Which secondary school qualification to indicate on applications?

[melonpan]

Hi, I'm new to this forum

I'm an international student from Canada about to enter my second year in LLB at a RG uni.

I unfortunately ended my first year with a 2:2 and I'm not sure if my circumstances would be considered extenuating (Taking care of a sick family member during exam seasons as it's when I go home). I completed my high school qualifications in Canada and did both the IB diploma and Ontario Secondary School Diploma at the same time. I'm not sure if I should be applying with both of these qualifications or choose one. I'm aware that IB is more globally recognized, but I only achieved 555 in HL and 533 SL with an A in my EE. On the other hand, my Top 6 grades for OSSD averaged at 83.8%. I can't find a standard equivalency chart for either qualification; would choosing one over the other make my applications stronger? If I add both qualifications does it diminish the quality of my applications?

Additionally, if A level studies take 2 years, would I input my Grade 11 and 12 courses for post 16 studies and add my Grade 9 and 10 courses for 14-16 studies? I’ve asked the Canadian network at my university about it but have gotten mixed answers, with some saying they only put Grade 12 courses for post 16 and Grade 11 courses for 14-16.

My grades dropped in Grade 11 and 12 (from high 90s in 9/10 to mid 80s with around 60s in 2 STEM subjects in 11/12) due to mental health and circumstances mentioned earlier— how should I address this while still having strong applications? Can I omit any bad courses in high school or is this too risky?

Sorry my post is kind of lengthy, but advice is appreciated !

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Hi @melonpan

Welcome the forum! Completely understandable to feel unsure about how best to present your background, especially coming from a different education system. I had a similar experience, as I completed my high school studies in Ontario

I think the best approach is to be as transparent as you can in your applications. While not all firms will ask for secondary school transcripts, I’ve had firms request mine during the background check stage (though not all firms will request high school transcripts). I’d recommend including both your IB and OSSD results. It won’t diminish the strength of your application to include both; I think if anything, it provides a fuller picture of your academic background. In terms of mapping your grades onto UK-style applications, I typically treated my Grade 11 and 12 grades as my post-16 education and Grade 9 and 10 as my 14-16 qualifications. There’s no strict rule, and different candidates have handled this differently, but I've found that my approach aligned pretty closely with the GCSE/A-Level structure used by UK firms.

In terms of your grades themselves, it’s also okay to have some 2:2s, but I think what firms often look for is evidence of academic improvement. I think the most important thing now is for you to focus on showing an upward trajectory in your university performance. A 2:2 in first year doesn’t define your future prospects, especially if you can show improvement in second and third year. You can also absolutely use the mitigating circumstances box in applications to briefly and clearly explain what was going on during your first year and earlier schooling (caring responsibilities and mental health challenges are definitely factors that I've seen applicants mention before and firms are increasingly open to seeing how these can affect academic performance).

Again, as I've already mentioned, there's plenty of time to strengthen your academic profile and build a compelling application. If you keep improving and can show that growth clearly, I think you'll be in a strong position.

Good luck with your applications!