"Value" Of High School Grades?

[sammy]

According to those statistics, I'd guess that 2 Ls with 2 Es, should be a bit harder to achieve.

Alternatively, those percentages merely demonstrate that we Finns are just thicker than Brits

("they say that 90% of the bass players in this town are idiots... can't be true... there aren't that many of us to start with")

[Upphew]

Alternatively, those percentages merely demonstrate that we Finns are just thicker than Brits

No way: http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/hea_o ... th-obesity

[sammy]

Seriously, though - I don't know how these matriculation exam (pitkä/'advanced') Maths questions from last spring relate to the difficulty of A-level Maths finals in the UK... but the questions might as well be in Chinese for me - I'm absolutely hopeless in Maths.

Another question is, since the universities usually have entrance exams - how would a university entrance exam at some Finnish Maths dept. relate to these matriculation level problems? Anyone?

I'm asking because at the English dept where I studied, both the entrance exam and subsequent first year tests IMO required a bit "more" than one might have expected from what the upper secondary school "final advanced level" offered. I suspect -although am not sure- that in various subjects, those applying to university-level undergraduate studies in Finland need to "bridge a gap" when sweating over their entrance exam literature.

[sinikala]

According to those statistics, I'd guess that 2 Ls with 2 Es, should be a bit harder to achieve.

You can't conclude anything from those grades, AAA is the bare minimum like a cut-off, Oxford used to make a standard offer of 2 E's if they wanted you.

Most going to Oxford or Cambridge will get 4 or 5 As at A-level. My ex went to Cambridge (before I met her), IIRC she had AAAA, or AAAAA if you include General Studies plus AS level grade A in music, Grade 8 in the instrument she played, and a couple of "Special papers" like further-further maths... don't know if they even do those nowadays.

In my high school, the hall had wooden panelling, adorned with names in gold lettering, a roll of honour of those who had made it to the hallowed Oxbridge ... usually 3 or 4 per year, and usually Oxford as it was easier to get in.

Alternatively, those percentages merely demonstrate that we Finns are just thicker than Brits

The sort of people who attend those two universities ... you really don't meet that often in Finland. My guess is because the Finnish educational system is not geared to produce that calibre of student. To put it kindly, they are very talented, intelligent and focussed. To be a little less kind, the few folk I know who went to those universities (I believe there were 3 in my year at school) and those I bumped into later on have, with the exception of my ex- been a bit peculiar... and as much as I liked her, she was she wasn't exactly "normal" either.

[sinikala]

Seriously, though - I don't know how these matriculation exam (pitkä/'advanced') Maths questions from last spring relate to the difficulty of A-level Maths finals in the UK... but the questions might as well be in Chinese for me - I'm absolutely hopeless in Maths.

It's definitely a higher standard than GCSE.

I did A-level maths 20 years ago, I've forgotten most of what I did, (and I was never that good at maths in the first place), but with the exception of a few symbols it all looks vaguely familiar. And I wouldn't be surprised if that was an A-level standard.

As I might have stood a chance of passing that Finnish paper, it is surely some way short of the Further Maths A-level (if you intend to study Maths at university then you take Further Maths and Maths) as I'd never have stood a chance with a Further Maths paper.

http://www.cie.org.uk/qualifications/ac ... def_id=756

[Vorfin]

Ok, I see, it's near impossible to equate them, as I half expected lol, I guess I can just say they are more or less between your high school grades, and your bachelors degrees. (As yours tend to be four years, ours two, the first two years of yours would be learning the things we learn in A-Levels.) So, essentially, I will be at the level of a Uni drop out

I guess I should make a new thread in another section for this, but, what job could I expect with five A-C A-Levels (Physics, Maths, Law, Sociology, Psychology) In Finland? I assume as my Finnish isn't great, and from what I have heard, wont be any time soon, that cuts out 95% of jobs. I'm guessing road sweeper, or maybe delivering pizzas if I can afford a car

I'm kind of hoping to be able to get a job working in an English hotel or holiday resort there, although that would kind of be the perfect thing, so I'm sure it wont happen to me.

