● National Curriculum qualifications taken by students aged 14-16 (Years 10 and 11), the step before A Levels or IB.
● Students must take a minimum of five GCSEs but most choose more, typically up to nine.
● Maths, English, and Science are mandatory subjects.
● Science can be taken as either a combined or triple science.
● Schools can choose which exam board they use and often use a combination of different exam boards for different subjects.
What is the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE)?
● GCSEs developed with international students in mind.
● They have a more international approach and ensure there are no barriers during assessment for international students.
● More language courses available for students to study their native language.
How are GCSEs/IGCSEs assessed?
● GCSEs/IGCSEs are assessed through exams taken at the end of the second year of GCSE (Year 11).
● Some courses might have a coursework component.
● Grades range from 9 (highest) to 1 (lowest).
How Can HBA Support Students with GCSEs/IGCSEs?
HBA supports students preparing for GCSEs/IGCSEs in the following ways:
● Tutoring from highly qualified tutors across all subjects.
● Academic coaching.
● School holiday revision camp at the Istanbul office.
London schools GCSE league table 2023
| RANK | SCHOOL | GCSE (A*/A%) | GENDER | BOARDING |
| 1 | North London Collegiate School | 99.00% | Girls | Day |
| 2 | St Paul’s Girls’ School | 98.90% | Girls | Day |
| 3 | Wycombe Abbey School | 97.50% | Girls | Day, Boarding |
| 4 | King’s College School Wimbledon | 97.10% | Co-ed | Day |
| 5 | Guildford High School for Girls | 97.00% | Girls | Day |
| 6 | The Godolphin and Latymer School | 96.80% | Girls | Day |
| 7 | Westminster School | 96.30% | Co-ed | Day, Boarding |
| 8 | St Paul’s School | 96.00% | Boys | Day, Boarding |
| 9 | City of London School for Girls | 95.00% | Girls | Day |
| 10 | South Hampstead High School | 94.30% | Girls | Day |
Useful Links
UK School League Table Source:
https://www.topschoolguide.com/uk/league-tables/schools-by-region/best-schools-in-london/
British Government Website
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gcses-as-and-a-levels-a-guide-for-students-in-england/asdf
UK University Information
https://qips.ucas.com/qip/general-certificate-of-secondary-education-gcse-graded-9-1-ofqual-accredited
UK Exam Boards
GCSE: AQA, OCR, and Pearson
IGCSE: Cambridge, Pearson Edexcel, and OxfordAQA