O-grade
Encyclopedia
The Ordinary Grade of the Scottish Certificate of Education
is a now-discontinued qualification which was studied for as part of the Scottish
secondary education
system. It could be considered broadly equivalent to the old English
O-Level qualification and is the predecessor to the modern Standard Grade
qualification.
Along with its more advanced sibling, the 'Higher Grade
', the O-Grade was the bedrock of the Scottish educational system for many years. Its name refers to one of the two levels of award the Scottish Certificate of Education was made at, the Higher Grade being the other. "O-Grade" can also be used to refer to a pass in a particular subject; e.g. "He has seven O-Grades".
Courses were studied over two years, taking place during the third and fourth years (age 13-16) of a student's time at secondary school
. They were available in a wide range of subjects.
A good pass at O-Grade would normally enable a student to take the same subject at Higher Grade in their fifth (or possibly sixth) year, if they so desired. This did not always follow however, particularly as many more pupils left school at the end of their fourth year than is the case nowadays.
From the mid-1980s to the early-1990s, the O-Grade was gradually phased out. Its replacement, the Standard Grade focuses more closely on coursework
and the application of knowledge.
Scottish Certificate of Education
The Scottish Certificate of Education was a Scottish secondary education certificate, used in schools from 1962 until the late 1990s. It replaced the older Junior Secondary Certificate and Scottish Leaving Certificate , and was the Scottish equivalent of the General Certificate of Education used...
is a now-discontinued qualification which was studied for as part of the Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
secondary education
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
system. It could be considered broadly equivalent to the old English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
O-Level qualification and is the predecessor to the modern Standard Grade
Standard Grade
Standard Grades are Scotland's educational qualifications for students aged around 14 to 16 years, which are due to be fully replaced in 2014 when Scottish Qualifications Authority's Higher Still system becomes the main qualifications as part of the major shake up of Scotland's education system as...
qualification.
Along with its more advanced sibling, the 'Higher Grade
Higher (Scottish)
In Scotland the Higher is one of the national school-leaving certificate exams and university entrance qualifications of the Scottish Qualifications Certificate offered by the Scottish Qualifications Authority. It superseded the old Higher Grade on the Scottish Certificate of Education...
', the O-Grade was the bedrock of the Scottish educational system for many years. Its name refers to one of the two levels of award the Scottish Certificate of Education was made at, the Higher Grade being the other. "O-Grade" can also be used to refer to a pass in a particular subject; e.g. "He has seven O-Grades".
Courses were studied over two years, taking place during the third and fourth years (age 13-16) of a student's time at secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
. They were available in a wide range of subjects.
A good pass at O-Grade would normally enable a student to take the same subject at Higher Grade in their fifth (or possibly sixth) year, if they so desired. This did not always follow however, particularly as many more pupils left school at the end of their fourth year than is the case nowadays.
From the mid-1980s to the early-1990s, the O-Grade was gradually phased out. Its replacement, the Standard Grade focuses more closely on coursework
Coursework
Coursework is the name for work carried out by students at university or middle/high school that contributes towards their overall grade, but which is assessed separately from their final exams. Coursework can, for example, take the form of experimental work, or may involve research in the...
and the application of knowledge.
See also
- Education in ScotlandEducation in ScotlandScotland has a long history of universal provision of public education, and the Scottish education system is distinctly different from the other countries of the United Kingdom...
- Scottish Qualifications CertificateScottish Qualifications CertificateThe Scottish Qualifications Certificate is the successor to the Scottish Certificate of Education and the Record of Education and Training in Scotland, and is the main educational qualification awarded to students in secondary, further, and vocational education. The SQC is awarded by the Scottish...
- Scottish Qualifications AuthorityScottish Qualifications AuthorityThe Scottish Qualifications Authority is a non-departmental public body responsible for accreditation and awarding. It is partly funded by the Education and Lifelong Learning Directorate of the Scottish Government, employing 750 staff, based in Glasgow and Dalkeith...