Ask the experts - US high school Honors
In the latest edition of our ‘Ask the experts’ feature, our Research, Data and Insights team is answering another popular question that members ask us.
This month, UK ENIC’s Research Manager Emma Kirby provides the answer to this question: are USA high school ‘Honors’ courses comparable to A level?
Some US high school transcripts refer to ‘Honors’ courses. These courses are generally defined by additional content and/or more in-depth study. Classes tend to involve a faster pace of learning and more challenging assessments.
However, there is no universal definition of what constitutes a US Honors course. Content and outcomes will vary, so it’s difficult to compare US Honors courses to any one UK standard.
We would therefore recommend considering each Honors course on a case-by-case basis. School websites will often outline what a particular class entailed.
Note as well that individual schools won’t necessarily offer Honors courses – or may only run them in particular subjects. The same applies to other advanced courses such as the AP and IB.
It is often therefore worth considering not just what a US applicant studies, but whether they made the most of the opportunities available to them.