<p>Another thing to consider about the UK system - specialization occurs before the application process. While a student might be taking 10+ subjects at GCSE, typically 4 are done at AS and 3 or 4 at A2. So, students need to know what they want to pursue before the beginning of the equivalent to junior year. Those subjects need to be related to the course you want to follow at university.<br>
Also, A2 grades are not released until the middle of August. Students don’t know if they have their uni place until then. If you are one point off an A* and you needed that grade to fulfill your offer, you’re out.<br>
I’m not sure that this makes for consistency amongst high schools. There is a wide range in secondary school performance here. It does introduce greater consistency in grading, which should already exist in the US with AP exams.</p>