Frequently Asked Questions


Q. Do students need any particular level of attainment to be able to study this course?

A.No, there is no particular level of attainment required to study this specification.


Q. Do students need to have studied home economics to be able to take this course?

A. No, students don’t need any prior experience of home economics to be able to take this course.


Q. Are there any prohibited combinations for this course?

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


Q. What grades can students be awarded?

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 or above, we report their results as unclassified (U).


Q. Are students assessed on the quality of their written communication?

A. Yes, in GCSE Home Economics students must demonstrate the quality of their written communication.  In particular, they 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.

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