A quick comparison: GCSE (2016) and International GCSEs

Subjects A-Z

Fri Jul 23 08:37:00 UTC 2021

Discover the key differences and similarities of the Pearson-Edexcel International GCSEs in Chinese, French, German and Spanish and 9-1 GCSE qualifications.

Please note that from September 2024 (first assessment June 2026) GCSE French, German and Spanish do not follow the below.

Read the updated comparison

Our 9-1 language GCSEs and the 2017 specification International GCSE qualifications in Chinese, French, German and Spanish have the same level of demand and are designed to accommodate a variety of different learners. Each of these qualifications rewards candidates with 9-1 grades and shares important similarities.

Both sets of qualifications:

have the same level of demand and can be aligned to qualification levels 1 and 2 for England, Wales and Northern Ireland
share common ‘grammar lists’
cover all four language skills: Listening, speaking, reading and writing
allocate a 25% weighting to each skill in terms of the total qualification marks
are 100% externally marked by Pearson-Edexcel examiners
feature questions based on literary texts
enable students to have some element of ‘content control’ in the speaking test

Apart from enjoying the above similarities and the same status, the two qualifications are quite distinctive and are aimed at different types of learner. The International GCSEs, for example, are primarily intended for those studying at international centres but many independent UK schools, seeking an alternative to GCSE, also choose to offer them. The GCSEs are developed in response to Department of Education subject criteria and are subject to Ofqual approval. These are primarily intended for secondary school students in England but have also proved popular internationally.

Their key differences can be seen below:

* Foundation tier papers are targeted at grades 1-5 and Higher tier papers at grades 4-9

International GCSE features	GCSE features
assessments that are not tiered (GCSE candidates must be entered at foundation or higher tier across the whole qualification) target-language questions for French, German and Spanish listening and reading assessments (whereas questions in GCSE listening and reading papers are in English) a short grammar-focussed task reading questions best on literary texts different topic areas no translations from the target language into English and vice versa a ‘3 papers’ format (Listening, Reading & writing, Speaking) Speaking test tasks based on a student-sourced picture and follow-on conversations linked to allocated topics from the specification (no role plays or other scripted tasks) NB: There are no target language questions in the International GCSE in Chinese* listening and reading papers. This is because logographic writing systems are used.	tiering (Candidates must be entered at foundation or higher tier across the whole qualification*) minimal number of target language questions in the listening and reading papers grammar assessment integrated in tasks different topic areas translations from the target language into English and vice versa a ‘4 papers format’ (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing) roleplays and unseen picture-based task feature in the speaking test but student able to choose the topic of first of two conversations

International GCSE features

GCSE features

assessments that are not tiered (GCSE candidates must be entered at foundation or higher tier across the whole qualification*)
target-language questions for French, German and Spanish listening and reading assessments (whereas questions in GCSE listening and reading papers are in English)
a short grammar-focussed task
reading questions best on literary texts
different topic areas
no translations from the target language into English and vice versa
a ‘3 papers’ format (Listening, Reading & writing, Speaking)
Speaking test tasks based on a student-sourced picture and follow-on conversations linked to allocated topics from the specification (no role plays or other scripted tasks)

NB: There are no target language questions in the International GCSE in Chinese listening and reading papers. This is because logographic writing systems are used.

tiering (Candidates must be entered at foundation or higher tier across the whole qualification*)
minimal number of target language questions in the listening and reading papers
grammar assessment integrated in tasks
different topic areas
translations from the target language into English and vice versa
a ‘4 papers format’ (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing)
roleplays and unseen picture-based task feature in the speaking test but student able to choose the topic of first of two conversations

