GCSE
General Certificates of Secondary Education (GCSE) represent the first stage on the path to study at a UK university. Most universities will ask for at least 5 GCSE passes for entry.
GCSE Course Durations and Start Dates.
| Duration | Starts Every | English Requirement (Minimum) | Available At |
| 1 year | September | IELTS 5.0 and successfully passing the college interview process. | Abbey College Cambridge, DLD College London, Abbey College Manchester |
| 18 month | January | IELTS 4.5 and successfully passing the college interview process. | Abbey College Cambridge, Abbey College Manchester |
| 2 year | September | IELTS 4.5 and successfully passing the college interview process. | Abbey College Cambridge, DLD College London, Abbey College Manchester |
Why Study GCSE?
Depending on the duration of studies, GCSE students will take between 6-9 subjects. GCSEs provide a great ‘grounding’, offering students a wide breadth of subjects, time to familiarise themselves with the UK education system and improve their English (English Language is a compulsory GCSE subject).GCSEs also provide a natural pathway to A Levels, and students who have taken them tend to perform better in higher level examinations.
How are GCSEs Taught?
GCSE course content is broken up into units, each unit is taught in a linear structure, with an emphasis on understanding the connection between topics within the wider context of the subject.
Assessment
GCSEs are assessed by an end of course exam. Some subjects will also be assessed by coursework or practical work.
2023 Abbey DLD Group of Colleges GCSE Results
| Grade 9 (Equivalent A*) | Grades 9-8 | Grades 9-7 (Equivalent A*-A) | Grades 9-6 (Equivalent A*-B) | 9-5 (Equivalent A*-C) | |
| All College Average | 11% | 20% | 30% | 44% | 76% |
We offer the following GCSE subjects to choose from across our colleges.
| COURSE | ABBEY COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE | DLD COLLEGE LONDON | ABBEY COLLEGE MANCHESTER |
| Art & Design | Y | Y | |
| Art | Y | ||
| Biology | Y | Y | |
| Business (Enterprise) BTEC | Y | Y | |
| Business Studies | Y | ||
| Double Science | Y | ||
| Chemistry | Y | ||
| Economics | Y | Y | |
| English Language/IELTS | Y | ||
| English Language | Y | Y | |
| English Literature | Y | ||
| Esports BTEC | Y | ||
| Geography | Y | Y | |
| Film Studies | Y | ||
| French | Y | ||
| History | Y | Y | |
| Further Mathematics | Y | ||
| Mathematics | Y | Y | Y |
| Physics | Y | Y | |
| Performing Arts BTEC | Y | ||
| Photography | Y | ||
| Sports Science | Y | ||
| Sport BTEC | Y | ||
| Religious Studies | Y | ||
| Triple Science | Y |
Certain GCSE subjects are compulsory. These subjects may vary by college, but all GCSE courses include compulsory GCSE Mathematics and GCSE English Language. DLD College London offers students the following optional BTEC Awards as part of its Two Year GCSE programme: Business (Enterprise), Esports, Performing Arts, and Sport.
Learn more about GCSE and the UK Education system by watching our ‘Introduction to Studying and Boarding in the UK’ Webinar.
