Equivalency of Foreign Educational Qualifications - Educational Qualification Equivalency Criteria

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Angel

Summarizes equivalency rules for foreign educational qualifications across major international systems, linking credentials to corresponding benchmarks and outcomes. Covers acceptance criteria for GED test dates and subject pass thresholds, IGCSE/GCSE/GCE certificate grade ranges, IB diploma requirements and minimum scores, and New Zealand NCEA achievement and credit conditions. Also includes BTEC level 3 diploma structures and grade/remark mappings, then provides a country-by-country list of certificate names with equivalency remarks for education qualification recognition.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

General Educational Development (GED)

Test Date and Pass Criteria

IGCSE, GCSE, or GCE (British Educational Qualifications)

Certificate and Grade Remark

IB (International Baccalaureate)

IB Diploma Requirements and Score Standards

New Zealand NCEA

Level 2 Record of Achievement Requirements

5 Different Subjects and Credit Conditions

Business & Technology Education Council (BTEC)

Level 3 Qualification Grade Mappings

Equivalency of Foreign Educational Qualifications

Country and Certificate Name List

| General Educational Development (GED) | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Test Date | Subjects | Scores | Remark | | After May 1, | Pass | • ≥145 in each subject | Equivalent to all major | | 2017 (2560) | 4 subjects | | | |
Before May, | Pass |
• ≥ 410 in each subject | Equivalent to all major | |
2017 (2560) | 5 subjects |
• A cumulative score ≥ 2,250 | | | IGCSE, GCSE, or GCE (British Educational Qualifications) | | | | --- | --- | --- | | Certificate | Subject | Grade Remark | | GCE ‘A’ level or | 3 subjects | A*-E | | LRN International A Levels or | 3 subjects | A*-E | | Cambridge Pre-U | 3 Subjects | M1 or D1-D3 | | IB (International Baccalaureate) | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Certificate | Subject | | | Grade | Score | | | Compulsory | Elective | Core Elements | | | | IB Diploma
or | 5 | 1 | • Extended Essay (EE)
• Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
• Creativity, Action & Service (CAS) | - | ≥24 | | IB Diploma Course Result (IBCR) | 5 | | - | ≥3 | - | | New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA)
Certificate Level Credit Remark | | --- | |
1. Record of
Achievement in NCEA level 2 by
NZQA
or

level 2
+
60 credits or more
+

• Completion of at least 80 credits
level 1 20 credits or
more

• English for Speaker of other Languages (ESOL) can be counted
• As effect in 2010 onwards | | New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA)
Certificate Level Credit Remark | | --- | |
2. Record of 5 different subjects in 60 credits or more • English for Speaker of Achievement level 2 or higher level other Languages (ESOL)
by NZQA Compulsory Subjects cannot be counted

English (literacy) in level 2 4 credits or more • As effect in 2009
or higher onwards
+ +
Mathematics (numeracy) in level 2 or higher
4 credits or more | |
Business & Technology Education Council (BTEC) | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Certificate | Subject | Grade | Remark | | BTEC level 3 National Extended Diploma, or International Level 3
Extended Diploma | = 3 A-Levels | D* starred distinction D distinction M merit
P pass | - | | BTEC level 3 National Diploma, or International Level 3 Diploma | =2 A-Levels | D* starred distinction D distinction M merit
P pass | - | | BTEC level 3 National Extended Certificate, or International Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma
+ | = 1 A-Levels | D* starred distinction D distinction M merit
P pass | - | | BTEC International Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma Year 12-13 +
High School Diploma | 3 subjects | D* starred distinction D distinction M merit
P pass | - | | Equivalency of Foreign Educational Qualifications | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | No. | Country | Name of certificate | Remark | | 1 | Algeria | Secondary School Certificate | | | 2 | Australia | ACT Year 12 Certificate | ACT | | | | Higher School Certificate | New South Wales | | | | Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training | Northern Territory | | | | Senior Certificate | Queensland | | | | Queensland Certificate of Education | | | | | South Australian Certificate of Education | South Australia | | | | Tasmanian Certificate of Education | Tasmania | | | | Victorian Certificate of Education | Victoria | | | | Western Australian Certificate of Education | Western Australia | | 3 | Austria | Reifeprüfungszeugnis (Higher School Certificate) | | | 4 | Azerbaijan | Tam Orta Tehsil Haqqinda Attestat (High School Diploma) | | | 5 | Bangladesh | Higher Secondary School Certificate | | | 6 | Belarus | Атэстат аб агульнай сярэдняй адукацыi (General Certificate of High School Education) | | | 7 | Belgium | • Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs (Secondary Education)
• Diploma van Hoger Secundair Onderwijs (Secondary Education)
• Certificat d'Enseignement Secondaire Supérieur (Upper Secondary Education) | | | 8 | Bhutan | Bhutan Hig

FAQs

What are the GED pass requirements mentioned in the criteria?

GED requires a pass in each subject with specified score thresholds. The document distinguishes between tests after May 1, 2017 (2560) and tests before May, 2017 (2560) and provides the corresponding minimum score values.

What minimum score and requirements apply to an IB Diploma for equivalency?

The document lists the IB Diploma structure with compulsory subjects and core elements such as EE, TOK, and CAS. It also indicates a minimum score of ≥24 and a related IB Diploma Course Result (IBCR) with ≥3.

How does the document define NCEA eligibility using credits and achievement records?

For NCEA, the document references a Record of Achievement in NCEA level 2 by NZQA or meeting combined credit requirements (e.g., level 2 plus 60 credits or more). It also includes conditions about completing at least 80 credits at level 1 and allows ESOL to be counted under specified rules.

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Angel