These frequently asked questions were provided by the Department for
Education on 2 October 2013.
GCSE Early Entry
Q&A
When does the policy come into effect?
This change will take effect from 29 September for all Ebacc subjects. That is,
for those who have already completed a GCSE (or IGCSE), the performance
tables will still record their best result from either their previous attempt or
from the next time they sit that GCSE. Those who have not yet taken a GCSE
will have their first GCSE taken after today count in performance tables.
Will the policy also affect IGCSEs?
Yes. It will affect both GCSE and IGCSE examinations.
Which subjects does it apply to?
For performance tables published in January 2015 (relating to exams taken in
the summer of 2014 or earlier) the changes will apply to English
Baccalaureate (EBacc) subjects only: English (English, English language,
English literature), mathematics, science (core and additional science,
biology, chemistry, physics, computer science), history, geography and a
language subject. For performance tables published in January 2016 and
subsequently the changes will apply to all subjects.
Why only the EBacc subjects?
We are starting with the EBacc subjects, which – taken together – represent
two thirds of all GCSE entries. We think it is right to take action to encourage
schools to think hard about early entry in these subjects, given their
importance for pupils’ future progression to a wide range of further study and
employment opportunities.
Does this also apply to IGCSEs and Level 1/Level 2 certificates?
Yes. From 29 September 2013 whichever is the first entry, whether IGCSE,
Level 1/Level 2 certificate or GCSE, will count towards the performance
tables.
Does it also apply to A levels?
No.
Are you banning all early entry?
No. We recognise that early entry can be used effectively in certain cases and
These frequently asked questions have been provided by the Department of Education and are correct
as of 2 October 2013.
schools will continue to be able to enter pupils early for examinations where
they feel it is appropriate.
What is the evidence that early entry is a problem?
Data published by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) this summer
showed a marked increase in early entry in mathematics and English GCSEs
in particular: between 2012 and 2013 early entry in English and English
language (to 11% in English and 10% in English language) increased by three
percentage points, and in mathematics by five percentage points (to 23%).
While some pupils may well be ready to achieve a good grade in the subject
before the end of year 11, there is no evidence that such a high proportion of
pupils can achieve well through early entry. Inappropriate early entry can lead
to students having to re-take GCSEs, which in turn cuts into teaching time and
leads to a focus on teaching to the test rather than developing a student’s
understanding of a subject. JCQ data suggests that this is particularly a
problem in mathematics: in the 2013/12 academic year over 94,000 year 11
pupils (15% of year 11 candidates) took mathematics GCSE at least three
times.
Evidence published by the Department for Education in 2011 showed that,
statistically, pupils who enter early do worse than pupils who do not, even
when taking prior attainment into account.1 A report by Ofsted corroborated
many of these concerns, raising issues with the impact of early entry on
students.2
Isn’t this going to disadvantage schools which have used early entry
before the announcement was made? Could this mean they will be faced
with intervention?
Schools that have already used early entry will not be disadvantaged. Where
pupils have already taken GCSEs (for example, in the summer of year 10),
their best result from their previous attempt or from the next time they sit a
GCSE (prior to the end of key stage 4) will count in performance tables.
You’re making the announcement very close to the deadline for
November 2013 entries. What should schools do?
Where schools have made plans to enter pupils for examinations in
November, we expect they will want to think carefully about whether to
proceed.
If a school is confident that early entry is in the best interest of its pupils, there
should be no reason for entry plans to change.
What about schools that have already paid their fees to the exam
1
2
Early entry to GCSE examinations, DfE, 2011
Schools’ use of early entry to GCSE examinations, Ofsted, 2013
These frequently asked questions have been provided by the Department of Education and are correct
as of 2 October 2013.
boards?
Schools should contact their exam board to discuss withdrawing pupils from
the examination where entries have already been made. Arrangements
relating to fees are a matter for exam boards.
Does this mean pupils won’t be able to re-take GCSEs any more?
No. We are only changing the way in which we count qualifications in
performance tables. Pupils will continue to be able to re-take GCSEs and to
use their best grade to support applications to further education or
employment.
However, many changes have already been made to re-takes at GCSE level.
GCSEs will be linear from now on and, with the exception of maths and
English, students will not be able to re-take a GCSE until the following
summer.
But surely schools won’t support pupils to re-take if the result doesn’t
count towards performance tables?
We expect schools to act in the best interests of their pupils, both in their
decision for whether to enter a student early and in their subsequent teaching
of that student. If a pupil who was expected to achieve well through early
entry has an unexpectedly poor result, we would expect schools to support
that pupil to re-take the examination and to improve his or her grade.
Isn’t introducing this in 2014 unfair?
We will always look to act in the best interests of pupils. We think it is right to
take swift action to tackle inappropriate early entry. Where schools are
confident they are doing the right thing, there should be no reason for them to
change their plans.
What about pupils who are entered privately by their parents? Will their
first entry still count?
Currently all entries are taken into account in compiling performance tables,
whether taken in the school or privately. We will confirm the precise details of
how the new arrangements will work in due course.
What happens if schools enter pupils for more than one GCSE in a
subject in the same exam series?
Where exams are taken at the same time, in the same series, the best result
will continue to count. Schools will want to think carefully about whether this is
in the best interests of their pupils. The Department for Education will continue
to collect data on entry patterns, and will share that data at a school level with
Ofsted.
These frequently asked questions have been provided by the Department of Education and are correct
as of 2 October 2013.
What if a student takes an exam early with one board and then re-takes
the exam with a different board?
The first entry is still the result that will count. Swapping exam boards will not
affect the way the policy is implemented.
What about if a student takes GCSE English in November and then
IGCSE English in the summer?
The earlier of the two entries will count; this change applies to entries in the
subject, rather than entries to a particular qualification.
If a student gets an ‘X’ grade at first entry, will this be the result that is
entered into performance tables?
No. As is currently the case, ‘X’ grades do not count towards performance
tables. If a student receives an ‘X’ grade and then re-takes the exam and
achieves a grade, that is the grade which will be included in the performance
tables.
What happens in cases of exception discounting?
Where qualifications are currently discounted against each other, the earlier of
the two sets of results will be counted in performance tables. For example:

A pupil takes English GCSE in November 2013 and English Language
and English Literature GCSEs in June 2014: the November 2013
English result would count in performance tables

A pupil takes English language GCSE in November 2013, re-takes it in
June 2014 and takes English literature GCSE in June 2014: the
November 2013 English language result would count alongside the
June 2014 English literature result.
These frequently asked questions have been provided by the Department of Education and are correct
as of 2 October 2013.