Are GCSEs important | Do employers look at GCSEs (2024)

When you’re 16, GCSEs can seem like the be all and end all. By the time you’ve been working for a few years, you’ve probably forgotten all about them and are wondering whether to even include them on your CV.

It’s a commonly asked question – do people really care about GCSE results?

And the answer is, it depends. If you’ve had a successful 20-year career in your industry and you’re applying to be the CEO of a major company, they’re not going to give a hoot about whether you flunked GCSE art.

But if you’re applying for your first job, then your CV will be pretty sparse and less likely to hide your GCSE sins. So it’s safe to say that your grades become less important the older you get. Think of them as a gatekeeper – holding the key to the next stage in your education or career.

Put simply, good GCSE grades give you more options to choose from.

If you’re currently (supposed to be) studying, here are some things to consider before you close your books and reach for your games console:

GCSEs can determine what you study at A-level

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For many subjects, you need to pass them at GCSE in order to study them at A-level and, consequently, higher levels (like a degree) too.

There are exceptions – for example economics or law, but it’s definitely worth checking with your teacher.

GCSEs can determine what sixth form you go to

Schools and colleges only really have your GCSE grades to judge you academically so they can be really important here.

According to Which, sixth forms see your GCSE performance as an indicator of how well you’ll do in your A-levels or other, advanced studies, and use a scoring system based on your grades to predict how well you are likely to do.

All schools and colleges have entry requirements, which can vary from four to five Bs or Cs to straight As. So if you’ve got your heart set on going to a certain sixth form you should know what grades you’ll need to get in.

You don’t want to be the one whose mum has to drive you to a random college an hour away where you don’t know anyone, while all your friends are hanging out and having lunch together at the nearby one.

Universities look at your GCSE grades

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As a general rule, most universities expect at least some Cs at GCSE, especially in maths, English and, sometimes, science.

Many ask for, and expect, higher grades. However, don’t despair – some universities aren’t as hung up on GCSEs as others and, as long as you make up for it in your A-levels, you could well be absolutely fine.

For example, according to this article in the Guardian, Cambridge has no GCSE requirements except for medicine and veterinary medicine, where you have to have a grade C or above in GCSE double award science and maths.

Are GCSE grades important for apprenticeships?

Some apprenticeships require you to have certain grades at GCSE. For example, most advanced apprenticeships ask for around five GCSEs at grades A*-C, including English and maths.

But for some intermediate apprenticeships or traineeships, you don’t need to have certain grades at all – instead, you may just need to show that you have the skills through things like work experience and volunteering.

You can find out more and search for apprenticeships on the government’s apprenticeship website.

How important are GCSEs in getting a job?

Most employers expect people to have good maths and English GCSEs and without this, it can be hard to get your foot in the door. In fact, this is so important that students who don’t get a grade C or above in these subjects now have to carry on studying them until they are 18.

Most graduate schemes and school leaver programmeswill have minimum GCSE grade requirements too.

However, there are other routes into getting jobs – for example, there are so many apprenticeships out there these days and, like we said above, some of these don’t have any GCSE requirements.

What if I don’t get the GCSE grades I was expecting?

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We’ve spent most of the blog telling you why GCSEs ARE important. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s the end of the world if you don’t get the grades you were hoping for.

If you haven’t made the grade, or you’re worried that you won’t, please don’t panic – you do have options.

They include contacting your school or college to see if they’ll still accept you, resitting your exams, applying for a different course or doing an apprenticeship.

For more information on this, read our article about what options you have after taking your GCSES.

Are you trying to decide what subjects to take at GCSE? Read our advice on choosing your GCSE options for some inspiration.

ByNatasha Boydell

Are GCSEs important | Do employers look at GCSEs (2024)

FAQs

Are GCSEs important | Do employers look at GCSEs? ›

How important are GCSEs in getting a job? Most employers expect people to have good maths and English GCSEs and without this, it can be hard to get your foot in the door. In fact, this is so important that students who don't get a grade C or above in these subjects now have to carry on studying them until they are 18.

How important really are GCSEs? ›

The grades achieved in GCSEs are important as they can determine a student's future educational opportunities, such as progression to A-levels or vocational training, and ultimately their career prospects.

Does it matter how many GCSEs you do? ›

Based on university requirements, we can say that the minimum number of GCSEs you should take is 5 including Core subjects such as English, Maths & Science. Technically, you can decide to take less, but a lower number would mean having difficulty accessing university courses or job positions.

