人们在谈论教育的时候,往往认为考试不是教育的主要目的。道理是这样,但大家都知道考试又是多么的重要。在英国,考试也会影响一个人的一生。

　　 When people discuss education, they insist that preparation for examination is not the main purpose. They are right in theory, but in practice, we all realize how important examinations are. What do you know about the examinations taken at English secondary schools? Here are a few facts about some of them.

　　 Pupils who remain at school until they are sixteen normally take what is called the General Certificate of Education at Ordinary Level. The examination is a subject examination. This means you can take a number of subjects. Some pupils take as many as ten. The more subjects a pupil takes, the better chance he has of getting a job on leaving school. For short, this examination is called G.C.E. “O” Level. This certificate in five or six subjects is the required starting point for types of work and also for many types of professional training.

　　 Pupils who remain at school until they are eighteen or nineteen generally take the General Certificate of Education at Advanced Level popularly known as G.C.E. “A” Level. This examination is usually taken in two, three or four specialized subjects. And because it is for the specialist, you have to study each subject intensively. A pupil who has passed two or three “A” levels can apply for admission to a university.

　  These two examinations are written ones. Many English children take one or the other or both. Not all of them pass.

　　Help:

　　General Certificate of Education at Ordinary Level普通水平的教育证书(考试)G.C.E. “A” Level高等水平教育证书(考试)

　　specialized adj. trained or made for a particular purpose or type of work

　　specialist n. someone who knows a lot about a particular subject

　　intensively adv. involving a lot of activity, effort, or careful attention

(责任编辑：汪春)