Listing High School, College, or Sixth Form on your CV (GCSE, A-Level & BTEC Examples)

If you’ve just graduated high school and are creating a CV for the first time, you’re probably wondering about the best way to present your GCSEs on your CV. Do you need to list GCSE subjects on a CV? How should you write GCSE grades on a CV? Would it be a good idea to include final projects and extracurricular activities too?

Moving forward into further education and beyond, it can get even more confusing as to what to include as you begin to build up more qualifications and work experience. Luckily this blog will break down the do’s and don’ts of listing high school, college, or sixth form studies on your CV, with examples of how to ensure this information shines. 

This blog post will explore:

• Should I list GCSEs, A-Levels, and BTEC on my CV?
• How to list GCSEs, A-Levels, and BTEC on a CV
• Additional information to list in your education section.

Should I list GCSEs, A-Levels, and BTEC on my CV?

Whether or not it’s a good idea to add your GCSEs, A-Levels, BTEC, or any other vocational qualifications on your CV very much depends on what stage you are at in your career.

In the early days of your career or when you’ve just finished your studies, it makes sense to place more emphasis on your education in your CV. Work experience is likely to be limited, so listing your GCSEs, A-Levels or BTEC studies will make more sense. You can also place your Education section before your work history for maximum impact.

Once you’ve completed a university degree you can remove your high school education from your CV. University studies will take precedence over earlier and less relevant qualifications and you will want to make your degree on your CV stand out.

How to list GCSEs, A-Levels, and BTEC on a CV

Ready to present your education in the best possible light? Here’s a breakdown of different situations and examples of how to highlight your education on your CV.

High school student education

If you’re currently completing or have recently finalised your GCSEs, then this is the most important time to include your high school education on your CV. When your GCSEs are in progress, you would just need to clarify that any results are predicted grades.

At this point, your GCSEs will be the peak of your formal education, so it makes sense to pack some punch and include any standout achievements. Write your GCSE grades on your CV alongside each subject if they are impressive. You can also detail relevant extracurricular activities, awards, and memberships to give a broader picture of your skills and abilities. 

Here’s an example of how to write GCSE grades on a CV and include additional information:    

Sixth form education

Moving forward, you may decide to continue your education at sixth form. Options can include completing A and AS-level courses, BTEC qualifications and in some cases, an International Baccalaureate (IB). As your education shifts towards new horizons, so should your CV.

While you still should put your GCSEs on your CV, you don’t need to list every subject. Most employers prefer a concise education section. For this reason, it’s fine to summarise the number of GCSEs completed and confirm that this includes Mathematics and English. Grades can be added if you excelled in your studies. 

Here’s how you can present this information:

College student education

Colleges typically offer a wider range of qualifications, including vocational courses that provide practical, hands-on learning as well as the opportunity to learn and earn via an apprenticeship. This format broadly follows the Sixth form example above, but you can also include any relevant training courses you’ve completed as part of an apprenticeship. Here’s an example:

Don’t forget to include details of any practical experience gained during an apprenticeship or vocational qualification in your work experience section. These experiences are regarded as official work experience and allow you to develop your skills in a professional work environment.  

Additional information to list in your education section

Your CV should be unique and narrate your professional story, regardless of your career level. For this reason, showcasing relevant accomplishments in your education section is a great way to stand out from other job seekers as the one to hire.  

Here are some additional details you could include in sections or bullet points underneath your GCSEs, A-Levels, BTEC, or other vocational studies:

• Grades
• Scholarships
• Modules relevant to your chosen career path
• Impressive final projects
• Awards or commendations
• Leadership positions in school or college
• Membership in relevant organisations
• Relevant extracurricular activities

Key takeaways

Whether you choose to list GCSEs, A-Levels, and/or BTEC studies on your CV will depend on the stage that you are in your career. 

Recent school leavers with limited work experience should highlight their GCSEs in more detail, including individual subjects, impressive grades, and optional additional details such as awards or impressive projects. Sixth-form or college students can summarise GCSEs so that more focus is placed on A-Levels, BTEC, apprenticeships, and other vocational studies. Once you’ve completed a degree, you can remove your earlier education entirely. 

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