148:
in contrast to an average 59% pass rate across all subjects e.g. Biology 56.4%, History 57%. The pass rate and top awards by the Oxford & Cambridge board were also consistently higher than the other boards e.g. In 1976, 27% of Latin entrants gained an A, and ~17% of French, German and Music candidates, this was attributed to the O&C board being primarily used by the
Independent schools. The proportion obtaining a pass, A-D, or equivalent was initially fixed at 57% – 58%, and remained under 60% through the 1970s, though there was regional variation with Northern Ireland awarding consistently more pass grades than Wales e.g. In 1982, the pass rates were: Northern Ireland 62%, England 58% Wales 53%. In 1984 a decision was taken, by the Secondary Examinations Council, to replace the norm referencing with criteria referencing, where 16+ and 18+ grades would in future be awarded on Examiner Judgement, this change was implemented, at O-Level, in June 1986. In the final year DES statistics were available 6.8% achieved an A, and 39.8% an A-C grade.
502:." This conclusion is partially supported by the statistics. After 1976, for subjects where an equivalent O-level paper existed, approximately 36% of the pupils entered for either exam sat the O-Level; the remainder (64%) sat the CSE paper. The proportion taking CSE exams increased following the raising of the minimum school-leaving age to 16, in 1973, and the subsequent fall in the proportion sitting neither exam e.g.
765:
29:
138:
classification. Although candidates received an approximate indication of the marks awarded, O-Level
Certificates simply listed those subjects in which a pass had been awarded; subjects in which a candidate had failed were not mentioned. The independent exam boards soon offered competing numeric and
147:
basis, assigning a fixed proportion of each cohort to each grade (A 10%, B 15%, C 25–30%, D 5–10%, E 5–10%, U 15–20%). Though some exceptions existed, both at the subject and Exam Board level, with Latin and Greek pass rates being consistently higher than other subjects, with 75.4% passing in 1976,
111:
O-levels were predominantly exam-based; this had advantages for students in part-time or evening education. Some commentators criticised this mainly exam-based approach as offering only partial proof of the student's overall ability in comparison with other methods (e.g., coursework-based
939:
966:
745:
O-levels continue to thrive as well respected international qualifications for students in other countries, who use them for preparation for advanced study in their own country and/or access higher education overseas.. Institutions that offer O-levels include
730:, instead of or alongside the IGCSE qualifications. The Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination was also benchmarked against the O-levels for comparable subjects. But it has switched to benchmark against the
143:. From 1975 standardized alphabetic grades where introduced with grades A, B, C, D, and E were passes, and F and U (Unclassified) were fails. Between 1975 and 1985 grades were allocated primarily on a
1608:
118:
argued that the O-level was unfairly biased to boys because of the emphasis on exam-based learning, and therefore girls were placed at a disadvantage. Pirie also observes that the
867:
482: Before 1975, each exam board had its own grading system (some used letters, others numbers). Grades were only given to schools and not recorded on students' certificates
1453:
157:
For GCSE Mathematics from 1988 there was an extension paper allowing candidates to achieve 3 grades higher than an A (pass, merit, and distinction). This was stopped.
1208:
1582:
423:
GCSE grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) – Certificate and qualification awarded. At GCSE, considered a 'standard pass', and awards a qualification at Level 2 of the
122:
focus on coursework has now disadvantaged boys, and has reversed the gender gap in attainment to the level where, in all subjects, girls outperform boys.
1479:
804:
710:(GCSE), phased in by 1986 with a couple of subjects, and completed for all subjects the following year. However, the O-level brand is still used in many
707:
1134:
1587:
1494:
1613:
698:
Unlike CSE examinations the participating schools had a choice of syllabi and awarding body, and were not required to use a designated local board.
1618:
1551:
917:
1074:
154:
The table below gives rough equivalences between O-Level, CSE, and GCSE grades, including later changes to GCSE grades in 1994 and the 2010s:
1423:
842:
1104:
747:
100:
1577:
1484:
1018:
810:
796:
500:
the O Level examination tending to be aimed at the upper 20 per cent of the full ability range and CSE catering for the next 40 per cent
53:
151:
O-levels incorporate an element of negative marking, with marks deducted for incorrect answers, poor spelling, grammar or handwriting.
1572:
1201:
778:
434:
424:
73:
877:
19:
This article is about the secondary school leaving exam taken in the United
Kingdom. For the O Level qualification worldwide, see
784:
37:
1176:
692:
1469:
1418:
735:
1194:
139:
alphabetic classifications, for example 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 would be a pass, while grades 7, 8 and 9 were fails from the
433:
GCSE grades 3 to 1 (D to G) – Certificate and qualification awarded. At GCSE, awards a qualification at Level 1 of the
1546:
1541:
684:
992:
688:
140:
112:
assessment). There was no summative 'school certificate': each subject was a separate O-level in its own right.
1510:
1142:
711:
1163:
1489:
1082:
472: A*–G grades as used in Wales since 1994, and in England and Northern Ireland between 1994 and 2019
914:
1253:
1217:
144:
76:(CSE) was added to broaden the subjects available and offer qualifications in non-academic subjects.
