Approved equivalent qualifications
| Qualification | We accept | We do not accept |
| GCSE | A* – C / 4 – 9 | D – G / 1 – 3 |
| GCE O Level | A* – C | D – E |
| CSE | Grade 1 | Anything other than Grade 1 |
| IGCSE | A* – C | D – G |
| Scottish Certificate of Education Standard Grade | Grade 1 – 2 | Grade 3 – 7 |
| Scottish Certificate of Education Higher Grade | A – D | No award |
| Irish Leaving Certificate Ordinary/Standard | O1 – O4 / A1 – D3 | O5 – O8 / E – F |
| Irish Leaving Certificate Higher Grade | H1 – H7 / A1 – D3 | H8 |
| Functional Skills (English) | ‘Pass’ grade at Level 2 | Anything other than ‘Pass’ grade at Level 2 |
| Key Skills (English) | ‘Pass’ grade at Level 2 | Anything other than ‘Pass’ grade at Level 2 |
| Adult Literacy | ‘Pass’ grade at Level 2 | Anything other than ‘Pass’ grade at Level 2 |
| Access to Higher Education Diploma (with specific English language modules) | 12 credits in English modules at Level 2 OR states ‘with GCSE equivalency’ | Access qualifications where English modules have not been studied or fewer than 12 credits at Level 2 have been achieved |
| IELTS Academic | Level 7 with at least a 6.5 in each element (test must have been taken within three years) | Lower than Level 7 overall and/or lower than 6.5 in any element |
| International Baccalaureate | ‘Pass’ mark in English A1 (first language) | Anything other than pass mark in English A1 (first language) |
| Cambridge ESOL in Advanced English (before 2015) | At least 185 marks overall and at least 176 marks in each element | Fewer than 185 marks overall or fewer than 176 marks in any element |
| Cambridge ESOL in Advanced English (after 2015) | Grade B or higher with no component below borderline | Below grade B and/or any components below borderline |
| AQA Level 1 / 2 | Grade C or above | Anything below Grade C |
| Trinity College London ISE III Level 2 Certificate | With Merits in each component | Anything below a Merit in each component |
If you have any further questions not answered by this guidance or wish to enquire about a qualification, please contact the admissions and support team at recruitment@thefrontline.org.uk