GCSE
Education & Academia abbreviation · Standardized Test
| Stands for | General Certificate of Secondary Education |
|---|---|
| Categories | Education & Academia |
GCSE stands for General Certificate of Secondary Education, a standardized test abbreviation.
Subject qualifications taken by most students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland at about age 16, at the end of Year 11 in England. Students usually sit eight to ten subjects, and in England grades run from 9 (highest) to 1, with 4 a "standard pass" and 5 a "strong pass".
Example: You need five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English and maths, to start the A level program.
Usage notes
GCSEs replaced O levels and CSEs in 1988. England switched from letter grades (A* to G) to numbers between 2017 and 2019, while Wales and Northern Ireland kept letter-based systems. Students in England who miss grade 4 in English or maths must keep studying them until 18. Scotland uses its own National 5 qualifications.
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