Fascinated at what I learned about physics in America the other day...

[iahag]

The other night in the Coronation Tap I was talking to an american pre-physics student. He told me how he had only one year of physics in America during his compulsary education and was now doing A-level, level physics for his first year as a result. I was astonished! Couldnt actually believe it.
Is this across all of America?

[Morgan_Freeman]

I'm not really sure what you're asking. Are you saying that the entry level college physics is somehow different in the UK than it is in the USA? I seriously doubt that claim, and I would ask you to substantiate it.

[Compugasm]

Quote by: iahag Ive been doing physics since I was 4 ish. Dont you Americans like/appreciate physics?

At Jesus Ranch, we learn to tie our shoes at 4ish. We used to have sandals like Jesus, but to make education more secular, sneakers prepare us for modern society.

[Leveller]

Was it that he did 1 year of physics as a seperate subject? and before that he was just doing general science.

Anyway, if you have foreighn qualifications, getting accepted for A-level is realy easy because exam boards in the UK are utterly incompetant and no-one bothers to check up the level of awards, they just assume its the same level as a GCSE.

[Praxius]

Not everybody teaches the same things, the same way around the world. Some places will teach you one thing, prior to another. This might become a problem when going elsewhere for education. In one country, you might be at the top of your class, but going into another location to learn, they might have been taught things that you were not taught, and vise versa.... hence the difficulties.

When my cousin headed to Indiana from Nova Scotia, he was one of the top in his class.... when he went down there, they were teach everything.... I can't remember if it was totally different, or totally backwards, but it caused him to practically fail the one year he was there and ended up having to take summer school here in Canada.... where he once again flew with flying colors.

It's not that someone is being taught more or less then another, it's what you are being taught first that can screw things up. In the end of both educations in both different countries, I imagine both would have equal education. It's all about how you go about it. If you jump in between both courses, you're bound to get screwed up.

There are indeed differences.... just slight enough to be noticed.

Imo

[Fonceai]

@Compugasm

BAH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!

I don't agree with Leveller's insult, but I am curious as to what "A-level physics" means.

[Zhavric]

In Soviet Russia, physics educates you!

[The Architect]

Maybe this American just has a great talent for physics. I would love to learn physics, maybe I will.

[iahag]

Was it that he did 1 year of physics as a seperate subject? and before that he was just doing general science. Anyway, if you have foreighn qualifications, getting accepted for A-level is realy easy because exam boards in the UK are utterly incompetant and no-one bothers to check up the level of awards, they just assume its the same level as a GCSE.

Dont know

I'm not really sure what you're asking. Are you saying that the entry level college physics is somehow different in the UK than it is in the USA? I seriously doubt that claim, and I would ask you to substantiate it.

I never made any claim. I asked is this across all America, which, upon further thought, should have been my only question.

[Leveller]

Quote by: Fonceai @Compugasm BAH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!! I don't agree with Leveller's insult, but I am curious as to what "A-level physics" means.

A-level is a qualification available in about 50 different subjects, most students take A-levels at the ages of 16-18. It is the intermediate level between school and University.

In order to be able to take A-levels, you have to have passed a certain number of GCSE's or equivelent level exams.

My insult is directed at UK exam boards who ARE incompitent, I had to resit 6 exams doing my A-levels because the exam board lost my orrigionals.

[Compugasm]

"incompitent"? If you're going to rant about education, at least spell incontinent correctly.

[Fonceai]

Or "incompetent"

[Morgan_Freeman]

Quote by: iahag I never made any claim. I asked is this across all America, which, upon further thought, should have been my only question.

Is WHAT across all America? Clarify your question.

[G. Adams]

I think his objection is that in the UK in order to get taught A-Level physics you would have had to do do either 5 years of physics or 5 years of Double Science (a combo of chem, bio and physics). His friend from the US has said he has only done one year of studying physics. So in response to Morgans question, he seems to be asking do all Americans only get a years worth of physics educations. My question would be whether or not he did more general sciences before doing a year specifically in physics.

The way the UK (not inc. Scotland) education system is that from 11-16 you are taught a broad variety of subjects, with maths, sciences (either particular or double-award) and English being compulsory across the country (individual schools may make other subjects compulsory also). You may leave at 16 if you want (for now, the gov is looking at changing that). If you want to continue in education you do A-Levels. People usually do 3 A-Levels, more if your exceptional. These allow you to specialise in a particular area. The benefit of this is that it gives you greater knowledge of a subject before you get to University, unlike broader curriculums as used the US or France. On the downside, it's a bit of a bugger if you change your mind and want to do something completely diff at Uni (I did all arts subjects at A-Level, but then wanted to do med or sciences at Uni, but would have to redo 2 years of education in order to do so)

Hope that helps those who are fortunate enough not to have to deal with the UK education system.

[Leveller]

Quote by: Compugasm "incompitent"? If you're going to rant about education, at least spell incontinent correctly.

