GCSE

GCSE stands for General Certificate of Secondary Education. It is a qualification awarded in the United Kingdom, typically taken by students in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland at the end of compulsory secondary education, around age 15 to 16 after a two-year course known as Key Stage 4. The GCSE emerged in the 1980s to replace the previous O-level and CSE qualifications and has since become the main benchmark for secondary achievement. Most subjects are assessed primarily by written examinations taken at the end of the course; some subjects include controlled assessments, coursework, or practical components, and a few languages or arts subjects may include speaking tests.

GCSEs are graded on a numeric scale in England, with 9 the highest grade and 1 the lowest; a grade 4 is viewed as a standard pass, and grades 5 and above are often described as strong passes. Wales has adopted a similar 9–1 scale for its GCSEs, while Northern Ireland uses a related system and some subjects still report in older scales. Examinations are set and awarded by independent exam boards, the main ones being AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, and WJEC, each offering a wide range of GCSEs.

Results are used for progression to further study, including A-levels or vocational qualifications, as well as for entry to apprenticeships and some employment. Developments in the 2010s and 2020s have focused on increasing assessment rigor, standardization across boards, and clearer links to tertiary education and the labour market.