RSA passed with credit

[netibiza]

What does this mean. A friend asked me as 50 yrs ago she took Royal Society of Arts English and passed with credit - I haven't a clue. She said it was her best subject at school. Any ideas? thanks

[dothawkes31]

I suppose it is like pass with merit meaning a high standard and above average score achieved. wonder if they still have her records?
http://www.thersa.org...y-and-archive/archive

[netibiza]

Thanks dot, someone said that they'd helped her pass ie she just scraped in, but I couldn't help her, she was rather miffed !!!!

[daffy654]

http://dictionary.cls...%20with%20honours.htm

There you go Neti,most definitely not a 'barely passed',definitely a pass with a very high score.

[bednobs]

RSA is a typing qualification isnt it?

[rainbow2]

Seem to remember there was firstly a pass, then a pass with credit, and then pass with distinction which was obviously the highest grade you could get.

[netibiza]

Yes bedknobs but also English and I guess sother subjects. Does it still exist?

[dothawkes31]

yes it still exists see my link above, i did the RSA CLAIT about 12 years ago and they still do alot of computer based courses.

[derrynoose]

As I recall, RSA examinations were offered in a number of subjects with a commercial/business bent. They were taken, mainly by girls, at Technical Schools and Colleges and prepared students for careers as secretaries, clerks, bookeepers etc. Subjects on offer included English, Arithmetic, Bookkeeping,Commerce and Typewriting. Examination levels were called "Stages" and ranged from Stage1 to Stage3. Levels of pass were "Pass" and "Credit" at Stages 1 and 2 and "Pass", "Credit" and "Distinction" at Stage3. Distinction at Stage 3 indicated quite a rigorous level of study and achievement. In fact, at a time, the achievement of Distinction at Stage 3 in a group of three stipulated subjects earned entry to Commercial Teacher Courses where after a successful further year's study a student would become a Recognised Teacher of Commercial Subjects.

[derrynoose]

To come back to the original question, 50 years ago there were no individual subjects on offer at O-level or, of course, GCSE. These had to be taken as part of a Group Certificate, eg Senior Certificate. RSA examinations were taken in individual subjects. A pass at RSA Stage2 in English was, for years afterwards, taken as equivalent to an O-Level English Pass. In criteria for job appointments RSA Stage 2 English was often equated with O-level pass in public advertisements.
Netibiza ,your friend's achievement of a Credit is probably the modern day equivalent of A or A*. Some of us older cynics might suggest it as better than equivalent!! Belated congratulations!

[whitelady]

Funny enough I too passed with a credit but in Art , had to design a bedspread at the time, I can still remember that day ! We had two and a half hours to sit the exam and design and paint this bedspread, mine must have looked great, still have the Certificate from Royal Society of Arts, a white cardboard type certificate with large black print and then in the middle my name was written on by hand. That was 48 years ago, I was only 14 1/2. I took Art as an extra and it was not part of O level , anyone else remember those good old days? I stil love interior design.