Qualifications, Exams And Re-Marking In UK Education

MEANING OF WORDS USED IN THIS HELP GUIDE

Before you read the write up in this help guide we have explained the meaning of some words and terms that are used throughout this webpage.

Vocational training or learning – these words are used when learning or training is in relation to employment or an occupation with the student acquiring particular practical skills specific to that occupation.  

Qualification – The passing or completion of an exam or course where a student is recognised as a practitioner of that subject or activity at that level of study.

Exam – An exam (also sometimes referred to as an evaluation, assessment, or test) is an assessment of the subject and course that a student has been studying. It can be marked internally (by the establishment that educated the student) or externally (by an organisation not associated with the education establishment where the student studied).

An exam is a way of measuring the skills and knowledge acquired during the study/education of the subject or course. 

Coursework – Coursework is written or practical work done by a student during the period they are studying and learning about a subject or course. Coursework can be part of the final marks of the course. 

WHAT ARE THE LEVELS OF EDUCATION?

There are 8 levels of education. 

LEVEL 1

Level 1 education is attained by a student who has studied for a GCSE qualification and achieved a grade level 1, 2 or 3 at school.

LEVEL 2

Level 2 education is attained by a student who has studied for a GCSE qualification and achieved a grade levels 4 – 9 at school.

Level 2 education is attained by a student who has studied for a BTEC qualification and achieved a 1st at school.

Level 2 education is attained by a student who has studied for an immediate apprenticeship at school.

LEVEL 3

Level 3 education is attained by a student who has studied for an A-level qualification  (AS-level & A2-level) at sixth form or at a college.

Level 3 education is attained by a student who has studied for a BTEC national at sixth form or at a college. 

Level 3 education is attained by a student who has studied for an international baccalaureate IB at an international school in the UK. 

Level 3 education is attained by a student who has studied for an advanced apprenticeship at a college. 

Level 3 education is attained by a student who has studied for an EPQ qualification alongside A-Levels or other level 3 qualifications. An EPQ is studied at a sixth form or at a college.

LEVEL 4

Level 4 education is attained by a student who has studied for a higher national certificate HNC at a college or university.

LEVELS 4 & 5

Levels 4 & 5 education is attained by a student who has studied for a foundation degree FDA or FDSC at a higher education college or university. 

LEVEL 5

Level 5 education is attained by a student who has studied for a high national diploma HND at a higher education college or university.

LEVELS 4, 5 & 6

Levels 4 – 6 education is attained by a student who has studied for an undergraduate degree BA or BSc at a university.

LEVELS 4, 5, 6 & 7

Levels 4 – 7 education is attained by a student who has studied for a higher apprenticeship

LEVELS 6 & 7

Levels 6 & 7 education is attained by a student who has studied for a degree apprenticeship.

LEVEL 7

Level 7 education is attained by a student who has studied for a masters degree MA or MSc at a university. 

LEVEL 8

Level 8 education is attained by a student who has studied for a doctorate PhD

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR WHAT QUALIFICATION LEVELS MEAN

WHAT ARE SATS QUALIFICATIONS?

SATS is short for standardised assessment tests. They are also referred to as national curriculum tests and are compulsory. These exams/tests are not coursework related. They are taken by students in primary school in year 2 and then again in year 6. SATS assess the educational developments of students in comparison to their peers and nationally and their weaknesses and strengths in academia.

SATS are used as a guide for the government, local authority, parents and students to ascertain the standard of a school.

The SATS taken in year 2 are called KS1 SATS. Students sit the maths and reading SATS in May. Teachers will also evaluate the listening, speaking, writing, and science education of the student. From 2023 all schools can choose if they wish their students to sit these exams. 

The SATS taken in year 6 are called KS2 SATS. Students are examined on maths, punctuation, spelling, grammar and reading. Teachers will also evaluate the listening, speaking, writing, and science education of the student.

