General Certificate of Secondary Education

Mr. Gibb
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many GCSEs are a (a) GCSE short course, (b) GCSE double award, (c) intermediate level GNVQ, (d) GCE AS-level, (e) GCE A-level, (g) BTEC, (h) NVQ, (i) level 2 basic skills certificate, (j) level 2 key skills certificate, (k) Cache Foundation Award in Caring for Children and (l) international GCSE considered to be equivalent for the purposes of GCSE performance tables.

Jim Knight
A short course GCSE is equivalent to half a GCSE. A GCSE double award is equivalent to two GCSEs, an intermediate GNVQ equivalent to four GCSEs, an AS level to two GCSEs. A levels and international GCSEs are not included in the Key Stage 4 Achievement and Attainment Tables. Other qualifications can vary according to the subject. Complete information on the equivalence of all qualifications used in the Achievement and Attainment Tables is published by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority in the National Database of Accredited Qualifications at

http://www.ndaq.org.uk/