What is GCSE? or equivalent?

[marryme]

I usually see this in job requirements. I am not from the uk, so seems our terminoloy is different. Is it the same as a matric certificate.

[saxy_jag]

GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) is the basic academic qualification that kids take around the time they're 16, usually after a two-year course, although adults can take them after a one year course in community/further ed.

Instead of it being one all-encompassing certificate, you take one GCSE per subject. Some subjects carry the equivalent of 2 GSCEs - science is typical, and if kids tell you they're doing 'double science', then that's what they mean. Most kids do a maximum of around eight or nine subjects. The benchmark pass rate is to have grade A* (called 'A star') to C in at least five subjects, although the grades go down to E or F, I think. The idea is that there's no 'pass' or 'fail' with them - you just get a grade if you do the work. Once they've got decent grades, then kids can go to do A (advanced) level qualifications in three or four subjects, which may or may not be subjects they've taken at GCSE. It's the A levels that are used by university admissions people to determine entry.

Although the education authorities would have us believe otherwise, GCSE results are no measure of how well a sixteen-year-old will perform in a job.

[marryme]

thanks, so i have finished secondary school with passing, Maths, Science, Biology, Business Economics, English and Afrikaans. I am currently completing my bachelors degree specialising in management. So what do i say in my CV then? THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.

[Pea Pod]

Under your Education heading put in Matric Certificate and list your`e subjects with passes.I should think a prospective employer will look at the subjects youv`e passed not which title the certificate comes under.

[Octavius]

I think your matric (Senior Certificates) fall somewhere between our GCSE & A Levels, as, should you obtain enough SC passes in the Higher grade you can go to University.

Here, generally speaking from the age of 16 you require GCSE's (at least 5 grade A-C) to do A Levels (in 3 or 4 of those subjects), and then at least 3 A Level passes (at 18 years old generally) to get on an Undergraduate or 1st degree course (Bachelors etc). Depending on grades required/achieved determines the course & university you are accepted to (or not as the case may be).

Under GCSE's achieved, I would refer to what you attained from secondary education (Mathe - Higher etc) and confirm that these grades allowed you to do a degree at ....wherever. If you are doing a recognised degree it is unlikely that they will be too interested in GCSEs but if you get an intervew, you can now explain what your SC's are equivalent to.