Qualifications

Which qualifications can international students take with London Examinations?

Want to gain a world-class qualification that will be recognised by employers and educational institutions in your home country and around the world? Fancy spending some time studying and living in a foreign country? Need to improve your English skills?

Which qualifications can international students take with London Examinations?

International students can take Edexcel GCSE, GCE Advanced Subsidiary, Advanced GCE and GCE Advanced Extension Awards in the same way as students in the UK.

In addition, international students are able to take two types of Edexcel examinations that are solely or mainly available to international students - GCE O levels and IGCSE:

GCE Ordinary Levels

It is no surprise that the GCE Ordinary level (O level) is perhaps the best known qualification taken by international students - it has been the course of choice in scores of countries for decades.

O levels are normally taken over two years and students tend to study between seven and ten subjects at a time. English Language and Mathematics are the two most popular subjects because students are normally required to pass these subjects with a grade C or above in order to enter UK universities. There are many other subjects available, ranging from Armenian to Pure Mathematics, so that students can choose from a wide range of study.

At the end of two years students sit a final examination that determines their grade. There is coursework for only one subject, Computing. The remaining subjects have either one or two paper examinations.

All subjects are graded in the same way, with A, B, C, D and E being pass grades and U being a fail.

IGCSE

The London Examinations IGCSE is a new qualification that embraces the best of O level and GCSE. IGCSEs are our most up-to-date qualifications.

Most IGCSEs have a coursework option, which means that students will be able to complete coursework if their school has entered for this option. What is more, many IGCSE subjects have a distinct international element, which allows students to localise their study and produce work which is more relevant to them.

As with O levels and GCSEs, examinations are normally taken at the end of two years, with the coursework (when taken) submitted in the second year.

IGCSEs are tiered in the same way as GCSEs, to cater for the different needs of learners. Foundation and Higher tier papers allow both more able and less able students the opportunity to gain good results.

IGCSEs are graded in the same way as GCSEs, namely A* to G and U for a fail. Foundation Tier papers will normally have a grade range of C-G whereas Higher Tier papers will normally have a grade range of A*-D.

GCE AS and A level

2004 A level Guide is a very useful introduction to A levels produced by QCA.

GCE Advanced Extension Award (AEA)

AEA aims to challenge the most able advanced level students by providing opportunities for students to demonstrate greater depth of understanding than that required at Advanced GCE. AEA ensures that the most able students are tested against standards comparable with the most demanding to be found in other countries. They are accessible to all able students, whatever their school or college and whichever specification they are studying, so that significantly more young people have the opportunity to take them. AEA helps to differentiate between the most able candidates, particularly in subjects with a high proportion of A grades at Advanced GCE, to support universities in selection. AEAs are aimed at the top 10% of students nationally in each subject. Subjects to be offered by Edexcel as AEAs are History, Mathematics, Religious Studies and Spanish.

GCSEs – General Certificate of Secondary Education

General Certificates in Secondary Education (GCSEs) are taken by the majority of students at the end of Key Stage 4 (covering Years 10 and 11, students aged 14-16). They indicate that you have achieved a certain level of general education and give you a route into higher level qualifications such as NVQs, a BTEC First or National Diploma, AS and A levels or a Modern Apprenticeship.

There are more than 50 different subject areas to choose from at GCSE.

GCSEs are assessed and marked in a variety of ways, covering both coursework and examinations, giving you marks for all the things you do well. GCSE results are reported on a scale of grades from A*-G. Those students who do not achieve the standard required for a grade G are reported with a ‘U’. In most subjects, examinations are tiered. The Higher tier is targeted at grades A*-D, while the Foundation tier is targeted at grades C-G. Mathematics has three tiers, while some subjects, like History and Art, have none.

Want to gain a world-class qualification that will be recognised by employers and educational institutions in your home country and around the world? Fancy spending some time studying and living in a foreign country? Need to improve your English skills?

If you’ve answered ‘Yes’ to any of these questions, you need to join the Edexcel International Student Club! Sign up for this completely free service and you’ll be kept up to date with all the latest on Edexcel International study opportunities around the world.

Visit the Edexcel International Student Club to sign-up today!