Foreign high school graduates can qualify for U.S. college and university admissions when they understand the fundamentals of foreign credential evaluations (EMAILWIRE.COM, October 05, 2009). Many applicants seeking evaluation of academic credentials for bachelor’s or master’s degree purposes are unaware of the significant distinction between Ordinary Level and Advanced Level secondary examinations.
In several education systems, Advanced Level exams represent more than secondary education. In countries such as Norway, Spain, the United Kingdom, Ghana, Sri Lanka, and France, Ordinary Level exams are generally considered equivalent to U.S. high school graduation, while Advanced Level exams are comparable to an additional year of undergraduate study. Because of this structure, students from these systems can often demonstrate that their three-year bachelor’s degrees are equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree, both for further education and for H1B visa considerations.
In contrast, some countries, including parts of West Africa such as Cameroon, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, combine Ordinary and Advanced Level exams within the secondary education framework. In many of these cases, completion of Advanced Level exams is still regarded as high school completion rather than undergraduate-level study. This distinction is frequently misunderstood. Many applicants assume that a credential evaluation service will automatically account for these differences, even without supporting documentation.
According to Sheila Danzig, Executive Director of Career Consulting International, this assumption is incorrect. Applicants do not receive academic credit for Advanced Level education unless official examination results are submitted as part of the credential evaluation process. For students educated outside the United States who are preparing to obtain an academic evaluation, it is essential to submit a high school diploma along with documented results for both Ordinary and Advanced Level exams. Providing complete records helps ensure the most accurate assessment of education equivalency and allows applicants to receive the highest possible recognition for their academic credentials.