Exams Around The World.

There are many different education systems around the world. As we discovered in my previous post, they are not all created equally. Today I am going to be looking at the different exam systems around the world and how they compare to the Irish system. 


First, let's look at the Irish system, the Leaving Certificate. The average age to take this two-year examination are 16 - 20. Over 80% of this age group go through this exam, this means that approximately 55 000 students undertake this set of tests every year. The mandatory subjects are Irish (unless an exemption is granted by the state), Mathematics and English. Pupils then have a choice of 4 to 5 other subjects. These subjects can be chosen from a variety of topics such as Modern or Classic languages, Applied Sciences, Laboratory Sciences, Business Studies and Art and Humanities. The Irish system, unlike many other countries, continues to have many subjects be taken right up until University. This is beneficial in some ways but may also hinder students who have a definite idea of what they want to do later on in University or otherwise. What makes the Irish system unique is the mandatory language of Irish. The national language is a place of pride for many Irish people. It has stayed as a mandatory language to help the effort to keep Irish a living language.  

Now the UK system, (apart from Scotland where a slightly different system is used). The A level course is usually over two years with typically 3-4 subjects being chosen. Unlike the Irish system, no subject is mandatory. This allows or depending on how you look at it, requires all students to have quite a definite idea of what they want to do in University at 16. Whereas systems like the Leaving Cert leave more space for decision later on. Due to the small amount of subjects being taken each goes into much more detail than a Leaving Cert or IB subject can. This system is different from many others because after GSCE's students decide whether they will continue into Academics or do something more vocational. This process allows the A levels to be much more narrow and aimed at a smaller audience than the some of the other systems we are looking at. Systems like the A levels can be seen all over the world most notably in past and present members of the British Empire. 

https://www.ibo.org/communications/schools/downloads/logos.cfm

The International Baccalaureate is an educational system founded in Geneva Switzerland in 1968. The IB Diploma programme is for students age 16-19. Students chose " 6 subjects from 6 subject groups, complete an extended essay, follow a theory od knowledge( TOK ) course and participate in Creativity, Action, Service ( CAS )". According to the International Baccalaureate website (www.ibo.org)  On 17 October 2016, there were 5,890 IB programmes being offered worldwide, across 4,537 schools. In a variety of countries including Ireland. It is recognised worldwide and is often the system used by students who move country frequently due to its international status. It has some similarities to the Leaving Certificate in its number of subjects. The IB course is also similar to the A-level system as it two branches into Academic or vocational at 16. It has two programmes the Diploma programme which I am concentrating on and the Career-related Programme which helps students who are looking into apprentice based work later on. You can see how international this cousre is when you look at the wide range of subjects, languages and countries it is used in around the world.

I have only covered the three systems I come in contact with the most in this post, and I look forward to learning more about different systems more as I continue with this blog. Thank you for reading.

Sources: www.ibo.org, www.Examinations.ie, www.RTE.ie, www.cie.org, www.ucas.com