<p>I am a post-GCSE student int the UK, and am planning to apply for the Ivies and some other reach schools. I have jsut read from the UC Berkeley site that post GCSE students are not elligible for freshman application until they've done their A Levels. Is this true for all the universities? I am very confused right now cuz some of my friends have gone over to the States after F.6 (Year 12). Please help!</p>
<p>(In case you don't understand... in the UK system we study for GCSEs in Upper 5 / Year 11, then move on to do AS Levels in Lower 6 / Year 12. In Upper 6 / Year 13 we do A2 Levels in order to complete the full Advanced Level... I have currently completed a Chinese A Level and Music AS Level. An A full Level is worth 600 marks and an AS 300... they are counted in the UCAS forms in the UK, which is similar to the common app in the US.)</p>
<p>you can only enter university after A-levels. which mean you can only apply for the entrance term when your a-levels ends. in my case, our a-levels is 1.5 years long (year 12 and half of year 13) so we can apply to enter in year 13. for those who takes the two-year system, they can onl apply to enter in year 14.</p>
<p>one of my frds went to Georgetown after GCSEs, and one went to Cornell after her HKCEEs taken in Hong Kong... so i thought most universities do accept ppl after Year 12?</p>
<p>if u r an international citizen by status.. yes.. it is compulsory. however u can demand a waiver from colleges individually after mailing adcomm with sat verbal scores and background info,.,,</p>
<p>Internationals whose native language is English are not required to take the TOEFL. </p>
<p>However, if your native language is not English but you've been studying in an English school, you should check with the college you are applying to. Many colleges do waive the TOEFL for such students, provided you take the SATs.</p>
<p>You can apply anytime you want after your GCSE's but don't expect to be scoring too highly on SAT IIs without A-levels to back you up. Most people apply in the beginning of yr 13 (as i'm doing) or post A-levels. If you're confident of good A-level results, its a good idea to apply while/after doing them because its something else which will help your application (if you do well of course).
I didnt know any schools actually required you to do A-levels but i know that if you are already doing them, quite a few will insist that you include your results in your application.</p>
<p>i don't think GCSEs prepare you for college level work though... i found them really simple. You'll be better prepared for college if you take your A/AS levels. GCSE's are for 16 year olds. Take A/AS levels.</p>
<p>thx everyone!
afa81 i have a question here... from the site u included it says
"Cambridge International A Level recognised for matriculation purposes."
but does that mean GCSEs are not enough? or does that reli imply to ppl who's done their A Level, that their grades would be recognised?</p>
<p>personally i dun think GCSEs prepare me enough either, but after AS levels this year i think i'd be better prepared.</p>
<p>most colleges use those scores as an entrance exam. many international students don't take ACT/SAT. The A/AS level exam give them an idea of what type of student you are.</p>
<p>The GCSEs are are also used as Matriculation at College University Level no advanced standing would be given. AAdvanced standing is only given for A-levels. It appears that up to one year of advanced standing can be given depending on what marks are recived in the courses.</p>
<p>The GCSEs are are also used as Matriculation at College/University Level no advanced standing would be given. Advanced standing is only given for A-levels. A-Levels can give a pupil up to one year of advanced standing depending on what marks are recived in the courses/exams. This means that the pupil could have Sophmore standing(2nd year standing ) they might not need any Frashman courese. The person would also need the SAT scores.</p>