Collection

GCSEs (9 to 1): requirements and guidance

Rules, regulations and guidance for GCSEs graded 9 to 1.

• From: Ofqual
• Published: 19 November 2014
• Last updated: 13 November 2025
  Show all updates

  1. 13 November 2025

     Added British Sign Language to the collection page.

  2. 14 June 2022

     Added the GCSE subject-level conditions and guidance for French, German and Spanish to apply to qualifications awarded after 1 June 2026.

  3. 13 May 2016

     Added film studies and media studies

  4. 11 May 2016

     Added sociology

  5. 6 May 2016

     Added ancient history, classical civilisation and statistics

  6. 21 April 2016

     Added Electronics

  7. 6 April 2016

     Added geology and psychology

  8. 17 March 2016

     Added astronomy, business and economics.

  9. 4 March 2016

     Added GCSE design & technology and GCSE engineering

  10. 24 July 2015

      Added conditions and guidance for drama

  11. 22 July 2015

      Added conditions and guidance for food preparation and nutrition

  12. 20 July 2015

      Added conditions and guidance for single and combined science to collection

  13. 8 July 2015

      Published new conditions and guidance for GCSE citizenship studies and physical education

  14. 10 June 2015

      Published new requirements and guidance for GCSE in religious studies

  15. 15 May 2015

      Published new requirements and guidance for GCSE computer science

  16. 22 April 2015

      Changed a passage that might be confusing as to when the grade descriptors are to be used.

  17. 26 March 2015

      Published requirements and guidance for GCSE ancient languages

  18. 18 March 2015

      Published new conditions and guidance for art and design, dance and music

  19. 6 February 2015

      Published new requirements and guidance for reformed GCSEs in geography, history and modern foreign languages (French, German and Spanish)

  20. 28 November 2014

      Added a link to the grade descriptions for 9 to 1 graded GCSEs.

  21. 19 November 2014

      First published.

This collection sets out rules, regulations and associated guidance for GCSEs graded 9 to 1.

For GCSEs awarded in 2021, please see GCSE subject-level conditions for 2021

You should also read the requirements for all awarding organisations and qualifications.

You can also read about the grade descriptions for GCSEs graded 9 to 1.

There are separate requirements for GCSEs graded A* to G.

All GCSEs (9 to 1)

• GCSE (9 to 1) qualification-level conditions and requirements
  • 14 July 2026
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) qualification-level guidance
  • 23 October 2023
  • Statutory guidance
• Specifications in relation to the reasonable adjustment of general qualifications
  • 19 September 2017
  • Regulation
• Accreditation requirement
  • 10 September 2026
  • Guidance

Ancient history

For teaching from September 2017

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for ancient history
  • 6 May 2016
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for ancient history
  • 6 May 2016
  • Statutory guidance

Ancient languages

For teaching from September 2016 (classical Greek and Latin) and September 2018 (biblical Hebrew)

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for ancient languages
  • 21 March 2018
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for ancient languages
  • 30 March 2017
  • Statutory guidance

Art and design

For teaching from September 2016

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for art and design
  • 18 March 2015
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for art and design
  • 18 March 2015
  • Statutory guidance

Astronomy

For teaching from September 2017.

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for astronomy
  • 19 May 2016
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for astronomy
  • 15 March 2016
  • Statutory guidance

British Sign Language

• Rules for GCSE qualifications in British Sign Language
  • 13 November 2025
  • Consultation outcome
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for British Sign Language
  • 13 November 2025
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for British Sign Language
  • 13 November 2025
  • Statutory guidance

Business

For teaching from September 2017.

