Frequently Asked Questions

A. We award GCSE qualifications on an eight grade scale from A*–G, with A* being the highest. If students fail to attain a grade G, we report their results as unclassified (U).

We report the results of individual assessment units on a uniform mark scale that reflects the assessment weighting of each unit. We determine the grades awarded by aggregating the uniform marks obtained on individual assessment units.

A. No, students choosing this course do not need to have any previous experience of the construction industry.

A. No, there are no prohibited combinations for this subject.

A. Yes, students can resit individual assessment units once. The better result for each assessment unit will count towards their GCSE qualification.

Results for individual assessment units remain available to count towards a GCSE qualification until we withdraw the specification.

A. Yes, in GCSE Construction and the Built Environment students must demonstrate their quality of written communication. In particular, students must:

• ensure that text is legible and that spelling, punctuation and grammar are accurate so that meaning is clear;
• select and use a form and style of writing appropriate to their purpose and to complex subject matter; and
• organise information clearly and coherently, using specialist vocabulary where appropriate.

Examiners assess the quality of students’ written communication in their responses to questions or tasks requiring extended writing. The quality of written communication is assessed within all assessment objectives and assessed components in this specification.