New York State Ged

Q: I have questions about the American High School curriculum. [As you have probably guessed, the American educational systme is rather different from the one I am used to.] What are the requirements for obtaining an American High School Diploma? What is the difference between American Year 12, American Advanced Placement exams and the International Bacchelaureate? Are Advanced Placement and International Bacchelaureate subjects considered to be Year 12 level or American College level? If they are considered to be at American College level, then are they considered to be at lower level or upper level?

A: Requirements for the high school diploma vary somewhat from state to state but always include four years of study. High school consists of 9th through 12th grades. In some school systems, 9th grade is part of junior high school, aka, middle school or intermediate school. At minimum, graduation requirements typically include four years of English, four years of physical education, two years of math, two years of science and three years of history (including a one semester course in Economics.) Foreign language requirements fluctuate, but is usually two years. What consititutes math or science varies but may include algebra, trigonometry, geometry, biology, earth science, etc. Calculus, chemistry and physics are often elective courses. The USA's weakness in math and science education is well documented. Some states require specific examinations before a student can graduate. New York State, for example, requires (or will require) passage on "Regents Exams" in English, math, science, history and others. In certain ways, the Regents exams are somewhere between the UK's O-level and A-level exams. Unlike A-levels, they are not considered equivalent to the first year of a bachelor's degree. A-levels are closer in concept to the Advanced Placement (AP) exam High school graduation requirements vary from state to state and sometimes, school district to school district. A GED (officially "Graduate education development" but better knowas a hifgh school equvilancy diploma) is offered to students who have not compoleted high school and who are of a minimum age (often 18). It is based upon passage of a standardized wxam covering the broad knowledge areas of high school. Some states, however, including New Jersey, have stated their displeasure with the GED. NJ, for example, has threatened to no longer accept the GED for state jobs claiming that the state's higher HS graduation rewquirements exceed the standard of the GED. In general, however, the GED will be accepted by most govermental and private agencies and is often the minimum requirement for admission to a community college. The International Bach. is hardly known in the US

A: I imagine many Americans have been fooled into believing the holder of such a degree has the equiv. of a US BA/BS.

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