I’m from the UK and recently learned how the US system works through a YouTube video. So like as long as you pass the right amount of classes, you “graduate” and these classes are marked using a whole number of things including attendance and participation?! As well as random homeworks, “quizzes” etc

But then… how can anyone possibly fail? This isn’t a criticism I’m kinda just curious how it works. Because here to pass a subject you take 1-2 exams if it’s GCSE level (10 subjects including maths, English and sciences as mandatory you do these between 14-16) or 1-3 for A-level (16-18 you choose whatever 3 subjects you like) based on everything you learned that year. These are monitored and all the same for everyone in the country taken at the same time.

Then the results of those exams decide the grade. Getting 5 GCSEs grade C or above including maths and English is kinda our way of “passing school” or at least it’s the bare minimum to not work in a meat factory forever, you can at least get a job at a shop with this.

But in the US it sounds like there’s a lot of wiggle room, like if a teacher wanted you to pass couldn’t they just essentially give you everything you need to do so? Isn’t cheating very easy in this more casual environment?