1112:
1448:
1278:
1258:
790:
20:
753:
Cambridge
International Examinations offers curricula for approximately 40 different subjects.
967:"Comparison of GCE examination standards gives reassuring evidence, review of 34 studies says"
838:
52:, was a subject-based academic qualification. Introduced in 1951 as a replacement for the 16+
832:
1525:
1443:
1238:
69:
921:
848:
56:, the O-level would act as a pathway to the new, more in-depth and academically rigorous
1428:
770:
706:
The O-level qualifications in
England, Wales and Northern Ireland were replaced by the
96:
1602:
1438:
1433:
898:
872:
115:
1474:
1383:
1358:
1328:
1293:
1268:
683:
The O-Level syllabi, examinations and awards were made by 9 independent boards:
760:
715:
1045:
1248:
1227:
739:
727:
723:
719:
852:
498:
The 1978 Waddell Report, when comparing O-Level and CSE entrants stated: "
88:
1398:
1393:
1373:
1368:
1186:
92:
79:
The O-Level and CSE were replaced in the United
Kingdom in 1988 by the
61:
57:
1520:
1515:
1348:
1343:
1338:
1318:
1313:
1308:
1303:
1283:
452: 9–1 grades phased in by subject between 2017 and 2019 in England
915:
http://www.dur.ac.uk/resources/ug.admissions/ucasinfo/ukquals07.pdf
731:
443:
U: ungraded/unclassified – no certificate or qualification awarded
84:
65:
28:
27:
1177:"Cambridge O Level - 14-16 Year Olds International Qualification"
691:, Oxford and Cambridge, Oxford, Southern, Cambridge, London, and
910:
119:
80:
1190:
1081:. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office 1978. Archived from
834:
Contemporary
Debates in Education: An Historical Perspective
687:, Durham University Examinations Board (dissolved 1964),
161:
Approximate equivalences for GCSE, O-Level and CSE grades
940:"From borderline to pass, how O level papers are marked"
99:). An O-level branded qualification is still awarded by
813:
predecessor to the GCE O Level and CSE qualifications
793:(O Level), for the use of O Levels in other countries
831:
Brooks, Ron (2014) . "A decade and more of debate".
506:
English O-Level and CSE Mathematics entrants 1976-9
1560:
1534:
1503:
1462:
1411:
1382:
1357:
1327:
1292:
1267:
1237:
1226:
1135:"The Cockcroft Report (1982) – Mathematics counts"
899:http://www.liverpool.gov.uk/Images/tcm21-94640.pdf
462: New A*–G grades in Northern Ireland from 2019
1609:Educational qualifications in the United Kingdom
95:(replaced, following a separate process, by the
72:. Later, the complementary and more vocational
1202:
1105:"The Swann Report (1985) – Education for All"
787:(GCE), which comprises O Levels and A levels
8:
909:In particular see page 88 of the definitive
807:(GCSE), which replaced the O Levels and CSE
130:Until 1975, candidates were awarded only a
1234:
1209:
1195:
1187:
1075:"The Waddell Report – School Examinations"
1068:
1066:
805:General Certificate of Secondary Education
708:General Certificate of Secondary Education
159:
1019:"O-levels v GCSEs – how do they compare?"
933:
931:
929:
868:"How exams are fixed in favour of girls"
504:
1552:Special education in the United Kingdom
993:"THE BACKGROUND TO THE A LEVELS DEBATE"
837:. New York: Routledge. pp. 21–23.
823:
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351:
331:
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303:
289:
269:
255:
244:
230:
207:
168:
7:
1046:"A Guide to Changes in GCSE Grading"
748:Cambridge International Examinations
742:continues to use the O-level exams.
101:Cambridge International Examinations
791:GCE Ordinary Level (International)
779:Certificate of Secondary Education
74:Certificate of Secondary Education
14:
866:Pirie, Madsen (20 January 2001).
973:. No. 60319. Times . Times
946:. No. 60319. Times . Times
938:Geddes, Diana (16 August 1977).
785:General Certificate of Education
763:
38:General Certificate of Education
1614:Secondary school qualifications
693:Welsh Joint Education Committee
1619:1951 establishments in England
1:
1454:Raising of school leaving age
965:Diana, Geddes (5 June 1978).
478:
468:
458:
448:
16:British school qualification
1542:Common Entrance Examination
517:Numbers of maths candidates
195:England, NI 1994–2019
1635:
1166:described at CIE's website
685:Associated Examining Board
18:
1583:Higher School Certificate
689:Joint Matriculation Board
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1511:Department for Education
1463:Exams and qualifications
83:and later complementary
54:School Certificate (SC)
33:
1490:English Baccalaureate
1044:CCEA (31 July 2017).
103:in select locations.
