Teacher assessed grades are now being used for students at school or college to obtain their final GCSE grades since the 2021 GCSE exams have been cancelled. The grades are ital especially the maths and English grades, since they are required when applying for A levels, employment and University. If you are an external candidate, for example an adult learner, homeschooled or out of mainstream education, it is uncertain on how you will receive these grades. The following page should inform you about alternative qualifications and teacher assessed grades.

Teacher assessed grades for those in schools and colleges

Carry on working hard in any ongoing work that you are given and mock exams since this will help you get the best result out of this situation. There are like mock exams that are with external controlled assessments that can help with your teacher assessed grades. MME is one of the establishments that offers the controlled assessments for GCSE maths exams and the results of the exam will be sent to your establishment as evidence towards your final grade.

GCSE Exams and GCSE resits

Not all exams have been cancelled, the GCSE November 2021 exams and the iGCSE qualifications are still planned to go ahead as normal. You can book for the iGCSE qualifications as an external candidate through MME, contact them to speak to a member of their team on 020 3633 5145. They also have a page that explains the GCSE resits in November, GCSE maths retake page.

Teacher assessed grades for external candidates

People who are adult learners, homeschooled, out of mainstream education or you are an external candidate who isn’t connected with any centres, it is harder to get a grade. MME and GCSE examiners have been working together to set up a series of assessments that will help with enabling you to get a grade this summer. The GCSE maths controlled assessment can be booked already to help obtain a grade.

Alternatives to GCSE exams and teacher assessed grades

You will notice a phrase that is often used when applying to University or jobs, which is ‘Give your GCSE or GCSE equivalent qualifications‘. Functional skills is a name that is also used when referring to GCSE equivalent qualifications. A level 2 functional skills qualification is a GCSE equivalent level 4/grade C that is accepted by employers and Universities. The four links below will direct you to functional skills pages to provide you with more information:

Nurses and Trainee Teachers

Another alternative that is often taken by trainee teachers and nurses and is accepted by most Universities and employers is GCSE equivalency tests. However, this qualification isn’t universally accepted so you should check with the course provider or employer to make sure they accept this qualification before booking. This qualification is common amongst trainee teachers due to training providers and SCITT’s preferring it over functional skills.