Sopeo

Hi all,

Does anyone know how a Canadian High School Diploma equates to UACS/A-Levels? I'm a Canadian & UK citizen looking to find work in the UK, and live there for the first time!

I'm trying to apply to graduate schemes in the UK, and applications often ask for UACS/A-Level grades, and sometimes GCSE grades. I have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), with a 94.8% average during grade 12. However, I never took part in Advanced Placement Programme courses, which I have seen show up on websites as an equivalent. Can OSSD courses be equated to A-Levels? I also have Undergraduate and Master degrees.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I hope all is going well with your transitions. Many thanks for any help you can offer. Cheers.

not2old

most UK universities accept for entrance purposes the "Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), with a 94.8% average during grade 12" as equivalent to A Levels

Simple answer is A level for what you asked. Scroll down to 'C' for the Canadian entrants

http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/under...qualifications

Sopeo

Thanks so much for your reply.

Do you know of a website that offers reliable grade equivalents between OSSD (or a general Canadian high school diploma) and A levels? I've finished university, and I'm currently applying for jobs, some of which ask for grades from A levels. UK NARIC offers a service for an official comparison, but the minimum cost is £85! I have a tight budget at the moment, so it would be great if there is a way to avoid such a high fee.

Again, I really appreciate your help.

not2old

unfortunately the pay for the equivalent is the proper way to go & there are several recognized & accepted services such as 'wes'

Likely you've already seen this, if not, read the tabs within the following link & see if it gets you what you're after

Qualifications explained| EducationUK (Canada)

https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qu...ication-levels

Sopeo

Yes, I may have to bite the bullet and pay for the equivalent service. Thanks again for your help. Have a great day.

colchar

Wouldn't your university degrees matter more than high school grades, even if some positions are asking about A levels? I know that in Canada the majority of employers immediately forget about high school once they see that you have a university degree.

Sopeo

Yes, I completely agree. Having obtained my MBA, I don't understand the relevancy of explaining my high school grades to a potential employer. That being said, it seems that in the UK A-levels are valued much higher than high school in Canada. Also, the issue mainly comes up when applying to graduate schemes or entry level positions with automated application processes - early on there is a section where I have to enter specific A-level courses and grades, or I can't continue to the next step of the application. It is a pain

christmasoompa

You could just say you've not got A levels when it asks (which is true). If you've got a degree and am MBA the A levels are of no relevance anyway.

Good luck.

Novocastrian

They're not if they aren't your highest level of educational achievement. In your case they will not be looked at.

I've never applied for a job with an automated application process such as you describe, but if I did, in your situation I'd just put A-level grade A in three or four random subjects and screw them if they have a problem with that.

Sopeo

Yeah, it is more for large multinational companies. I have just started to do as you said and enter something at that stage to proceed with the application. Cheers guys!

colchar

But when using computerized forms such as that not listing A-levels might result in an automatic disqualification.

christmasoompa

Highly unlikely if he's got a degree & MBA though.

Novocastrian

Read the OP's post. The computerized form wouldn't let him go to the next step until he put something into the A level boxes. In his case it really doesn't matter what.

Wombat7

I would only do that if there was a space on the on line form for free form entry which could be used to explain the situation. Otherwise you are not telling the truth - aka I would not subscribe to the "screw them" approach.

Novocastrian

But the OP said he graduated high school in Ontario with a 94.5% average. That's the equivalent of 3 A level grade As. I agree about adding an explanation if possible, but the only way he could get past the A-level question to even find out if a free form space was offered later was to put something in the box.