[EP]

what job could I expect with five A-C A-Levels (Physics, Maths, Law, Sociology, Psychology) In Finland?

Really nothing. Like someone already said, you would need further education, be it in a university or vocational school if you somehow desire to become a plumber. A high school education (be it whatever level, A or Ö) does not give you qualifications, it is just general all over education, it does not give you skills or formal qualifications to do anything. Same thing with Finnish high school graduates.

There are no English hotels in Finland (English hotels are in the UK ). BUT there are lots of tourists from UK in Lapland, at least in winter time. Skiing resorts might employ you.

[onkko]

And lapland hotels i wouldnt be sure, my little brother worked there at age of 13 and he quided english tourists with not perfect but what i think decent english. Far better than mine. If you have also russian in your pocket then maybe.
Reminds my first time ever when i "needed" english, i "fluently" show her where toy she was looking at was and i were 15. Next time someone wanted "tape" (i assure you it was tape or in finnish teip) and no avail, No C or VHS or "just tape" (you know stuff you use to put stuff together) what was my fist choose. then someone else helped and i found out that he wanted "disposable raincoat". WTF! Never got that, is it somekind codeword for that? Best part was he was angry to me about that he landed in here withouth speaking finnish and walked in small shop talking only english! I said pleasently "haista sinä mursu v!%#" with smile to him

[sinikala]

And lapland hotels i wouldnt be sure, my little brother worked there at age of 13 and he quided english tourists with not perfect but what i think decent english. Far better than mine. If you have also russian in your pocket then maybe.
Reminds my first time ever when i "needed" english, i "fluently" show her where toy she was looking at was and i were 15. Next time someone wanted "tape" (i assure you it was tape or in finnish teip) and no avail, No C or VHS or "just tape" (you know stuff you use to put stuff together) what was my fist choose. then someone else helped and i found out that he wanted "disposable raincoat". WTF! Never got that, is it somekind codeword for that? Best part was he was angry to me about that he landed in here withouth speaking finnish and walked in small shop talking only english! I said pleasently "haista sinä mursu v!%#" with smile to him

Cape not tape.

[onkko]

Cape not tape.

Sound plausible explanation but he didnt say cape. Or do you have dialect where t changes to c? He stressed letters so...

[AldenG]

Cape not tape.

Sound plausible explanation but he didnt say cape. Or do you have dialect where t changes to c? He stressed letters so...

I thought maybe it was the strong stem...

(Or in genitive, scrongen scemen.)

[Pursuivant]

I'm kind of hoping to be able to get a job working in an English hotel or holiday resort there

That requires education though, you compete with people with a hotel & restaurant or tourism papers... who also usually speak 4-5 languages. How is your German? That was obligatory in the tourism back in the 90's still.

[irnbru]

To be a little less kind, the few folk I know who went to those universities (I believe there were 3 in my year at school) and those I bumped into later on have, with the exception of my ex- been a bit peculiar... and as much as I liked her, she was she wasn't exactly "normal" either.

My sister did a masters at Cambridge and is a weirdo. Also I would say she is a bit thick compared to me therefore I conclude that Oxbridge graduates aren't all they are cracked up to be. I went to Poly and did a bog standard bachelors.

[sinikala]

Cape not tape.

Sound plausible explanation but he didnt say cape. Or do you have dialect where t changes to c? He stressed letters so...

Perhaps he had a speech impediment and thought you were taking the piss?
Perhaps you just needed to wash your ears out?
I recommend using soap, warm water and a cerry tloth. <--- see what I did?

[mariy]

hi,i just want to know,is it must to have highschool certificate in finland? can i get to some polytechnics without it?
am doing my 1st year highschool and i think it will take me long . . .