Translating Russian high school credits into the UK system

[Emily Saunders]

Hello,

I have a former ESL student of mine who is applying to a UK university 
and is having difficulty with getting her transcripts to match the U.K. 
requirements.  Can anyone assist or advise as to what in the Russian 
system would qualify as A level exams?  This is a somewhat urgent 
request as she is facing an application deadline.  She's an extremely 
bright, motivated, and talented student and I would really like to help 
her out with this.  Any advice as to how she might best proceed would 
be greatly appreciated!

Thank you in advance!

Emily Saunders

P.S.  I've included a copy of the correspondence from the student for 
reference as to what I know of her situation.

Begin forwarded message:

>
> Hello Emily
>
> my application has been sent for considertion, but i have some prolems 
> concerning my grades. The grading system in UK is different from UK as 
> you know so my Russian Attestat might be not enough. Here are the 
> emails. I would appreciate if you could give me any advice how I could 
> solve this problem...
>
> To:  Alisa Kim
>
> Your UCAS application has been passed to the School for decision.  
> However, on checking NARIC to compare the Russian Attestat with the UK 
> system, it states that this is equivalent only to a GCSE level.  If 
> this is the case, you would not qualify for entry to an undergraduate 
> programme unless you could confirm that you have achieved the 
> equivalent of a UK A level.  Have you omitted to include exam results 
> taken after the Attestat?
>
> I would appreciate your response as we cannot proceed further with 
> your application until we have this further information.
>
>
> To whom it may concern,
>
> My Russsian Attestat is called GCSE. However I received it in my final 
> year of school and the grades are considered when entering the 
> university. I also had 3 special exams needed specifically for 
> university entrance . I took those exams and then received my GCSE, 
> because the results influenced my final grades. I have omitted to 
> include exam results. They are:
>
> Mathematics : 5
> Russian : 5
> Civics : 4
>
> I also took an exam in English and recieved 5. I have no proof of it 
> though, except my final grade in GCSE. The exams mentioned above are 
> based on a general level. All Russian students take them. My school is 
> specialized in English so we didn't take that type of exam in English 
> because the school deemed it too easy for us. So we had a special 
> exam, organised by the staff at my school. The grade for this exam, 
> just like for other exams influenced my final grades. So I do not have 
> any special document proving that I have successfuly passed the exam. 
> Only my final grades.
>
> Thank you for your help on this matter,kind regards.
> Alisa Kim
>
>
>
> To:  Alisa Kim
>
> Thank you for responding to my email so promptly.  You state that the 
> Russian Attestat is called a GCSE.  In the UK the GCSE is an 'O' 
> level; these exams precede 'A' levels.  For entry to the undergraduate 
> Architecture programme an applicant is required to have a minimum 240 
> UCAS points which can be accrued from A levels, AVCEs, BTEC Awards, 
> Certficates or Diplomas.  We also have direct comparisons for the 
> International Baccalaureate, Apolytirions, etc but I am unable to 
> assess whether your Russian studies would qualify you for entry.  If 
> the Attestat is only equivalent to GCSE level then you would 
> definitely not be qualified for entry.  However, if the subsequent 3 
> special exams taken have the effect of raising this level, then that 
> might affect the assessment.
>
> Any additional information you can provide would be appreciated.
>
> _________________________________________________________________
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