Official Examinations

The British education system is organised so that pupils take exams at the end of every educational key stage. The assessment of pupil levels is carried out by an external, independent examining board, an aspect that guarantees objective marking and results.

At the end of the school year, pupils in the final year of each key stage take the following corresponding exams:

1. National Tests (SATs) at the end of key stage 2 (Year 6) in Mathematics, Science and English.
2. National Tests (SATs) at the end of Key Stage 3 (Year 9) in Mathematics, Science and English.
   

   These exams are taken by all state schools in England and Wales and are optional for private and foreign centres. However, at the British School of Valencia we consider these tests a useful tool in guaranteeing the quality of our educational project at the same time as demonstrating our pupils’ academic level. The tests are carried out in the centre itself and are subsequently sent to the examining body, in this case the National Assessment Agency (NAA).

3. Pupils take externally corrected exams in the subjects they take at Key Stage 4 (Year 10 and Year 11). The exams taken at the British School of Valencia are set and corrected by the University of Cambridge. (These exams are taken in the school as it has been recognised and validated as a centre for Cambridge International Examinations).
   
   In order to pass Secondary Education studies and obtain the Título de Graduado en Educación Secundaria issued by the Spanish Education Ministery, the pupils must pass 5 areas at least (IGCSE titles) with a positive result (grade C or better). Notwithstanding , our pupils prepare and do nine IGCSE areas, between them Maths, English and Science (see Academic Aspects for further information)
    
   International Certificate of  Education (ICE). The Cambridge University gives this certificate as merit to the pupils who obtain seven IGCSE titles at least (areas examined), which are split in five groups: Languages, Humanities and Social Science, Science, Maths and another last group with creative, technical and vocational areas. The grade mentioned on the certificate shows the level of the pupil: PASS for the pupils with seven areas of C grade or better; MERIT for the pupils with five areas of C grade or better and two of F grade or better: DISTINCTION for the pupils with  five A grades and two others of at least C grades or better.
    
4. General Certificate of Education (GCE). AS/A Level exams (Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level) are taken by the pupils corresponding to Bachillerato, Year 12 and Year 13. As well as IGCSE exams, AS/A Level exams made in British School of Valencia are specified and corrected by the Cambridge University (CIE) and AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance). The final results are calculated at the end of Year 13 at the end of this  Key Stage. (academic year 2009-2010).
    
5. University Entrance Examination.   Since 2006/2007, at the end of Year 13, once the Higher Secondary Education Certificate (Bachillerato) has been passed, students attending foreign schools in Spain can seek admission to university through the usual Selectividad examination (specific for these students or for admission to the Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, UNED) or through university admission for European Union students or those studying in approved foreign schools in Spain with EU education systems, as in the case of the British system.  For more information on these two types of admission see University Admission.  The final results are calculated at the end of Year 13 at the end of this  Key Stage. (academic year 2009-2010)

OFFICIAL EXAMINATIONS RESULTS

KEY STAGE 2 (Year 6) Results shown as a percentage 2008
Areas	1	2	3	4	5	% Level: 4 or above
English		3	8	74	15	89
Mathematics			8	60	32	92
Science			21	47	32	79

* For reference purposes, the maximum possible level is English (5), Mathematics (5), Science (5).  Required Level :4 or above.

KEY STAGE 3 (Year 9) Results shown as a percentage 2008
Areas	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	% Level: 5 or above	% Level: 6 or above
English				76	24			100	24
Mathematics				6	47	29	18	100	94
Science				40	48	12		100	60

* For reference purposes, the maximum possible level is English (7), Mathematics (8), Science (7). Required Level: 5 or above. 

IGCSE KEY STAGE 4 (Year 11) Results shown as a percentage 2008
Subjects	% Grades: A*-C		Pass rate : 100% Average Grade  A*-C :  76 % Average Grade  A*/A: 25 % Test Level Oral Communication  (2) Results shown as a percentage Subject 5 4 3 2 1 English as a Second Language        65 35 The test of the level of oral communication is compulsory in  English as a Second Language. The grades are from a minimum of 5 to a maximum of 1 Cambridge University Certificate (Certificado Internacional de Estudios) Result s shown as a percentage Award Pass Merit Distinction ICE (3) 15 45 15 (3) ICE : Certificado Internacional de estudios given by the Cambridge University // Pass: seven IGCSE titles with G grade or better ; Merit: five titles with C grade or better and two with F grade or better ; Distinction: five titles with A grade and two with C grade or  better.
Art and Design	100
Science (Doble Award IGCSE)	50
First Language Spanish	100
French	100
History	40
Information Technology	100
First Language English	100
English as a 2nd Language	100
Literature (English)	70
Literature (Spanish)	100
Mathematics	45
The percentage of pupils that  passed and obtained the Secondary Education Graduate given by the Spanish Education Department  was 100% in the course 2007-08. The requirements were having passed the four courses corresponding to Compulsory Secondary Education, as well as having passed in all of them Language and Spanish Culture area and the language of the Autonomic Community (in case), and having obtained four  IGCSE titles with A, B or C grades. In the latter, at least two of the four  titles must include the  following: English, Spanish , Maths or Science (Biology, Physics or Chemistry)