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GCSEs Explained for Parents

Is IGCSE the same as GCSE?

Yes. The only real difference between IGCSE and GCSE is that the IGCSE is made available to international students. Both qualifications are used in the UK by private schools, distance learning and online providers. Apart from that there is no real difference, IGCSEs are recognised as an exact equivalent to the GCSE by UK employers, colleges and universities.

Are GCSEs important for your children?

GCSEs are crucial for children as they provide a solid academic foundation, influence further education and career paths, and are seen as a sign of competence and potential by employers and universities. Furthermore, good GCSE results boost confidence and motivation for achieving higher goals.

What are the best subjects to get started with?

Fundamentally, choosing a combination of Core Subjects (Maths, English & Science) provides an excellent foundation. Additionally, students who are passionate about or confident in certain subjects may find increased motivation to pursue those. Do they have a specific career path in mind? We have several articles detailing the best subject combinations for careers in fields such as law, engineering and medicine.

Why do children get demotivated and stressed when studying?

Children often experience demotivation and stress when studying due to high expectations, lack of interest in subjects, heavy workloads, and poor study skills. Fear of failure, peer pressure, health issues, insufficient support, modern distractions, and undiagnosed learning difficulties can also contribute to their struggles. Creating a supportive environment, fostering effective study habits, and maintaining a healthy balance between academia and other activities are essential to help children manage these challenges.

How can parents help their children get their motivation and peace of mind back?

Parents can help their children regain motivation and peace of mind by providing a supportive and understanding environment, setting realistic expectations, and encouraging a balanced approach to academia and leisure. They can foster effective study habits, ensure regular breaks, and promote healthy lifestyles through adequate sleep, nutrition, and physical activity. Additionally, open communication about stress and concerns, coupled with positive reinforcement and celebrating small achievements, can significantly boost their children's confidence and well-being.

GCSE Parents Guide

Tools and resources to make your job easier

Sample Course

Sample Course

Take a test drive with your child on CloudPort. This sample course includes a selection of our learning materials across different levels and subjects.

View Sample Course
Sample Lessons

Printed Guides

This is some A-Level sample lessons, which is more advanced than GCSE but should give you an idea of how the lessons look on most of our courses.

View Sample Lessons
GCSE Brochure

GCSE Brochure

This 34 page guide will provide a full course breakdown on all the GCSEs we offer as well as information on payment plans, support, exams, grading and much more.

View GCSE Brochure
Study Planner

Study Planner

This study planner allows students to plan monthly, weekly and daily schedules as well as providing information on exam formats and diets, study tips and much more.

View Study Planner
Exam Guide

Exam Guide

Our Private Candidate Exam Guide comprehensively covers all exam related topics, including exam centres, deadlines, practical endorsements and much more.

View Exam Guide
Study Calculator

Study Calculator

Allows you to set the amount of courses being studied and enter the amount of months until your child’s exam to show daily, weekly and monthly study requirements.

View Study Calculator

Popular GCSEs

IGCSE Biology

IGCSE Biology

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Meet Your Tutor

Learn the benefits of online learning through this Q&A video with our Lead Academic.

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FAQs: Parents' Most Common Doubts

What are GCSEs?

GCSE stands for General Certificate of Secondary Education. These are qualifications you would usually receive at school. However, at CloudLearn, they are available to any age. We offer 11 subjects.

The majority of the work will be theory based and you will be assessed on written exams to gain those all important qualifications.

Our qualifications are the same as you would receive at school and are recognised by all universities, colleges and employers.

Do parents collect GCSE results?

There is no need for parents to collect their child's exam results. Once the exams have been marked, the student will receive a notification on their online portal with the grade they have achieved. Around 12 weeks later, certificates will be posted out to your home address.

Do parents pay for GCSE exams?

Yes, exam fees are determined by the exam centre and is a cost that can't be avoided should the candidate wish to sit their exams privately. Although it is an option to pay for course fees with CloudLearn and then book and pay for exams directly with a specific exam centre, most of our students find it simpler and less stressful to bundle course fees with exam fees at the point of enrolment. There is rarely any financial saving to booking directly with an exam centre, in fact, with CloudLearn channeling thousands of students through examinations, it gives us some buying power. We use this leverage to get CloudLearn students' preferential pricing for exam fees.

What happens if my child fails their GCSEs?

If your child fails their GCSEs, they have several options. They can retake the exams, usually offered in the next exam cycle. Remember that CloudLearn offers a guaranteed pass. If you do not pass your exams, we will give you the cost of your course fees back. To qualify for this, you would need to complete the recommended hours of study, attempt and pass all of the TMAs by 80%.

