A Level 2 qualification is equivalent to GCSE grade A*-C level. State schools in Scotland follow the Scottish system, while only some independent-sector schools follow the Scottish system, with others opting for the system used in the rest of the UK and some mixing aspects of both systems.In broad terms, National 5 (N5) qualifications are the Scottish equivalent of the GCSE.

A Level 4 qualification is equivalent to BTEC Professional Diploma level. School students in the UK usually obtain GCSEs (or equivalent qualifications) as their first qualifications at the age of about 16They usually take anywhere between five and 12 subjects, chosen from a wide range on offer. A wide range of more than 45 subjects can be studied. The descriptor for the higher education short cycle (within or linked to the first cycle), developed by the Joint Quality Initiative as part of the Bologna process, corresponds to the learning outcomes for EQF level 5.The descriptor for the first cycle in the Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education Area agreed by the ministers responsible for higher education at their meeting in Bergen in May 2005 in the framework of the Bologna process corresponds to the learning outcomes for EQF level 6.The descriptor for the second cycle in the Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education Area agreed by the ministers responsible for higher education at their meeting in Bergen in May 2005 in the framework of the Bologna process corresponds to the learning outcomes for EQF level 7.The descriptor for the third cycle in the Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education Area agreed by the ministers responsible for higher education at their meeting in Bergen in May 2005 in the framework of the Bologna process corresponds to the learning outcomes for EQF level 8.
Scotland has its own educational and examination system, which is independent of the system that operates in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. (UK) GCSE Grades A*-C, RQF level 2, Scottish Intermediate 2. Students begin studying for the qualifications at the beginning of fourth year although they will often lead on directly from the courses they were studying beforehand.The Scottish National 4 qualification does not involve formal exams at the end of the course – these courses rely on continuous assessment.You can find out more about these qualifications and the Scottish qualifications system as a whole at the BTECs (Business and Technician Education Council) and NVQs (National Vocational Qualifications) are taken as an alternative to GCSEs and A-levels. 1 GCSE below grade G or 1; Functional Skills – entry level; Foundation learning – entry level; Level 1.
This reflects a wider shift within which the EQF is acting as a catalyst for reforms: most Member States are now developing their own National Qualifications Frameworks (NQFs) based on learning outcomes. Applied GCSEs are offered in:One applied GCSE is equivalent to two conventional GCSEs, depending on options chosen. The exam board Edexcel also offers its own version of the IGCSE.You can also study for an applied GCSE that concentrates on work-related aspects of subjects. As with other GCSEs, grades range from 9 (the highest) to 1. The N5 is the more academically advanced of the qualifications, with candidates being awarded the qualification at grades A, B, C and D. Scottish National 5 certificates grade A to C are equivalent to GCSEs grade grade 4 to 9.The courses which lead directly to the N5 qualifications only last one year. There is no age limit, and many mature students and international students take them.For some further courses, passes in mathematics or English at this level are essential.The first qualification in the British education system, usually completed by students aged 16.Students usually study up to 12 subjects (eight on average). You can study BTEC’s at college or University or even at home. At present, an enterprise in France may hesitate to recruit a job applicant from, say, Sweden, because it does not understand the level of the qualifications presented by the Swedish candidate. The syllabus includes many elements that are now not in the revised GCSE - mainly coursework.