Reformed linear GCE exam specifications in England 

1.1 All of the assessments must be taken in the examination series in which the qualification is certificated. The only exception to this occurs where a qualification is re-taken, when the previous mark for a non-exam assessment component may be carried forward from a previous exam series.¹

1.2 Within the lifetime of the specification, there is no limit to the number of times that a candidate may re-take the qualification.

1.3 When a candidate certificates for a second time and re-takes (instead of carrying forward) the non-exam assessment, the new mark will count. Where a centre accidentally omits to request carry forward of a non-exam assessment mark at the appropriate time, a request received after issue of results will normally be granted. Where a candidate has certificated on two or more previous occasions, the most recent NEA mark is carried forward (unless that mark is absent).

1.4 Where non-exam assessment tasks are set by the awarding body, candidates must submit tasks which are live in the certification series (unless carrying forward the mark).

1.5 Except for the NEA practical endorsement in the A level sciences, candidates cannot carry forward results from one board to another.

1.6 A centre must not enter candidates for a qualification at the same level and in the same subject multiple times in the same series (e.g. by entering a candidate for the same subject qualification with different awarding bodies). This rule is contained in the General Regulations for Approved Centres in operation (published annually).

¹ A candidate who intends to certificate one of the A level sciences, having certificated previously with the same or a different awarding body, may carry forward the grade for the endorsement.

2.1 Each component has a maximum raw (unweighted) mark. This mark will be scaled by a scaling factor to ensure each component contributes its intended weighting to the overall subject mark. For example, suppose a qualification has three components each marked out of 50, with Component 1 worth 50% of the overall assessment and the other two components each worth 25% of the overall assessment:

• In order for Component 1 to achieve its 50% weighting, we have to scale up the maximum raw mark from 50 to 100.
• Thus Component 1 has a scaling factor of 2 (some awarding bodies use the term ‘aggregating factor’ or ‘weighting factor’).
• The other two components both have a maximum scaled mark of 50 (i.e. the same as the maximum raw mark) so they have a scaling factor of 1.
• The overall qualification has a total of 200 ‘scaled marks’ (some awarding bodies use the terms ‘weighted marks’).

2.2 Where scaling factors are non-integer, candidates’ scaled marks may also be non-integer. In these circumstances rounding procedures vary slightly across awarding bodies: for example, some round scaled marks to the nearest integer before aggregation while others round to the nearest integer after aggregation.

2.3 All non-judgemental boundaries are calculated at qualification level. After key grade boundaries for each component have been set, provisional boundaries for the subject as a whole must be established for the key judgemental grades as detailed below:

i. The boundary mark for each component is scaled as necessary to reflect the mark allocation for that component, as detailed in the specification

ii. The resulting scaled component boundary marks are added and the result is rounded to the nearest whole number (0.5 rounded up).

3.1 Aggregation to a subject award for a candidate will be carried out by adding up the candidate’s scaled (weighted) component marks for all components (see paragraph 2.1). In specifications where candidates are allowed to take more components than are needed for certification, aggregation will generate the best possible subject grade for the candidate.

3.2 The result for an AS qualification does not count towards the grade for the corresponding A level qualification.

3.3 Candidates’ results are reported as grades: A*-E for A level and A-E for AS.

3.4 When a qualification result is issued, awarding bodies will report the subject grade to UCAS.

3.5 A candidate is not permitted to decline certification of a GCE award after the publication of results.

3.6 Results documentation to centres will include the grade (A*-E or A-E, U, X) for the GCE and, in the A level sciences, the grade (Pass, Not Classified) for thepractical skills endorsement.

3.7 Certificates issued for qualifications include, as a minimum, the level, the subject / specification title, the subject grade and the examination series in which the award was made. For the A level sciences the certificate will include the endorsement grade (Pass, Not Classified) only if the candidate has obtained a graded result (A*-E) for the A level. Otherwise, there will be no reference on the certificate to the endorsement.

3.8 If a candidate is absent for a component, where the absence was not for an acceptable reason, a mark of zero will be attributed. A candidate who is absent from one or more components, but not from all components, will receive an overall qualification grade based on the components which were taken. There is no enhancement to take account of the missed component(s). There is no minimum percentage of the assessment which the candidate must have taken. Where the absence was for an acceptable reason, the candidate may be eligible for special consideration, which will normally involve estimating the mark for the component missed (see A guide to the special consideration process).

4.1 Details of the services available are given in the document Post Results Services, published annually on the JCQ website.

4.2 The outcomes of an enquiry can lead to the raw mark for the component being confirmed, raised or lowered. If candidates have taken an internally-assessed component, and there is a review of moderation of that component, the original subject grades² of the candidates are automatically protected.

² The marks are not protected. This is relevant if a candidate re-takes a qualification and carries forward the previous mark for an internally assessed component.