What are GCSEs?

• GCSEs (General Certificates of Secondary Education) are the examinations that most UK pupils take at the end of year 11 (aged 16), but they can be taken at any age.
    
• They are usually completed over a two-year course of study, but may be completed over a different length of time, and are internationally recognised qualifications.
    
• Using the National Qualifications Framework, GCSEs are at either level 1 or level 2. Grades D to G are level 1, while A* to C are level 2.
    
• GCSEs are the main entry requirements for continuing study at Level 3. They are also the minimum educational requirement for many jobs.
     
• The non-core GCSEs have recently been redeveloped for first teaching from September 2009. Find out more about GCSEs from 2009 here. 
  
• The core GCSEs (maths, English and ICT) are currently being redeveloped and will be available for first teaching from September 2010. Find out more about GCSEs from 2010 here. 
  
• Science will be redeveloped and ready for first teaching from September 2011. Further information will be available shortly on the GCSE Science pages.

What choices are available?

• There’s a wide range of subject areas to choose from at GCSE, at both short course and full course levels.
    
• Short courses are available for some GCSE subjects, and are equivalent to half a GCSE.
    
• Double awards are offered in certain subjects, and are equivalent to two GCSEs. 
  
• Single awards are offered in certain subjects, and are equivalent to one GCSE.
     
• Vocational GCSEs, also known as Applied GCSEs, are work-related qualifications designed to develop the relevant skills for a specific field of employment. These are available as double and single awards.

How are GCSEs assessed?

• GCSEs are usually assessed through a combination of coursework and examinations. Coursework has now become controlled assessment, which means there are rules on how it can be completed. These rules differ from subject to subject. For more information on controlled assessment, please refer to the specification for your subject, available in the GCSE from 2009 area of this website.
  

• Some modular GCSEs can be assessed in January as well as June. Candidates may resit a unit once. For details of availability, please see the detail within the specification for your subject.  

• GCSE grades range from A* to G. Some subjects operate over the full grade range, while others are tiered. Where a subject is tiered, the foundation tier is targeted at grades C to G, while the higher tier is targeted at grades A* to D. For more information, please refer to the specification for your subject, available in the GCSE from 2009 area of this website.

 
Visit the GCSE area of the website for more information.