GCSE dates 2019: When do GCSE exams start and finish this year? Full timetable
EXAM season is nearly here and school children across Britain will soon be taking their GCSEs. But when exactly will GCSE exams will be held in the UK in 2019?
Education Minister struggles to explain new GCSE grades
GCSE exams will take place across the UK from next week. Schools and colleges will put on the exams for students enrolled to take them. The exam times and dates vary depending on the subject and exam board. Most exam boards GCSE timetables start on Monday, May 13. Since 2018 traditional A*-G grades have been replaced in GCSE subjects by a numerical system that scores students on a scale from 1-9.
What are the new GCSE grades 1-9?
A new grading system for GCSEs has been in place since last year.
The Government decided to scrap the old A*-G grading system in order to “better differentiate between the highest performing students and distinguish clearly between the old and new qualifications."
This means that GCSEs are now marked from 1 to 9.
A 9 is now the top grade, equivalent to what used to be an A*.
A 1 is the lowest grade, equivalent to what used to be a U.
The top two marks of A and A* are now a grade of 7, 8 or 9.
Lower grades such as D, E, F and G are the equivalent of 1, 2 or 3.
The Department for Education has put Grade 4 and over as the standard “pass” grade, as it works out to be a similar standard to an old C grade.
If students don’t get a Grade 4 in English and maths, they may be required to keep studying these subjects while in college or sixth form so that they pass.
Students have to do at least two science GCSEs.
Coursework and controlled assessments have disappeared from most subjects, except practical ones such as art, dance and drama.
GCSEs exams will be held in morning sessions and afternoon sessions.
When do GCSE exams start and finish this year?
AQA, OCR and Edexcel are the main UK exam boards and have all released their GCSE timetables for 2019.
AQA
AQA GCSE exams will start on May 13 and end on June 21.
For more information and details on which exams will be held when visit the AQA website here.
Edexcel
Edexcel GCSE exams start on May 13 and the last exam takes place on June 14.
For more information on Edexcel’s GCSE exams timetable visit here.
OCR
OCR GCSE exams will take place from May 13 to June 21.
For more information on OCR’s GCSE timetable visit here.