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Regulation

GCSE (9 to 1) qualification-level conditions and requirements

Rules and regulations for all GCSEs (9 to 1).

Updates to this page

From:
Ofqual
Published:
9 April 2014
Last updated:
14 July 2026
Show all updates

  1. Conditions 4.3 to 4.8 have been updated to reflect new requirements about stimulus materials.

  2. Updates to reflect GCSE Qualification Level Conditions and Requirements decisions made in November 2024. The changes to Condition GCSE4: Assessment by Examination give effect to the decision that awarding organisations will be required to provide stimulus materials for GCSE mathematics, physics and combined science exams in 2025, 2026 and 2027.

  3. Removed Condition GCSE4.8.

  4. Updates to reflect GCSE Qualification Level Conditions and Requirements decisions made in December 2023. The changes give effect to the decision that awarding organisations will be required to provide stimulus materials for GCSE mathematics, physics and combined science exams in 2024.

  5. Updates to reflect GCSE Qualification Level Conditions and Requirements decisions made January 2023.

  6. Qualification Level Conditions for GCSE qualifications have had minor amendments to address a possible ambiguity in the interpretation provisions, and remove redundant Conditions that were in place to bring reform into effect over a number of years. These are minor changes, and awarding organisations will not need to take any action as a result of these amendments. The changes will have no practical effect for students or any other user of qualifications. For GCSE (9 to 1) Qualification Level Conditions and Requirements we have amended the interpretation provision at Condition GCSE25. We have also removed redundant Conditions used to bring reform into effect.

  7. Added new requirements for 2022 assessments to Condition GCSE4.

  8. Document updated to reflect changes following consultation on reviews of marking, moderation and appeals, and put into new brand template

  9. Removed expired transitional provisions

  10. Incorporated requirements for key dates. Added link to published notices.

  11. Updated to include standard setting Condition and requirements. Published requirements for key dates for reviews of marking, reviews of moderation and appeals.

  12. Updated following introduction of our rules and guidance for enquiries and appeals

  13. Added regulations for reviews and appeals.

  14. Added new rules about use of calculators

  15. First published.

Applies to England

Documents

GCSE (9 to 1) Qualification Level Conditions and Requirements

Ref: Ofqual/24/7190

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Details

These documents set out rules and regulations for all GCSEs (9 to 1).

Read the associated guidance to understand how to comply with these rules.

You should also read the relevant subject-level conditions and our requirements for all qualifications.

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