The spelling, punctuation and grammar element of these SATS tests are referred to as SPaG.

You can ask the headteacher of the school if you do not want your child sitting SATS exams. 

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE EDUCATION HUB FOR SATS RESULTS – YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

WHAT IS 11+ EXAMS

11+ exams are standardised selective entrance exams usually taken by 11 year old students (taken at the beginning of year 6) to attain a place at a grammar school or independent schools (also known as private schools) that have entrance exams and choose their students according to ability. It is not a compulsory exam. 

Students take 2 – 3 exams lasting about 40 minutes each. The topics covered are Maths, English, verbal reasoning and nonverbal reasoning. 

Exams are based on the national curriculum in England and verbal and non-verbal reasoning 

WHAT ARE GCSE QUALIFICATIONS?

GCSE is short for the general certificate of secondary education. GCSE is a 2 year course which is studied in years 10 and 11. GCSE exams are taken at the end of year 11. A student will choose the subjects they would like to study in year 9.

As of 2017 GCSEs are graded 1 – 9. 

A grade 4 is a standard pass in a subject

A grade 5 is a strong pass in a subject. 

WHAT ARE AS-LEVEL QUALIFICATIONS?

AS-Levels are studied in year 12 in the sixth form of a school or at a college. They are the first part (first year) of your A-Level. AS-Levels do not count as part of your A-Level grade anymore

WHAT ARE A-LEVEL QUALIFICATIONS?

A-Level is short for advanced levels. A-Levels are usually a 2 year course studied in years 12 and 13 at sixth form or at a college. A-Levels consist of 2, 3 or 4 subjects. The exams are taken at the end of year 13. 

A-Levels are graded E – A*. 

A-Levels are assessed through exams at the end of year 13. Some courses have coursework which form part of the end mark but the majority of A-levels have end exams.

Choosing which A-Levels to study is important if you would like to eventually go into a particular field of employment. If you want to become a doctor, you will need to study a medicine course at university after your A-Levels. The A-Levels recommended are chemistry, biology and maths/physics.

WHAT IS AN EPQ QUALIFICATION?

An EPQ qualification is taken alongside A-Level studies. An EPQ qualification is valued by higher education establishments because it demonstrates commitment to independent learning. 

EPQ is short for extended project qualification. It takes 120 hours to complete an EPQ. The project is spread over 6 months (usually October to April). It is all coursework.

It is a big independent project of your own choice and can involve writing a long academic essay or report of 1000 – 5000 words. You can also make an artefact (music composition or a piece of artwork) and submit it alongside a shorter essay. You should write about your research, your ideas, and how you approached the project.

You will be asked to give a short presentation about your project.

WHAT ARE BTEC QUALIFICATIONS?

BTEC is short for business and technology education council. It is a vocational qualification which focuses on learning both theory and practical skills. BTECs give students hands-on experience. They can be studied at school or a college. 

BTEC qualifications can be studied at the following levels:

1. BTEC Level 1 & 2 is equivalent to GCSEs
2. BTEC Level 3 is equivalent to A-Levels and can lead to a university place 
3. BTEC Level 4 & 5 is equivalent to the first 2 years of an undergraduate degree.

BTECs are assessed via regular projects and coursework and some externally marked tests. BTECs are an alternative to studying A-Levels and an alternative way to enter university and the workplace.

WHAT IS AN INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE IB QUALIFICATION?

The international baccalaureate IB is a diploma qualification which is equivalent to the UK A-Level qualification. It is a course for 16 – 19 year old students that is studied across the world, is internationally recognised, and accepted by all UK universities.

The IB course focuses on creativity and independent thinking. The subjects studied are of a much wider range than A-Levels.

An international baccalaureate is studied at an international school in the UK. The course studies 3 subjects at a standard level and 3 subjects at a higher level. Some of these subjects are arts, sciences, maths, language, and literature. 

