Requirements: N/A

Description:
The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is a qualification awarded in a specific subject. GCSEs are generally taken by students aged 14-16 in secondary school. Some GCSEs are compulsory (in core subjects such as English and Maths) and the rest are chosen by students (normally totalling ten different subjects). At the end of the two-year GCSE course, candidates receive a grade for each subject, from A*-G. Students must obtain GCSEs at grade C or above in English, Maths and Science to progress to Higher Education at university level.

An alternative to GCSEs is the BTEC First Diploma. This is a vocational qualification that is equivalent to 4 GCSE grades A*-C. This qualification is available in many different subjects.

Another alternative is the 14-19 Higher Diploma. This is a level 2 qualification, equivalent to seven GCSEs at grades A*-C.

Progression:
After successfully completing GCSEs or equivalents, you can progress to a Level 3 qualification, such as A-Levels, BTECs or an Advanced Diploma.