Sep 15, 2002 10:20
22 yrs ago
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French term
New Zealand
Committed to the Customer
Native in: English (Variant: New Zealand) 
Works in: French to English, German to English, Spanish to English
Maturité (Swiss school-leavers' exam)
French to English
Other
Swiss Education System
I have looked this up in the Glossary, and I see where it was translated as "A-levels". However, the actual answer only got a 2 grade, and I'm not altogether sure whether it's suitable anyway. While the "Maturité" is probably on a par with A-levels, I don't think you can really translate a Swiss exam by calling it "A-levels", when it's organised differently to A-levels. They are two separate entities.
Insofar as I can tell, the "Maturité" is organised into different classes, a bit like the French Baccalauréat. For example, on this CV I have, the person got a "Maturité 'A' (classique)". Another CV mentions "Maturité Type A".
So I'm wondering what to do about this. Should I call it the Maturité and then explain in parentheses that it's the equivalent of A-levels? Or is there another possible and neater solution? I'd be interested in your thoughts.
Insofar as I can tell, the "Maturité" is organised into different classes, a bit like the French Baccalauréat. For example, on this CV I have, the person got a "Maturité 'A' (classique)". Another CV mentions "Maturité Type A".
So I'm wondering what to do about this. Should I call it the Maturité and then explain in parentheses that it's the equivalent of A-levels? Or is there another possible and neater solution? I'd be interested in your thoughts.
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
10 hrs
Selected
Swiss Maturité
This exam does not correspond to "A" Levels. It is necessary in Switzerland for University Entrance. There are 10 set subjects and the letter A, B, C refer to the choices left to the candidate. "A" is Latin-Greek; "B" is Latin + a modern language; "C" is scientific, etc. Having taken the exam, I list it as above.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "I will trust Amy's local knowledge and also her knowledge as someone who has actually sat the exam. I also agreed with David's comments. Indeed, I am becoming increasingly convinced that major national exams like the Swiss "Maturité", French "Baccalauréat" or German "Abitur" etc. should be left "as is". Either that or use something generic. Every country seems to have its own unique education system, which is why translating the names of exams, certificates and so forth that are specific to one country is so difficult. While there are reasonable equivalents in other countries, these equivalents are not exact.
It's a really tough dilemma, and no doubt there are differing schools of thought on this. But I do agree with Amy, and also David, that the actual name of the Swiss exam needs to be mentioned. Thanks to everyone who contributed."
-1
4 mins
CLS Lexi-tech
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162
high school diploma
I graduated from Italian Liceo with "Maturita'" and for the purpose of transparency I would translate it as above. Perhaps you could add in parenthesis that is was a Lycee
buon lavoro
paola l m
buon lavoro
paola l m
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Medic (X)
: Be careful with the equivalency to high school. As far as I am told, completion of a German Gymnasium is equivalent to high-school plus two years of college. (Students are about 19 yrs. of age at graduation.) This is most likely the same in Switzerland.
25 mins
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| disagree |
swisstell
: sorry, but Swiss Maturity is higher than that and more like a Bac in France/Reife in Germany
3 hrs
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+1
10 mins
Michael Tovbin
United States
United States
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166
secondary school graduation certificate
as more generic than above.
Here is a reference to a Swiss by-law exaplaining the various categories (A, B, C etc.).
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Note added at 2002-09-15 10:55:57 (GMT)
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In situations like this I try and avoid realia and use the most generic common denominator.
By using a term indigenous to any one country one creates the impression that the credentials and the process for obtaining same are identical while there is, in fact, a marked difference.
Here is a reference to a Swiss by-law exaplaining the various categories (A, B, C etc.).
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Note added at 2002-09-15 10:55:57 (GMT)
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In situations like this I try and avoid realia and use the most generic common denominator.
By using a term indigenous to any one country one creates the impression that the credentials and the process for obtaining same are identical while there is, in fact, a marked difference.
Reference:
21 mins
Medic (X)
Medic (X)
Medical translations since 1974.
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4
secondary school diploma qualifying for entrance to a university
I tend to agree with Michael, with the difference that the Maturité (Maturität in Swiss German) is roughly eqivalent to the Abitur of Germany. (I had to translate a CV for someone from Switzerland once and he explained this to me.) I don't know about the different levels, though. They may have something to do with the qualification for entrance to a university. In the US they say diploma rather than (school leaving) certificate. The choice is up to you.
+4
36 mins
"Maturité" (Swiss secondary school qualification, equivalent to A-levels)
You can't just put "A-levels", because under certain conditions one can take A-levels outside the UK, and also that would suggest the person had actually taken A-levels, not the "Maturité". In the UK we don't "graduate" from secondary school, so it's not a graduation certificate. I don't think there's any real alternative to the above. You have to make it clear that the person has the Swiss qualification, and what its nearest equivalent in the UK system is.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
MikeGarcia
6 mins
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| agree |
kostan
2 hrs
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| agree |
Alina Matei
4 hrs
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| agree |
Marney Ogle
5 hrs
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+4
51 mins
Secondary School Leaving Certificate
I'd suggest mentioning the official Swiss title too.
The general access requirements are a secondary school leaving certificate and a compulsory entrance examination set up by the institution and the ministry. ...
web-server.ntb.ch/SEFI/milestones/TABLE%203.rtf
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Note added at 2002-09-15 11:14:15 (GMT)
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Basel. Reifezeugnis (General Certificate of Education oder Secondary School Leaving Certificate oder Baccalauréat) mit einem Notendurchschnitt von mindestens 60 ...
www.crus.ch/mehrspr/enic/kza/laender/afrika.htm - 9k
The general access requirements are a secondary school leaving certificate and a compulsory entrance examination set up by the institution and the ministry. ...
web-server.ntb.ch/SEFI/milestones/TABLE%203.rtf
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-09-15 11:14:15 (GMT)
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Basel. Reifezeugnis (General Certificate of Education oder Secondary School Leaving Certificate oder Baccalauréat) mit einem Notendurchschnitt von mindestens 60 ...
www.crus.ch/mehrspr/enic/kza/laender/afrika.htm - 9k
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
swisstell
: yes, Bac/French Reife/Germany equivalent
2 hrs
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| agree |
Sheila Hardie
3 hrs
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| agree |
turengfr
: http://www.geneve.ch/po/ "schema des filieres" this may help you to clarify "maturité"
9 hrs
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| agree |
Kim Metzger
: And definitely not a bachelor's degree.
1245 days
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3 hrs
use note: Maturité * high school plus two years, equivalent to French Baccalauréat or German Riefe
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