International qualifications 2013 (pdf) - CUKAS

Qualifications currently offered
GRADING SYSTEM
10 Distinction
9 Outstanding
8 and 7 Very Good
6 Good
5 Pass (allows access to Spanish universities)
Under 5 Fail
Bachillerato assessments are marked either numerically between
0 and 10 (the pass mark is 5 or above) or qualitatively, with a
numerical equivalent assigned to each grade.
The average Bachillerato mark (Nota Media del Bachillerato) is
the mathematical average of the sum of the individual subject
marks and is recorded to within two decimal places.
Subject marks are usually an average of three internal
assessments in each year. This average grade, expressed in
numbers, as above, is shown on the certificate. The specialisation
will be noted and also the mean mark covering all subjects taken
in the two years of the Bachillerato.
EDUCATION SYSTEM
The Ministry of Education controls the general policy,
inspectorate, validation and curriculum development, but there is
considerable devolution in detail to 17 ‘autonomous’
communities. The Graduado en Educación Secundaria
(compulsory education) is taken at the end of ten years of
compulsory education (six years of primary and four years of
secondary). This is at age 16. Pupils may then embark on a twoyear
course leading to the Título de Bachiller.
The Bachillerato studies are organised in three broad specialities
(modalidades): arts; humanities and social sciences; and science
and technology (although schools offer a range of slight subject
variations for each). Pupils may alternatively embark on a twoyear
vocational course (different specialities) leading to the Título
de Técnico de Grado Medio.
ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION
Holders of the Título de Bachiller are qualified for admission to
university in Spain provided they also pass the entrance
examination (Prueba de Acceso a la Universidad or PAU). The final
mark for university entry is made up of 40% from the PAU and
60% from the average Bachillerato mark. An overall average of at
least 5 out of 10 is required.
From 2010 onwards, the PAU has been split into two parts: a
compulsory group of four or five tests set jointly by the
universities of each autonomous community, called the General
Phase, and an Optional Specific Phase in subjects related to the
degree course being applied for. The Specific Phase is weighted
by individual universities and can add up to four additional points
to the overall Access Score. In practice, the General Phase +
Bachillerato alone will be sufficient for the great majority of
degree courses but for high demand degrees such as medicine
or architecture, universities can effectively raise the mark spread,
and consequently course access scores, to a maximum of 14
instead of the maximum of ten spread provided by the General
Phase + Bachillerato.
The PAU is not needed for Vocational Studies of advanced level,
which can also be followed after the Bachillerato and lead to a
Técnico Superior qualification after two years of study.
There is an approved average comparison between UK/Spanish
marks, published in BOE and used by Spanish universities to
accept British educated students:
BRITISH QUALIFICATIONS FOR DIRECT ACCESS TO
SPANISH UNIVERSITIES
g
Students must have a minimum of five GCSE or IGCSE
with marks A, B or C.
g
A minimum of two full GCE A levels with marks A*, A, B,
C, D or E
Each complete A level and AS level is given its UCAS Tariff
value, and these are added together to give a total. For
example:
Spanish A level: A*
Art A level: B
ICT A level: B
French A level: A
English AS level: C
Media Studies AS level: B
Ranking: 140+100+100+120+40+50= 550
The total Tariff points are converted into a two decimal number
between five (140 Tariff points) and 10 (greater than 620 Tariff
points), according to the table published in BOE by the Spanish
Ministry of Education. This provides a direct correspondence as
follows:
UCAS Spain
140 5
160 5.2
180 5.4
200 5.6
220 5.8
240 6
260 6.2
280 6.4
300 6.6
320 6.8
340 7
360 7.2
400 7.6
420 7.8
440 8
460 8.2
480 8.4
500 8.6
520 8.8
540 9
560 9.2
580 9.4
600 9.6
620 9.8
>620 10
Students who want to attend Spanish universities can also
choose to take the exam for the Fase Específica to increase
their mark. This would allow students an extra four points in
their overall qualification. Students can take as many subjects
as they wish from the list of subjects which qualify for the Fase
Específica.
Higher Qualification Degrees in Spain
Grado or First Degree lasting 4 years (240 ECTS credits). All
Grados will belong to one of five families and all degrees within
a family will have a common first year. The remaining three
years will be designed by the university concerned.
Before Bologna, the higher education system was divided into
Diplomas or Ingeniero/Arquitecto Técnico (3 years) and
Licenciaturas/Ingeniero o Arquitecto (5 years).
56 INTERNATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS