Regulation

GCSE (9 to 1) Qualification Level Conditions and Requirements

Updated 4 December 2024

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2024

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Introduction

About this document

This document is part of a suite of documents which sets out the regulatory requirements for awarding organisations offering GCSE qualifications (graded from 9 to 1).

We have developed these requirements with the intention that GCSE qualifications (graded from 9 to 1) should fulfil the following purposes:

  • To provide evidence of students’ achievements against demanding and fulfilling content;
  • To provide a strong foundation for further academic and vocational study and for employment; and
  • To provide (if required) a basis for schools and colleges to be held accountable for the performance of all of their students.

Requirements set out in this document

This document sets out the GCSE Qualification Level Conditions. These conditions apply to all GCSE qualifications (graded from 9 to 1).

It sets out our requirements in relation to setting specified levels of attainment for GCSE qualifications (graded from 9 to 1) – awarding organisations must comply with these requirements under Condition GCSE9.1. It also sets out our requirements in relation to specifying deadlines for requesting reviews of marking, reviews of Moderation and appeals – awarding organisations must comply with these requirements under Conditions GCSE14.3(b), GCSE17.4 (b) and GCSE18.4(b).

With respect to these qualifications, awarding organisations must also comply with:

Revisions to this document

We have revised this document since it was originally published (see Appendix 1 for details), most recently in December 2024.

The December 2024 version of this document replaces all previous versions of GCSE (9 to 1) Qualification Level Conditions and Requirements with effect from 9:30am on 4 December 2024.

Qualification Level Conditions

GCSE Qualification Level Conditions

Condition GCSE1: Assessing the full range of abilities

GCSE1.1

1.1 In designing and setting an assessment for a GCSE Qualification which it makes available, or proposes to make available, an awarding organisation must ensure that the assessment allows each specified level of attainment set out in the specification to be reached by a Learner who has attained the required level of knowledge, skills and understanding.

GCSE1.2

1.2 Condition GCSE1.1 does not apply in respect of a GCSE Qualification where a GCSE Subject Level Condition states that its application is excluded in respect of that qualification.

Condition GCSE2: Assessment strategies

GCSE2.1

2.1 In respect of each GCSE Qualification which it makes available, or proposes to make available, an awarding organisation must –

  1. (a) establish and maintain an assessment strategy for that qualification,
  2. (b) ensure that the assessment strategy complies with any requirements which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time, and
  3. (c) have regard to any guidance in relation to assessment strategies which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time
GCSE2.2

2.2 In particular, an awarding organisation must ensure that the assessment strategy for a GCSE Qualification sets out how the awarding organisation intends to secure, on an ongoing basis, compliance with its Conditions of Recognition in respect of the assessments for that qualification.

GCSE 2.3

2.3 An awarding organisation must ensure that all assessments for a GCSE Qualification which it makes available, or proposes to make available, are designed, set, delivered and marked in compliance with its assessment strategy for that qualification.

GCSE 2.4

2.4 An awarding organisation must –

  1. (a) keep under review its assessment strategy for a GCSE Qualification, and revise it where necessary, so as to satisfy itself that the assessment strategy meets at all times the requirements of Conditions GCSE2.1 and GCSE2.2,
  2. (b) review its assessment strategy for a GCSE Qualification promptly upon receiving a request from Ofqual to do so, and subsequently ensure that its assessment strategy complies with any requirements that Ofqual has communicated to it in writing, and
  3. (c) promptly notify Ofqual of any revisions made by it to any assessment strategy.
GCSE 2.5

2.5 An awarding organisation must –

  1. (a) upon receiving a request from Ofqual to do so, demonstrate to Ofqual’s satisfaction that it has complied with its assessment strategy for a GCSE Qualification in respect of any particular assessment for that qualification, or provide an explanation to Ofqual as to why it has not so complied, and
  2. (b) give effect to any recommendation that Ofqual may make in respect of its compliance with its assessment strategy.

Condition GCSE3: Specified levels of attainment

GCSE 3.1

3.1 An awarding organisation must ensure that the specification for each GCSE Qualification which it makes available or proposes to make available sets out specified levels of attainment which comply with any requirements which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time.

Condition GCSE4: Assessment by Examination

GCSE 4.1

4.1 An awarding organisation must ensure that every assessment for a GCSE Qualification which it makes available is an Assessment by Examination.

GCSE 4.2

4.2 Condition GCSE4.1 does not apply in respect of a GCSE Qualification where a GCSE Subject Level Condition states that its application is excluded in respect of that qualification.

Assessments in 2025, 2026 and 2027
GCSE 4.3

4.3 In respect of an Assessment by Examination to be taken during May, June or November 2025, 2026 or 2027 for a stimulus material qualification which it makes available, an awarding organisation must –

  1. (a) (i) for exams in 2025, on or before 6 December 2024, publish Stimulus Materials to be used in that Assessment by Examination,

    1. (ii) for exams in 2026, on or before 1 September 2025, publish Stimulus Materials to be used in that Assessment by Examination,

    2. (iii) for exams in 2027, on or before 1 September 2026, publish Stimulus Materials to be used in that Assessment by Examination.

  2. (b) unless Ofqual has agreed a variation in accordance with Condition GCSE 4.6, ensure that those Stimulus Materials are the same as the Stimulus Materials used for those qualifications as awarded in 2022, 2023 and 2024, and

  3. (c) ensure that each Learner is provided with those Stimulus Materials at the time of the relevant Assessment by Examination.

GCSE4.4

4.4 An awarding organisation must ensure that in setting the Stimulus Materials referred to in Condition GCSE4.3, it has regard to any guidance provided to it in writing by Ofqual from time to time.

GCSE4.5

4.5 An awarding organisation must promptly notify Ofqual if it considers that any Stimulus Materials should differ from those used in previous years. Any such notification must:

  1. (a) set out the rationale for change and the impact of the proposed change, and

  2. (b) be submitted no less than 2 calendar months prior to the date of publication for the particular Stimulus Materials.

GCSE4.6

An awarding organisation must not publish Stimulus Materials which differ from those in previous years until such time as Ofqual has agreed the variation.

GCSE4.7

4.7 For the purposes of this condition a ‘stimulus material qualification’ is a GCSE Qualification in one of the following subjects –

  1. (a) Combined science.

  2. (b) Mathematics.

  3. (c) Single science (physics).

GCSE4.8

4.8 Condition GCSE25.3(b)(i) does not apply in respect of Conditions GCSE4.3 to GCSE4.7.

GCSE4.9

4.9 To the extent that there is any inconsistency between a requirement of Conditions GCSE4.3 to GCSE4.7 and a requirement of a GCSE Subject Level Condition, such that an awarding organisation could not comply with both such requirements, the awarding organisation must comply with the requirement of Conditions GCSE4.3 to GCSE4.7 and is not obliged to comply with the requirement of the GCSE Subject Level Condition.

Condition GCSE5: Question types

GCSE5.1

5.1 In designing and setting the assessments for a GCSE Qualification which it makes available, or proposes to make available, an awarding organisation must ensure that taken together, those assessments include questions or tasks which allow Learners to –

  1. (a) provide extended responses, and
  2. (b) demonstrate their ability to draw together different areas of knowledge, skills and/or understanding from across a full course of study for that qualification.
GCSE5.2

5.2 In designing and setting the assessments for a GCSE Qualification which it makes available, or proposes to make available, an awarding organisation must ensure that Learners are appropriately rewarded for providing such responses and demonstrating such an ability.

GCSE5.3

5.3 The requirements in Condition GCSE5.1 may be met within the same question or task, or different questions or tasks.

GCSE5.4

5.4 For the purposes of Condition GCSE5.1(a) an ‘extended response’ is evidence generated by a Learner which is of sufficient length to allow that Learner to demonstrate the ability to construct and develop a sustained line of reasoning which is coherent, relevant, substantiated and logically structured. 

Condition GCSE6: Timing of assessments

GCSE6.1

6.1 An awarding organisation must ensure that in respect of each GCSE Qualification which it makes available each Learner completes, during the months of May and June in any single year, the Assessments by Examination to be taken for that qualification.

