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	Main qualification groups home

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GCSEs

During the 1970s it was decided that the GCE O level and CSE should be merged to form a new single system of examining at 16+. It was agreed that the new qualification should be based on general and subject-specific criteria.

The change was designed to make the examinations much more inclusive, and it encouraged many more young people to study and enter qualifications at 16. The new qualification was called the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) and it was introduced in 1986 with first examinations in 1988.

GCSEs remain the same today although are now more widely available to all 14-19 students and are often used as an entry requirement for level 3 study. The most recent revisions to GCSE qualifications were introduced in September 2001, with the first qualifications being awarded in the summer of 2003.

In 2001 the Government decided to introduce new GCSEs in vocational subjects to give a vocational option to all young people and to promote vocational learning. The new GCSEs are currently available in eight applied subjects and are Double Awards (twice the size of an academic GCSE). They became available for courses starting in September 2002, with the first awards being made in the summer of 2004.

QCA Online Shop publication

> GCSE, GCE, VCE and GNVQ code of practice 2001/2 (QCA ref : QCA/01/783)
> A brief guide for careers services on qualifications at level 2 (QCA ref: QCA/00/600)
> GCSEs in vocational subjects (QCA ref: QCA/02/906)

QCA web links

> The story of the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE)
> GCSE subject criteria
> GCSEs in vocational subjects