Guidance

GCSE and A level differences in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Document and infographic explaining the similarities and differences in qualifications regulated in each jurisdiction.

• From: Ofqual
• Published: 29 November 2016
• Last updated: 15 August 2019 — See all updates

Applies to England, Northern Ireland and Wales

Documents

Statement from the qualification regulators on changes to GCSEs, AS and A levels

Ref: Ofqual/17/6257

HTML

Statement from the qualifications regulators on changes to GCSEs, AS and A levels

Ref: Ofqual/19/6530

PDF, 309 KB, 5 pages

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GCSEs, AS and A levels: common features and differences infographic 2019

PDF, 1.4 MB, 2 pages

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GCSEs, AS and A levels: common features and differences infographic Welsh

PDF, 1.4 MB, 2 pages

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Details

GCSEs, AS and A levels in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are changing, and will be different in most subjects in each jurisdiction.

Some differences are immediately noticeable, such as the grading scale for GCSEs or the relationship of AS and A levels. Others are less apparent, for example, differences in subject content or assessment methods. All GCSE and A level qualifications continue to share important common features. In particular, they remain of the same size and equally recognise the achievements of the same cohort of students.

The attached documents explain the similarities and differences in these qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Published 29 November 2016
Last updated 15 August 2019 + show all updates

1. 15 August 2019

   Updated HTML and PDF attachments to reflect status of reforms in 2019. Moved 'subject-level arrangements' A level and GCSE tables to another page.

2. 3 August 2017

   Minor update to 'Statement from the qualification regulators on changes to GCSEs, AS and A levels' and 'GCSEs, AS and A levels: common features and key differences infographic'.

3. 16 December 2016

   Added the document as a PDF in addition to HTML.

4. 29 November 2016

   First published.