Do GCSEs matter in America? ›

While GCSEs are generally regarded as the equivalent of a US High School diploma (many schools regard it as the rough equivalent to the US 11th grade plus a little more), and many US colleges and universities still do not necessarily require A levels unless they note otherwise, most still like to see them done, and ...

What are the most important GCSEs to pass? ›

Maths and English are the most important subjects as they are a requirement for most courses, apprenticeships, jobs and university degrees. You will usually need at least a grade 4 and above in Maths and English before you can get into these.

Do GCSEs matter anymore? ›

In the majority of cases, once you have the qualification and moved to the next step, the previous qualification doesn't matter anymore. For the majority of you, your GCSEs will just be important in determining what A-Level course you get onto or what A-Level college you get into.

Does Oxford look at GCSEs? ›

If you are shortlisted, your performance in interviews will also be taken into account. Higher grades at GCSE can help to make your application more competitive, and successful applicants typically have a high proportion of 7,8 and 9 grades. However, we do look at GCSE grades in context.

What is a good number of GCSEs? ›

Deciding on how many GCSEs you should take depends on what you want to do after you leave secondary school. However, most students choose to take between nine and ten. GCSEs are academic qualifications that are taught to most pupils as part of the National Curriculum towards the end of compulsory education.

How many GCSEs does the average person have? ›

The number of GCSEs you need varies based on your goals and the requirements of future educational paths. While the minimum is usually 5 subjects, most students take an average of 9. Make sure to consider both mandatory and elective subjects based on your interests and aspirations.

How much do GCSE grades matter? ›

They found that GCSE results strongly predicted whether an individual would go on to achieve further educational success, for example at university. But even after accounting for further education, doing well in GCSEs made a significant difference for securing a prestigious job and earning a good income.

Does Harvard look at GCSEs? ›

What are realistic scores and grades in order to be admitted to Harvard? Admitted students typically will have excellent grades: GCSE: Grades 7-9 (numbered system), or A/A* (lettered system) AS levels (where taken): Grades A/A*

What is the USA equivalent of GCSE? ›

There is no direct equivalent of GCSEs in the United States education system. The closest equivalent is probably a high school diploma or a General Educational Development (GED) credential, both of which are typically obtained after completing four years of high school education.

Which curriculum is harder, American or British? ›

There is a significant similarity between the American and British curricula regarding scientific content. The main difference lies in the assessment style and external examinations. Therefore, whether a curriculum is easier or harder depends on the school and how it implements and assesses the curriculum.

What are the top 5 hardest GCSEs? ›

Whilst GCSE subjects vary in difficulty based on individual strengths and interests, some subjects have a reputation for being particularly hard. GCSE Maths, GCSE Sciences, Modern Foreign Languages, GCSE English Literature, and History often rank among the hardest GCSE subjects.

Are GCSEs harder than American SATs? ›

Are American SATs harder than GCSEs? SAT subject tests are harder than GCSE tests because they're used to get into American universities and colleges. However, many argue that the SATs are too easy because they're only one hour long and made up of multiple-choice questions.

What GCSEs do you need for most jobs? ›

You'll usually need 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, Maths, and Science. If you want to teach primary or early years you will definitely need a GCSE grade C/4 or equivalent in a science subject.

Do Russell Group universities look at GCSEs? ›

In order to make an application to a Russell Group University, Year 11 students need to achieve a minimum of 5 Grade 4 or 5 at GCSE this must include English and Mathematics. These are the minimum entry requirements and each university will differ depending on which course you are applying for.

What is the purpose of a GCSE? ›

What GCSEs are. GCSE stands for General Certificate of Secondary Education. They are highly valued by schools, colleges and employers. The qualification mainly involves studying the theory of a subject, together with some investigative work, while some subjects also involve practical work.

Is a 7 at GCSE good? ›

In the current grading system, a score of 9, 8 and 7 are equivalent to an A* and A. A 9 is for a student who has performed exceptionally well. A grade of 4 is the equivalent of a C grade, known as a standard pass. A grade of 5 is also a C grade but is known as a strong pass.

Does Cambridge look at GCSEs? ›

There are no GCSE (or equivalent) requirements for entry to Cambridge. We will look at your GCSE results as an indicator of your academic performance. But this will be within the context of the performance of the school/college where you achieved your GCSEs.

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