GCE A Level Changes and New International Advanced Level () qualification Rules for Making Exam Registrations as Private Candidates in Hong Kong in January 2014 Please read the below points when registering for Edexcel GCE A level and International Advanced Level () examinations in January 2014. These rules are effective immediately. GCE A levels January examinations have been removed. Edexcel GCE A level exams will now only be available in June. All awarding organisations in England have to remove the January examination series. Therefore there will no longer be an exam series available in January 2014 and beyond for Edexcel GCE A levels anywhere in the world. Special Consideration GCE A levels examination in January 2014 session: A one-off special consideration GCE A levels examination January 2014 session is available in the following subjects/papers: Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Economics, Business Studies, Accounting, English Literature (3 & 4), Psychology (3) and Religious Studies (2:1A) The exams will be based on the current GCE A level specifications but candidates will be awarded an Edexcel International Advanced level qualification, instead of an Edexcel GCE A level Candidates taking GCE A levels exams in January 2014 are required to cash-in and will be awarded an Edexcel International Advanced level, instead of an Edexcel GCE A level. This is because Ofqual has cancelled the January exam series for the regulated Edexcel GCE A level qualifications. There will not be an Ofqual logo on any A level qualification certificates that include results from examinations taken in January 2014. Candidates taking exams in January 2014 are required to cash-in for an overall qualification grade and will be awarded an Edexcel International Advanced level. The results from the special consideration January 2014 examination session of the current GCE A level qualification will not be available for use after January 2014. International Advanced Levels (): Candidates taking Maths, Economics and Business Studies will have a choice in either entering for GCE A levels or from 2014 onwards. GCE A level assessment will be in June only, and assessment will be available in January and June. and GCE A level will have separate specification in these subjects and difference in some exam content. Edexcel GCE A level Biology, Chemistry and Physics (with 100% written examination instead of coursework) are being renamed International Advanced Level () Biology, Chemistry and Physics. All candidates taking an Edexcel GCE in Biology, Chemistry or Physics (with 100% examination) will be awarded an International Advanced level in that subject from September 2013 onwards. The content and assessment of the qualifications is exactly the same, it is only the name of the qualification that has been changed.
GCE Law and GCE Accounting will only be available as s. The content and assessment of the qualifications is exactly the same, it is only the name of the qualification that has been changed. The following subjects are available in both January and May/June examination sessions: Mathematics, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Economics, Business Studies and Accounting Law is only available in May/June examination session Candidates who take s will be able to re-sit individual units once only. Candidates taking units may be able to sit the particular unit once and then resit that unit once (Two attempts possible in total). Whereas candidates taking the current GCE A levels will have multiple re-sit opportunities. ( exams are available in January and May/June whereas GCE exams are only available in May/June). (The sitting will be counted as a sitting even if the candidate is absent from the exam or the withdrawal from the exam was submitted to Pearson after the high late fee date.) Candidates who take exams will be awarded certificates. There will not be an Ofqual logo on s certificates as s are regulated by Pearson. GCE A levels: Candidates who wish to take the following GCE subjects in year 2014 may take them in June sessions only: Arabic, Greek, Japanese, Chinese, General Studies, Government and Politics. Candidates will not be able to carry forward any completed units onto the new GCE examinations beyond year 2016. Completed GCE units and GCE AS qualifications cannot be counted towards a GCE A level qualification starting from year 2017. There will be a new specifications for GCE to be launched in year 2015 and new examinations for GCE starting in year 2016. Other important information: Candidates taking Maths, Economics, Business Studies exams will generally have a choice in either entering for GCE A levels or. Candidates may choose to either take GCE A levels or in these subjects. Candidates taking GCE A levels in January will enter into the Special Consideration Session (see details about this session above) and candidates taking GCE A levels in June will enter as normal. Candidates taking GCE January 2014 exams are required to cash-in and will receive certificates where as candidates taking GCE June 2014 exams are not required to cash-in and will receive GCE certificates. Candidates may combine GCE units (completed before year 2014) with units to obtain an award. This process is available in year 2014 and 2015, but not after. Candidates may not combine GCE units completed in 2014 or 2015 with units. Candidates who completed both GCE units and units in a particular subject will not be allowed to take anymore GCE units in that subject in year 2014, 2015 and 2016. eg, A candidate who completed GCE Economics units in 2013 and takes Economics units in January 2014 will not be allowed to take any GCE Economics units in May/June 2014, 2015 and 2016. The candidate may take additional Economics units in either June 2014 or anytime thereafter. Do note that a total of two sittings are limited per unit (Only one sitting and one resit is allowed per unit).
