Scottish Int1 and Int2

[HeadsUp]

Looking for a bit more info on what level these are and what they are equal to.

I did a mix of O-grades and Standard grades then Highers.

My sone just got a letter about how he did in a test for Hig/Int2 but I thought the higher was the next level up.

[freerangeeggs]

Int 2 is what kids tend to go on to if they get a 3 for their Standard Grade in a particular subject. Int 1 is designed more for kids who get a 4. If they get a 1 or 2 they'll mostly do Higher.

Of course they're going to get rid of Standard Grades under the new Curriculum for Excellence. I'm a bit out of touch as I've been teaching in England for two years but some schools had already started offering intermediates before 5th year when I left.

Lots of kids use them a stepping stone to get to Higher, i.e. they get a 3 for the S Grade so do Int2 then Higher afterwards.

[HeadsUp]

Ok totally confused now as he is only in 3rd year and doing some subjects as standard grades and some as int

[freerangeeggs]

That makes sense - the school must be starting to phase out standard grades.

I'd get in touch with the school to clarify because there are a number of different routes they could possibly be working with at the moment.

What kind of test was it? Can you give more details about what the letter said?

[HeadsUp]

S1 and S2 were just general all subjects, picked subjects for S3, some are standard grade and some are Int2 or 3.

This test for RME was the first of 4 tests they do throughout the year or two years (DS not sure) if they pass all those tests at a high enough level they are put through forthe exam.

I was just wondering why it was Hig/Int2.

I thought they did Intermediates then Highers??

The letter was congratulating him on his good work so not worried or anything.

[Threelittleducks]

When I was at school they just introduced Int 2's (about 9/10 years ago).
We took our Standard Grades in S4, then had the choice of doing Highers, or if we were not as good at some subjects, Int 1's or Int 2's.
In't 1's were thought to be the equivalent of doing Standard Grade at General level and Int 2's were thought to be like taking a credit Standard Grade.
So if you took your Standard Grade Chemistry and got a 5 or 4, then you were encouraged to take an Int 1 or 2 to bridge the gap between Standard Grade and Higher Chemistry.

[HeadsUp]

Checked letter again and it says he passed Higher/ Int2 nab

[sunshiner99]

That's the problem with the scottish system at the moment - too many different exams - its all getting a bit messy!

When you look at ucas points the Intermediate 2 gets a few more UCAS points than a standard grade at level 1 (looks like a 1 at Standard grade gets the same points as a B at Int 2) so it is, in theory a bit harder.

From experience though, I think the Standard grades are broader in their curriculum and the Int 2's are deeper and prepare the kids more for Highers (which they do in a year and the jump can be quite high from Std grade to higher)

Clear as mud eh!!

[freerangeeggs]

I agree with sunshiner. Int 2 provides more of a bridge to Higher.

Are you sure it's not just an automated response sent out to all the kids, whether they're doing Higher or Int 2? Which is your son supposed to be doing?

[HeadsUp]

Well as he is only in 3ed year and they are doing it as an additional subject with only 1 (perhaps 2) periods a week. So Really don't think it is a higher, I thought as they aren't spending as much time on it they would be doing the Int1 but seems it must be the Int2. Ach who knows, he is doing well whatever it is.

[2rebecca]

At my kids' school they are doing a mixture of standard grades and Int 2s. The teachers explained it to us as an Int 2 being slightly harder, in that an A or B at Int 2 was equivalent to a 1 at standard grade. Some parents still weren't keen on Int 2s thinking a 1 sounds better than a B to someone without intimate Scottish exam knowledge.
Some of the teachers reckoned that in their subject an Int 2 was better preparation for highers so chose that instead.