The GCSE is the primary qualification taken by students aged 14–16 in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It provides a comprehensive assessment of knowledg
England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
The GCSE is the primary qualification taken by students aged 14–16 in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It provides a comprehensive assessment of knowledge and skills across a wide range of academic and vocational subjects, serving as the gateway to further education (A-levels, T-levels) and employment.
The GCSE is the primary qualification taken by students aged 14–16 in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It provides a comprehensive assessment of knowledge and skills across a wide range of academic and vocational subjects, serving as the gateway to further education (A-levels, T-levels) and employment.
Year Adopted: 2014
Year 10, Year 11
Identify and interpret explicit and implicit information and ideas; select and synthesise evidence from different texts.
Key skills: inference, deduction, evidence selection, synthesisExplain, comment on and analyse how writers use language and structure to achieve effects and influence readers, using relevant subject terminology.
Key skills: linguistic analysis, structural analysis, literary terminology, authorial intentCompare writers’ ideas and perspectives, as well as how these are conveyed, across two or more texts.
Key skills: comparative analysis, perspective identification, cross-textual evaluationEvaluate texts critically and support this with appropriate textual references.
Key skills: critical evaluation, judgment formulation, textual referencingCommunicate clearly, effectively and imaginatively, adapting tone, style and register for different forms, purposes and audiences.
Key skills: creative writing, transactional writing, structural organization, cohesionUse a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect, with accurate spelling and punctuation.
Key skills: SPaG (Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar), vocabulary range, sentence varietyUse and apply standard techniques: recall facts, terminology and definitions; use and interpret notation; and perform routine procedures or set tasks and multi-step procedures.
Key skills: calculation, notation interpretation, algorithmic applicationReason, interpret and communicate mathematically: make deductions, inferences and draw conclusions from mathematical information; construct chains of reasoning; and use mathematical language and symbols.
Key skills: logical deduction, proof construction, mathematical communicationSolve problems within mathematics and in other contexts: translate problems in mathematical or non-mathematical contexts into a process or series of mathematical processes.
Key skills: modeling, contextual problem solving, strategic thinkingStructure and calculation; fractions, decimals and percentages; measures and accuracy.
Key skills: standard form, surds, limits of accuracy, compound interestNotation, vocabulary and manipulation; graphs; solving equations and inequalities; sequences.
Key skills: quadratic equations, simultaneous equations, transformation of functionsDemonstrate knowledge and understanding of: scientific ideas; scientific techniques and procedures.
Key skills: recall, description, definitionApply knowledge and understanding of: scientific ideas; scientific enquiry, techniques and procedures.
Key skills: contextual application, explanation, hypothesizingAnalyse information and ideas to: interpret and evaluate; make judgements and draw conclusions; develop and improve experimental procedures.
Key skills: data interpretation, experimental design, evidence evaluationThe development of scientific thinking, experimental skills, strategies, and analysis/evaluation.
Key skills: risk assessment, measurement precision, peer review awarenessDemonstrate knowledge and understanding of the key features and characteristics of the periods studied.
Key skills: factual recall, chronological awareness, period characterizationExplain and analyse historical events and periods studied using second-order historical concepts.
Key skills: causation, consequence, continuity and change, significanceAnalyse, evaluate and use sources (contemporary to the period) to make substantiated judgements, in the context of historical events studied.
Key skills: utility analysis, reliability evaluation, contextualizationAnalyse, evaluate and make substantiated judgements about interpretations (including how and why interpretations may differ) in the context of historical events studied.
Key skills: historiographical analysis, differing perspectives, evidence-based judgmentGCSEs are typically taught over two years (Years 10 and 11). Schools choose specifications from different exam boards (AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC/Eduqas) which all follow the same DfE subject content but differ in exam structure and specific topics (e.g., specific history periods or literature texts). Tiering exists in some subjects (Mathematics, Science, MFL) where students sit either Foundation (Grades 1-5) or Higher (Grades 4-9) papers.
Assessment is primarily through linear terminal examinations at the end of Year 11. Grading in England uses a 9-1 scale (9 being highest). A 'Standard Pass' is a Grade 4, and a 'Strong Pass' is a Grade 5. Some subjects like Art or Drama include Non-Examined Assessment (NEA), and Science requires the completion of 'Required Practicals'.
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England
England
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