Are you thinking about which subjects you would like to take GCSEs in? Are you about to sit your final exams? Do you want to know what happens to your exam paper after you hand it in? If so, read on – this booklet is for you.

GCSE stands for General Certificate of Secondary Education. GCSEs are normally sat by 15- to 18-year-olds in schools and colleges across the country, but they are available to anyone who would like to gain a qualification in a subject in which they are interested. Although there are other qualifications out there, most 15- to 16-year-olds take GCSEs in some subjects.

GCSEs are available in over 45 subjects, from English and maths to economics and psychology. There are eight GCSEs in vocational subjects that relate to work in a particular vocational area, such as health and social care or engineering. So, the good news is that there are almost certainly subjects you will find exciting and interesting.

You can study GCSEs alongside other qualifications such as National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs), other vocational qualifications, key skills and various information and communication technology (ICT) qualifications.