Students are assessed on 3 aspects of the course. They are: 

1. Extended essay.
2. Creativity, action and service.
3. Theory of knowledge.

WHAT ARE APPRENTICESHIPS?

An apprenticeship combines work with study and gives a student ‘on the job’ learning and training. The student is paid during the training.

An apprenticeship programme can be studied at a few levels. They are:

1. Intermediate apprenticeship is an education level 2 qualification and is equivalent to 5 GCSE passes (grades C – A*)  
2. Advanced apprenticeship is an education level 3 qualification and is equivalent to an A-Level pass
3. Higher apprenticeship is an education level 4 – 7 qualification and is equivalent to a foundation degree
4. Degree apprenticeship is an education level 6 & 7 qualification and is equivalent to a bachelors or masters degree. 

WHAT IS A FOUNDATION DEGREE?

A foundation degree was introduced in the UK by the department of education and employment in the year 2000 to help students progress in the specific career they want to pursue. This course is a mixture of academic study and practical work based experience in the field you are studying in. A foundation degree is studied at a higher education college. It is equivalent to the 1st and 2nd year of a bachelor’s degree at a university. 

A foundation degree is a 2 years full time course or a 3 – 4 year part time course. If you choose to and your course allows it you can continue the course for one more year and get a bachelor’s degree.

There are no specific educational requirements to be accepted for a foundation degree. You can apply for a full time foundation degree through UCAS or contact the university or college directly yourself and ask the procedure if you want to study part time. 

LINK TO THE UCAS WEBSITE FOR HOW TO APPLY FOR A FOUNDATION DEGREE.

WHAT IS A HNC QUALIFICATION?

HNC is short for higher national certificate. It is a practical vocational training and learning course which gives you an education level 4 qualification. It is equivalent to the first year at university. The course is 1 year full time and 2 years part time. Students will study at a higher or further education establishment such as a university for a HNC.

A student can go straight into work after completing their HNC or apply to study for a course at degree level. You can enter a degree in year 2 if you have completed your HNC.

A HNC is ideal if a student wants to go straight into work in a chosen career.

WHAT IS A HND QUALIFICATION?

HND is short for higher national diploma. It is a practical vocational training and learning course which gives a student an education level 5 qualification. It is equivalent to the first 2 years at university. Students will study at a higher or further education establishment such as a university for a HND. 

A HND full time course is 2 years and part time is 3-4 years. 

A student can go straight into work after completing their HND or apply to study for a bachelor’s degree. You can enter a degree in year 3 if you have completed your HND qualification.

A HND is ideal if a student wants to go straight into work in a chosen career.

WHAT IS A DEGREE QUALIFICATION?

A degree is usually studied at a university. It is a higher education qualification. The different types of degrees. They are:

1. Undergraduate degree – This course is studied usually after sixth form or college once A-Levels have been completed. Entry into an undergraduate degree can also be achieved if a student has completed a HNC, HND and an international baccalaureate. An undergraduate degree is usually a 3-4 year course.
2. Master’s degree – Usually studied after an undergraduate degree is completed and passed and can take between 1 – 4 years to complete. It is an education level 7 qualification. It involves much independent research and study. 
3. PhD degree or doctorate – A doctorate can take up to 8 years to complete. It is an education level 8 qualification. It is an advanced academic degree which involves a great deal of independent study, original research, finding solutions and theories to complex problems. A doctorate is also referred to as a doctor’s degree. 

WHAT ARE EXAMS?

As stated above an exam (also sometimes referred to as an evaluation, assessment, or test) is an assessment of the subject and course that a student has been studying. It can be marked internally (by the establishment that educated the student) or externally (by an organisation not associated with the education establishment where the student studied).

An exam can be a practical one, a written one, a hearing one or an oral one. The hearing and oral exams are applied in language exams. 

Each exam paper once assessed will be given a score/mark. The value or score/mark will determine your grade. All grades have set scores/marks. For example a grade A is usually a score/mark achieved between 75 and 90. A grade B is usually a score/mark achieved between 65 and 74.  

