Which British School

Qualifications and Courses

Updated

Pupils at British independent schools work towards a series of nationally recognised qualifications. This guide explains the main courses at each stage, so you can see what your child would study and which options to ask schools about. To see which year group your child would join, use our Ages and Courses table.

Prep school (Years 3 to 8)

Most prep schools teach a broad curriculum based on the National Curriculum, often going beyond it. There are no national qualifications at this stage. Many pupils sit entrance assessments for their senior school, such as the ISEB Common Pre-Test (usually in Year 6 or 7) and Common Entrance or the school’s own exams at 11+ or 13+.

Years 7 to 9

Pupils study a wide range of subjects, usually including English, maths, the sciences, humanities, modern and sometimes classical languages, the arts, music, sport and computing. Towards the end of Year 9 they choose their GCSE or IGCSE options.

Years 10 and 11: GCSE and IGCSE

  • GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) is a two-year course taken in Years 10 and 11. In England, GCSEs are graded 9 to 1, with 9 the highest. Pupils typically take between 8 and 11 subjects.
  • IGCSE (International GCSE) is offered by exam boards such as Cambridge International and Pearson Edexcel. Many independent schools use IGCSEs in some or all subjects. They are graded 9 to 1 or A* to G, depending on the board.
  • One-year GCSE/IGCSE courses: some schools offer an intensive one-year programme for international pupils joining in Year 11, often with extra English support. These are sometimes called pre-sixth form or pre-A level courses.

Years 12 and 13: sixth form

Students starting sixth form choose between several routes. Not every school offers every route, so check each school’s sixth-form prospectus.

  • A levels are the most widely taken sixth-form qualification. Students usually study three subjects (sometimes four) in depth over two years, with exams at the end of Year 13. A levels are graded A* to E and are accepted by universities worldwide.
  • International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB) is a two-year programme of six subjects, three at higher level and three at standard level. It also includes Theory of Knowledge, an Extended Essay and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS). It is scored out of 45 points. See the IB website.
  • IB Career-related Programme (IBCP) is offered by a smaller number of schools. It combines IB courses with a career-related study.
  • BTEC Nationals are vocational qualifications from Pearson, in subjects such as business, sport and engineering. Some schools offer them alongside A levels.
  • Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is an independent research project that many sixth formers take alongside A levels. Universities value it.
  • Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers are taught in Scottish schools. See the SQA website.
  • US Advanced Placement (AP) courses are offered by a few international and American-curriculum schools in the UK.

The Cambridge Pre-U, which some independent schools used to offer, has been withdrawn. Its final exams were taken in 2023.

Choosing sixth-form subjects

Sixth-form choices shape university options, so it helps to think ahead. Some university courses, such as medicine, engineering and economics, expect particular A level subjects. UCAS publishes guidance on post-16 qualifications and subject requirements.

English language support

Pupils who speak English as an additional language may need extra support to cope with GCSE, A level or IB courses. Many schools run EAL (English as an Additional Language) lessons. Some ask for an IELTS score or CEFR level at entry. See What is my English Level?

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