The
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...
School Certificate was an educational attainment standard
qualification
Qualification is either the process of qualifying for an achievement, or a credential attesting to that achievement, and may refer to:
* Professional qualification, attributes developed by obtaining academic degrees or through professional exper ...
, established in 1918 by the
Secondary Schools Examinations Council
The Secondary Schools Examinations Council (SSEC) was established in England and Wales
England and Wales () is one of the three legal jurisdictions of the United Kingdom. It covers the constituent countries England and Wales and was formed ...
(SSEC).
The School Certificate Examination (often called the "Junior Certificate" or "Juniors") was usually taken at age 16. Performance in each subject was graded as: Fail, Pass, Credit or Distinction. Students had to gain six passes, including English and Mathematics, to obtain a certificate. To obtain a "
matriculation
Matriculation is the formal process of entering a university, or of becoming eligible to enter by fulfilling certain academic requirements such as a matriculation examination.
Australia
In Australia, the term "matriculation" is seldom used now ...
exemption" one had to obtain at least a credit in five subjects, including English, Mathematics, Science and a language. Those who failed could retake the examination. Some students who passed then stayed on at school to take the
Higher School Certificate (often called the "Senior Certificate" or "Seniors") at age 18.
The School Certificate was abolished after the
GCE O-Level was introduced in 1951. The School Certificate also existed in a number of
Commonwealth
A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...
countries such as Australia and Singapore at various times.
See also
*
School Certificate (Australia)
*
School Certificate (New Zealand)
*
School Certificate (Mauritius) The School Certificate is an academic qualification in Mauritius awarded upon the completion of Form 5, the penultimate stage of secondary school. The qualification is awarded upon earning passing marks on the O-level exams administered by the Mauri ...
* School Certificate - Other variants: Zambia, Nigeria
*
Higher School Certificate (United Kingdom)
The Higher School Certificate (HSC) was an educational attainment standard qualification in England and Wales, established by the Secondary Schools Examination Council (SSEC). The Higher School Certificate Examination (HSCE) was usually taken at ...
*
GCE Ordinary Level (International) (O-Level)
**
GCE Ordinary Level (United Kingdom)
**
Cambridge International Ordinary Level (Singapore)
**
Cambridge International O-Level subjects
* Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE)
**
Certificate of Secondary Education (United Kingdom) (CSE)
*
General Certificate of Secondary Education
The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is an academic qualification in a particular subject, taken in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. State schools in Scotland use the Scottish Qualifications Certificate instead. Private sc ...
(GCSE), which replaced the O-Levels and CSE
**
International General Certificate of Secondary Education
The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is an English language based examination similar to GCSE and is recognised in the United Kingdom as being equivalent to the GCSE for the purposes of recognising prior attainm ...
(IGCSE), which is offered with or instead of O-Levels internationally
*
General Certificate of Education
The General Certificate of Education (GCE) is a subject-specific family of academic qualifications used in awarding bodies in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Crown dependencies and a few Commonwealth countries. For some time, the Scottish e ...
(GCE), which comprises O-Levels and A-levels
References
Educational qualifications in the United Kingdom
{{UK-edu-stub