How expensive is a GCSE?

Most of our GCSE courses cost £299. The only exception is IGCSE Science, which is £349. This is because it is accepted as a double-award qualification and provides the equivelant of two GCSE qualifications.

How much are GCSE exam fees?

Most of our GCSE exams cost £260. The only exception to this is IGCSE Science exams, which are £390. This is because it is accepted as a double-award qualification and provides the equivelant of two GCSE qualifications.

How are GCSEs graded?

Grades range from 9-1, with the lowest grade being 1 and the highest grade being 9.

Grades 7, 8 and 9 are equivalent to an A and A* in the old alpha-grading system.

Grade 4 is equivalent to a C. This is usually a standard pass.

Grade 5 is equivalent to a C, however this is considered a strong pass.

What subjects are compulsory in GCSE?

In most schools, core subjects (Mathematics, English and Science) are usually compulsory. It is not mandatory to study these subjects with CloudLearn, however, most colleges, universities and employers will be looking for these qualifications. It’s best to find out which qualifications are required before enrolling.

What are the easiest GCSE subjects?

We know it can be difficult to decide which GCSEs to study. Exam difficulty is usually calculated by the pass rate:

  1. Biology (~90% Pass rate)
  2. Physics (~90% Pass rate)
  3. Chemistry (~90% Pass rate)
  4. German (~78% Pass rate)
  5. Music (~78% Pass rate)
  6. Art and Design (~78% Pass rate)
  7. Drama (~78% Pass rate)
  8. English Literature (~75% Pass rate)
  9. Physical Education (~70% Pass rate)
  10. Maths (~70% Pass rate)

The best advice we can give is to choose subjects that are of interest to the student and which they may rely on for future study progression. Students who are passionate about or confident in certain subjects may find increased motivation to pursue those qualifications.

You should also take into consideration the career pathway you are aiming to go down this will help you to decide which subjects to take. Core subjects (English, Mathematics and Science) are an excellent starting point.

We have several articles detailing the best subject combinations for careers in fields such as Law, Engineering and Medicine.

At what age should you start studying GCSE?

Students can get started with GCSEs at any age. There are no age requirements to study GCSEs with CloudLearn. At CloudLearn we have students aged 9-82, remember, learning is a lifelong endervour.

Start Your Child's Learning Journey Today!

Enrol online or speak to one of our friendly student advisers on

0330 111 4006

or request a callback

CloudLearn's New Technology Update for 2024

We're thrilled to introduce two groundbreaking products designed to support GCSE students in their educational journey: AI Assist and Progress Tracker.

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Testimonials

LMJ
Lisa Marie J
5 stars

My son has been doing his GCSEs through CloudLearn for the past year now and we have had the best experience. The online curriculum has been very good, detailed and easy to understand. Tutors have been available 24/7 to help us with any questions we might have had. What we love about CloudLearn is that you can study at your own time and there is always someone to help. What stands out the most to me has been the customer service support. I have contacted customer support on several occasions and it has been provided absolutely outstanding customer service every single time. The woman I have been talking to has always been very nice to talk with. The support has been friendly, quick, personalised and very helpful. My questions have always been answered at the first point of contact. I highly recommend CloudLearn. I have been so happy with my son's experience that I will definitely be using CloudLearn for my daughter's education as well.

CB
Clinttia Bethel
5 stars

If you've not enrolled, what are you waiting for?

I recently enrolled in CloudLearn and so far, the experience is top-tier! Ms. K. Gibson made enrolling so easy and simple and answered all my questions in such a timely manner. Any issues I had found or questions she solved and for that, I am grateful. Her customer service is most definitely 10/10. As for the program itself, I was nervous heading into it as I was out of practice for so long, but everything was well put together. The videos, the notes, the links everything is made so easy for you to understand. And the tutor, Mr. Kieran's response time is remarkable. Great customer service and he made me feel comfortable no matter how many questions I asked. Highly recommended!

KF
Kerry Fitzpatrick
5 stars

We have just enrolled my daughter into Cloudlearn and so far it has been a great experience, Katie has been so helpful and informative, very quick to respond to questions and generally a lovely person to comminicate with, this has assured me that I have made the correct choice in education provision for my daughter.

YS
Yasmin Sultan
5 stars

Great service & efficiency

Very easy and quick to contact by phone, same people (Matthew and Laurie) every time who knew about my query, and Matthew fixed my issue very promptly and efficiently. I’m really impressed at your customer service and accessibility. Plus my daughter is really enjoying her course (GCSE Geography) and seems to be progressing well.

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Explore expert GCSE tips for parents: Learn how to support and guide your child through their exams with effective study strategies and emotional support.

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