“What do I do next?” is a question that every student has asked themselves throughout their education. Especially in these troubling times, one can find themselves confused as to what the next step is. Given the current situation in Myanmar, many students are struggling to finish their high school education and get a diploma that will enable them to eventually apply to universities, and colleges and find jobs.
The public school education system allows students to matriculate from high school into university through a national test that takes place after the 10th grade. Students from the Basic Education High School (B.E.H.S) are able to take this exam. There are also other alternatives to this exam such as the General Educational Development (GED) test or the Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC), the High School Equivalency Test (HiSet), and Wonderlic Basic Skills Test (WBST) although the latter three are not widely available in Myanmar.
The exams mentioned above are accepted by the majority of universities across the world which would be of great help to students applying for them. Some universities hold their own test for students who don't have a high school diploma or equivalent. Opening soon, Parami University will provide applicants with a university-proctored Wonderlic Basic Skills Test (WBST) to enable them to continue their higher education.
General Educational Development (GED)
It is a test that includes exams in four fields: Maths, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies.
It is equivalent to a high school diploma (U.S high school diploma) and can be used in the same way as a traditional high school diploma.
The test usually takes up to 7-8 hours to complete.
Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC)
It is similar to the GED, the TASC is a high school equivalency exam containing five subtests: Math, Science, Reading, Writing, and Social Studies.
The test helps students apply for colleges and jobs in the same way that the GED does.
The test takes about eight hours to complete.
High School Equivalency Test (HiSet)
It is a new alternative to the GED test.
It contains five subjects: Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.
The test takes seven hours.
Wonderlic Basic Skills Test (WBST)
It is a standardized exam for identifying math and English skills levels
It is an alternative option for students who do not have GED, TASC, and HiSet
The test takes about 20 minutes and includes 50 questions in English and 45 questions in Math.
For some students that have decided to focus on universities in the U.K, the IGCSE exam is also available which will enable a student to start applying for universities in the country as soon as they are done with the exam.
One of the more important steps in preparing for university applications is taking the SAT, ACT, and A-level exams. These are internationally recognized tests that almost all universities have set as a requirement so having taken them will be of great use. In light of the pandemic that is taking place, the majority of universities and colleges have made the aforementioned exams optional to allow students that live in more affected countries to apply.
“What if I have not answered any of the exams?” The tests and exams that are mentioned above can all be taken without any requirements as long as the student meets the age limits. The baseline age for almost all of these tests is 16 and so as long as the student is of age, the vast pathway of higher education is open to the student in question.