American education system/ British education system

Question

Could you explain me very simply how the American and British education system work?

I will give you an example of how the spanish one works:

Nursery school: 3-5 years
Primary school: ( a total of 6 years) 6 – 12 years
Secondary School: ( a total of 4 years) 12 – 16 years

Here you have to make a decision:

- Stop with your training.
- Enter a Vocational Training School (1 – 2 years depending on what you want to be)
Or
- If you want to go to University you will have to make two years of what we call Bachillerato.

I will continue with Bachillerato. Here you have to choose a branch : science, arts, technology, social science... you have two years of school (this is still high school) with specific subjects. If you chose science you are going to have biology, physics, chemistry and maths as main subjects.

When you finish Bachillerato you are supposed to take the entry exam to university (you can only apply for those degrees that are related to your Bachillerato)
You enter University. You make 3-4 years of a bachelor, which is the base of your career. Afterwards you can make a Master which will speacialize you in a more concret field. (1- 3 years)

I know that there is a lot of information on the internet but I feel that it is too complicated for me to understand.

Thank you!

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Not sure about the British system, but I can tell you about the American system.

Kindergarten: 2 years
Elementary School: 5 years (Grades 1-5)
Middle School or Junior High: 3 years (Grades 6-8)
Highschool: 4 years (Grades 9-12 are called Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior respectively)

You take a college exam in highschool, the ACT. Which colleges look at, its scored 1-36 points.
After you graduate from highschool you have your Highschool Diploma, which you need to go to any college.

Then you have a few choices

-Apply to colleges by interviews and essays
-Colleges have a broad range of subjects you can study in.
-Most colleges are 4 years.
-You can major in something which is your primary study. Then get a bachelors degree which takes 4 years.
-You get an Associates Degree before a bachelors.
-After a bachelors degree you can pursue a career or study for your Masters Degree which takes 1.5 to 2 years then a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) takes about 5-7 years.
-You can also go to a vocational school and learn a trade. Once you graduate you can get a job specific to your trade.

I hope this helps a little

Kanou · Answer

Thank you for the information!!

And when do you finish high school with 18?

Anonymous · Answer

KanouCould you explain me very simply how the American and British education system work?

You need the word to between the words explain and me.

Based on your explanation of the Spanish system, it seems similar to the British one. There are some differences.

In the UK, nurseries are for children up to age 4. Primary school is for ages 4 to 11. Secondary school is for ages 11 to 16. The term "high school" is not used to refer to secondary schools in general. That is part of American English.

Until recently, people could leave education after finishing school at 16. Now, people are required to continue until 18. That means going to a sixth form. Some sixth forms are located at secondary schools and some are not. Depending on their results in school qualifications called GCSEs, people at sixth form can retake them; go on to do the next level of qualifications called AS levels and then the qualifications after that, called A levels, or, study for other, vocational qualifications.

In order to go to university, students must achieve particular grades in particular subjects in GCSEs, then AS levels and then A levels. Which subjects to study and which grades to achieve in each stage of qualifications, depends on what a person wants to study at the next stage.

There are some more differences between the constituent nations of the UK. Scotland for example, has different terminology for qualifications that are equivalent to GCSEs, AS levels and A levels. There are a few more differences. You can learn more here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_the_United_Kingdom

Kanou · Answer

Thank you for the explanation, now I have a clearer idea of the educational system =)

Anonymous · Answer

AnonymousPrimary school is for ages 4 to 11.

Most children start school in a reception class http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reception_(school) which means at age 4.

Kanou · Answer

I have seen the link! Thank you for the extra information!

American education system/ British education system

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions