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Original poster

So, who still has their GCSE certificates?

205 replies

Borisjohnsonshairbrush · 20/08/2021 14:01

So, I'm 36, I've been working 20 years and my new employer wants to see my GCSE certificates. So yes kids, they are important Grin

Admin/receptionist job.

Lost them years ago during a house move and its going to cost me several forms of I.D and £45.00 to get them from AQA.

Who else still has theirs 15+ years later?

OP posts:
Voicefancier · 20/08/2021 20:11

I have all mine from o levels up, even including some gym awards I did. Haha. That's why I was so amazed that people couldn't prove they'd lived in the country since being children. But then I realised that I was probably in the minority of still having them. Maybe because I haven't moved around much. Very boring life! And I've been asked for them on several occasions Although, disappointingly, no one seems interested in my levels 3&4 gym awards, which actually I'm very proud of.

Voicefancier · 20/08/2021 20:11

Oh, and I'm in my 60s.

JoshLymanIsHotterThanSam · 20/08/2021 20:13

I do. They’re in my maroon coloured record of achievement book Grin

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General education
Camomila · 20/08/2021 20:14

Well done Voicefancier Smile I've still got my grade 4 ballet certificate somewhere safe!

woodhill · 20/08/2021 20:15

Yes but never got any for my A levels. Did get asked for them once but still got the job

Voicefancier · 20/08/2021 20:20

@Camomila

Well done Voicefancier Smile I've still got my grade 4 ballet certificate somewhere safe!
Thank you @Camomila. And congratulations on your grade 4 ballet. I took mine to work once and made everyone oo and ah over them. Had to be done. 😄
MrsPnut · 20/08/2021 20:24

I needed mine for a job once, an American employer. I could find my A level certificate to prove maths but couldn’t find my GCSE certificate. I also had professional qualifications for the role and a degree as well as a masters.

None of those were any good, they had to see my GCSE certificates to prove that I had passed maths and English. I found it eventually but there was a squeaky bum moment.

OnTheBenchOfDoom · 20/08/2021 20:34

I have mine, along with my A level certificates and my degree. I used to take them as a bundle to any interviews. Never been asked to prove my grades.

Babysharkdoodoodood · 20/08/2021 22:29

@TheGenealogist
When I did my PGCE in 2007 I had to do L2 Maths & English as my O-levels were too old. Had to prove I was competent to teach. Confused

LadyCatStark · 20/08/2021 22:31

Me, they’re even still in my red record of achievement folder. I work in education and so need them for every new job.

cakeallday · 20/08/2021 22:37

I'm here to make sure I wasn't the only person who still has their Record of Achievement folder Grin

  1. 10 years ago Wink
cakeallday · 20/08/2021 22:38

Also...I had to show the maths and English ones several times two years ago when I was looking for a new job!

Kezzie200 · 20/08/2021 23:06

Yes, 54 and I have them all. O level, CSE, BTEC, and professional exams including the issues of The Times they were announced in.

EBearhug · 20/08/2021 23:26

Work has got a lot more diligent about checking certs in recent years, and a couple of people were sacked for claiming to have qualifications they didn't actually have.

clary · 21/08/2021 02:10

[quote Babysharkdoodoodood]@TheGenealogist
When I did my PGCE in 2007 I had to do L2 Maths & English as my O-levels were too old. Had to prove I was competent to teach. Confused[/quote]
I don't know when you did O levels (or where you did your PGCE) but I did PGCE in 2011 and my O levels from 1980 were fine. Maybe your awarding body was especially picky but AFAIK they don't run out.

Willowkins · 21/08/2021 02:14

Still got mine - except they were O Levels back then - 45 years later

redfairy · 21/08/2021 07:24

Got O level certificates from 1983 but they're all scanned now for ease of access. I could ping them to you in a heartbeat!

sashh · 21/08/2021 08:21

Who says they are only valid for 10 years? How can that be so? If it were true we would all constantly be retaking Eng and maths as they are needed for many jobs (even if few employers ask for proof).

O Levels / GCSEs / Degrees do not have a timescale.

Some qualifications have a date on them, my ACLS (Advanced life saving) was only valid for 3 years because things change in healthcare, new drugs become available and rewrite the rules, heart attacks used to have 4 stages that you could see on an ECG, then someone invented streptokinase and stages 2 and 3 disappeared.

When I did my PGCE in 2007 I had to do L2 Maths & English as my O-levels were too old. Had to prove I was competent to teach.

Was this before the maths and literacy tests (that have now been scrapped)? For my DTTLS we all did L2 functional skills because we had to show we were still working at GCSE level in numeracy and literacy, there were other ways the course could do this but it was an easy way to do it.

For my PGCE I had to take the tests before starting the course.

I have a seperate file for the certs I don't need or don't want to show an employer, my certificate in cat behaviour from Cats' protection and my Ju-Jitsu blue belt.

I'm also rather jealous of those of you with 'record of achievement' folders.

Original poster
Borisjohnsonshairbrush · 21/08/2021 09:01

Id happily do all my GCSE exams again.

I've decided I'm absolutely going to re-do maths and aim for the A of course which basically an 8 now? My maths is fine now, at 16 maybe I just wasn't interested?

OP posts:
BluebellsGreenbells · 21/08/2021 11:22

Look at your local college - they give you a computer test and see what you are currently able to do and suggest the right coarse. One evening a week is all you need.

They do some daytime ones as well.

Good luck

KitKatKong · 21/08/2021 11:57

I still have mine. Kept in a folder with all other qualification certificates

LadyJaye · 21/08/2021 12:15

The only certificates I've ever been asked for UG/post-grad degrees and professional qualifications.

I was very proud of my A for Higher Art & Design, but, as a 42-year-old systems director, I don't think it would mean much to anybody else now, sadly.

54321nought · 21/08/2021 14:21

good luck

DDIJ · 21/08/2021 14:26

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

PaperMonster · 21/08/2021 17:50

[quote Babysharkdoodoodood]@TheGenealogist
When I did my PGCE in 2007 I had to do L2 Maths & English as my O-levels were too old. Had to prove I was competent to teach. Confused[/quote]
I did my PGCE in 2002 and my O Level English from 1985 was acceptable. My maths was a GCSE from later.