English Baccalaureate (EBacc)

What is the EBacc?

The English Baccalaureate (known as the EBacc) is a performance measure which recognises the attainment of GCSEs in selected academic subjects. It is not a qualification.

The new measure, announced by the government in November 2010, recognises the achievement of GCSEs at Grades A* to C in five subject areas, or components.

Subject components

The five components of the EBacc are:

  • English
  • Maths
  • Humanities
  • Sciences
  • Languages

OCR offers GCSEs that count towards the EBacc within all the component areas. Click the five component areas in the diagram, and the list of relevant OCR qualifications will be displayed.

Follow the link to each qualifying OCR GCSE for full details of the specification, past papers and mark schemes and support such as training events.

 

AS Levels and IGCSEs

In addition to GCSE, a pass in the relevant AS Level taken before the end of KS4 also counts towards the new measure.

The EBacc also recognises passes at Grade A* to C in Cambridge IGCSEs offered by OCR's sister awarding body, University of Cambridge International Examinations.

View IGCSEs from University of Cambridge International Examinations

The EBacc was first applied to 2010 KS4 performance tables in January 2011. View the DfE's Statement of Intent for details of which qualifications count towards the EBacc and how the new initiative is reported on school performance tables.