General Certificate of Secondary Education facts for kids
The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is a group of important exams that students take in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and other British areas. Students usually take these exams when they are 15 or 16 years old. They study for two years before taking their GCSEs. Some students might take them earlier if their teachers think they are ready. Most students study between 5 and 12 subjects for their GCSEs.
Everyone has to study English, mathematics, and science until they are 15 or 16. While they don't have to take the GCSE exams for these subjects, most students do. In Wales, students also need to study Welsh until they are 14.
To move on to higher studies like A-levels, most schools require students to pass at least 5 GCSE exams. These usually need to be at grades 4 or 5 or higher.
In 2020, the GCSE exams were cancelled for the very first time. This happened because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Contents
GCSE Subjects You Can Study
Many of the subjects listed here might not be offered at every school.
Subjects Everyone Studies
In all schools, students must study Mathematics, Science, and English Language and Literature.
Creative Arts and Design
- Art
- Art Textiles
- Film Studies
- Textiles
- Music
- Design and Technology
- Drama
- Dance
- Performing arts
- Food Technology
Learning Languages
- Modern foreign languages like: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Urdu and Welsh
- Classical languages like: Classical Greek, Biblical Hebrew and Latin
Technology and Engineering
- Electronics
- Engineering and Manufacturing (Double Award)
- Graphic Products
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
- Applied ICT (Double Award)
- Product Design
- Electronics with Resistant Materials
- Resistant Materials
- Systems and Control Technology
- Textiles
- IT
People, Places, and History
- Humanities
- Geography
- Religious Studies
- History
- Citizenship
- Philosophy & Ethics
- Economics
- Hinduism
- Islamic Studies
Society and Health
- Citizenship (Personal Social Health Education)
- Health and Social Care (Double Award)
- Home Economics: Child Development
- Home Economics: Food and Nutrition
- Law
- Psychology
- Social Science
- Sociology
Natural Sciences
Other Interesting Subjects
- Further Mathematics
- Applied Business (Double Award)
- Archaeology
- Business Studies
- Business and Communication Systems
- General Studies
- Outdoor Pursuits
- Physical Education (PE)
- Sports Studies
- Statistics
- Media Studies
What Comes After GCSEs?
After you finish your GCSEs, you might choose to study for A-levels. These are more advanced exams that you take before going to university or starting a job.
- International GCSE - These are similar to GCSEs but are designed for students whose first language is not English.
- Standard Grades - These are similar exams taken by students in Scotland.
See also
In Spanish: Certificado General de Educación Secundaria (GCSE) (Reino Unido) para niños
