Are you sure about that? My son has his Matura, and can use that to go to apply for and get into UK universities. Similary, people with good A-levels can apply for and get into Swiss universities - assuming appropriate language skills.

@Shakur: you can get three A* grades at A level and still not be accepted on the course you apply for. My niece has been exclusively in the UK system, has excellent GCSEs and A levels and was rejected from all the universities to which she applied to study medicine. Law is similarly over-subscribed.

I still wish you find a school that suits your needs, really, but I'm trying to explain that. If it doesn't work, it's all right, but it's worth a try in three steps:

- A-levels are not beginners' courses where you start from scratch. It is a continuation of knowledge and skills acquired before. Schools consider that a core of skills and knowledge is a prerequisit to have a chance of succeeding in those course later on.
- Exemple: When you want to do the motor bike licence, it is expected that you can keep balance on the vehicle, skill acquired previously as a child on a bicycle. Not riding a bike is a prerequisit as such but the skill "balance".
- Same with A-levels but the skills you need before even getting started are different (language, essay writing, reasonning, expression, comprehension, logic... what ever the school system considers relevant).

It's just an attempt to explain, it wish you all the best, you seem at least very motivated to work hard and get those fantastic grades you need on top of being a wonderful sportsman.

__________________
Es wird nichts ausgelassen, um mich hier herauszuekeln. Ein Lehrbuch. False accusations and attacks continue. There is no stopping righteous people when they are wrong.

Oh you are right about the equivalent. I was making a difference between schooling and diploma. But the number of people living in CH needing the UK school system is limited as people will rather need local system or international, the american schools and british schools catter for the others. The diplomas obtained are very useful either ways UK<=>CH, no doubt about it.
Sorry for the unclear wording.

Thanks falter.

I made this thread now I am really confused. I don't know where to do them now either UK or swiss or simply at home.

State school in UK seems good but it's still not the place I want to be in.

Not sure why you groaned at my clarification of my previous post. I was trying to help you understand why you write those tests and how/why the school uses them. At the A level, several subjects require you to have previous knowledge, and without that knowledge, most schools will try to get you to take the GCSE course to gain it if you don't pass the entry tests. This is to ensure that their pass/fail numbers remain at a certain level. Most schools here will use their exam results as part of their advertising, so they are quite serious about pre-testing to keep their results favourable. In fact this is something you should be asking all of the schools that you apply to.

Just to let you know, I am a teacher and for the past couple of years I have been teaching A level Maths and Economics along with AS level Economics and Business. In all of these courses, the GCSE level is an unbelievable asset for the students. As you already know, you do not need the GCSE to get into the A level courses, but what you learn at that level certainly helps. I'm not saying you can't succeed without the GCSE levels, but it will make your life much easier.

Good luck with your hunt.

Hey all, just wanted to say thanks for your help I just got accepted in an international school in Basel seems like they understood better^^

Better than whom!?

Hopefully you'll get Faltrad as a teacher - your lovely, modest attitude should stand you in good stead. ^^ indeed.

Faltrad? Which school is he teaching at?? lol...

Better then the Geneva british school.