GCSE6.2

6.2 In respect of each GCSE Qualification which it makes available an awarding organisation must ensure that –

  1. (a) it issues a single result, or a single set of results, in respect of each Learner following completion by that Learner of the assessments to be taken for that qualification,
  2. (b) where confirmation of, or changes to, any mark for an assessment has been communicated to a Centre or a Learner in advance of the issue of that result or set of results, no further evidence generated by that Learner will be admissible as part of that assessment, and
  3. (c) where any result for a unit has been communicated to a Centre or a Learner in advance of the issue of that result or set of results, no further evidence generated by that Learner will be admissible as part of the assessments for that unit.
GCSE6.3

6.3 Condition GCSE6.1 does not apply in respect of a GCSE Qualification where a GCSE Subject Level Condition states that its application is excluded in respect of that qualification.

Condition GCSE7 [not used]

Condition GCSE8: Use of Calculators

GCSE8.1

8.1 In respect of each GCSE Qualification which it makes available, or proposes to make available, in which an awarding organisation permits a Learner to use a Calculator while taking any Assessment by Examination it must –

  1. (a) publish its approach to Learners’ use of Calculators in that Assessment by Examination, including any restrictions that it places on such use, and
  2. (b) ensure that Assessment by Examination remains fit for purpose.

Condition GCSE9: Standard setting

GCSE9.1

9.1 In respect of each GCSE Qualification which it makes available, an awarding organisation must comply with any requirements, and have regard to any guidance, which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time in relation to –

  1. (a) the promotion of consistency between the measurement of Learners’ levels of attainment in that qualification and similar qualifications made available by other awarding organisations, and
  2. (b) the setting of specified levels of attainment.
GCSE9.2

9.2 In setting the specified levels of attainment for a GCSE Qualification which it makes available, an awarding organisation must have regard to an appropriate range of qualitative and quantitative evidence.

GCSE9.3

9.3 In respect of each GCSE Qualification which it makes available, the range of evidence to which an awarding organisation has regard for the purposes of Condition GCSE9.2 will only be appropriate if it includes evidence of –

  1. (a) the Level of Demand of the assessments for that qualification,
  2. (b) the level of attainment demonstrated in those assessments by an appropriately representative sample of Learners taking that qualification,
  3. (c) the level of attainment demonstrated by Learners taking that qualification in a –
    1. (i) prior assessment (which was not for that qualification), whether or not that assessment was for a regulated qualification, or
    2. (ii) prior qualification, whether or not that qualification was a regulated qualification, and
  4. (d) following the first year in which the qualification is awarded, the level of attainment demonstrated by Learners who have previously been awarded the qualification.
GCSE9.4

9.4 An awarding organisation must maintain a record of –

  1. (a) the evidence to which it has had regard in setting the specified levels of attainment for each GCSE Qualification which it makes available, and
  2. (b) its rationale for the selection of and weight given to that evidence.

Condition GCSE10: Marking arrangements

GCSE10.1

10.1 In respect of each GCSE Qualification which it makes available, an awarding organisation must ensure that the arrangements which are in place in accordance with General Condition H1.1 provide that, in respect of an assessment other than an assessment marked by a Centre –

  1. (a) all marking will be carried out by Assessors who have appropriate competence and who have no personal interest in the outcome of the marking,
  2. (b) prior to carrying out any marking, each Assessor shall be provided with training,
  3. (c) the awarding organisation shall monitor whether or not the criteria against which the Learners’ performance is differentiated are being understood and applied accurately and consistently by Assessors,
  4. (d) where the awarding organisation learns, through its monitoring or otherwise, that an Assessor is failing to accurately or consistently apply those criteria, it shall take all reasonable steps to –
    1. (i) correct, or where it cannot be corrected, mitigate as far as possible the effect of the failure, and
    2. (ii) ensure that the failure does not recur.
GCSE10.2

10.2 Where an assessment is marked by a Centre, an awarding organisation must ensure that those arrangements provide for training to be made available to that Centre prior to that marking.

GCSE10.3

10.3 In respect of each GCSE Qualification which it makes available, an awarding organisation must ensure that the monitoring which is carried out in accordance with General Condition C1.1(b) includes monitoring of whether or not Assessors are marking in a manner which is compliant with the awarding organisation’s Conditions of Recognition.

Condition GCSE11: Moderation arrangements

GCSE11.1

11.1 In respect of each GCSE Qualification involving Moderation which it makes available, an awarding organisation must ensure that the arrangements which are in place in accordance with General Condition H2.1 provide that –

  1. (a) all Moderation will be carried out by persons who have appropriate competence and who have no personal interest in the outcome of the Moderation,
  2. (b) a person who was previously involved in a Centre’s marking of an assessment must not be involved in Moderation in respect of that marking,
  3. (c) prior to carrying out any Moderation, each person tasked with carrying out such Moderation shall be provided with training,
  4. (d) prior to carrying out any Moderation, a person tasked with carrying out such Moderation shall be provided with a copy of –
    1. (i) any evidence generated by Learners which is to be considered for the purpose of Moderation or, where such evidence is not held or cannot readily be copied, a representation of the evidence in another form,
    2. (ii) the record of the awarding of marks made by Assessors when that evidence was marked,
    3. (iii) any comments which Assessors recorded during the marking of that evidence, and
    4. (iv) the criteria against which Learners’ performance is differentiated,
  5. (e) the awarding organisation shall monitor whether or not the persons who are carrying out Moderation are –
    1. (i) doing so in a manner which is compliant with General Condition H2, and
    2. (ii) making determinations which are consistent over time and consistent with determinations made by each other,
  6. (f) where the awarding organisation learns, through its monitoring or otherwise, that Moderation has not been carried out in a manner which is compliant with General Condition H2, or has been carried out inconsistently, it shall take all reasonable steps to –
    1. (i) correct, or where it cannot be corrected, mitigate as far as possible the effect of the failure, and
    2. (ii) ensure that the failure does not recur.
GCSE11.2

11.2 In respect of each GCSE Qualification involving Moderation which it makes available, an awarding organisation must ensure that the monitoring which is carried out in accordance with General Condition C1.1(b) includes monitoring of whether or not persons carrying out Moderation are doing so in a manner which is compliant with the awarding organisation’s Conditions of Recognition.

Condition GCSE12: Review of marking of centre-marked assessments

GCSE12.1

12.1 In respect of each GCSE Qualification which it makes available or proposes to make available where an assessment is marked by a Centre, an awarding organisation must –

  1. (a) ensure that the agreement which is required to be in place between it and the Centre in accordance with General Condition C2.2 includes the provisions required by this condition, and
  2. (b) take all reasonable steps to ensure that the Centre complies with those provisions.
GCSE12.2

12.2 For the purposes of this condition, the agreement must include provisions which require the Centre to –

  1. (a) establish, maintain and comply with arrangements for any Learner to request a review of the Centre’s marking of an assessment in respect of that Learner and for such a review to be carried out,
  2. (b) issue to each Learner the results for each assessment taken by that Learner which has been marked by the Centre, so as to allow a reasonable time period for the Learner to consider whether to request a review of the Centre’s marking of that assessment,
  3. (c) inform Learners that they may request copies of materials to assist them in considering whether to request a review of the Centre’s marking of the assessment,
  4. (d) on such a request from a Learner, promptly make available to the Learner copies of any materials which the Learner may reasonably require to consider whether to request a review of the Centre’s marking of the assessment,
  5. (e) ensure that the arrangements in place for the review of the Centre’s marking provide that all such reviews will be carried out by Assessors who have appropriate competence and who have no personal interest in the outcome of the review being carried out,
  6. (f) ensure that an Assessor who was previously involved in the Centre’s marking of an assessment in respect of a Learner is not involved in a review of marking in respect of that assessment,
  7. (g) ensure that the arrangements in place for the review of the Centre’s marking of an assessment require the Assessor carrying out the review to consider the Centre’s marking of that assessment together with its marking of the same assessment as taken by other Learners in the same assessment series and to notify the Centre where either –
    1. (i) the marking of the assessment under review is inconsistent with the Centre’s marking of those other assessments, or
    2. (ii) its marking is inconsistent across all of the assessments considered.
  8. (h) where it has been notified of an inconsistency under Condition GCSE12.2(g) –
    1. (i) correct the effect of that inconsistency where it agrees that it exists, or
    2. (ii) where it does not agree that the inconsistency exists, at the same time that it provides marks for the assessment to the awarding organisation for Moderation, notify the awarding organisation of the Assessor’s finding and the reasons why the Centre does not agree with it,
  9. (i) ensure that the arrangements in place for the review of the Centre’s marking of an assessment require the Learner to be notified promptly of the outcome of the review, of the reasons for the outcome which has been determined and of any change in mark,
  10. (j) ensure that the arrangements in place for the Learner to request a review of the Centre’s marking of an assessment require any such review to be completed so as to meet the awarding organisation’s requirements in relation to the time by which marks for the assessment and materials in respect of the assessment must be provided to it to enable it to undertake Moderation, and
  11. (k) notify Learners and the awarding organisation of how they may obtain a statement of the arrangements in place for the Learner to request a review of the Centre’s marking and provide such a statement promptly when requested.
GCSE12.3

