What is the difference between the American curriculum and the British curriculum

a.ammouri963@gmail.com Feb 15, 2023 - 02:33 | Updated: Jun 30, 2024 - 20:08

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A comparison between the American curriculum and the British curriculum in education in terms of advantages and disadvantages and what each of them is. The American curriculum and the British curriculum are among the teaching systems adopted within international schools in Turkey; In order to choose the most suitable one for the student, it is necessary to know the advantages and disadvantages of them.

What is the difference between the American curriculum and the British curriculum

Imperfect information circulates between the parents about comparing the American curriculum and the British curriculum in education, which are two of the most important approved curricula in most international schools in Turkey.

Talking about the difference between the American and British curriculum in teaching has become one of the most prominent discussions that arise on social media platforms, everyone says their opinion on the matter, amid widespread debate about the preference of one over the other.

Talking about the difference between the American and British curriculum in teaching has become one of the most prominent discussions that arise on social media platforms, everyone says their opinion on the matter, amid widespread debate about the preference of one over the other.

First: The American curriculum

Compulsory study in the American curriculum starts from the kindergarten stage, where the child is received at the age of 4 years and continues until the twelfth grade at the end of the secondary stage.

The pre-kindergarten stage is one of the non-compulsory stages of education in the American curriculum, but it prepares young people for school, and children are selected at the age of 3 or 4 years according to specific conditions.

At the primary stage, students study a group of subjects that cover a number of important topics in science, English, mathematics, social studies, as well as arts and physical education.

Features of the American Curriculum

Developing students' critical skills through teaching based on thinking and creativity at an early age.
The percentage of memorization in the American curricula does not exceed 30%, while the percentage of understanding, analysis, and application is 70%.
An educational system based on advanced curricula in science and scientific research, taking into account cultural diversity.
Flexibility in presenting topics in a way that does not represent any pressure on the student.
Gathering information through activities, thus developing the student's personality and supporting his self-confidence.
The good thing is that the student can retake the SAT test up to 6 times in order to improve his grades and raise the final GPA.

Secondly: The British curriculum

Compulsory study in the British curriculum starts from the kindergarten stage at the age of 5 years, and ends when the student reaches the age of sixteen, meaning that the study period is 11 years, unlike the American curriculum, which extends for 12 academic years.

The British system of education is based on high-level curricula that contain dense information, where the depth of information reaches a great extent, sometimes reaching the level of complexity.

The British curriculum is based on memorization and classical methods of teaching, in addition to that exam questions do not usually depart from the framework of the curriculum.

As for the British Curriculum exams, they are standard exams that students take from the sixth grade, and the student graduates from school after passing the General Certificate of Secondary exam in the secondary stage, based on the result, the student is qualified to join the university.

The British curriculum is flawed because the result of the final total score of the student that qualifies him to enter the university depends on the high school exam only.

Advantages of the British curriculum

Taking into account individual differences in the primary stage; The students are divided into groups according to their level and abilities in English and Mathematics.
Provide deep information to students through extensive curricula.
The exams are among the curricula that the student studied during the year.

A comparison between the American curriculum and the British curriculum in education

The American curriculum	The British curriculum
Teaching methods depend on activities to develop students' thinking and creativity.	Teaching methods are classical and depend on conveying information within the framework of the specified curriculum.
It is based on analysis and application, not on memorization.	It depends on memorization, as exam questions are only from the course.
Developing students' critical skills.	Developing students' memorization and concentration skills.
The cumulative total for the secondary stage includes grades: tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grades.	The cumulative total for the secondary stage is limited to the result of the last grade test only.
The study period is 12 years.	The study period is 11 years.

In conclusion

Based on our belief - in Al Mawakeb International Schools - in the role of education in improving the minds of students in diverse worlds of science and knowledge, we are keen on their active participation in the various extracurricular activities, so we have taken the American curriculum as our means in achieving our goals aimed at providing quality education.

This is done by providing advanced curricula in science that adopt scientific research, critical thinking and innovation at an early age, in a way that develops the student’s personality and supports his self-confidence without any psychological pressures that we may notice in other curricula.
Edited by: Al Mawakeb International Schools in Istanbul

Sources : fulbright Turkey

World International Education