General Article Education in the UK

Topic Selected: Student Choices Book Volume: 403

Education in most of the UK is broadly the same, with a few small exceptions. Scotland follow a different curriculum and qualification system.

Secondary education (11-18 years)

Learners in England, Northern Ireland and Wales all follow their own curriculums, but they share Key Stages. They will also sit GCSE exams at the end of their secondary education.

Key Stage 3 is for ages 11-14 and Key Stage 4 is for ages 14-16.

GCSE stands for General Certificate of Secondary Education and are level 2 qualifications. Most learners will start studying for their GCSEs in Year 9 or 10, depending on the subject, school and exam board. Most learners will take around nine subjects.

After this learners will move on to sixth form or college to do A levels (also known as General Certificate of Education). These are level 3 qualifications. Usually you will choose three or four subjects that you will study over two years in more depth than the subjects studied in secondary school.

Scotland follows the C...

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