Transcripts
The transcript, sometimes referred to as an “academic record,” is a very important factor in the admissions review process as it provides a numerical context to assess the past performance and predict the future potential of the student.
The transcript also reveals to admissions officers the curriculum and educational system from which the student is transferring from. In this regard, boarding schools are especially interested in the past two year of the student’s achievement for the purposes of evaluating how well the student might adjust to the boarding school’s curriculum and, if admitted, how to plan the student’s future course of study.
In preparing the student’s transcript/s, the parent should note that boarding schools accept English language transcripts only. Some Korean schools issue English language transcripts, in which case the parent should insist the transcript be an official copy and sealed in an envelope. The parent may then courier the sealed transcript directly to the boarding school admissions.
Should an English language transcript be unavailable, then it is necessary to have the transcript translated wherein the translation is attested by a school official.
In translating the transcript, it is imperative that it be a true, word-by-word translation of the original Korean text. For example, if the student’s grades are in a 100-point scale, then the English language translation should also be in a 100-point scale. Or, if the student’s grades are in a Su/Wu/Mi/Yang/Ga scale, then the translation should likewise indicate such scale.
While it is noted many schools that utilize Su/Wu/Mi/Yang/Ga scale tend to offer a conversion to the American A/B/C/D/F scale, parents should note that English translation need be a true, word-by-word translation unless otherwise indicated by a school official.
In the end, differences in scale are not too important so long as the prospective boarding school in question has had prior experience evaluating Korean academic records.
The transcript, sometimes referred to as an “academic record,” is a very important factor in the admissions review process as it provides a numerical context to assess the past performance and predict the future potential of the student.
The transcript also reveals to admissions officers the curriculum and educational system from which the student is transferring from. In this regard, boarding schools are especially interested in the past two year of the student’s achievement for the purposes of evaluating how well the student might adjust to the boarding school’s curriculum and, if admitted, how to plan the student’s future course of study.
In preparing the student’s transcript/s, the parent should note that boarding schools accept English language transcripts only. Some Korean schools issue English language transcripts, in which case the parent should insist the transcript be an official copy and sealed in an envelope. The parent may then courier the sealed transcript directly to the boarding school admissions.
Should an English language transcript be unavailable, then it is necessary to have the transcript translated wherein the translation is attested by a school official.
In translating the transcript, it is imperative that it be a true, word-by-word translation of the original Korean text. For example, if the student’s grades are in a 100-point scale, then the English language translation should also be in a 100-point scale. Or, if the student’s grades are in a Su/Wu/Mi/Yang/Ga scale, then the translation should likewise indicate such scale.
While it is noted many schools that utilize Su/Wu/Mi/Yang/Ga scale tend to offer a conversion to the American A/B/C/D/F scale, parents should note that English translation need be a true, word-by-word translation unless otherwise indicated by a school official.
In the end, differences in scale are not too important so long as the prospective boarding school in question has had prior experience evaluating Korean academic records.
The transcript, sometimes referred to as an “academic record,” is a very important factor in the admissions review process as it provides a numerical context to assess the past performance and predict the future potential of the student.
The transcript also reveals to admissions officers the curriculum and educational system from which the student is transferring from. In this regard, boarding schools are especially interested in the past two year of the student’s achievement for the purposes of evaluating how well the student might adjust to the boarding school’s curriculum and, if admitted, how to plan the student’s future course of study.
In preparing the student’s transcript/s, the parent should note that boarding schools accept English language transcripts only. Some Korean schools issue English language transcripts, in which case the parent should insist the transcript be an official copy and sealed in an envelope. The parent may then courier the sealed transcript directly to the boarding school admissions.
Should an English language transcript be unavailable, then it is necessary to have the transcript translated wherein the translation is attested by a school official.
In translating the transcript, it is imperative that it be a true, word-by-word translation of the original Korean text. For example, if the student’s grades are in a 100-point scale, then the English language translation should also be in a 100-point scale. Or, if the student’s grades are in a Su/Wu/Mi/Yang/Ga scale, then the translation should likewise indicate such scale.
While it is noted many schools that utilize Su/Wu/Mi/Yang/Ga scale tend to offer a conversion to the American A/B/C/D/F scale, parents should note that English translation need be a true, word-by-word translation unless otherwise indicated by a school official.
In the end, differences in scale are not too important so long as the prospective boarding school in question has had prior experience evaluating Korean academic records.
GCSE & GCE A-Level Courses
(1) Secondary Course (GCSE)
All children in the UK have a compulsory education from 5 to 16 years of age, with 11-16 years of age taking a General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), which is equivalent to Korean secondary school.
The age of 16 is the minimum age for graduating students from the GCSE exam. Many schools offer a variety of curricula for their students, so parents should pay close attention to the subjects they offer when choosing their own school.
Schools typically offer 10-25 courses for students with a maximum of 9-10 courses available. English, mathematics, modern language, and science are compulsory subjects for students to choose from. In addition, students choose additional subjects to take classes.
(2) University Preparation Course (GCE A)
If students who have completed the above-mentioned secondary courses wish to enter university, they will take the General Certificate of Education Advanced (GCE A), a two-year college preparatory course. Commonly referred to as the 'Sixth Form', this course typically involves students aged 16-18.
In the two-year Sixth Form, the first year is called Lower Sixth and the second year is called Upper Sixth. It is important to note that since September 2000, the UK's education system has changed slightly, so students taking this A course have taken the Advanced Subsidiary (AS) course of 4-5 in their first year and the following year. 3 courses are selected in the A (Advanced) course.
For your reference, if you want to go to a good university in the UK, you must get a good score on the GCE-A level. For those desiring to study at highly competitive universities such as Oxford and Cambridge, additional exams (administered by e.g. Oxford) must be completed to be considered for admissions.