Developments to A level Science and GCSE English Language

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This page is updated regularly to reflect developments in relation to all subjects.

The information on this page is correct as of March 2017.

AS/A level Sciences

Minister O’Dowd announced (September 2014) that all science A levels offered in schools in Northern Ireland must have marks for the assessment of practical skills contributing to the overall grade.

The table below details which of the new science A levels (for first teaching from September 2015 / 2016) will meet this requirement.

Awarding Organisation Subject Level Meets requirement
AQA Biology AS and A level No
AQA Chemistry AS and A level No
AQA Physics AS and A level No
CCEA Biology AS and A level Yes
CCEA Chemistry AS and A level Yes
CCEA Physics AS and A level Yes
OCR Biology A and B AS and A level No
OCR Chemistry A and B AS and A level No
OCR Physics A and B AS and A level No
Pearson Biology A and B AS and A level No
Pearson Chemistry AS and A level No
Pearson Physics AS and A level No
WJEC Biology AS and A level Yes
WJEC Chemistry AS and A level Yes
WJEC Physics AS and A level Yes
WJEC Eduqas Biology AS and A level No
WJEC Eduqas Chemistry AS and A level No
WJEC Eduqas Physics AS and A level No

New GCSE English Language qualifications

Minister O’Dowd announced (March 2014) that all English Language GCSEs offered in schools in Northern Ireland must have marks for speaking and listening contributing to the overall grade.

The table below details which of the new English Language GCSEs (for first teaching from September 2015) will meet this requirement.

Awarding Organisation Subject Meets requirement
AQA GCSE English Language No
CCEA GCSE English Language Yes
OCR GCSE English Language No
Pearson GCSE English Language No
Eduqas GCSE English Language No