I have just finisted my first GCSE exam over here in England and I was wondering what the American school system is like because I don't understand it at all.

could somebody give me a short briefing about the american shcool system please? [I know it's a god-awful subject but i'm just curious]

In some areas elementary school encompasses preschool through 8th grade, and high school is grades 9 through 12.

Where I went to school, for instance, we took achievement tests every year starting around fourth grade (1979/1980 school year), and one had to pass the state minimum basic skills test in 8th grade in order to graduate to high school. We also had to take achievement tests every year in high school, and had to pass another state achievement test in 12th grade in order to graduate from high school.

The SAT is a standardized test that students across the country take, usually in 11th or 12th grade. The results of your SAT will be used to help determine which colleges and/or universities you will accepted into.

Addendum:

I also took the ASVAB while I was in high school, a skills evaluation test given when you want to enlist in the military (unfortunately for me, my bad eyesight precluded serving my country.) That is used to determine which military schools you qualify to attend (for example, I qualified to take the test for nuclear school where they teach you how to operate and maintain shipboard nuclear reactors) which dictates which jobs you can choose from. Personally, I was going to go for aircraft mechanic.

thanks. I can't even remember why I was thinking about american schools. i think I was just wondering if you guys over there have to take loads of big exams whey you reach 15/16 years, but now my head is empty of thoughts *ohhhhmmmm*

well, i mean over here, we start in reception [probably like first grade or whatever] then years 1 and 2. there's a SAT in year 2 [all that in infant school].

then in the junior school it goes 3,4,5,6. with a SAT in year 6 [and 4 i think].
then in the senior school it goes 7,8,9,10,11. here there's a SAT in year 9 then year 10 and 11 are taken up with GCSEs

at the moment i'm in year 10

after that it goes college, university then job.

if you want to look at it, the web site for my school is below:

http://www.springfield.uk.net/indexsecond.php

I never took the sat. I took the act instead. It really depends on which college you want to go to and which scholarships you want. Inaddition to the college entrance exams many states are using a portfolio system with additional standardized tests. Those tests dont really impact the students on an indivigual level, more like guage the school and its progress (and how much federal mola it gets). Recently President Bush has adopted a no child left behind stance which will increase testing and move schools toword a portfolio system. Since I graduated from hs this year, I was the last class in my district that wont require students to meet a set of standards (portfolio).

The US also has more liberal (usualy private) schools that stray from the standard testing/grading scheme to more project oriented learning. My middle school was a 'liberal learing lab'. The school was on campus at the local university and soon-to-be teachers taught and observed. I hope more schools go to such a system, It actually made me enjoy school, HS wasnt much fun, but I'm looking forward to the local university. The US also has community colleges...I picked up a few credits in HS through it. We also have technical schools, where students can learn a trade (auto, tech, electrical, etc).


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