Glossary of Exam Terms

A levels and AS levels

• Properly the Advanced General Certificate of Education (GCE - not to be confused with GCSE, see below).
• These days split into two stages: the AS (Advanced Subsidiary - not to be confused with the old Advanced Supplementary), which is also a qualification in its own right, and the A2, which isn't.
• The qualifications most people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland sit in the two years following the end of compulsory education - the sixth form or college equivalent.
• About 780,000 A-level results and about a million AS results will be issued, in more than 40 subjects.
• AS-levels are usually taken in three units in each subject, A2s in a further three to make up the whole A-level.
• Both are graded on a five-point scale from A to E, with U (unclassified) being a failure to make the grade.
• High-flying A-level candidates may also be entered for Advanced Extension Awards (AEAs), introduced in 17 subjects in 2002 to replace the old Special papers.
• They are based on the same learning as the A-levels but are more demanding.
• Those who pass get either distinction or merit grades, otherwise it's U for unclassified.

Vocational A-levels and AS-levels

• These are the Advanced Vocational Certificate of Education and the Advanced Subsidiary Vocational Certificate of Education.
• They cover 14 subjects such as hospitality and catering, and construction and the built environment.
• Grading is the same as for A-levels.
• A Vocational AS-level is tougher than an ordinary AS-level because it is assessed at the full A-level standard rather than assuming only half the learning.
• The new Advanced Vocational Certificate of Education Double Award consists of a minimum of six and maximum of eight compulsory units and a maximum of six optional units, designed to be taken over two years.
• It has replaced the Advanced GNVQ.
• It results in two related grades on a scale from A down to E, with U (unclassified) being a fail.

GCSEs

• The General Certificate of Secondary Education, introduced in 1988 to replace O-levels, was largely revamped in 2001 with new "specifications" for most subjects.
• They are taken by most students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in the fifth year of secondary school.
• There are more than 50 subjects in all, with individual students usually taking up to a dozen. About six million results are being published in 2003.
• GCSEs are graded from A* down to G, with U for those not making the grade.
• But not everyone can get every grade. In most subjects, the exams have two tiers aimed at students with differing levels of ability.
• The "higher" tier is targeted at those expected to achieve grades A* to D, while the "foundation" tier is targeted at grades C to G. If you have taken the foundation tier you cannot get more than a grade C no matter how well you do.
• Mathematics has three tiers while some subjects, such as history, art and religious studies, are not tiered.
• You cannot tell in the published results - or on students' certificates - which route they took.
• There are also GCSE Short Courses, equivalent to half GCSEs, in some subjects. These are also graded A* to G and U.
• GCSEs in vocational subjects have been introduced to replace GNVQs (see next section).
• The following titles are being taught: applied art and design, applied business, applied ICT, applied science, engineering, health and social care, leisure and tourism, and manufacturing.
• Courses began in September 2002 so the first results are due in the summer of 2004.

GNVQs

• General National Vocational Qualifications are taken at Foundation or Intermediate level in 14 sectors such as art and design, retail and distributive services, and business. They were introduced in 1994.
• A Foundation GNVQ is said to be broadly equivalent to four GCSEs at grades D-G.
• An Intermediate GNVQ is broadly equivalent to four GCSEs at grades A* to C. For that reason they can help secondary schools lift their league table standings - even though they were intended for post-16 study.
• This year there were about 18,000 Foundation entries and 90,000 Intermediate.
• Part One GNVQs - Foundation and Intermediate - are broadly equivalent to two GCSEs. There have been about 87,000 entries altogether.
• GNVQs are graded from distinction through merit down to pass with U (unclassified) being a fail.

Key Stages

The curriculum for each age group.

Key Stage 1 = infants

Key Stage 2 = juniors

Key Stage 3 = lower secondary school

Key Stage 4 = GCSE