12.3 In respect of each GCSE Qualification which it makes available or proposes to make available where an assessment is marked by a Centre, an awarding organisation must notify Centres (sufficiently far in advance to satisfy their reasonable planning requirements) of its requirements in relation to the time by which marks for the assessment and materials in respect of the assessment must be provided to it to enable it to undertake Moderation.

Condition GCSE13: Notification of Moderation outcome

GCSE13.1

13.1 In respect of each GCSE Qualification which it makes available where an assessment is marked by a Centre, an awarding organisation must notify the Centre of the outcome of Moderation so as to allow a reasonable time period for the Centre to consider whether to request a review of Moderation, taking into account any date by which the awarding organisation requires such a request to be received.

GCSE13.2

13.2 The notification which an awarding organisation provides for the purposes of Condition GCSE13.1 must specify the reasons for the outcome of Moderation.

Condition GCSE14: Review of Moderation

GCSE14.1

14.1 In respect of each GCSE Qualification which it makes available an awarding organisation must establish, maintain and comply with arrangements to carry out, on request from a Centre, a review of any Moderation by the awarding organisation of that Centre’s marking of an assessment.

GCSE14.2

14.2 The arrangements may –

  1. (a) provide that the awarding organisation shall only carry out a review of Moderation on payment of a fee,
  2. (b) specify other reasonable requirements for the making of a request for a review of Moderation, and
  3. (c) specify a date by which a review of Moderation must be requested.
GCSE14.3

Where the arrangements specify a date by which a review of Moderation must be requested, the date must –

  1. (a) be reasonable, taking into account –
    1. (i) the date by which a Centre may be notified of the outcome of Moderation in accordance with the awarding organisation’s arrangements, and
    2. (ii) the purpose of the GCSE Qualification, and
  2. (b) comply with any requirements which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time.
GCSE14.4

14.1 The arrangements must provide that, on carrying out a review of Moderation –

  1. (a) where the awarding organisation determines that the Moderation did not include any Moderation Error, it shall not change the outcome of Moderation,
  2. (b) where the awarding organisation determines that the Moderation included a Moderation Error, it shall change the outcome of the Moderation only to the extent necessary to correct the effect of that error, and
  3. (c) the awarding organisation shall document the reasons for any determination and for any change to the outcome of Moderation.
GCSE14.5

14.5 The arrangements must provide that –

  1. (a) all reviews of Moderation will be carried out by persons who have appropriate competence and who have no personal interest in the outcome of the review being carried out,
  2. (b) a person who was previously involved in the Centre’s marking of an assessment or in Moderation in respect of that marking must not be involved in a review of Moderation in respect of that marking,
  3. (c) prior to carrying out any review of Moderation, each person tasked with carrying out such a review shall be provided with training on how to do so in accordance with this condition,
  4. (d) prior to carrying out a review of Moderation, a person tasked with carrying out such a review shall be provided with –
    1. (i) a copy of any evidence generated by Learners (or any representation of such evidence) which was considered for the purpose of the Moderation,
    2. (ii) a copy of the record of the awarding of marks made by Assessors when that evidence was marked,
    3. (iii) a copy of any comments which Assessors recorded during the marking of that evidence,
    4. (iv) a copy of the criteria against which Learners’ performance is differentiated, and
    5. (v) the outcome of Moderation, including any changes made to the Centre’s marking, and the reasons for that outcome,
  5. (e) the awarding organisation shall monitor whether or not the persons carrying out reviews of Moderation –
    1. (i) are doing so in accordance with this condition, and
    2. (ii) are making determinations which are consistent over time and consistent with determinations made by each other,
  6. (f) where the awarding organisation learns, through its monitoring or otherwise, that a review of Moderation has not been carried out in accordance with this condition, or has been carried out inconsistently, it shall take all reasonable steps to –
    1. (i) correct, or where it cannot be corrected, mitigate as far as possible the effect of the failure, and
    2. (ii) ensure that the failure does not recur.,
  7. (g) the awarding organisation reports to the Centre both the outcome of the review of Moderation and, either together with that outcome or later, the reasons documented when the review of Moderation was carried out, and
  8. (h) where, on carrying out a review of Moderation, the awarding organisation discovers what it considers to be a Marking Error in the marking of an assessment, the awarding organisation includes details of the Marking Error in its report to the Centre on the outcome of the review of Moderation.
GCSE14.6

14.6 The arrangements must, following the awarding organisation’s notification of the outcome of the review of Moderation, provide for –

  1. (a) marks and (where appropriate) results to be updated promptly to take into account any change in the outcome of Moderation,
  2. (b) marks and (where appropriate) results to be updated promptly to correct the effect of any Marking Error notified to the Centre in accordance with this condition, and
  3. (c) reasonable steps to be taken to identify any other assessment, in relation to which there has been a similar error and to update marks and (where appropriate) results promptly to correct the effect of any error which is identified.
Application
GCSE14.7

14.7 Until such date as is specified in, or determined under, any notice in writing published by Ofqual under this paragraph, Condition GCSE14.6 shall be replaced with ‘The arrangements must, following the awarding organisation’s notification of the outcome of the review of Moderation, provide for –

  1. (a) marks and (where appropriate) results to be updated promptly to take into account any change in the outcome of Moderation,
  2. (b) marks and (where appropriate) results to be updated promptly to correct the effect of any Marking Error notified to the Centre in accordance with this condition, and
  3. (c) reasonable steps to be taken to identify any other assessment, in relation to which there has been a similar error and to update marks and (where appropriate) results promptly to correct the effect of any error which is identified,

provided that a Learner’s result shall not be updated so as to lower that result’.

GCSE14.8

14.8 Any such notice published by Ofqual may be –

  1. (a) issued in respect of one or more GCSE Qualifications, and
  2. (b) varied or withdrawn by Ofqual at any time prior to the date specified in or determined under it. 

Condition GCSE15: Making Marked Assessment Materials available to Learners

GCSE15.1

15.1 In respect of each GCSE Qualification which it makes available, an awarding organisation must establish, maintain and comply with arrangements to provide a Learner’s Marked Assessment Material to –

  1. (a) the Learner, or
  2. (b) any Relevant Centre (on the Learner’s behalf).
GCSE15.2

15.2 The arrangements may –

  1. (a) provide that the awarding organisation is not required to provide a copy or a representation of evidence generated by the Learner in the assessment where this is already held by the Learner or any Relevant Centre,
  2. (b) provide that the awarding organisation shall provide Marked Assessment Material only on payment of a fee,
  3. (c) provide that the awarding organisation shall provide Marked Assessment Material only on request,
  4. (d) provide that any such request must be made by a Relevant Centre (on the Learner’s behalf),
  5. (e) specify other reasonable requirements for the making of such a request, and
  6. (f) specify a date by which such a request must be received.
GCSE15.3

15.3 The arrangements must allow a Private Candidate to request his or her own Marked Assessment Material.

GCSE15.4

15.4 The arrangements must allow Learners and Relevant Centres a reasonable opportunity to consider whether to request –

  1. (a) an Administrative Error Review, and
  2. (b) a review of marking of the Marked Assessment Material, taking into account any date by which the awarding organisation requires such a request to be received.
GCSE15.5

15.5 Any date specified in the arrangements –

  1. (a) by which the awarding organisation will provide the Marked Assessment Material to the Learner (or as the case may be the Relevant Centre), or
  2. (b) by which a request for Marked Assessment Material must be received,

must comply with any requirements which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time.

