Ioti vāji (very, very weak)
The mark 8 indicates that the knowledge and skills acquired
correspond fully to the expected maximum level. Marks 9 and 10
are evidence of knowledge and skills substantially higher than
expected at the appropriate level of learning and are therefore
somewhat like A+ and A++.
EDUCATION SYSTEM
Two year compulsory pre-school education is provided from the
age of five. Nine year compulsory basic education begins at age
seven, with four years of primary education, followed by five
years of lower secondary education.
The language of instruction at basic level is either Latvian or
Russian. At age 16, after completion of compulsory education,
students may choose to continue education at upper secondary
level. There are two types of upper secondary education
programme; general secondary and vocational secondary
education and training programmes. The compulsory curriculum
of three-year general secondary schools (vidusskola, ‘gimnāzija),
determined by the National Standards, is available in the following
profiles: general comprehensive; humanities/social;
mathematics/natural sciences/technical; vocational/professional
(arts, music, business, sports). General secondary education is
aimed at students wishing to pursue their studies to HE level, and
comprises eight compulsory and three to six elective subjects
according to the requirements of the chosen profile. Upon
graduation, students have to take at least four centralised
national school leaving examinations. Since study year
2008/2009 graduates must also take a mandatory centralised
state exam in mathematics. The Certificate of General Secondary
Education (Atestāts par vispārējo vidējo izgl ī t ību) and a certificate
of the centralised exams passed detailing scores is awarded to all
students who have received passing final marks in all the
subjects studied according to their chosen profile, as well as a
positive assessment in the national examinations.
Vocational education and training programmes have also been
developed, with the majority of schools providing three- and fouryear
vocational education and training programmes at upper
secondary level. Students of four-year programmes have the
opportunity to combine the acquisition of vocational qualifications
INTERNATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS 35