Hi all,

Could anyone tell me what the Italian equivalents are for gcse's and a-levels.

Thanks
Carl.

Basically they don't have them. Children sit exams at 14 when they finish middle school and '' maturità '' whem they finish senoir school .Both sets of exams are made up of both written and oral test in a variety of subjects but the students don't get to choose anything . The only choice is made at 14 when they decid which sennior school to enroll in .

Hadenoughpizza couldn't have said it better.
You don't "do" your GCSE or A level in Italy.
You choose a school direction at about age 13 and that is supposed to take you to age 18. At least for 5 years of senior school.

It's not England where every school has the same basic curriculum and mindest and all kids do the same basics until they choose their subjects.

Here, you choose the whole school. Linguistic, scientific, classical, artistic etc. If you're not clever enough or not that accademically inclined, you choose an "institute" that does design, mechanics, accountancy, computers etc.

Thanks for the replies,

The reason I ask is for my CV, i'm not sure what to put in the part that asks for previous education, as I'm pretty sure the person I need to give it to hasn't a clue about the english education system!!!
As I did A-levels in maths, physics and design, could i say that roughly translates to a diploma liceo scientifico.

Thanks again.
Carl.

When I arrived in Italy something called a "work booklet" existed and when I went to get to mine, the guy asked which school I had done.
I started to explain that we don't choose schools and that it was all different.
It was hard work for me and for him. In the end he just decided that there was no word for it and in the space for studies he just wrote "studi esteri" which is like saying "foreign studies".

That booklet doesn't exist anymore but the principle of the schools does.
I am of the mindset that an A Level is a bit more than the general Italian diploma for leaving school. I could be wrong. I would think that 3 A Levels is just as good as if not better than a diploma.

I did my A levels in the 80's and things have changed quite a bit since then both in the UK and in Italy . I think the curriculum and the range of subjects in Italy is wider , they do mor ethan 3 or 4 subjects but the exam and marking system is ridiculous so everybody passes here ! I'd agree with Lorna that '' studi esteri '' is probably best although if you have space you can list the subjects .

You could put, 'diploma di scuola secondaria di II livello estero, (or 'conseguito all'estero') in Matematica, fisica, & design.

I'm pretty sure that there aren't any exact equivalents. When, years ago, I thought I had to get it officially recognised that I had a university degree, I was told that the people to deal with it were the Italian Cultural Institute in London (the cultural arm of the consulate), which seems reasonable - they should know how the UK education system works. Maybe you could ask them.

http://www.icilondon.esteri.it/IIC_L...e_contattarci/

thanks guys,

Think i'll put 'studi esteri' and list subjects as suggested.