GCSE15.6

15.6 The arrangements must provide that a copy of the criteria against which Learners’ performance is differentiated in respect of the assessment is made available to the Learner (or as the case may be the Relevant Centre) at the same time as, or prior to, the Marked Assessment Material.

Application
GCSE15.7

15.7 Condition GCSE15.4 shall not apply to an awarding organisation until such date as is specified in, or determined under, any notice in writing published by Ofqual under this paragraph.

GCSE15.8

15.8 Any such notice published by Ofqual may be –

  1. (a) issued in respect of one or more GCSE Qualifications, and
  2. (b) varied or withdrawn by Ofqual at any time prior to the date specified in or determined under it.

Condition GCSE16: Administrative Error Review

GCSE16.1

16.1 In respect of each GCSE Qualification which it makes available, an awarding organisation must establish, maintain and comply with arrangements for it to carry out an Administrative Error Review in respect of a Learner’s Marked Assessment Material.

GCSE16.2

16.2 The arrangements may –

  1. (a) provide that the awarding organisation shall carry out an Administrative Error Review only on request,
  2. (b) provide that any such request must be made by a Relevant Centre (on the Learner’s behalf),
  3. (c) provide that the awarding organisation shall only carry out an Administrative Error Review on payment of a fee,
  4. (d) specify other reasonable requirements for the making of a request for an Administrative Error Review, and
  5. (e) specify a date by which an Administrative Error Review must be requested.
GCSE16.3

16.3 The arrangements must allow a Private Candidate to request an Administrative Error Review him or herself.

GCSE16.4

16.4 Where the arrangements specify a date by which an Administrative Error Review must be requested, the date must –

  1. (a) be reasonable, taking into account –
    1. (i) the date by which Marked Assessment Material may be provided to a Learner in accordance with the awarding organisation’s arrangements, and
    2. (ii) the purpose of the GCSE Qualification, and
  2. (b) comply with any requirements which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time.
GCSE16.5

16.5 The arrangements must provide that, on carrying out an Administrative Error Review –

  1. (a) where the awarding organisation determines that the marking recorded in the Marked Assessment Material does not contain an Administrative Error, it shall not change the mark awarded,
  2. (b) where the awarding organisation determines that the marking recorded in the Marked Assessment Material contains an Administrative Error, it shall correct the effect of that error,
  3. (c) where the outcome of the Administrative Error Review is that there should be a change in mark, the awarding organisation makes any consequent change to the Learner’s result, and
  4. (d) the awarding organisation reports the outcome of the Administrative Error Review to the Learner (or as the case may be the Relevant Centre), specifying any change in mark, any change in result, and the nature of any Administrative Error which has been discovered.
GCSE16.6

16.6 The arrangements must provide that all Administrative Error Reviews will be carried out by persons who have appropriate competence and who have no personal interest in the outcome of the Administrative Error Review being carried out.

Condition GCSE17: Review of marking of Marked Assessment Material

GCSE17.1

17.1 In respect of each GCSE Qualification which it makes available an awarding organisation must establish, maintain and comply with arrangements for it to carry out a review of marking of a Learner’s Marked Assessment Material.

GCSE17.2

17.2 The arrangements may –

  1. (a) provide that the awarding organisation shall carry out a review of marking only on request,
  2. (b) provide that any such request must be made by a Relevant Centre (on the Learner’s behalf),
  3. (c) provide that the awarding organisation shall only carry out a review of marking on payment of a fee,
  4. (d) specify other reasonable requirements for the making of a request for a review of marking, and
  5. (e) specify a date by which a review of marking must be requested.
GCSE17.3

17.3 The arrangements must allow a Private Candidate to request a review of marking him or herself.

GCSE17.4

17.4 Where the arrangements specify a date by which a review of marking must be requested, the date must –

  1. (a) be reasonable, taking into account –
    1. (i) the date by which Marked Assessment Material may be provided to a Learner in accordance with the awarding organisation’s arrangements, and
    2. (ii) the purpose of the GCSE Qualification, and
  2. (b) comply with any requirements which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time.
GCSE17.5

17.5 The arrangements must provide that, on carrying out a review of marking –

  1. (a) the Assessor shall determine whether the marking of the assessment included any Marking Error,
  2. (b) where the Assessor determines that the marking of the assessment did not include any Marking Error, the Assessor shall not change the mark,
  3. (c) where the Assessor determines that the marking of the assessment included a Marking Error, the Assessor shall correct the effect of the Marking Error but not otherwise change the mark, and
  4. (d) the Assessor shall document the reasons for any determination and for any change of mark.
GCSE17.6

17.6 The arrangements must provide that –

  1. (a) all reviews of marking will be carried out by Assessors who have appropriate competence and who have no personal interest in the outcome of the review being carried out,
  2. (b) an Assessor who was previously involved in the marking of a task in an assessment in respect of a Learner must not be involved in a review of marking in respect of that task,
  3. (c) prior to carrying out any review of marking, each Assessor shall be provided with training on how to carry out a review of marking in accordance with this condition,
  4. (d) prior to carrying out a review of marking, an Assessor shall be provided with a copy of the Marked Assessment Material to which the review relates and a copy of the criteria against which Learners’ performance is differentiated,
  5. (e) the awarding organisation shall monitor whether the Assessors who are carrying out reviews of marking are –
    1. (i) doing so in accordance with this condition, and
    2. (ii) are making determinations which are consistent over time and consistent with determinations made by each other,
  6. (f) where the awarding organisation learns, through its monitoring or otherwise, that a review of marking has not been carried out in accordance with this condition, or has been carried out inconsistently, it shall take all reasonable steps to –
    1. (i) correct, or where it cannot be corrected, mitigate as far as possible the effect of the failure, and
    2. (ii) ensure that the failure does not recur,
  7. (g) where the outcome of a review of marking is that there should be a change in mark, the awarding organisation makes any consequent change to the Learner’s result, and
  8. (h) the awarding organisation reports to the Learner (or as the case may be the Relevant Centre) both the outcome of the review of marking, specifying any change in mark and any change in result, and, either together with that outcome or later, the reasons documented by the Assessor carrying out the review.

Condition GCSE18: Appeals process for GCSE Qualifications

GCSE18.1

18.1 In respect of each GCSE Qualification which an awarding organisation makes available, or proposes to make available, General Condition I1 (Appeals process) does not apply.

GCSE18.2

18.2 In respect of each GCSE Qualification which it makes available, an awarding organisation must establish, maintain and comply with an appeals process which must provide for the appeal of –

  1. (a) the outcome of any Moderation of a Centre’s marking of an assessment, following a review of Moderation in respect of that marking,
  2. (b) the result for any assessment in respect of a Learner, following a review of marking of Marked Assessment Material in respect of that assessment,
  3. (c) decisions regarding Reasonable Adjustments and Special Consideration, and
  4. (d) decisions relating to any action to be taken against a Learner or a Centre following an investigation into malpractice or maladministration.
GCSE18.3

18.3 The appeals process may –

  1. (a) provide that the awarding organisation shall only conduct an appeal on payment of a fee,
  2. (b) specify other reasonable requirements for the making of a request for an appeal, and
  3. (c) specify a time period during which an appeal must be requested.
GCSE18.4

18.4 Where the arrangements specify a time period during which an appeal must be requested, the time period must –

  1. (a) be reasonable, and
  2. (b) comply with any requirements which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time.
GCSE18.5

18.5 The appeals process must provide for –

  1. (a) all appeal decisions to be taken by persons who have appropriate competence and who have no personal interest in the decision being appealed,
  2. (b) all appeal decisions to be taken by persons who were not previously involved in any marking, Moderation, review of marking of Marked Assessment Material or review of Moderation regarding an assessment in respect of a Learner to which the appeal relates,
  3. (c) the final decision in respect of the outcome of an appeal to involve at least one decision maker who is not an employee of the awarding organisation, an Assessor working for it, or otherwise connected to it, and
  4. (d) the awarding organisation to report the outcome of an appeal to the Learner (or as the case may be the Relevant Centre), detailing the reasons for that outcome.
GCSE18.6

18.6 The appeals process must not allow a specified level of attainment which has been set for the GCSE Qualification to be changed.

