Last updated: 07 Mar 2008

The regulators have produced qualification criteria for all GCSEs and subject criteria for most GCSE subjects. Awarding bodies write specifications to meet these criteria, and the regulators accredit specifications against these criteria for use in schools and colleges.

The qualification criteria give broad rules on the structure of GCSEs and their assessment and grading.

The subject criteria explain the general aims of studying the subject at GCSE, outline the core material (knowledge, understanding and skills) for all specifications in the subject, and indicate the assessment objectives and the scheme of assessment. For subjects offered by more than one awarding body, the criteria ensure that there is comparability between specifications. The subject criteria include grade descriptions describing the typical performance of candidates at grades A, C and F in GCSE examinations. These relate to the specific assessment objectives for the subject.

The qualification and subject criteria for are available to download from this page.