60:(Advanced Level), in
31:
1419:State-funded schools
1219:Education in England
1079:Education in England
880:on 23 September 2017
1025:. 17 September 2012
920:18 May 2015 at the
714:countries, such as
507:
162:
91:equivalent was the
1578:School Certificate
1547:Schools (category)
1449:Sixth form college
1164:Cambridge O Levels
811:School Certificate
797:GCE Advanced Level
736:School Certificate
702:Later developments
505:
160:
44:, also called the
34:
21:GCE Ordinary Level
1596:
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1407:
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1249:Nursery/Preschool
1139:Education England
844:978-0-582-05797-5
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1444:Secondary school
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1145:on 21 March 2014
1141:. Archived from
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1115:on 19 April 2015
1111:. Archived from
1109:Educationengland
1101:
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1085:on 19 April 2015
1073:Waddell, James.
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876:. Archived from
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523:% Pupils entered
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999:. UK Parliament
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1143:the original
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1113:the original
1108:
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1087:. Retrieved
1083:the original
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1053:. Retrieved
1049:
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1027:. Retrieved
1022:
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977:12 September
975:. Retrieved
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950:12 September
948:. Retrieved
943:
913:document at
905:
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882:. Retrieved
878:the original
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744:
712:Commonwealth
705:
697:
682:
499:
497:
489:
477:
467:
457:
447:
414:
156:
153:
150:
135:
131:
129:
116:Madsen Pirie
114:
110:
78:
49:
45:
41:
35:
32:O-level logo
25:
1385:Key Stage 5
1360:Key Stage 4
1330:Key Stage 3
1295:Key Stage 2
1270:Key Stage 1
1089:4 September
1055:29 November
1050:ccea.org.uk
1029:1 September
679:Exam boards
87:exams. The
1603:Categories
1504:Regulation
1229:Key Stages
884:16 January
818:References
716:Bangladesh
525:for maths
201:1975–1987
190:from 2019
185:from 2017
169:GCSE Grade
1412:Schooling
1259:Reception
1254:Playgroup
1149:22 August
1119:22 August
1003:16 August
971:The Times
944:The Times
799:(A Level)
740:Mauritius
728:Singapore
724:Sri Lanka
720:Mauritius
204:1965–1987
198:1988–1993
175:CSE Grade
107:Structure
918:Archived
853:1863538M
757:See also
494:Entrants
89:Scottish
1568:O-Level
1485:A-Level
1475:11-plus
1399:Year 13
1394:Year 12
1374:Year 11
1369:Year 10
750:(CIE).
663:683,720
660:438,220
657:245,500
654:781,240
637:645,610
634:414,950
631:230,660
628:768,460
611:609,580
608:392,020
605:217,560
602:751,070
585:631,927
582:377,731
579:270,297
539:O-Level
530:O-Level
183:England
126:Grading
93:O-grade
62:England
58:A-level
50:O level
46:O-level
1561:Former
1521:Ofsted
1516:Ofqual
1349:Year 9
1344:Year 8
1339:Year 7
1319:Year 6
1314:Year 5
1309:Year 4
1304:Year 3
1284:Year 2
1279:Year 1
851:
841:
734:. The
726:, and
514:Pupils
441:
431:
421:
40:(GCE)
1535:Other
781:(CSE)
732:IGCSE
672:87.5
646:84.0
620:81.1
536:Total
415:Notes
180:%'ile
85:IGCSE
66:Wales
1588:GNVQ
1495:BTEC
1480:GCSE
1470:SATs
1151:2015
1121:2015
1091:2015
1057:2017
1031:2015
1005:2015
979:2015
952:2015
911:UCAS
886:2019
839:ISBN
669:64.1
666:35.9
651:1979
643:64.3
640:35.7
625:1978
617:64.3
614:35.7
599:1977
591:57.2
588:42.8
573:1976
547:1974
542:CSE
511:Year
136:fail
132:pass
120:GCSE
81:GCSE
68:and
36:The
1573:CSE
738:of
568:74
533:CSE
435:RQF
425:RQF
384:98%
353:95%
333:85%
316:70%
291:55%
271:40%
257:25%
232:15%
141:JMB
134:or
48:or
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1137:.
1107:.
1077:.
1065:^
1048:.
1021:.
995:.
969:.
942:.
928:^
870:.
849:OL
847:.
722:,
718:,
695:.
594:–
479:^d
469:^c
459:^b
449:^a
417::
297:C*
218:A*
215:A*
209:5%
64:,
1210:e
1203:t
1196:v
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1153:.
1123:.
1093:.
1059:.
1033:.
1007:.
981:.
954:.
888:.
855:.
576:–
565:–
562:–
559:–
556:–
553:–
550:–
437:.
427:.
406:U
403:U
400:U
395:G
392:G
387:1
379:U
376:F
373:F
368:U
365:G
362:E
359:E
356:2
348:5
345:F
342:D
339:D
336:3
328:4
325:E
322:C
319:4
311:3
308:U
305:C
300:D
294:5
286:E
283:C
280:B
277:B
274:6
266:2
263:D
260:7
252:C
249:B
246:A
241:B
238:A
235:8
227:1
224:A
221:A
212:9
23:.
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