About GCSEs, AS and A levels
General information about GCSEs, AS and A levels, and how we regulate them.
Department for Education
The Department for Education is responsible for curriculum. It also sets the subject content for GCSEs, AS and A levels.
Ofqual
Ofqual decides (using a process called ‘recognition’) which organisations can offer GCSEs, AS and A levels and sets the rules for assessing the subject content.
We do not regulate schools or colleges and so we do not place any requirements directly on them. But some of our rules for the exam boards affect the way they must interact with schools and colleges and the obligations exam boards place on them. This reflects the important role schools and colleges play in making sure the qualifications system works effectively and fairly.
Exam boards
We have approved 4 exam boards to award GCSE, AS and A level qualifications in England:
Exam boards develop and award GCSEs, AS and A levels based on the subject content and following our rules about assessment.
For some aspects of the qualification system, the exam boards adopt common ways of working. For example, the timetable of summer examinations, to make sure there are as few clashes as possible. This makes it easier for schools and colleges and helps make sure that we have a qualification system that is fair to all, regardless of the exam board used. When the exam boards work together in this way, they generally do so through the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), their membership body.
We set a number of rules that apply to GCSEs, AS and A levels. Some apply to all regulated qualifications; others are specific to GCSEs or to AS and A levels. All our rules are published on our website.
Qualification specifications
Exam boards must publish a specification for each qualification. The specification must include:
- the knowledge, skills and understanding which will be assessed, giving a clear indication of their coverage and depth
- how it will be assessed
- how it will be graded
- any sample assessment materials and their mark schemes
Entries
We do not set rules on how exam boards handle entries from schools and colleges. Exam boards have their own arrangements and set their entry deadlines. Exam boards work together through JCQ to agree common deadlines.
To help them with their planning, the exam boards may ask schools and colleges for early indications of their expected entries. We encourage schools and colleges to give exam boards this information as this should help the system run efficiently and effectively.
Some GCSE subjects have different tiers of entry (foundation or higher). The subjects with tiers of entry are:
- maths
- combined science
- physics
- chemistry
- biology
- statistics
- modern foreign languages
Where GCSEs are tiered, it is important that students are entered appropriately. Available grades are:
- Foundation tier: 5 to 1 (5-5 to 1-1 in combined science)
- Higher tier: 9 to 4 (9-9 to 4-4 on combined science) with a narrow ‘safety net’ grade 3 (4-3 in combined science) for those students who just miss grade 4 (or 4-4). Higher tier students who do not achieve enough marks for that safety net grade will receive an unclassified result (U).
A student who is expected to achieve a grade 4 or grade 5 should be entered for foundation tier. A grade 4 gained on foundation tier is the same as a grade 4 gained on the higher tier, and this is also the case for grade 5. Exam boards are required to make sure that it is no easier or more difficult to achieve a grade 4 or 5 on higher or foundation tier. There is nothing on certificates that details the tier of entry.
Accrediting GCSEs, AS and A levels
Exam boards can only award GCSEs, AS and A levels we have accredited.
We only accredit qualifications when we are confident the exam board can comply with the requirements for the qualification on an ongoing basis.
Resits in GCSEs, AS and A levels
Most exams for GCSEs, AS and A levels take place in May or June each year. That means most students who want to resit a GCSE, AS or A level will need to wait until the following summer to do so.
In GCSE English language and GCSE mathematics, exams are also available in November, but only for students who were aged 16 or above on 31 August of that year.
In 2020 and 2021, following the cancellation of examinations that were due to take place in the summer, an extraordinary autumn series was provided to allow students the opportunity to sit examinations. As exams are expected to go ahead as planned, we do not expect there to be an autumn series in 2022, though November exams in GCSE English language and maths will be available as usual.