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UK GCSE

Summary

If you go to the UK after finishing Form 3 or Form 4, if you are 14 years old or above, you will study 2 years of British GCSE. If you are 15 years old or above, you will study 1 year of GCSE. You are welcome to learn about the distribution of scores for different GCSE subjects.

 

GCSE Introduction

Students usually study 8-10 GCSE subjects in UK boarding schools or Sixth Form Colleges when they are 14-15 years old, which is Year 10 and 11. The subjects for A level are chosen according to GCSE results.

The biggest difference between a British boarding school and a British preparatory school, Sixth Form College, is the learning environment. The former is a completely closed-door school, while the latter's strengths are the diversity of subjects and extremely small class teaching environment, and the extracurricular arrangements are more flexible.

British boarding schools generally start Year 9, when the age of 13 begins to teach GCSE courses. Therefore, Year 9 is the year with the largest number of students in British boarding schools . Students who are 11 or 12 years old should start to inquire about the best time to study Year 9 in the UK. Please feel free to contact Maxway .

 

 

GCSE results

GCSE results are expressed in numbers. If students want to go to the Sixth Form (i.e. Form 6 or Form 7), they generally need 5 GCSEs with a grade of 5 or above. Secondary schools in the UK will decide which A levels you can take based on which GCSE subjects you have scored 5 or above.

 

GCSE 9 = A Level (High A* grade)

GCSE 8 = A Level (Lower A* or High A)

GCSE 7 = A Level (Lower A grade)

GCSE 6 = A Level (High B grade)

GCSE 5 = A Level (Lower B or High C)

GCSE 4 = A Level (Lower C grade)

GCSE 3 = A Level (D or High E)

GCSE 2 = A Level (Lower E or High F)

GCSE 1 = A Level (Lower F or G)

U = Unclassified

 

 

GCSE vs IGCSE

  • IGCSE has 70 subjects to choose from, and there are two exams a year, in June and November, and the results are announced two months after the exams. IGCSE results only include exams, not school assessments, and are suitable for students in the UK or outside the UK. The IGCSE curriculum content and subject selection are internationalized, removing the parts that are only applicable to the UK. For example: IGCSE has different versions of English and mathematics and "niche" languages, while GCSE does not.
  • There are 40 GCSE subjects, which are examined in May every year. GCSE results are composed of in-school assessments and examinations.
  • Below is a comparison of the proportion of candidates who got A in IGCSE and GCSE subjects:

 

IGCSE (Cambridge Exam Board)
GCSE (Pearson Edexcel Exam Board)

 

Accounting
IGCSE 51.6%
GCSE N/A

Additional Math
IGCSE 75%
GCSE N/A

Art & Design
IGCSE 18%
GCSE 34.6%

Biology
IGCSE 57%
GCSE 55.1%

Business Studies
IGCSE 20.8%
GCSE 32.6%

Chemistry
IGCSE 61.9%
GCSE 54.6%

Combined Science
IGCSE 43.3%
GCSE 15.6%

Computer Science
IGCSE 64%
GCSE 41.7%

Double Science
IGCSE 78.1%
GCSE N/A

Economics
IGCSE 31.8 %
GCSE N/A

English as Second Language
IGCSE 41.9%
GCSE N/A

Environmental Management
IGCSE 52.8%
GCSE N/ A

First Language English
IGCSE 36.2%
GCSE 20.3%

French
IGCSE 52.8%
GCSE 32.3%

Geography
IGCSE 51.5%
GCSE 37.3%

History
IGCSE 54%
GCSE 34.2%

ICT
IGCSE 47.6%
GCSE 36.3%

International Math
IGCSE 76.4%
GCSE N/A

Literature in English
IGCSE 57.8%
GCSE 28.3%

Math
IGCSE 51.9%
GCSE 21 %

Spanish
IGCSE 61.3%
GCSE 33.6%

Physics
IGCSE 62.4%
GCSE 55.9%

 

 

GCSE related reading

  • British secondary schools : 6 major questions about British secondary schools to help you comprehensively choose British secondary school courses, types and study abroad time
  • Secondary school tuition fees in the UK : How much does it cost to start studying GCSE?
  • British secondary school system : Understand what grade you will study in the UK at the following age?
  • UK course selection : What courses are available for different ages in the UK? What are the differences in the requirements for students in different courses? A comprehensive understanding will help you choose the time to study in the UK
 
Find out how to arrange UK boarding school based on your ambition, budget and grades.
 
 
 

GCSE FAQs

 

  • Admission requirements for UK universities : UK universities have specific requirements for secondary school elective subjects for science and engineering majors. If you do not have relevant science subjects after Form 4, even if you have passed the DSE, you will need to pass the Foundation to choose subjects for admission to the UK universities of your choice because your secondary school subjects are not suitable. Therefore, consider taking GCSE to make up for the relevant science and math elective subjects first, and then take A level to increase your chances of admission to the UK universities of your choice.

 

  • British boarding schools : If you study GCSE in the UK, you will have to wait at least 3 years before going to university. Learn how to choose a British boarding school
  • Sixth Form College, a British preparatory school : Sixth Form College has good academic performance and first-class learning facilities, but I am a student who requires the ability to manage my time independently. Is it suitable for me?
 

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