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A Brief Guide to Qualifications[ NVQs | SVQs | RSA | City and Guilds ] [ HND/HNC | Degree | Professional Courses ] GCSEThe General Certificate of Secondary Education is awarded for passing one or more exams in a range of subjects. The subjects test knowledge, skills and understanding. They are the main exams for pupils at the end of Year 11 after a two-year study course.Resits or extra GCSEs can be taken in sixth form or at college. Exam grades range from A-G. A-C are classed as pass grades. A* grades are awarded for outstanding papers. Exams are set by several examination boards around the country. Each examination board sets its own syllabus in line with National Curriculum guidelines. Schools can register with the exam board of their choice for each subject.
For a list of Awarding Bodies contact
A levels'A' level certificates are awarded for passing one or more higher level exams offered in a wide range of academic subjects. They are usually taken at the end of Year 13 in school or at FE college. Students must obtain good grades at GCSE level to enter an 'A' level course.Exams are set in the same way as GCSE exams.
For a list of Awarding Bodies contact
A/S LevelsAdvanced Supplementary Level certificates are awarded for passing a two-year study courses taken alongside 'A' levels. They are worth half an 'A' level.Exams are set in the same way as 'A' levels.
For a list of Awarding Bodies contact
GNVQsGeneral National Vocational Qualifications are broad based vocational qualifications. They have been widely available in schools and colleges since 1993.They are available in 14 vocational areas:
Art & Design GNVQs are designed to lead to employment, further study, training or higher education depending on the level achieved. Courses last for one or two years and are available on three levels:
Courses include certain key or core skills for all students:
For more information see
Part One GNVQsPart One GNVQs are new qualifications for 14- 16-year-olds. They are being piloted in nearly 500 schools and are designed as an option to be studied with GCSEs.The Part One Award will be available at two levels: Foundation and Intermediate (See GNVQs above). It is expected that Part One GNVQ will be generally available in schools from September 1999.
NVQsNational Vocational Qualifications are job related qualifications for people of any age already in work or work-based training.They assess a person's competence to do a particular job and are designed around the skills people use or need to use in their work and are therefore a means of measuring achievement at work. NVQs are gradually incorporating traditional qualifications like RSA, BTEC and City & Guilds into their framework to make a national framework of qualifications that everyone recognises and understands. Each NVQ focuses on a person's work at a given level. Each level is made up of a number of units. An NVQ is awarded at that level when a set standard is reached in all the units. There is no time limit and the focus is on standards and skills. Standards are set by employers and awarding bodies.
A number of organisations are involved in developing, delivering and awarding NVQs. Lead Bodies identify, define and update the standards for NVQs. Awarding Bodies help to develop and assess NVQs and award certificates. The Edexcel Foundation (formerly BTEC), City & Guilds or the Engineering Training Authority are examples of recognised awarding organisations. TECs - Training and Enterprise Councils - are local organisations that can give you details of all local NVQ schemes.
For more information contact:
see the DfEEs page
or visit the There are five NVQ levels:
SVQsSVQs are the Scottish equivalent of NVQs monitored by SQA - the Scottish Qualifications Authority.
SQA
RSAThe Royal Society of Arts awards training qualifications for a number of practical subjects. These range from short courses focused on a single skill like word processing or typing to broader based NVQs currently at levels 1- 3.
For more information contact
City and GuildsThe City and Guilds of London Institute awards vocational qualifications across many occupational areas. Most higher NVQ levels are available. City and Guilds are job related qualifications for people already in work or work-based training.
HND/HNCThe Higher National Diploma (full-time) and The Higher National Certificate (part-time) are awards for a two-year vocational course in higher education. There is an entrance requirement of at least 1 A level and up to 5 GCSEs.They are regarded by employers as proof of professional competence. HNDs/HNCs can be used as a route to the 2nd or 3rd year of a degree course.
DegreeA qualification taken at university and some colleges. Most HE institutions ask for at least 2 A level passes - or their equivalent - and some GCSEs as entrance requirements. An honours (single for one subject, joint for two subjects) degree or Ordinary degree course takes three or four years study. A Masters Degree takes a further one to two years study.Some degrees are modular. This means that you can design your own courses from a selection of vocational and academic components. For example, you can link a modern foreign language with a business studies module. The title of the award varies according to the course and the place of study. [See Unifile Home Campus for more information about UK universities]
Professional CoursesMany modern degree courses are related directly to occupations - accountancy, engineering, law, journalism, or town and country planning for example.
General Information about qualifications is available from:
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