General Certificates of Secondary Education (GCSE)

General Certificates of Secondary Education (GCSE) represent the first stage on the path to study at a UK university. Most universities will ask for at least 5 GCSE passes for entry.GCSE course content is broken up into units, each unit is taught in a linear structure, with an emphasis on understanding the connection between topics within the wider context of the subject.

Depending on the duration of studies, GCSE students will take between 6-9 subjects. GCSEs provide a great grounding, offering students a wide breadth of subjects, time to familiarise themselves with the UK education system and improve their English (English Language is a compulsory GCSE subject).GCSEs also provide a natural pathway to A Levels, and students who have taken them tend to perform better in higher level examinations.