Update: Reformed Qualifications
01 February 2016
Reminder: GCSEs, AS and A Levels reformed for first teaching from 2015
Teaching of the first tranche of new qualifications began in September 2015 and the first available assessment for the new AS Levels will be June 2016 series. The June 2016 series will also be the final assessment opportunity for a number of GCSEs, AS and A Level subjects being replaced as part of the government reform of general qualifications. As the entries deadline for the June 2016 series approaches, we would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the qualifications that these changes apply to.
AS and A Levels
A range of new reformed AS and A level qualifications have been developed for first teach from September 2015. The new AS Level qualifications no longer count towards the final grade of the new A Level qualifications as they are separate qualifications in their own right.
The subjects reformed for first teach from 2015 are:
Subject
| Current/Legacy AS and A Levels
| Final Assessment (first time entries)
| Resit (tbc)
| New Reformed AS and A Levels
| First Assessment
|
|---|
Art and Design
| Art and Design (H160) (H560)
Applied Art and Design* (H013) (H413) (H213) (H613)
| Summer 2016
| Summer 2017
| Art and Design (H200) (H600)
(See specifications for details of specialist pathways and entry codes)
| AS Level: Summer 2016 A Level: Summer 2017
|
| Business | Business Studies (H030) (H430)
Applied Business* (H026) (H426) (H226) (H626)
| Summer 2016 | Summer 2017
| Business (H031) (H431)
| AS Level: Summer 2016
A Level: Summer 2017 |
Computer Science
| Computing (H047) (H447)
| Summer 2016
| Summer 2017
| Computer Science (H046) (H446)
| AS Level: Summer 2016
A Level: Summer 2017 |
Economics
| Economics (H061) (H461)
| Summer 2016
| Summer 2017
| Economics (H060) (H460)
| AS Level: Summer 2016
A Level: Summer 2017 |
English
| English Language (H069) (H469)
English Literature (H071) (H471)
English Language and Literature (H073) (H473)
| Summer 2016
| Summer 2017 | English Language (H070) (H470)
English Literature (H072) (H472)
English Language and Literature (H074) (H474)
| AS Level: Summer 2016
A Level: Summer 2017 |
History
| History A (H106) (H506)
History B (H108) (H508)
| Summer 2016 | Summer 2017 | History A (H105) (H505)
| AS Level: Summer 2016
A Level: Summer 2017 |
Psychology
| Psychology (H168) (H568)
| Summer 2016 | Summer 2017 | Psychology (H167) (H567)
| AS Level: Summer 2016
A Level: Summer 2017 |
Science
| Biology†(H021) (H421)
Human Biology*(H023) (H423)
Chemistry A†(H034) (H434)
Chemistry B (Salters) (H035) (H435)
Physics A† (H158) (H558)
Physics B (Advancing Physics)(H159) (H559)
Science (AS only)(H178)
| Summer 2016 | Summer 2017 | Biology A (H020) (H420)
Biology B (Advancing Biology) (H022) (H422)
Chemistry A (H032) (H432)
Chemistry B (Salters) (H033) (H433)
Physics A (H156) (H556)
Physics B (Advancing Physics) (H157) (H557)
| AS Level: Summer 2016
A Level: Summer 2017 |
Sociology
| Sociology (H181) (H581)
| Summer 2016 | Summer 2017 | Sociology (H180) (H580)
| AS Level: Summer 2016
A Level: Summer 2017 |
Please note: The final assessment opportunity for AS Science (H178) is summer 2016, with a resit opportunity in summer 2017 (tbc – see information on resits below). This is a change from the list published in the September 2015 SIU.
*The summer 2016 final assessment opportunity only applies to centres that have not previously offered this qualification. Centres that have offered the qualification before have a final assessment opportunity in summer 2017, with a resit opportunity in summer 2018 (tbc, please see information on resits below).
†For Northern Ireland centres only, the final assessment opportunity for this qualification will be summer 2017, with no resit opportunity. Department of Education, Northern Ireland (DENI) requirements for AS/A Level sciences in Northern Ireland are different to requirements in England. Centres in Northern Ireland will need to transfer to the reformed CCEA specifications in these subjects.
GCSE (9–1)
New GCSE (9–1) qualifications for first teaching from September 2015 have been developed in English Language, English Literature and Maths:
Subject
| Current/Legacy GCSEs
| Final Assessment (first time entries)
| Resit (tbc)
| New GCSE (9-1)
| First Assessment
|
|---|
English
| English (J350)
English Language (J355)
English Literature (J360)
| Summer 2016
| November 2016
N/A
| English Language (9–1) (J351)
English Literature (9–1) (J352)
| Summer 2017
|
Mathematics
| Mathematics A (J562)
Mathematics B (J567)
Applications of Mathematics (J925)
Methods in Mathematics (J926)
| Summer 2016
| November 2016
| Mathematics (9–1) (J560)
| Summer 2017
|
Please note: In line with direction from the Department for Education and Ofqual, the combined GCSE English qualification has not been redeveloped as part of GCSE reform. Separate GCSE (9–1) qualifications are available in English Language and English Literature for first teaching from September 2015.
Resits
Resit arrangements are still to be confirmed. Ofqual, the regulator for qualifications, examinations and assessments in England, has launched a public consultation on resits for legacy GCSEs, AS and A levels.
Please note that initial resit proposals suggested that for the GCSE Mathematics linked pair pilot (GCSE Applications of Mathematics (J925) and GCSE Methods in Mathematics (J926)) there would not be a November 2016 resit opportunity, however the option of a November 2016 resit opportunity has been included in the consultation.
If you have any queries about this notice, please call our Customer Contact Centre on 01223 553998 or email
general.qualifications@ocr.org.uk