Tutors International uncovers critical discrepancy in conversion of IGCSE value to American GPA

July 3, 2011 - PRLog -- Tutors International, a leading provider of full-time private tuition and support for students transitioning between international school systems, has uncovered a critical error made by the majority of US grade evaluation companies in the conversion of IGCSE grades into grade point averages. In the course of helping a student apply to an American university after sitting IGCSEs, Tutors International discovered that only one evaluation company out of twenty-seven contacted was aware that IGCSEs are not equivalent to standard GCSEs. For more information, visit www.tutors-international.com or call +44 (0) 1865 435 135.

"This is the most serious and potentially damaging discrepancy between international education systems I have ever encountered in my career," said Adam Caller, founder and senior partner of Tutors International. "I was horrified when I discovered the extent of this problem after noticing that the grade point average awarded to one of our students was too low. Thousands of children all over the world are working so hard for their IGCSEs, which are much more challenging than standard GCSEs, only to have that hard work inaccurately reflected in their GPA."

The IGCSE, run by the Cambridge International Exam Board, is used by schools and private tutors all over the world as it is the only internationally recognised exam at this level. The exam board states in its literature that grades obtained in the IGCSE should be considered equivalent to two grades higher than US grades.  "Thinking the grading mistake was simply the evaluation company we were using at the time, I contacted twenty seven others to see if they too knew of the exam boards guidelines," Adam explained. "Only one, Career Consulting International, knew of this as they have extensive experience of the exam in question."

"I have made a complaint to the Cambridge International Exam Board," Adam continued. "It's simply not enough that they market their exams as being more difficult and worth more compared to other exams sat at the same age, but not inform the professioanal associations that most of the evaluators belong to. I woiuld urge all parents of children who are sitting their IGCSEs to also contact the CIE to make their feelings known, and to ensure that they ensure the evaluation company they are using for the grade conversion are aware of the exam board's literature. I sincerely hope that this sorry state of affairs is rectified as more and more children are turning to alternative exams such as the IGCSE to differentiate themselves," Adam concluded, "and that the same problems don't arise for students taking the pre-U exam."

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About Tutors International
Tutors International is a worldwide organization providing experienced private tutors to work with children of all ages and nationalities. Tutors are available for full-time tutoring positions, for major support and tutoring outside school hours, or for home-schooling. Tutors International is able to source the best international tutors including multilingual travelling teachers to accompany families travelling around the world, or those whose lifestyle necessitates frequent travel, in order to maintain consistency in education in extraordinary circumstances.

Tutors International provide tutors in a wide variety of situations from helping students re-take critical exams, helping pupils with the transition of moving between international school systems, and supporting youngsters with AD/HD and dyslexia. They provide a bespoke service to find the right tutor that suits the child's needs and aspirations, and a live-in tutor if required.