GCSE18.7

18.7 For the purposes of Condition GCSE18.2(a), the appeals process which an awarding organisation has in place must provide for the effective appeal of outcomes of Moderation on the basis –

  1. (a) that the Moderation (or as the case may be the review of Moderation) included a Moderation Error, and
  2. (b) that the awarding organisation did not apply procedures consistently or that procedures were not followed properly and fairly, provided that for these purposes any exercise of academic judgment in relation to the outcome of Moderation shall not constitute the application or following of a procedure.
GCSE18.8

18.8 For the purposes of Condition GCSE18.2(a), the appeals process which an awarding organisation has in place must provide for any request for an appeal of the outcome of Moderation of a Centre’s marking of an assessment to be made by the Centre.

GCSE18.9

18.9 For the purposes of Condition GCSE18.2(b), the appeals process which an awarding organisation has in place must provide for the effective appeal of results on the basis –

  1. (a) that the marking of the assessment (or as the case may be the review of marking of Marked Assessment Material) included a Marking Error, and
  2. (b) that the awarding organisation did not apply procedures consistently or that procedures were not followed properly and fairly, provided that for these purposes –
    1. (i) any procedures in respect of the setting of specified levels of attainment for the GCSE Qualification shall be excluded, and
    2. (ii) any exercise of academic judgment in relation to the awarding of marks shall not constitute the application or following of a procedure.
GCSE18.10

18.10 For the purposes of Conditions GCSE18.2(b) to GCSE18.2(d), the appeals process which an awarding organisation has in place –

  1. (a) may provide that where an assessment has been delivered by a Relevant Centre, any request for an appeal in respect of a Learner relating to the assessment must be made by the Relevant Centre (on the Learner’s behalf), and
  2. (b) must provide that a Private Candidate may request an appeal him or herself.
Application
GCSE18.11

18.11 Until such date as is specified in, or determined under, any notice in writing published by Ofqual under this paragraph –

  1. (a) Condition GCSE18.7 shall be replaced with ‘For the purposes of Condition GCSE18.2(a), the appeals process which an awarding organisation has in place must provide for the effective appeal of outcomes of Moderation on the basis that the awarding organisation did not apply procedures consistently or that procedures were not followed properly and fairly’, and
  2. (b) Condition GCSE18.9 shall be replaced with ‘For the purposes of Condition GCSE18.2(b), the appeals process which an awarding organisation has in place must provide for the effective appeal of results on the basis that the awarding organisation did not apply procedures consistently or that procedures were not followed properly and fairly, provided that for these purposes any procedures in respect of the setting of specified levels of attainment for the GCSE Qualification shall be excluded’.
GCSE18.12

18.12 Until such date as is specified in, or determined under, any notice in writing published by Ofqual under this paragraph, Condition GCSE18.8 shall be replaced with ‘For the purposes of Condition GCSE18.2(a), the appeals process which an awarding organisation has in place must provide –

  1. (a) for any request for an appeal of the outcome of Moderation of a Centre’s marking of an assessment to be made by the Centre, and
  2. (b) that, following the outcome of an appeal, a Learner’s result shall not be updated so as to lower that result’.
GCSE18.13

18.13 Any notice published by Ofqual under Condition GCSE18.12 or Condition GCSE18.13 may be –

  1. (a) issued in respect of one or more GCSE Qualifications, and
  2. (b) varied or withdrawn by Ofqual at any time prior to the date specified in or determined under it.

Condition GCSE19: Relevant Centre decisions relating to Review and Appeal Arrangements

GCSE19.1

19.1 In respect of each GCSE Qualification which it makes available, where an awarding organisation’s arrangements provide that a request under conditions GCSE15 – GCSE18 must be made by a Relevant Centre on a Learner’s behalf, the awarding organisation must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the Relevant Centre has in place effective arrangements for the Learner to –

  1. (a) apply to the Relevant Centre for it to make such a request, and
  2. (b) appeal a Relevant Centre’s decision that such a request should not be made, and for the Relevant Centre to determine that appeal.
GCSE19.2

19.2 For the purposes of this condition, an awarding organisation must take all reasonable steps to ensure that –

  1. (a) the Relevant Centre makes Learners aware of the arrangements it has in place prior to the issue of results in respect of the assessment, and
  2. (b) the Relevant Centre provides Learners with a statement of the arrangements promptly when requested.

Condition GCSE20: Target performance in relation to Review and Appeal Arrangements

GCSE20.1

20.1 In respect of each GCSE Qualification which it makes available, where an awarding organisation’s arrangements provide for it to provide a Learner’s Marked Assessment Material on request, it must set a target for the time period following such a request within which it will make that material available to the Learner (or as the case may be the Relevant Centre).

GCSE20.2

20.2 In respect of each GCSE Qualification which it makes available, an awarding organisation must set targets for each of the following time periods –

  1. (a) the period following a request for a review of Moderation within which the awarding organisation will have reported the outcome of the review of Moderation to the Centre,
  2. (b) the period following a request for such a review of Moderation within which the awarding organisation will have reported both the outcome of the review of Moderation and the reasons in respect of the review to the Centre,
  3. (c) the period following a request for an Administrative Error Review within which the awarding organisation will have reported the outcome of the Administrative Error Review to the Learner (or as the case may be the Relevant Centre),
  4. (d) the period following a request for a review of marking of Marked Assessment Material within which the awarding organisation will have reported the outcome of the review of marking to the Learner (or as the case may be the Relevant Centre),
  5. (e) the period following a request for such a review of marking within which the awarding organisation will have reported both the outcome of the review of marking and the reasons in respect of the review to the Learner (or as the case may be the Relevant Centre),
  6. (f) the period following a request for an appeal within which the awarding organisation will have reported the outcome of the appeal to the Learner (or as the case may be the Relevant Centre), and
  7. (g) the period following receipt of all evidence in respect of an appeal within which the awarding organisation will have reported the outcome of the appeal to the Learner (or as the case may be the Relevant Centre).
GCSE20.3

20.3 Any target time period which an awarding organisation has set in respect of a GCSE Qualification must comply with any requirements which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time.

GCSE20.4

20.4 An awarding organisation must take all reasonable steps to meet the target time periods which it has set in respect of a GCSE Qualification.

Reporting
GCSE20.5

20.5 In respect of each GCSE Qualification which it makes available, an awarding organisation must provide a report to Ofqual in respect of each year detailing the number of times that it has –

  1. (a) complied with the target time periods which it has set, and
  2. (b) failed to comply with those target time periods.
GCSE20.6

20.6 An awarding organisation must ensure that the report prepared in accordance with Condition GCSE20.5 –

  1. (a) complies with any requirements in relation to the content or the presentation of the report which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time,
  2. (b) is provided to Ofqual by any date which has been specified by Ofqual in advance, and
  3. (c) is published, where required by Ofqual, by any date which has been specified by Ofqual in advance.

Condition GCSE21: Review and Appeal Arrangements and certificates

GCSE21.1

21.1 In respect of each GCSE Qualification which it makes available, where a Learner’s result has been changed under the awarding organisation’s Review and Appeal Arrangements, the awarding organisation must take all reasonable steps, including having procedures in place, to –

  1. (a) revoke any certificate that it has issued to that Learner, and
  2. (b) issue a replacement certificate which accurately reflects the amended mark.

Condition GCSE22: Discovery of failure in assessment processes

GCSE22.1

22.1 Where the application of the awarding organisation’s Review and Appeal Arrangements leads an awarding organisation to discover a failure in its assessment process, it must take all reasonable steps to –

  1. (a) identify all Learners who have been affected by the failure,
  2. (b) correct or, where it cannot be corrected, mitigate as far as possible the effect of the failure, and
  3. (c) ensure that the failure does not recur.

