Американская средняя школа
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American School

Students in American schools study different subjects. Pupils are tested in written form and their progress is evaluated from A to F.  A student gets an A when he fulfils successfully 90-95% of the test. He gets a F when less than 50% of the test is fulfilled successfully. Such tests are conducted throughout a year. At the end-of-the-year test the progress of a student is evaluated in grade point values. When they transform letters A – F into grade point values, they take into consideration the level of the course, the student has taken. If it was advanced ( so called “academic” level), which prepares students for colleges, an A corresponds to 6 points. If it was just general (“comprehensive”) level, an A corresponds to 5 points. If it was vocational level, an A corresponds just to 4 points.

One time in a term they evaluate a student’s grade point average. They calculate the arithmetic mean value of all the subject grade point values. After that they make a list of the students’ grade points average for the whole class. It’s important to be at the top of the list in your class when you plan your future career, because colleges take only students from the top of the list.

In general basic subjects are required in high school. They are English, science, social studies, mathematics an P.E. Elective subjects may be chosen according to the student’s interests. They are foreign languages, fine arts and vocational training. 

Each subject is given a certain number of credit points. For example, English is given 4 credit points, science and math- 3 credit points each, art and music- 2 credit points each, etc. There is a minimum requirement in each school. It corresponds to 15 points in total at least. You can choose subjects and have more that 15 points.  School authorities usually encourage students to do that, because they know that colleges are interested in students who are at the top of the class list and who have 16-18 credit points minimum.

Useful words and expressions:

evaluate (оценивать), fulfil (выполнять), conduct (проводить), throughout (в течение), grade point values (числовые величины оценок), transform ( переводить, преобразовывать), take into consideration (принимать во внимание), advanced (продвинутый, повышенной сложности) , correspond (соответствует), comprehensive (общеобразовательный, базовый), vocational (прикладной профессиональный)*, student’s grade point average ( общая средняя оценка ученика), arithmetic mean value (среднее арифметическое значение), list (список), basic subjects (основные, базовые предметы), elective subjects (предметы по выбору), minimum requirement (минимальные требования).

*vocational program gives training in 4 fields: agricultural education, which prepares students for farm management and operation, business education, which trains students for commercial field, home economics, which trains students for home management, child care and care of sick, and trade and industrial education, which provides training for jobs in mechanics, manufacturing, building and other trades.