Case in point:)

[Morgan_Freeman]

Quote by: G. Adams So in response to Morgans question, he seems to be asking do all Americans only get a years worth of physics educations. My question would be whether or not he did more general sciences before doing a year specifically in physics.

Physics is not a core subject in K-12 education here in the states. At my high school it was offered as an elective.

More to the point, everyone entering university is going to be taking the same physics class, no matter what kind of physics education they had previously.

Quote by: G. Adams The way the UK (not inc. Scotland) education system is that from 11-16 you are taught a broad variety of subjects, with maths, sciences (either particular or double-award) and English being compulsory across the country (individual schools may make other subjects compulsory also). You may leave at 16 if you want (for now, the gov is looking at changing that). If you want to continue in education you do A-Levels. People usually do 3 A-Levels, more if your exceptional.

Based on this, it sounds like public education in the UK is much superior to that in the USA. In all areas - not just physics.

[G. Adams]

Quote by: Morgan_Freeman Physics is not a core subject in K-12 education here in the states. At my high school it was offered as an elective. More to the point, everyone entering university is going to be taking the same physics class, no matter what kind of physics education they had previously. Based on this, it sounds like public education in the UK is much superior to that in the USA. In all areas - not just physics.

As for getting into A-level physics with only a years past education, the point is that A-Level physics isn't easy, even with background knowledge. They presume you have 5 years of science education and moreover were good at them enough for you to want to take them onto a higher level. If you came onto an A-level course without that education behind you, the catch up is going to be quite a hefty task, especially for a 16 year old. It's do-able, but goodbye normal life for 2 years.

Not scientific at all but from my own experience and what everyone else in the UK says, it's easier to get your degree than it is to get good A-levels. You will have to put far, far more time into it than you do at University.

In the UK degrees typically last 3 years, although sciences, medicine and those with vocational years are 4 and up. If you get onto a science course, at a good university, you will be expected to have high marks in A-Level science. Frankly, I don't know how someone coming out of a US high school could step onto a UK science course without great difficulty, or doing a foundation year if offered.

The UK system is superior in theory, in practice it's a bit messy. The best bit of course is that at 16, all those either not suited to academia, teen parents or just the plain old arseholes will go get jobs/apprenticeships/heroin addictions, leaving everyone who actually wants to be in education to their own devices. It's not perfect but it does at least encourage a higher standard of discourse amongst the students. That, and of course the ability to spend two years on three subjects that interest you, rather than 10 subjects of which you only like 2. Also, it allows for a greater variety of subjects to be taught that a secondary school/high school does not have time for.

[Compugasm]

Quote by: Leveller Case in point:)

I see you didn't get the joke. I hate to be the nitpicker who brings this up. But seriously, if the OP is going to rant about education, at least run the post through a grammar and spelling checker.

[Nathan Struth]

Excuse me! reeeer

[notworthabean]

Quote by: G. Adams As for getting into A-level physics with only a years past education, the point is that A-Level physics isn't easy, even with background knowledge. They presume you have 5 years of science education and moreover were good at them enough for you to want to take them onto a higher level. If you came onto an A-level course without that education behind you, the catch up is going to be quite a hefty task, especially for a 16 year old. It's do-able, but goodbye normal life for 2 years. Not scientific at all but from my own experience and what everyone else in the UK says, it's easier to get your degree than it is to get good A-levels. You will have to put far, far more time into it than you do at University. In the UK degrees typically last 3 years, although sciences, medicine and those with vocational years are 4 and up. If you get onto a science course, at a good university, you will be expected to have high marks in A-Level science. Frankly, I don't know how someone coming out of a US high school could step onto a UK science course without great difficulty, or doing a foundation year if offered. The UK system is superior in theory, in practice it's a bit messy. The best bit of course is that at 16, all those either not suited to academia, teen parents or just the plain old arseholes will go get jobs/apprenticeships/heroin addictions, leaving everyone who actually wants to be in education to their own devices. It's not perfect but it does at least encourage a higher standard of discourse amongst the students. That, and of course the ability to spend two years on three subjects that interest you, rather than 10 subjects of which you only like 2. Also, it allows for a greater variety of subjects to be taught that a secondary school/high school does not have time for.

In the US the way (my school) worked it was this

6th grade was a basic earth science/geogrpahy

7th was a basic bio

8th was basic chem

9th was mandatory earth sicne

10th most kids took bio, but they could take physics or chem if they wanted to/had the math to take it (including the APs)

11th/12th you coudl take AP physics/chem/bio or just regular physics/chem bio.

perhaps this was an exceptionally gifited physics studen who took the AP physics in america. that would probably provide enough foundtion for your "a" levels.

side note: i think that system sounds quite good, and you explained it pretty well too. A british girl transfered to my school in 10th grade and trade to explain british eduction to me in english once-you did it much better, and now i know why she didn't want to go back to england to go to school.