Candidates may enter for a combination of Edexcel GCE A levels and Edexcel International Advanced Level subjects. e.g. Edexcel GCE Chinese and Mathematics. Candidates should refer to the GCE Specifications for reference if they wish to take GCE exams. Candidates should refer to the Specifications for reference if they wish to take the exams. Candidates must use the same UCI for both the GCE and units. Should you have any questions, please call 852-8129-0100 or e-mail peial@pearson.com Supplementary Notes on the rules of making exam registration by candidates groups GROUP 1: New Candidates (have not taken any GCE exams before): January 2014: New candidates entering for A level exams for the first time in January 2014 may take (not GCE A levels) in the following subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Accounting and Economics. New candidates entering for A level exams for the first time in January 2014 have a choice to either enter for GCE A levels Special Consideration Session or in Business Studies. New candidates entering for A levels in Maths can either choose to enter for or GCE A levels. Candidates entering for A levels in Further Maths and Pure Maths may take (not GCE). GCE AL Maths, AS Maths, AS Further Maths and AS Pure Maths are available as GCE in January 2014 and can be cashed-in to receive (not GCE) certificates. Comparison between GCE A levels Special Consideration Session and : GCE A levels Special Consideration Session (Jan 2014) Must Cash In Results available in January 2014 only and will not be available for future use
Award with certificate No restriction on resit opportunities Award with certificate May/June 2014: New candidates entering for A level exams in May/June 2014 may take (not GCE A levels) in the following subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Law and Accounting. New candidates entering for A level exams in May/June 2014 may take GCE A levels (not ) in the following subjects: Arabic, Greek, Japanese, Chinese, General Studies and Government and Politics. New candidates entering for A level exams in May/June 2014 will have a choice to either enter for GCE A levels or in Maths (Maths, Further Maths, Pure Maths), Business Studies and Economics Comparison between GCE A levels and : GCE A levels (Jun 2014) Award with GCE certificates No restriction on resit opportunities Award with certificates GROUP 2: Existing Candidates (Candidates who completed some GCE A level units prior to year 2014): Existing candidates may transfer GCE units completed before year 2014 onto, this action is feasible in year 2014 and 2015. January 2014: Existing candidates entering for A level exams in January 2014 may take (not GCE A levels) in the following subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Accounting.
Existing candidates entering for A level exams in January 2014 may take GCE A levels Special Consideration Session in the following subjects: English Literature, Psychology and Religious Studies. Existing candidates entering for A level exams in January 2014 have a choice to either enter for GCE A levels Special Consideration Session or in Maths (Maths, Further Maths, Pure Maths), Business Studies and Economics. Comparison between GCE A levels Special Consideration Session and : GCE A levels Special Consideration Session (Jan 2014) Must Cash In Results available in January 2014 only and will not be available for future use Award with certificate No restriction on resit opportunities Award with certificate May/June 2014: Existing candidates entering for A level exams in May/June 2014 may take (not GCE A levels) in the following subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Law and Accounting. Existing candidates entering for A level exams in May/June 2014 may take GCE A levels (not ) in the following subjects: Arabic, Greek, Japanese, Chinese, General Studies and Government and Politics. Existing candidates entering for A level exams in May/June 2014 will have a choice to either enter for GCE A levels or in Maths (Maths, Further Maths, Pure Maths), Business Studies and Economics. Comparison between GCE A levels and : GCE A levels (May/Jun 2014) Award with GCE certificates Award with certificates
No restriction on resit opportunities GROUP 3: Candidates who have completed GCE in May/June 2013 and do not need to register for any exams in year 2014: These candidates are not affected by the new policy. GCE certificates have been awarded as usual. Should you have any questions, please call 852-8129-0100 or e-mail peial@pearson.com END Updated as of August 2013 Prepared by PQI HK