PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS AND TESTS

All examination courses follow nationally agreed guidelines. The award is decided by performance in course-work, examination or a combination of both according to subject requirements. Examinations at the college fall into the following categories:

Years 7 and 8: Optional tests

Students take optional tests in English and Mathematics in the summer term of years 7 and 8. The optional tests are externally set but internally marked according to national standards by College staff.

Year 9 : Key Stage 3

The externally set and marked tests (SATs) for English, Mathematics and Science are taken by year 9 students during the summer term. There are also internal teacher assessments (TAs) in other subjects.

Years 10 and 11: Key stage 4  

General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE):

Written examinations are normally taken at the end of year 11 after a two-year course of study. In exceptional circumstances, some students are allowed to take some subjects a year early. Currently, successful candidates are awarded grades on a scale from A-G; for exceptional performance there is an ‘A*’ grade.

Post 16 : Key stage 5  

General Certificate of Education (GCE):

Advanced (A) levels are normally taken at the end of year 13 following a two-year course of study. Students are awarded grades on a single scale from A to E. Points are awarded, for university entrance, where grade A is worth 120 points, B = 100, C = 80, D = 60 and E = 40. A university entrance requirement could be 300 points which could be made from grades BBB or ABC at A-level.

An Advanced Supplementary (AS) level can be taken at the end of year 12 or sometimes year13. The standard demanded is identical to that of A-level. The content of the AS-level is approximately half of an A-level. Successful candidates are awarded grades on a single scale from A to E. Points for university entrance are A = 60, B = 50, C = 40, D = 30 and E = 20.

The Advanced Extension award (AEA) level examination is taken by a small number of A-level students of proven academic ability. Awards are on a two-grade scale, grades 1 and 2.

Vocational Certificate of Education (VCE):

These are vocational exams similar to the GCE exams and are awarded the same A- or AS-level grades and points. Some VCEs at College are taken at the double award level.

General National Vocational Qualification (GNVQ):

The intermediate GNVQ is a vocational qualification achieved at the end of year 12 or 13. The GNVQ Intermediate level is equivalent to four GCSE grade C passes.

Other examinations taken at College include:

A variety of other examinations are taken, when appropriate, by students at College. For example,

• Entry Level Certificate (ELC) for students following non-GCSE courses.
• UKMT mathematical challenge for gifted mathematics students in different year groups.
• ABC Spanish.