International GCSE topic areas and subtopics	GCSE themes, topics and subthemes
Home and Abroad Life in the town and rural life Holidays, tourist information and directions Services (e.g. bank, post office)* Customs Everyday life, traditions and communities Education and Employment School life and routine School rules and pressures School trips, events and exchanges Work, careers and volunteering Future plans Personal life and relationships House and home Daily routines and helping at home Role models* Relationships with family and friends Childhood* The world around us Environmental issues Weather and climate* Travel and transport The media Information and communication technology Social activities, fitness and health Special occasions Hobbies, interests, sports and exercise Shopping and money matters Accidents, injuries, common ailments and health issues* Food and drink *Sub-topics A3, C3, C5, D2 and E4 not assessed in Paper 3: Speaking	Identity and culture Who am I?: relationships; when I was younger; what my friends and family are like; what makes a good friend; interests; socialising with friends and family; role models Daily life: customs and everyday life; food and drink; shopping; social media and technology (use of, advantages and disadvantages) Cultural life: celebrations and festivals; reading; music; sport; film and television Local area, holiday and travel Holidays: preferences; experiences; and destinations Travel and tourist transactions: travel and accommodation; asking for help and dealing with problems; directions; eating out; shopping Town, region and country: weather; places to see; things to do School What school is like: school types; school day; subjects; rules and pressures; celebrating success School activities: school trips; events; exchanges Future aspirations, study and work Using languages beyond the classroom: forming relationships; travel; employment Ambitions: further study; volunteering; training Work: jobs; careers; professions International and global dimension Bringing the world together: sports events; music events; campaigns and good causes Environmental issues: being ‘green’; access to natural resources

International GCSE topic areas and subtopics

GCSE themes, topics and subthemes

Home and Abroad

Life in the town and rural life
Holidays, tourist information and directions
Services (e.g. bank, post office)*
Customs
Everyday life, traditions and communities

Education and Employment

School life and routine
School rules and pressures
School trips, events and exchanges
Work, careers and volunteering
Future plans

Personal life and relationships

House and home
Daily routines and helping at home
Role models*
Relationships with family and friends
Childhood*

The world around us

Environmental issues
Weather and climate*
Travel and transport
The media
Information and communication technology

Social activities, fitness and health

Special occasions
Hobbies, interests, sports and exercise
Shopping and money matters
Accidents, injuries, common ailments and health issues*
Food and drink

*Sub-topics A3, C3, C5, D2 and E4 not assessed in Paper 3: Speaking

Identity and culture

Who am I?: relationships; when I was younger; what my friends and family are like; what makes a good friend; interests; socialising with friends and family; role models
Daily life: customs and everyday life; food and drink; shopping; social media and technology (use of, advantages and disadvantages)
Cultural life: celebrations and festivals; reading; music; sport; film and television

Local area, holiday and travel

Holidays: preferences; experiences; and destinations
Travel and tourist transactions: travel and accommodation; asking for help and dealing with problems; directions; eating out; shopping
Town, region and country: weather; places to see; things to do

School

What school is like: school types; school day; subjects; rules and pressures; celebrating success
School activities: school trips; events; exchanges

Future aspirations, study and work

Using languages beyond the classroom: forming relationships; travel; employment
Ambitions: further study; volunteering; training
Work: jobs; careers; professions

International and global dimension

Bringing the world together: sports events; music events; campaigns and good causes
Environmental issues: being ‘green’; access to natural resources

International GCSE	GCSE
Paper 1 Listening 30 mins – 40 marks Paper 2 Reading and writing 1hour 45 mins – 80 marks Paper 3 Speaking 8-10 mins (no preparation time) – 40 marks	Paper 1 Listening and understanding F 35 mins / H 45 mins – 50 marks Paper 2 Speaking F 7-9 mins / H 10-12 mins (plus 12 mins prep) –70 marks Paper 3 Reading and understanding F 45 mins / H 1 hour - 50 marks Paper 4 Writing F 1 hour 10 mins /H 1 hour 20 mins – 60 marks

International GCSE

GCSE

Paper 1 Listening

30 mins – 40 marks

Paper 2 Reading and writing

1hour 45 mins – 80 marks

Paper 3 Speaking

8-10 mins (no preparation time) – 40 marks

Paper 1 Listening and understanding

F 35 mins / H 45 mins – 50 marks

Paper 2 Speaking

F 7-9 mins / H 10-12 mins (plus 12 mins prep) –70 marks

Paper 3 Reading and understanding

F 45 mins / H 1 hour - 50 marks

Paper 4 Writing

F 1 hour 10 mins /H 1 hour 20 mins – 60 marks

Subject advisor

Rebecca Waker

Languages

Email :

teachinglanguages@pearson.com

Phone :

+44 (0) 344 463 2535 (Teaching Services team | Mon - Fri, 8am - 5pm GMT)

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A quick comparison: GCSE (2016) and International GCSEs

Subject advisor

Rebecca Waker

Languages

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