Condition GCSE23: Publication of Review and Appeal Arrangements

GCSE23.1

23.1 In respect of each GCSE qualification which it makes available, or proposes to make available, an awarding organisation must publish a statement of its Review and Appeal Arrangements (in one or more documents), including details of –

  1. (a) how any request for Marked Assessment Materials and each type of review and appeal must be made,
  2. (b) any date by which each type of request must be made,
  3. (c) any fee which is payable in respect of each type of request, the circumstances in which any such fee will be charged, and the circumstances in which any such fee may be refunded, and
  4. (d) the target time period set in relation to each type of request under Condition GCSE20.
GCSE23.2

23.2 The information which an awarding organisation publishes in line with Condition GCSE23.1 must enable Learners and Centres to have –

  1. (a) a reasonable understanding of the those arrangements, and
  2. (b) a reasonable understanding of how those arrangements relate to each other.
GCSE23.3

23.3 An awarding organisation must take all reasonable steps to ensure that information which it publishes in line with Condition GCSE23.1 is published sufficiently far in advance of the time at which the qualification to which it relates will be made available to Learners to satisfy the reasonable planning requirements of potential purchasers.

Condition GCSE24: Subjects for GCSE Qualifications

GCSE24.1

24.1 An awarding organisation must not make available a GCSE Qualification in a subject for which Ofqual has not set and published any GCSE Subject Level Conditions.

Condition GCSE25: Interpretation and Definitions

GCSE25.1

25.1 The rules of interpretation and definitions outlined in General Condition J1 shall apply to the GCSE Qualification Level Conditions and GCSE Subject Level Conditions.

GCSE25.2

25.2 Except in the circumstances described in Condition GCSE25.3, the requirements imposed by the GCSE Qualification Level Conditions and the GCSE Subject Level Conditions apply in addition to each other and to the requirements imposed by the General Conditions of Recognition.

GCSE25.3

25.3 To the extent that there is any inconsistency between –

  1. (a) a requirement of either a GCSE Qualification Level Condition or a GCSE Subject Level Condition and an awarding organisation’s ability to provide either a particular type of Reasonable Adjustment or Special Consideration, such that the awarding organisation is prevented from providing that Reasonable Adjustment or Special Consideration, the awarding organisation may provide that Reasonable Adjustment or Special Consideration and is not obliged to comply with the requirement of the GCSE Qualification Level Condition or a GCSE Subject Level Condition,
  2. (b) in all other cases –
    1. (i) a requirement of a GCSE Subject Level Condition and a requirement of either a GCSE Qualification Level Condition or a General Condition of Recognition, such that an awarding organisation could not comply with both such requirements, the awarding organisation must comply with the requirement of the GCSE Subject Level Condition and is not obliged to comply with the requirement of the other Condition, or
    2. (ii) a requirement of a GCSE Qualification Level Condition and a requirement of a General Condition of Recognition, such that an awarding organisation could not comply with both such requirements, the awarding organisation must comply with the requirement of the GCSE Qualification Level Condition and is not obliged to comply with the requirement of the General Condition of Recognition.
GCSE25.4

25.4 In these Conditions the following words shall have the meaning given to them below (and cognate expressions should be construed accordingly) –

Administrative Error

An error in the marking of an assessment which is either –

  1. (a) a failure to mark a task forming part of the assessment, or
  2. (b) a failure to correctly calculate the total mark for the assessment from the marks which were awarded by the Assessor for the tasks forming part of the assessment.
Administrative Error Review

A review to determine whether the marking recorded in Marked Assessment Material contains an Administrative Error

Assessment by Examination

An assessment which is -

  1. (a) set by an awarding organisation,
  2. (b) designed to be taken simultaneously by all relevant Learners at a time determined by the awarding organisation, and
  3. (c) taken under conditions specified by the awarding organisation (including conditions relating to the supervision of Learners during the assessment and the duration of the assessment).
Calculator

Any electronic device which may be used for the performance of mathematical computations.

GCSE Qualification

A GCSE qualification, a GCSE short course qualification or a GCSE double award qualification.

GCSE Qualification Level Condition

A Condition of Recognition that applies to all GCSE qualifications, except where a GCSE Subject Level Condition states that its application is excluded in respect of a specific subject, and which uses the numbering format ‘GCSEn.n’, where ‘n’ denotes a number.

GCSE Subject Level Condition

A Condition of Recognition that applies to a GCSE qualification in a specific subject only and which uses the numbering format ‘GCSE(x)n.n’, where ‘x’ denotes a particular subject and ‘n’ denotes a number.

Marked Assessment Material

In relation to an assessment for a GCSE Qualification taken by a Learner, other than an assessment where evidence generated by a Learner is marked by a Centre, material comprising –

  1. (a) a copy of any evidence generated by the Learner in the assessment which is held by the awarding organisation or, where evidence generated by the Learner in the assessment is not held or cannot readily be copied, a representation of the evidence in another form,
  2. (b) a copy of the record of the awarding of marks made by the Assessor when the evidence generated by the Learner was marked, and
  3. (c) a copy of any comments which the Assessor recorded during the marking of the evidence generated by the Learner.
Marking Error

The awarding of a mark which could not reasonably have been awarded given the evidence generated by the Learner, the criteria against which Learners’ performance is differentiated and any procedures of the awarding organisation in relation to marking, including in particular where the awarding of a mark is based on –

  1. (a) an Administrative Error,
  2. (b) a failure to apply such criteria and procedures to the evidence generated by the Learner where that failure did not involve the exercise of academic judgment, or
  3. (c) an unreasonable exercise of academic judgment.
Moderation Error

A Moderation outcome which could not reasonably have been arrived at given the evidence generated by Learners which was considered for the purpose of Moderation, the Centre’s marking of that evidence, the criteria against which Learners’ performance is differentiated and any procedure of the awarding organisation in relation to Moderation, including in particular where the outcome of Moderation is based on –

  1. (a) an Administrative Error,
  2. (b) a failure to apply such criteria and procedures to the evidence generated by Learners, where that failure did not involve the exercise of academic judgment, or
  3. (c) an unreasonable exercise of academic judgment.
Private Candidate

A Learner in relation to whom there is no Relevant Centre. 

Relevant Centre

In relation to a Learner, a Centre which –

  1. (a) has purchased the GCSE Qualification (on behalf of the Learner), and
  2. (b) materially contributed to the preparation of the Learner for the assessment (whether through teaching or instruction provided by Teachers employed by it or otherwise), and
  3. (c) has delivered the assessment to the Learner.
Review and Appeal Arrangements

In relation to a GCSE Qualification, the arrangements which an awarding organisation is required to establish, maintain and comply with in accordance with –

  1. (a) Condition GCSE14 (Review of Moderation),
  2. (b) Condition GCSE15 (Making Marked Assessment Materials available to Learners),
  3. (c) Condition GCSE16 (Administrative Error Review),
  4. (d) Condition GCSE17 (Review of marking of Marked Assessment Material), and
  5. (e) Condition GCSE18 (Appeals process for GCSE Qualifications). 

Standard setting requirements

Requirements in relation to the specified levels of attainment to be used for GCSE Qualifications

Condition GCSE3.1 allows us to specify requirements and guidance in relation to the setting of specified levels of attainment for GCSE Qualifications.

We set out below our requirements for the purposes of Condition GCSE3.1.

Specified levels of attainment for GCSE Qualifications other than double award qualifications

Except as provided for in the Subject Level Conditions and Requirements [footnote 1] for a GCSE Qualification which it makes available, other than a GCSE double award qualification, an awarding organisation must ensure that the specified levels of attainment take the form of a nine-point scale from 9 to 1, where 9 represents the highest level of attainment.

A Learner who does not meet the criteria to be awarded a specified level of attainment on the nine-point scale must be issued with a result of ‘unclassified’.

