National Qualifications
GCSE - Graduate Certificate in School Education
The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) was introduced in 1986 with first examinations in 1988. It is the principal means of assessing pupil attainment at the end of compulsory secondary education. The GCSE is offered by the awarding bodies, which are independent commercial enterprises.
There are three main awarding bodies:
Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA)
www.aqa.org.uk
Edexcel
www.edexcel.org.uk
Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations (OCR)
www.ocr.org.uk
The GCSE examinations are set according to nationally agreed criteria that provide guidance on syllabus content. All GCSE syllabuses used in maintained schools must be formally approved by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). A quality assurance framework ensures standards are maintained between awarding bodies and syllabuses year on year.
A-Levels
A levels are two year study courses normally taken by students in schools and colleges of further education after they have completed their General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) examinations. In most cases students should have passed a GCSE in the subject they wish to take at A-level, but some subjects (such as Law) are not offered at GCSE level. A levels are seen as one of the main routes into higher education and employment.
A-levels offer greater flexibility because of the introduction of AS and A2. Students can decide how many A-levels they wish to study, depending on their career choices, ability, provision at their school or college and the advice given to them by their teachers and the Careers Service. A-levels demand more individual, in-depth study than GCSEs and place greater emphasis on traditional study skills.
There are three main awarding bodies:
Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA)
www.aqa.org.uk
Edexcel
www.edexcel.org.uk
Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations (OCR)
www.ocr.org.uk
Over 70 subjects are offered at A-level, for more information:
www.dfes.gov.uk/qualifications/
