College Credit in secondary schools

[BlitzB]

Hi everyone,
I am very new to the UK education system and trying to understand it.
In US, children can do courses and gain college credits. Does a similar system exist in UK? I can't find any information related to it online but I might be using the wrong terminology.

www.ucas.com/ucas/tariff-calculator

Most universities use this system.

Hi OP, I'm a Brit who did her undergrad in the US and the short answer is generally no. You can't do courses at school/other educational institutions between 16-18 years old that count towards a degree. British degrees don't work like American degrees - you aren't amassing credits from your first semester, and more focus on final exams.

FWIW, you're going to have confused people a bit here by the mention of "college." In the UK, "college" typically refers to an educational institution for 16-18yo. We call pretty much all institutions that award undergraduate degrees "universities" (exceptions for fields such as music, drama or art)

*there's more focus on final exams

No, it doesn't work like that for a number of reasons. 1. University is three years not 4 typically so less need to speed it up (4 years in Scotland but for many school is a year shorter so evens out). 2. People don't generally transfer colleges so all run assessments different ways and with different weightings. 3. University assessment is mostly terminal, with a huge focus on final exams and third year weighting, so things done earlier don't count. 4. Most (and until recently all) post 16 education in schools was University prep (A Levels). You didn't need to do other things to show University readiness.

If you are considering sending your child abroad for University (to the US, for example), most colleges award credit for A Levels though. They're a higher level than most high school diplomas and most AP courses.

Also consider the IB curriculum . The International Baccalaureate is best suited to reflective all rounders. A successful pass leads to sophomore status at most US colleges.
Another secret is many colleges will let students take proficiency tests to bypass Freshman English, Calculus for nonmath majors, and other subjects.

American colleges are crazy expensive. Four years with room and board and books is more than my house is with, and it’s a nice 4/2 house on two acres in a good school district.

There is a consultation out currently on LLE (lifelong learning entitlement) which encourages students to take various credits at different unis across their lifetime to accumulate a degree of other HE qualification. It’s due to come in 2026 I think but much of the detail is not known and is subject to further legislation. Everyone gets a lifetime allowance to use how they wish rather than the traditional 3 years amount and all HE will in theory be funded this way. However, Some courses (such as medicine) are likely to only be available in the traditional route. Could be quite interesting for some. (I work in HE policy)

Sorry just realised you were talking about schools not universities-I got overly excited!

How old is your DC? Where are they planning to go to university?

In the UK, DC take exams in a wide range of subjects at 16 called GCSEs. They are a 2 year syllabus so it would be hard to join midway. GCSE grades are often used (alongside predicted A level grades) by universities to select candidates. Most universities require GCSE maths and English as a basic entry requirement, alongside their A level requirements. It may complicate UK university applications if your DC is joining the UK education system post 16 without GCSEs.

They then specialise in 3 or 4 subjects for 2 years before taking exams at 18 called A levels. Most schools and colleges (college = 16-18 further education in the UK) have minimum GCSE grade requirements to be allowed to study a specific subject at A level. The A level curriculum builds on the GCSE curriculum. A levels are considered US college level and your DC should get college credit for them.

If your DC is planning on studying in the UK, they will need to consider what they want to study at university when they choose their A levels. Each course and university has their own entrance requirements as to the A level subjects required and the grades in those subjects.

The International Baccalaureate (IB) is offered as an alternative to A levels at some schools. It is also a 2 year syllabus but students study 3 subjects at higher level and 3 subjects at standard level. The 6 subjects must include maths, language and literature (usually English literature in the UK), a foreign language, a science, a humanity, and either an arts subject or a second choice from one of the other groups. Again, UK universities have course specific requirements for the subjects, levels and grades. The IB is also considered US college level and your DC will gain college credit for the IB (more than for A levels). As a PP said, some colleges allow students with the IB to skip the first year of college.