When you compare the education systems of China and the UK you recognise that there is lots to admire about each model, much that educators can learn from one another, and for students, many differences that need to be explained. In order to support every student, wherever they are from, let us consider the core framework in each country, especially in the final few years ahead of university.
In China students complete elementary school, junior high, senior high and then with a suitable Gaokao can progress to university where they typically study for four more years. As you are aware the Gaokao is a broad curriculum with many subjects giving students significant expertise in a number of fields. There are a number of common courses that everyone studies - for instance Chinese language, English and Mathematics. Students then have the choice between a programme that covers the sciences - Chemistry, Physics and Biology or for humanities - History, Economics etc.
It is worth reminding ourselves of the Chinese approach in order to define all the areas with which it differs from the British experience. British students start primary school at the age of 4 and finish by their 11th birthday. They then progress to seven years of secondary education where they study for GCSEs in years 10 and 11. You too can study on a similar pathway if you are lucky enough to be enrolled in a school that follows the Cambridge International Education certified i(International)GCSE. The final qualification ahead of university in the UK are A levels. These have changed significantly over the last fifteen years and are worthy of considerable research in order than international students make the best decisions about their future.
The major criticism of the British A level is that unlike the Gaokao or the International Bacaleaureate it is not a broad qualification covering a range of subjects but instead prioritises specialisation as most schools enter students for just four, or possibly five, courses. Despite only studying a small number of subjects A level students are spoilt for choice from the selection of possible courses they can enrol on - CIE for instance have over 60 different A level subjects available! Another interesting aspect of A levels is that most schools allow students to create individual permutations of subjects such that it is quite rare for students to study the exact same timetable as their friends.
The A level of any subject is split into two qualifications - the AS year (year 12) where students normally take four sets of exams and the second year (13) where A2 exams are taken (typically three rather than four) that will be required by universities for undergraduate study. A levels are graded using an A*/A/B/C/D/E/U system with A* being the best possible result. With so much choice and with specialisation occurring sooner than in many contemporary systems it is important to make good decisions about which A level courses to take!
So why only four subjects? The British system encourages students to learn a few disciplines in great detail. As such students are welcome to enter as many exams as they wish but schools typically feel each A level needs 5 to 6 hours contact teaching per week in order for a candidate to cover the full syllabus meaning that four courses is enough to fill a typical timetable. Only when a student is extremely gifted would they be encouraged to attempt five A levels. A final reason, a significant one, if revealing a touch of British laziness, is the following rationale. Universities typically ask for 3 A level results e.g. AAB. As such students need 3 A levels. Having four rather than three sets of exams is at best an insurance and at worst a debilitating distraction. As such many schools advise students that with A level courses, less is more!
The problem is of course with only 3 subjects at A2 and only one more added the year before students need to pick A levels wisely to match their interests. They also need to select courses that will match their course choices for university too. Not easy.
Luckily I will help counsel you with some sage advice. First of all the premier British universities got together and formed a club called the Russell Group, and they have published their recommendation of which are the best A level choices to equip you for university study. Can you guess their advice? Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, History, Modern Languages and English Literature were the 8 courses they feel are most rigorous, intellectually stimulating and applicable for pre-undergraduate grounding. No Law, no Economics, no Psychology, no Politics on the list. All valid courses but interestingly enough many universities feel these are better studied at degree level with no prior knowledge. In the UK you are more likely to be accepted for Law at Bristol having studied Physics instead of Law A Level! So the first advice is to prioiritise these 8 wherever possible. You should try to pick all four from the recommended list or at least three if you want to be accepted by the most famous universities. If you want to read Physics at Manchester by all means add Art but only as a fourth option on top of Physics, Chemistry and Maths - much better than choosing Art, Accounting, Business Studies and Media!
The second guide you must consider is to read ahead on your favourite university course and see if they specifically require any one or more of those 8 Russell Group endorsed exams. For instance if you want to be a Medic, it doesn't matter if you get seven A*s in Biology, English, French, Physics, Maths, History and Geography - you NEED an A level in Chemistry. Without Chemistry you will simply not be accepted by anyone. Likewise for many Economics degrees you need A level Maths. So do your research and makes sure you are not limiting your future options by forgetting to link your A level choices with your final degree wish essentials.
Thirdly - a typical piece of British advice. Try to study something you enjoy. If you like a course you will be motivated to read all the extra material that your teachers recommend. You will complete all the homework and catch up on any work you missed. If you choose something your parents or teachers recommend but you know that you hate you will struggle to achieve the independent research essential for the top grades in that A level.
Now for a final thought - there is a big difference between the British and the Chinese mindset when it comes to choosing courses, however, over time these are likely to be become much more similar. When Chinese families invest in an expensive decision such as university education their prime motivation is how will this help their child to be employable in the future. Education is seen as a vehicle to achieve a degree of fiscal stability and quality of life. As such courses that lead to good jobs, such as Mathematics, Physics are popular. In the Uk most of the advice of teachers, universities and, to decreasing extent, parents, is that education is more spiritual than about mere employment. As such the guidance is for students to select a course they enjoy and that when understood better will make their life happier. This is quite a sweet way to look at life but increasingly less practical. Once upon a time education was free at the point of access so you could study Film, Photography or Art and then complete your course even though you knew it might not lead to a career in that industry. However over the last fifteen years or so it has become increasingly expensive to go to university in the UK and many student leave with sizeable debt which they carry around for a number of years. This will make British students increasingly practical about their education and move their A level choices more towards Maths, the three Sciences and languages and away from Geography and History (though these are valued by Law departments for their development of prose).
Ultimately it depends what you want out of life. There is no magic answer, all you can do is try to compromise between your dreams and your financial reality. If you want to earn lots of money go for Maths and the three Sciences. If you want to travel the world and make friends do languages, history and geography. Whatever you do work hard and listen to your teachers!
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