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Primary and secondary education

How is primary and secondary education organised in England, Wales and Northern Ireland? To which Dutch diplomas can you compare diplomas from England, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Primary and secondary education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, primary education lasts for 6 years. It is compulsory for all children between the ages of 5 and 11.

Secondary education in England, Wales en Northern Ireland lasts for 7 years. Students complete the following 2 stages:

Cambridge International offers the Cambridge Pre-U Diploma as an alternative to the GCE A levels in the United Kingdom. There are international variants of British qualifications as well, for example international GCE AS levels and A levels. See International GCSE/O level/AS and A level.

General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE)

Students conclude lower secondary education with exams for a General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE). They take their exams via an examining board.

  • Duration : 5 years.
  • Content: students themselves select their exam subjects, and also decide how many subjects they want to take exams in. The number of examination subjects per pupil ranges usually between 5 and 10. English is always a compulsory subject.
  • Function of the diploma: access to upper secondary education (General Certificate of Education AS levels or A levels) and secondary vocational education.
  • Diploma: General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE).

We compare a General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) obtained with a result of D to G or 3 to 1 for 6 subjects to a VMBO-T diploma.

We compare a General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) obtained with a result of A* to C or 9 to 4 for 6 subjects to at least a VMBO-T diploma.

Please note: 'at least a VMBO-T diploma' means that the diploma has a higher level than a VMBO-T diploma, but a lower level than a HAVO diploma. The level of the diploma lies between a VMBO-T diploma and a HAVO diploma.

General Certificate of Education (GCE) AS levels and A levels

Students conclude upper secondary education with exams for a General Certificate of Education (GCE) advanced subsidiary levels (AS levels) or advanced level (A levels). They take their exams via an examining board.

  • Duration: 1 year (AS levels), 2 years (A levels).
  • Content: students themselves select their subjects, and also decide how many subjects they want to take exams in. Students can choose from 2 different levels:
    • advanced subsidiary levels (AS levels); or
    • advanced levels (A levels).
      AS levels involve approximately half the study hours compared with A levels. In addition, AS level exams are at a lower level than A level exams. A levels usually involve exams in 3 subjects, because British universities typically require 3 relevant A levels for admission.
  • Function of the diploma:
    • GCE AS levels: in principle, direct access to higher education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is not possible with only AS levels.
    • GCE A levels: access to higher education.
  • Diploma: General Certificate of Education (GCE) advanced subsidiary levels (AS levels) or advanced levels (A levels).

The evaluation of a GCE AS levels or GCE A levels will always take into account the results students have obtained for both the GCE and the GCSE:

We compare the combination of GCSEs and GCE AS levels to a HAVO diploma if:

  • the GCSE was obtained with a result of A* to C or 9 to 4 in at least 4 subjects;
  • the GCE was obtained with a result of A* to C for at least 2 AS levels;
  • the 2 AS levels were attained in relevant subjects;
  • these GCSE and GCE results were obtained in 6 different subjects; and
  • 2 of these 6 different subjects are preferably English and mathematics.

We compare the combination of GCSEs and GCE A levels to a HAVO diploma if:

  • the GCSE was obtained with a result of A* to C or 9 to 4 in at least 4 subjects;
  • the GCE was obtained with a result of D or E for at least 2 A levels;
  • the 2 A levels were attained in relevant subjects;
  • these GCSE and GCE results were obtained in 6 different subjects; and
  • 2 of these 6 different subjects are preferably English and mathematics.

We compare the combination of GCSEs and GCE A levels to a VWO diploma if:

  • the GCSE was obtained with a result of A* to C or 9 to 4 in at least 3 subjects;
  • the GCE was obtained with a result of A* to C for at least 3 A levels in relevant subjects;
  • these GCSE and GCE results were obtained in 6 different subjects; and
  • 2 of these 6 different subjects are preferably English and mathematics.

Cambridge Pre-U Diploma

Cambridge International offers the Cambridge Pre-U Diploma as an alternative to the GCE A levels in the United Kingdom. Although Cambridge International will discontinue Cambridge Pre-U. The last exams will be June 2023 (with a resit in June 2024).

  • Duration: 2 years.
  • Content: a choice of 27 Cambridge Pre-U Principal subjects. To obtain the diploma students must pass 4 components, including 3 Principal Subjects and the Global Perspectives and Research (GPR) course. Alternatively, they can combine a number of Principal Subjects and GCE A levels. Students will obtain a Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate for each additional subject that they pass.
  • Diploma: Cambridge Pre-U Diploma.

International GCSE/O level/AS and A level

There are international variants of British qualifications as well, such as:

Cambridge International is the examing board for international secondary education.