GCSE
The exams at 16 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, graded 9 to 1 in England.
GCSEs are the qualifications most students take at the end of Year 11, at around 16. Most take nine or ten subjects, including English and maths, and the results shape sixth form, college and apprenticeship choices.
Overview
GCSEs are taken over two years, usually Years 10 and 11, and most of the grade comes from exams sat in May and June at the end. English and maths are compulsory, most students take science, and the rest are options chosen at around 14. Many subjects have tiers: foundation papers cap the grade at 5, while higher papers open grades 4 to 9, so the choice of tier matters for students near the boundary.
Results matter for the next step. Sixth forms and colleges often ask for grade 6 or 7 in the subjects you want to take at A-level, and employers and universities still look at English and maths. Because exam boards publish past papers, mark schemes and examiners' reports, GCSEs reward targeted practice: knowing exactly what earns marks in each question type can lift a grade even when the content is already familiar.
What you take
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English and maths
Everyone takes English language and maths. Maths has foundation (grades 1 to 5) and higher (4 to 9) papers.
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Sciences
Combined science, worth two GCSEs, or biology, chemistry and physics separately.
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Options
Subjects you choose, such as history, geography, languages, computer science or art.
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Exam papers Usually 1 to 2 hours each
Most subjects are assessed by written exams at the end of Year 11; some include coursework.
How it's scored
In England each GCSE is graded from 9, the highest, to 1, with U for ungraded. Grade 4 is a standard pass and grade 5 a strong pass; 7 lines up roughly with the old A, and 9 is above the old A*. If you don't get at least a 4 in English or maths, you keep studying it after 16. Wales and Northern Ireland use their own letter or nine-point grades.
How to prepare
- Find out your exam board for each subject: past papers and mark schemes differ between boards.
- Do past papers under timed conditions and mark them with the official mark schemes.
- Learn the command words (describe, explain, evaluate): each asks for a different kind of answer.
- Start revision in Year 10 for subjects with lots of content, such as the sciences.
Official pages
Dates, registration and fees change from year to year, so check them on the official pages.