WHAT IS A GRADE BOUNDARY?

A grade boundary is the scores/marks where one grade finishes and another starts. If we use the example above the grade boundary between a grade A and B is 74 marks.

WHAT IS COURSEWORK?

As stated above, coursework is written or practical work done by a student during the period they are studying and learning about a subject or course. Coursework can be part of the final marks of the course. 

WHEN DO YOU SIT THESE EXAMS OR SUBMIT THE COURSEWORK AND WHEN DO YOU GET THE RESULTS?

The dates below will give you an idea of the time of year when exams are taken and results are expected.

SATS

SATS exams are sat in May.

SATS results will arrive in July.

GCSE

GCSE exams are sat in May/June.

GCSE results will arrive approximately the 3rd week of August.

GCSE exams are sat at the end of October until the 1st week of November

GCSE results will arrive approximately the 2nd week of January.

GCSE exams are sat in January 

GCSE results will arrive in 1st week of March

AS-LEVEL 

AS-LEVEL exams are sat in May/June.

AS-LEVEL results will arrive in approximately the 3rd week of August.

AS-LEVEL exams are sat at the end of October until the 1st week of November.

AS-LEVEL results will arrive in approximately the 2nd week of January.

A-LEVEL

A-LEVEL exams are sat in May/June.

A-LEVEL results will arrive in approximately the 3rd week of August.

A-LEVEL exams are sat at the end of October until the 1st week of November

AS-LEVEL results will arrive in approximately the 2nd week of January.

EPQ 

No exams as it is all coursework.

BTEC

BTEC exams are sat in January.

BTEC results will arrive in approximately the 3rd week of March.

BTEC exams are sat in February.

BTEC results will arrive in approximately the 1st week of April.

BTEC exams are sat in March.

BTEC results will arrive in approximately the 3rd week of April.

BTEC exams are sat in July.

BTEC results will arrive in approximately the 3rd week of August.

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE 

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE exams are sat in April/May

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE results will arrive in approximately the 1st week of July

APPRENTICESHIP 

The exact dates and months will depend upon the apprenticeship however we have taken a subject and given you an idea.

APPRENTICESHIP exams are sat in March. 

APPRENTICESHIP results will arrive in the 3rd week of April.

APPRENTICESHIP exams are sat in June.

APPRENTICESHIP results will arrive in the 3rd week of July.

HNC 

HNC exams are sat in April – June.

HNC results will arrive in the 1st week of August.

HND

HND exams are sat in April – June.

HND results will arrive in the 1st week of August.

DEGREE 

DEGREE exams are sat in May-June.

DEGREE results will arrive in August.

WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY WITH YOUR EXAM RESULT IN SCHOOL?

You can request a review of marking which means you can have your exam paper remarked. A remark is when another examiner (often a senior examiner to the one who originally marked your exam paper) will go through your exam paper to review how the original examiner marked the paper and was it fair and consistent. Either your mark will stay the same or you will be issued a new mark.

Your education establishment where you studied will make the ‘review of marking’ application for you at your request. You will have the outcome in about 20 days. The education establishment will be charged a fee for this of about £40.00. Your education establishment must make this request by the end of September if the exam results came out in August.

If you have had your A-Level exam results and they are lower than what you expected but have a university offer waiting for you to take up, you can ask your education establishment to request a priority review (to be reviewed with urgency and you will have the outcome in about 15 days – costs about £50.00). Your education establishment must make this request within approximately a week after the exam results came out in August.

If your mark is very near a grade boundary then a review of marking may pull your mark up a grade.

Sometimes if your education establishment is not convinced that they should ask for a ‘review of marking’ then they can ask for a priority copy of your marked exam paper to see if it is worth asking for a ‘review of marking’. The cost of this priority copy is from £0.00 – £15.00 depending upon the exam board.