Last updated: 26 Mar 2009

The regulators (Ofqual, DCELLS and CCEA) are responsible for the qualification criteria and subject criteria for GCSEs. Qualification criteria give broad rules on the structure of GCSEs and their assessment and grading. Subject criteria provide the framework within which awarding bodies create the detail of GCSE specifications. The criteria set out the knowledge, understanding, skills, assessment objectives and scheme of assessment common to all specifications in a given subject. For subjects offered by more than one awarding body, the criteria ensure that there is comparability between specifications.

Why change the criteria?

Changes to the secondary curriculum in England, parallel curriculum developments in Wales and Northern Ireland, and the development of new qualifications, including Diplomas, provided an opportunity to revise GCSE qualifications significantly. Find out more in GCSE criteria: development and consultation.

Awarding bodies have written specifications to meet the new criteria. The regulators have reviewed these specifications against the criteria and accredited them for use in schools and colleges . Visit individual awarding body’s websites for more information.

New specifications for most GCSE subjects will start in September 2009. In September 2010, specifications for GCSEs in English, English language, English literature, ICT and mathematics – will start. New specifications for GCSEs in science will start in September 2012.

The criteria are available from Ofqual’s website (see the link on the right of this page).

Controlled assessment

As part of the changes to the 2009 GCSEs, controlled assessment has been introduced for all GCSE subjects with internal assessment. Find out more and see example controlled assessments.