Glossary 

Formal recognition that a school or education provider meets certain standards. In the American system, accreditation applies to schools and programmes, not to individual students. For home education purposes, this usually means accreditation is relevant if you are using an umbrella school or diploma provider.

It’s also worth noting that the ENIC Statement of Comparability is based on official, accredited  qualifications and documents. ENIC will only assess and compare recognised US-style credentials such as an American high school diploma and transcript issued by an established school or provider, rather than a parent-created transcript on its own.

There are multiple different accreditation groups.

A US university entrance multiple-choice exam covering English, maths, reading and science. It is designed to assess academic achievement and 'college readiness'; usually taken in the final year or two of secondary school. Some UK universities accept ACT scores instead of an A level.

APs are single subject exams offered in May each year; each exam is a single sitting of 2–3 hours, combining multiple-choice and free-response questions.

APs are run by the College Board and there is an AP exam centre in London accessible to home educated students. Exams are regarded by ENIC as comparable in level to A Levels (Level 3), while completion of the course without the exam is seen as comparable to a GCSE (Level 2).

AP courses should be listed on the transcript as 'AP' to show the higher level of challenge. You can prepare independently using College Board materials and revision guides or choose a one-year tutor-led AP course. 

If a UK university states that it accepts APs, it will normally be referring to the exam score. Most UK universities specify whether they require a 4 or the top score of 5. 

APs can also count as dual credit for US universities, because some colleges will give students credit or let them skip an introductory course if they score highly.

The US non‑profit organisation that runs the SAT and AP exams: collegeboard.org

The essential subjects such as English, Maths, Science and Social Studies which are required for a complete high school diploma.

A course or exam that, in the USA, counts for both high school and university credit at the same time. Often taken through a college or accredited provider and includes the Advanced Placement (AP).

A unit used to record the successful completion of a course of learning. One credit represents roughly a year’s worth of study in a subject (often around 120 hours of learning), although this can vary depending on the programme. Credits are awarded based on time spent and work completed rather than exam results alone.

It is also possible to award partial credits where the material is studied over a shorter period or when learning is spread out more gently over a longer timeframe.

A measure of study time used to award credits. One high school credit is often based on around 120 hours of work.

A subject chosen in addition to core subjects, such as art, music, computer science or foreign language etc.

UK standardised exams usually taken at age 15–16. Optional for home‑educated students and not required for a US‑style diploma. One year of GCSE-level study can be used as a HSD credit.

A numerical average of grades, usually on a 4.0 scale. Used by universities to assess overall academic performance.

The US year grouping system (Grades 9–12 for high school). Based on age and progress rather than exam entry.

The set of courses and credits needed to earn a diploma. These vary by school or umbrella provider.

The final stage of secondary education in the US system for Grades 10-13, typically covering ages 14–18.

The certificate awarded on completion of a full high school programme, typically covering grades 9–12. ENIC award accredited Diplomas to be equivalent to Level 2 (GCSE) qualifications.

An official record listing courses taken, credits earned, grades and GPA across high school years.

A more challenging version of a standard course. Often weighted more heavily in GPA calculations and valued by universities. Some UK universities will accept them in place of an A Level or AP.