GCSE

E42293

The GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) is a set of subject-based academic qualifications typically taken by students in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland around age 16, forming a key part of secondary education and progression to further study.

Jump to: Surface forms Statements Referenced by

Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form Occurrences
General Certificate of Secondary Education 1

Statements (50)

Predicate Object
instanceOf educational assessment
public examination
secondary school qualification
abbreviation GCSE self-link
administeredBy CCEA in Northern Ireland
Ofqual‑regulated exam boards in England
WJEC in Wales
assessmentMethods coursework or non‑exam assessment in some subjects
written examinations
coreSubjects English
mathematics
science
country England
Northern Ireland
Wales
educationLevel end of Key Stage 4
followedBy GCE Advanced Level (A‑level)
Level 3 vocational qualifications
fullName GCSE self-linksurface differs
surface form: General Certificate of Secondary Education
gradingScale 9–1 in England
A*–G (phased out) in Wales and Northern Ireland for many subjects
A*–G in legacy specifications
introducedBy UK government education reforms
introducedIn late 1980s
languageOfInstruction English
partOf secondary education in England
secondary education in Northern Ireland
secondary education in Wales
precededBy Key Stage 3 studies
recognisedBy employers in the United Kingdom
universities in the United Kingdom
replaced CSE (Certificate of Secondary Education)
O‑level
schoolYears Years 10 and 11 in England and Wales
Years 11 and 12 in Northern Ireland
sector independent schools
state schools
typicalAgeAtCompletion 16
typicalDurationOfCourse two academic years
typicalSubjectsInclude English language
English literature
geography
history
mathematics
modern foreign languages
science
usedFor entry to many employment pathways
progression to A‑levels
progression to further education college
progression to vocational qualifications

Referenced by (16)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.