Specified levels of attainment for GCSE double award qualifications

An awarding organisation must ensure that the specified levels of attainment for a GCSE double award qualification which it makes available take the form of a 17-point scale in the following format, with 9-9 representing the highest level of attainment –

9-9, 9-8, 8-8, 8-7, 7-7, 7-6, 6-6, 6-5, 5-5, 5-4, 4-4, 4-3, 3-3, 3-2, 2-2, 2-1, 1-1

A Learner who does not meet the criteria to be awarded a specified level of attainment on the above scale must be issued with a result of ‘unclassified’.

Requirements for setting specified levels of attainment for GCSE Qualifications

Condition GCSE9.1(b) allows us to specify requirements and guidance in relation to the setting of specified levels of attainment for GCSE Qualifications.

We set out below our general requirements for the purposes of Condition GCSE9.1(b). We will publish additional specific requirements from time to time, including in relation to the setting of particular specified levels of attainment.

For ease of reference, the specified levels of attainment used in GCSE Qualifications are referred to below as ‘grades’.

These requirements apply to assessments for GCSE Qualifications that are graded using the 9 to 1 or 9-9 to 1-1 scales.

Setting key grade boundaries for all GCSE Qualifications

For non-double award GCSE qualifications, the four key grade boundaries are:

  1. (a) 1/U
  2. (b) 4/3
  3. (c) 7/6
  4. (d) 9/8

For double award GCSE qualifications, the four key grade boundaries are:

  1. (a) 1-1/U
  2. (b) 4-4/4-3
  3. (c) 7-7/7-6
  4. (d) 9-9/9-8

An awarding organisation must set these key grade boundaries for each Component where they apply. In doing this, the awarding organisation must have regard to achieving suitable qualification level outcomes.

An awarding organisation must set key grade boundaries for each GCSE Qualification as a whole using the following method:

  1. (a) The boundary mark for each Component is scaled as necessary to reflect the intended weighting of that Component as detailed in the specification.
  2. (b) The resulting scaled Component boundary marks are added and the result is rounded to the nearest whole number (0.5 is rounded up).

In setting the key grade boundaries an awarding organisation must:

  1. (a) in the first year in which a GCSE Qualification is awarded , comply with any specific requirements that Ofqual may set ,
  2. (b) in compliance with Condition H3.1, in the second and subsequent years of awarding, set each key grade boundary so as to ensure consistency with the standard set for the same grade boundary in the first year in which the qualification is awarded, and
  3. (c) without prejudice to the requirements in the preceding paragraphs (a) and (b), have regard to achieving suitable qualification level outcomes.

Setting remaining grade boundaries for non-double award GCSE Qualifications

After setting the key grade boundaries as outlined above, an awarding organisation must set the 8/7, 6/5, 5/4, 3/2 and 2/1 qualification grade boundaries as follows. Where there is a remainder of one or more marks, one extra mark is added in turn to successive grade intervals, starting with the highest grade interval:

  1. (a) The 8/7 boundary must be set by dividing the mark interval between the 9/8 and 7/6 boundaries by two.
  2. (b) For non-tiered qualifications and at higher tier in tiered qualifications, the 6/5 and 5/4 boundaries must be set by dividing the mark interval between the 7/6 and 4/3 boundaries by three.
  3. (c) The 3/2 and 2/1 boundaries must be set by dividing the mark interval between the 4/3 and 1/U boundaries by three.
  4. (d) At foundation tier in tiered qualifications, the 5/4 boundary is provisionally set at the same number of marks above the 4/3 boundary as the 4/3 boundary is above the 3/2 boundary. The 5/4 boundary is adjusted as necessary using statistical and technical evidence to align with the standard of grade 5 at the higher tier.
  5. (e) In a tiered GCSE qualification, the 3/U boundary on the higher tier is provisionally set by subtracting half the mark interval between the 5/4 and 4/3 boundaries (rounding up half marks) from the 4/3 boundary. Where a review of statistical and technical evidence leads the awarding organisation to judge that the 3/U boundary should be set at a different mark, consideration must be given to moving the grade 3/U boundary, and the reasons for this must be recorded.

Setting remaining grade boundaries for double award GCSE qualifications

After setting the key grade boundaries as outlined above, an awarding organisation must set the remaining qualification grade boundaries as follows. Where there is a remainder of one or more marks, one extra mark is added in turn to successive grade intervals, starting with the highest grade interval:

  1. (a) The 9-8/8-8, 8-8/8-7 and 8-7/7-7 grade boundaries must be set by dividing the mark interval between the 9-9/9-8 and 7-7/7-6 boundaries by four.
  2. (b) For non-tiered qualifications and at higher tier in tiered qualifications, the 7-6/6-6, 6-6/6-5, 6-5/5-5, 5-5/5-4 and 5-4/4-4 grade boundaries must be set by dividing the mark interval between the 7-7/7-6 and 4-4/4-3 boundaries by six.
  3. (c) The 4-3/3-3, 3-3/3-2, 3-2/2-2, 2-2/2-1 and 2-1/1-1 grade boundaries must be set by dividing the mark interval between the 4-4/4-3 and 1-1/U boundaries by six.
  4. (d) At foundation tier in tiered qualifications, the 5-5/5-4 boundary is provisionally set at the same number of marks above the 4-4/4-3 boundary as the 4-4/4-3 boundary is above the 3-3/3-2 boundary. The 5-5/5-4 boundary is adjusted as necessary using statistical and technical evidence to align with the standard of grade 5-5 at the higher tier. The 5-4/4-4 boundary must be set by dividing the mark interval between the 5-5/5-4 and 4-4/4-3 boundaries by two.
  5. (e) In a tiered GCSE double award qualification, the 4-3/U boundary on the higher tier is provisionally set by subtracting half the mark interval between the 5-4/4-4 and 4-4/4-3 boundaries (rounding up half marks) from the 4-4/4-3 boundary. Where a review of statistical and technical evidence leads the awarding organisation to judge that the 4-3/U boundary should be set at a different mark, consideration must be given to moving the grade 4-3/U boundary, and the reasons for this must be recorded.

Carrying forward non-examination Component marks

So long as the requirements in Condition E10.1 are met, an awarding organisation may permit a Learner to carry forward his or her mark/moderated mark (scaled as appropriate) for an assessment which is not an Assessment by Examination from a previous attempt at the same GCSE Qualification awarded by the awarding organisation. 

Requirements for key dates

Reviews of marking, moderation, and appeals: requirements for key dates for GCSE Qualifications

We set out below the requirements which an awarding organisation must comply with when it specifies deadlines for requesting reviews of marking, reviews of Moderation and appeals. These requirements are published under Conditions GCSE14.3(b), GCSE17.3(b) and GCSE18.4(b) and apply to all GCSE Qualifications (graded from 9 to 1).

Awarding organisations are no longer required to set deadline dates for Learners/Centres to request reviews of marking, reviews of Moderation and appeals. In choosing to set any deadlines, an awarding organisation must comply with the requirements set out below and with all other requirements in its Conditions of Recognition.

In particular, the requirements set out below must be read and complied with in conjunction with the GCSE Qualification Level Conditions (which set out further requirements in relation to an awarding organisation’s arrangements).

The requirements set out below align with the GCSE Qualification Level Conditions which are in effect. Some relevant GCSE Qualification Level Conditions have not yet come into effect and there are currently some transitional provisions in effect. We will keep the requirements set out below under review as any changes are made.

Requirements for key dates for assessments other than assessments which are marked by a Centre

An awarding organisation must ensure that the requirements in the table below are met in each case where the assessment is not marked by a Centre. The table sets out the minimum timeframe within which the awarding organisation must allow a review/appeal to be requested. Provided a review/appeal is allowed to be requested in that timeframe, an awarding organisation is permitted to also provide an ‘accelerated service’ (for example, where requests for reviews provided by an earlier date will be processed more quickly).

The footnotes in the table are for information only.

