The educational systems are entirely different, and any attempt to compare them must necessarily be tentative. Applicants to American universities and colleges are considered on the basis of their academic record, school references and admissions tests. Each individual institution sets its own admissions requirements and the standard of competition varies considerably. The basic requirements are successful completion of secondary education as provided in the applicant's own country or in the national system in which the applicant has been educated of a standard that would authorize admission to one of that country's universities. Competitive American universities and colleges require the same academic standards as competitive British universities.
Colleges consider each case individually and no standard rules apply.
Runnymede has a special document prepared for applications to U.S. Universities, which expresses the content of the English School Report in terms of U.S. grades. In their own interest, students applying to U.S. Universities should consult the School and not apply directly to the University without previous consultation. Most U.S. Universities and Colleges now require admissions tests. Registration must be completed about six weeks before the date of the test, and tests should be taken as early in the year preceding college entrance as possible. All American college admission tests are multiple choice tests and they do not include any prescribed course of study.