DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

(School Education in Britain and the USA)

1. In the UK they have: primary schools, secondary schools, independent school, private school, grammar school, preparatory school, comprehensive school, secondary modern school.

2. Children start school from the age of 3 or 4. It is not compulsory. All children are in full-time education from the age of 5 to 16, but they can continue their education and leave school at 18.

3. Preschool education: 2-3 age;

Primary education: 5-11 age;

Secondary education: 11-16 age;

Sixth form college 16-18 age.

4. Standard Assessment Test at the age of 7, 11, 14.

GCSE at 16.

A-levels at 18.

5. Yes, they do. School leavers have to take entrance exams to go to university. It is A-level exam.

6. Yes, there is. In 1988 the Education Reform Act introduced a National Curriculum, for children ages 5-16.

7. It takes 11 years to complete full-time compulsory education (from 5 to 16).

8. Primary school concentrates on: reading, writing and 'rithmetic.
Secondary school concentrates on subjects, which are introduced in the national curriculum. It is very important to give children the chance to study as many subjects as possible.

9. Entrance exams can be abandoned if the student doesn’t want to enter the institute or don’t have enough money for the institute.

10. Admission requirements to primary and secondary school are the age of children.

11. Elite schools have high standards for admissions. They provide firm knowledge and give pupils the better education.

12. National Curriculum consists of 10 foundation subjects: English, Mathematics, Science, a modern foreign language, Technology and Design, History, Geography, Music, Art, Physical Education. Students can choose additional subjects for their studies, which are regarded to be optional (Religious Education, Technology and Design).

13. In Russia private schooling is for children of rich parents. Such schools emphasize learning English and other skills.

14. The main pupil’s problem is truant. It has some reasons: when a child is not interested in school and education; when he has some problems with his teachers.

15. As for me, I think, a good teacher is a person who knows his subject perfectly. He should be respectful and honest.

16. Looking back on my school days, I can say that there was one day which was at the same time as the most memorable, exciting and painful. It was my last bell. In that day I realized that I would never be in my classroom, with my school friends and teachers.

17. Usually on the morning of an exam I was really nervous. I'm worried about everything.

18. To my mind, written exam is easier to pass, because you worry less. You don’t see your teacher and there are only you, a pen and a piece of paper.

19. I prefer to be one of the first, because I think I worry less.

20. Yes, I use rough-work sheets in a written exam. I prefer to check my work and when I rewrite it, this method helps me to find some mistakes.

21. Yes, I do. It prevents me to concentrate.

22. Sometimes crib is useful, but when we want to know our  real knowledge, there is no use in a crib.

23. Yes, I have, but I could concentrate and pull myself togethert.

24. I don't think it is a way out to copy from other students.

25. I think the most difficult thing about exams is to learn a great amount of information.

26. Advantages of private schools: profound knowledge, better results, better instructors, students of such school have more opportunities in their life.

Disadvantages: public schools are very expensive, children live in boarding schools.

27. Pupils should improve their abilities in what they are good. However, other subjects should also be taken in order to grow a well-developed person.

28. I think the best age for children to start primary school is the age of 6-7. The physical and mental development of the children is appropriate.

29. I think, it’s a good age to enter the adult life.

30. To my mind, it’s a good idea for pupils because in that way they began to feel that they are a part of the system.

31. I think they both are necessary. They reflect the general knowledge of the student. But as for the tests, I think they don’t give the full objective information about the knowledge of the students.

32. Of course, but only when we talk about tests, because they give an objective result.