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for business
  • 15 March 2016
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for business
  • 15 March 2016
  • Statutory guidance

Citizenship studies

For teaching from September 2016

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for citizenship studies
  • 8 July 2015
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for citizenship studies
  • 8 July 2015
  • Statutory guidance

Classical civilisation

For teaching from September 2017

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for classical civilisation
  • 6 May 2016
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for classical civilisation
  • 6 May 2016
  • Statutory guidance

Combined science (double award)

For teaching from September 2016

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for combined science
  • 13 July 2015
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for combined science
  • 13 July 2015
  • Statutory guidance

Computer science

For teaching from September 2016

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject level conditions and requirements for computer science
  • 18 February 2019
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for computer science
  • 26 June 2019
  • Statutory guidance

Dance

For teaching from September 2016

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for dance
  • 29 January 2019
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for dance
  • 16 March 2015
  • Statutory guidance

Design and technology

For teaching from September 2017

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for design and technology
  • 1 March 2016
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for design and technology
  • 1 March 2016
  • Statutory guidance

Drama

For teaching from September 2016

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for drama
  • 20 April 2017
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for drama
  • 24 July 2015
  • Statutory guidance

Economics

For teaching from September 2017

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for economics
  • 15 March 2016
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for economics
  • 15 March 2016
  • Statutory guidance

Electronics

For teaching from September 2017

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for electronics
  • 21 April 2016
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for electronics
  • 21 April 2016
  • Statutory guidance

Engineering

For teaching from September 2017

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for engineering
  • 1 March 2016
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for engineering
  • 1 March 2016
  • Statutory guidance

English language

For teaching from September 2015

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for English language
  • 27 July 2015
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject level guidance for English language
  • 17 July 2015
  • Statutory guidance

English literature

For teaching from September 2015

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for English literature
  • 27 July 2015
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for English literature
  • 23 May 2014
  • Statutory guidance

Film studies

For teaching from September 2017

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for film studies
  • 13 May 2016
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for film studies
  • 13 May 2016
  • Statutory guidance

Food preparation and nutrition

For teaching from September 2016

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions for food preparation and nutrition
  • 22 July 2015
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for food preparation and nutrition
  • 22 July 2015
  • Statutory guidance

Geography

For teaching from September 2016

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for geography
  • 11 March 2015
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for geography
  • 11 March 2015
  • Statutory guidance

Geology

For teaching from September 2017

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for geology
  • 5 April 2016
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for geology
  • 5 April 2016
  • Statutory guidance

History

For teaching from September 2016

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for history
  • 6 February 2015
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for history
  • 6 February 2015
  • Statutory guidance

Mathematics

For teaching from September 2015

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for mathematics
  • 16 February 2017
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for mathematics
  • 30 June 2015
  • Statutory guidance

Media studies

For teaching from September 2017

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for media studies
  • 13 May 2016
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for media studies
  • 13 May 2016
  • Statutory guidance

Modern foreign languages

The GCSE subject-level conditions and guidance for modern foreign languages apply to qualifications for teaching from September 2016 (French, German and Spanish) and from September 2017 (other languages).

The GCSE subject-level conditions and guidance for French, German and Spanish will apply to qualifications in French, German and Spanish awarded after 1 June 2026.

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for modern foreign languages
  • 12 January 2023
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for modern foreign languages
  • 18 April 2016
  • Statutory guidance
• GCSE subject-level conditions and requirements for French, German and Spanish
  • 16 February 2023
  • Regulation
• GCSE subject-level guidance for French, German and Spanish
  • 14 June 2022
  • Statutory guidance

Music

For teaching from September 2016

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for music
  • 29 January 2019
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for music
  • 16 March 2015
  • Statutory guidance

Physical education

For teaching from September 2016

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for physical education
  • 6 January 2021
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for physical education
  • 27 May 2016
  • Statutory guidance

Psychology

For teaching from September 2017

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for psychology
  • 5 April 2016
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for psychology
  • 8 April 2016
  • Statutory guidance

Religious studies

For teaching from September 2016

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for religious studies
  • 24 June 2015
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for religious studies
  • 17 June 2015
  • Statutory guidance

Single science (biology, chemistry and physics)

For teaching from September 2016

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for single science
  • 13 July 2015
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for single science
  • 13 July 2015
  • Statutory guidance

Sociology

For teaching from September 2017

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for sociology
  • 11 May 2016
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for sociology
  • 11 May 2016
  • Statutory guidance

Statistics

For teaching from September 2017

• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for statistics
  • 6 May 2016
  • Regulation
• GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level guidance for statistics
  • 6 May 2016
  • Statutory guidance