Stage Description Timeframe requirements
A Date results are issued  
B Date by which a request for Marked Assessment Material must be made (where applicable) The Learner or Centre making the request must be allowed at least two weeks following Stage A to make the request
C Date of receipt of Marked Assessment Material  
D Date by which a request for a review of marking of Marked Assessment Material must be made[footnote 2] The Learner or Centre making the request must be allowed at least four weeks following Stage A to make the request
and
Where Marked Assessment Materials are required to be provided, the Learner or Centre making the request must be allowed at least two weeks following Stage C to make the request
E Date awarding organisation reports the outcome of the review of marking[footnote 3]  
F Date by which reasons for the outcome of the review must be requested[footnote 4]  
G Date awarding organisation provides reasons for the outcome of the review  
H Date by which a request for Marked Assessment Material must be made (where not previously requested prior to the review of Marked Assessment Material) The Learner or Centre making the request must be allowed at least two weeks following Stage G to make the request
I Date of receipt of Marked Assessment Material  
J Date by which an appeal of the result of the assessment must be requested[footnote 5] The Learner or Centre making the request must be allowed at least four weeks following Stage E to make the request
and
Where reasons for the outcome of the review have been requested (by Stage F, where specified by the awarding organisation), the Learner or Centre making the request must be allowed at least two weeks following Stage G to request an appeal
and
Where Marked Assessment Materials are required to be provided, the Learner or Centre making the request must be allowed at least two weeks following Stage I to make the request
K Awarding organisation reports outcome of the appeal[footnote 6]  

Requirements for key dates for assessments which are marked by a Centre

An awarding organisation must ensure that the requirements in the table below are met in each case where the assessment is marked by a Centre. The table sets out the minimum timeframe within which the awarding organisation must allow a review/appeal to be requested. As above, provided a review/appeal is allowed to be requested in that timeframe, an awarding organisation is permitted to also provide an ‘accelerated service’.

The footnotes in the table are for information only.

Stage Description Timeframe requirements
A Date awarding organisation issues the outcome of its Moderation  
B Date by which a request for a review of Moderation must be made[footnote 7] Centre making the request must be allowed at least four weeks following Stage A to make the request
C Date awarding organisation reports the outcome of the review of Moderation[footnote 8]  
D Date awarding organisation provides reasons for the outcome of the review[footnote 9]  
E Date by which an appeal of the outcome of Moderation must be requested[footnote 10] Centre making the request must be allowed at least four weeks following Stage C to make the request
and
Centre making the request must be allowed at least two weeks following Stage D to make the request
F Awarding organisation reports outcome of the appeal[footnote 11]  

Appendix 1 – Revisions to this document

We set out below all revisions to this document since it was first published, and the dates on which those revisions came into force.

Revisions in force 4 December 2024

  • Condition GCSE4: Assessment by Examination (amended)

Revisions in force 19 December 2023

  • Condition GCSE4: Assessment by Examination (amended)

Revisions in force 11 January 2023

  • Condition GCSE4: Assessment by Examination (amended)
  • Condition GCSE16 – Administrative Error Review (amended)
  • Condition GCSE17 – Review of marking of Marked Assessment Material (amended)

Revisions in force 22 April 2022

  • Condition GCSE17 – Review of marking of Marked Assessment Material (amended)
  • Condition GCSE20 – Target performance in relation to Review and Appeal Arrangements (amended)
  • Condition GCSE23 – Publication of Review and Appeal Arrangements (amended)
  • Condition GCSE25 – Interpretation and Definitions (amended)

Revisions in force 12 November 2021

Condition GCSE4: Assessment by Examination (amended) 10 November 2021

Revisions in force 23 April 2019

  • Condition GCSE10 – Marking arrangements (amended)
  • Condition GCSE11 – Moderation arrangements (amended)
  • Condition GCSE12 – Review of marking of Centre-marked assessments (amended)
  • Condition GCSE14 – Review of Moderation (amended)
  • Condition GCSE15 – Marking Marked Assessment Materials available to Learners (amended)
  • Condition GCSE16 – Administrative Error Review (amended)
  • Condition GCSE17 – Review of marking of Marked Assessment Material (amended)
  • Condition GCSE18 – Appeals process for GCSE Qualifications (amended)
  • Condition GCSE19 – Centre decisions relating to Review and Appeal Arrangements (amended)
  • Condition GCSE20 – Target performance in relation to Review and Appeal Arrangements (amended)
  • Condition GCSE21 – Reporting of data relating to Review and Appeal Arrangements (deleted)
  • Condition GCSE21 – Review arrangements and certificates (amended and renumbered)
  • Conditions GCSE22 – Discovery of failure in assessment processes (amended and renumbered)
  • Condition GCSE23 – Publication of Review and Appeal Arrangements (amended and renumbered)
  • Condition GCSE24 – Subjects for GCSE Qualifications (amended and renumbered)
  • Condition GCSE25 – Interpretation and Definitions (amended and renumbered)
  • Reviews of marking, moderation, and appeals: requirements for key dates for GCSE Qualifications (amended)

Revisions in force 20 September 2017

Condition GCSE12 (amended)

Revisions in force 29 June 2017

Requirements for key dates (consolidation – requirements in force from 1 May 2017)

Revisions in force 16 February 2017

  • Condition GCSE9 – standard setting (new)
  • Requirements for setting specified levels of attainment for GCSE Qualifications (new)

Revisions in force 25 August 2016

  • Condition GCSE10 – Marking arrangements (new)
  • Condition GCSE11 – Moderation arrangements (new)
  • Condition GCSE12 – Review of marking of Centre-marked assessments (new)
  • Condition GCSE13 – Notification of Moderation outcome (new)
  • Condition GCSE14 – Review of Moderation (new)
  • Condition GCSE15 – Making Marked Assessment Materials available to Learners (new)
  • Condition GCSE16 – Administrative Error Review (new)
  • Condition GCSE17 – Review of marking of Marked Assessment Material (new)
  • Condition GCSE18 – Appeals process for GCSE Qualifications (new)
  • Condition GCSE19 – Centre decisions relating to Review and Appeal Arrangements (new)
  • Condition GCSE20 – Target performance in relation to Review and Appeal Arrangements and appeals process (new)
  • Condition GCSE21 – Reporting of data relating to Review and Appeal Arrangements and appeals process (new)
  • Condition GCSE22 – Review and Appeal Arrangements and certificates
  • Condition GCSE23 – Discovery of failure in assessment processes (new)
  • Condition GCSE24 – Publication of Review and Appeal Arrangements and appeals process (new)
  • Condition GCSE25 – Subjects for GCSE Qualifications (new)
  • Condition GCSE26 – Interpretation and Definitions (amended and renumbered)

Revisions in force 12 April 2016

  • Condition GCSE8 – Use of Calculators (new)
  • Condition GCSE9 – Interpretation and Definitions (amended and renumbered)

First published 9 April 2014

  1. Currently different provision is made for the specified levels of attainment to be used in spoken language assessments for GCSE Qualifications in English Language. ↩

  2. Any date which is set must comply with Condition GCSE17.3, including complying with the requirements set out in the table. ↩

  3. Under Condition GCSE20, awarding organisations are required to have and take all reasonable steps to meet a target for the time it will take to complete a review. ↩

  4. Under Condition GCSE17.7(a), awarding organisations are required to provide reasons for the outcome of the review on request, although they may specify a reasonable deadline for requests. Where Ofqual has published a notice under Condition GCSE17.8, awarding organisations will not need to set a date by which reasons for the outcome of the review must be requested. ↩

  5. Any date which is set must comply with Condition GCSE18.4, including complying with the requirements set out in the table. ↩

  6. Under Condition GCSE20, awarding organisations are required to have and take all reasonable steps to meet a target for the time it will take to complete an appeal. ↩

  7. Any date which is set must comply with Condition GCSE14.3, including complying with the requirements set out in the table. ↩

  8. Under Condition GCSE20, awarding organisations are required to have, and take all reasonable steps to meet, a target for the time it will take to complete a review. ↩

  9. Under Condition GCSE20, awarding organisations are required to have, and take all reasonable steps to meet, a target for the time it will take to complete a review and provide reasons. ↩

  10. Any date which is set must comply with Condition GCSE18.4, including complying with the requirements set out in the table. ↩

  11. Under Condition GCSE20, awarding organisations are required to have, and take all reasonable steps to meet, a target for the time it will take to complete an appeal.  ↩

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