Guidance

GCSE and A level differences in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Document and infographic explaining the similarities and differences in qualifications regulated in each jurisdiction.

Applies to England, Northern Ireland and Wales

Documents

Statement from the qualifications regulators on changes to GCSEs, AS and A levels

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GCSEs, AS and A levels: common features and differences infographic 2019

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GCSEs, AS and A levels: common features and differences infographic Welsh

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Details

GCSEs, AS and A levels in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are changing, and will be different in most subjects in each jurisdiction.

Some differences are immediately noticeable, such as the grading scale for GCSEs or the relationship of AS and A levels. Others are less apparent, for example, differences in subject content or assessment methods. All GCSE and A level qualifications continue to share important common features. In particular, they remain of the same size and equally recognise the achievements of the same cohort of students.

The attached documents explain the similarities and differences in these qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Published 29 November 2016
Last updated 15 August 2019 + show all updates
  1. Updated HTML and PDF attachments to reflect status of reforms in 2019. Moved 'subject-level arrangements' A level and GCSE tables to another page.

  2. Minor update to 'Statement from the qualification regulators on changes to GCSEs, AS and A levels' and 'GCSEs, AS and A levels: common features and key differences infographic'.

  3. Added the document as a PDF in addition to HTML.

  4. First published.