O levels are established qualifications that are internationally recognised by academic institutes and employers. Usually taken at school-leaving age, they are the main entry requirements for continuing study at Level 3 (A level or equivalent).

Edexcel is developing a new suite of IGCSEs that will replace O levels and the current IGCSEs. The new IGCSEs will be based upon the best features of the current IGCSEs and O levels, and are designed to help keep our learners at the leading edge of global qualification developments.

The new specifications will be available for first teaching in September 2009. Find out more about the new IGCSEs here.

Final examinations for the current O level specifications will take place in 2010 (2011 for some subjects). View the Review Schedule here.

Why are O levels being replaced by IGCSEs?

We continually review our qualifications to ensure they remain up to date. Suites of qualifications are reviewed as a whole, as changes made to one suite will inevitably affect progression from one level of study to the next.

After recently reviewing our GCE (A level) qualifications, we needed to review and redevelop our GCSEs and IGCSEs to ensure that students completing these qualifications would gain the right educational foundation for further study at GCE level.

As part of this review process, we have decided that 2010 is the right time to replace GCE O levels - which are only available internationally and have not been offered in the UK for over 20 years - with the more modern IGCSE 2009 qualification suite, which incorporates the best features of GCE O levels, GCSEs and our IGCSEs.

The new IGCSEs have been developed in consultation with centres and key partners to ensure that they retain the rigorous academic standard that made GCE O levels so popular.

They also provide more flexible assessment models and benefits to both teaching institutions and private centres.

This consultative process has ensured that IGCSEs from 2009 will be the most relevant and up-to-date international qualifications available from the UK.