| ultima said: What is this A, AAA, AS you guys are talking about? |
UK 16-18 year olds have A-levels as the main academic qualification. Most do four subjects (Physics, English, Economics etc.) for one year at 'AS' level and then drop one to carry on three to the next year, 'A2' level. The exams in AS and A2 levels count towards the final A-level grade.
A-levels are graded A*,A,B,C,D,E or U (ungraded). A*-C are considered respectable. You apply for university (for 3 or 4 year degrees) after you know your AS grades but ot your A2 ones (and therefore not full A-level ones). Based on your predicted A-level scores, interviews, and a short personal statement you write for the application, universities make people conditional offers of a certain number and standard of A-level grades. For example, AAB means two A grades and one B grade. If they then meet that offer after their A2 exams, they get a place at the university.
A*AA is the highest standard offer made by a university. Cambridge is, as I'm sure you know, one of the two most prestigious and academically respected universities in the UK, and in the top ten in the world by many estimates.
