Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many requests were made by military personnel to study for GCSE exams in 2014; and how many such requests were granted.

The Department offers Service personnel the opportunity to study for International (General Certificate of Secondary Education) (IGCSE) examinations as opposed to GCSE examinations, since these are better suited to the work and life of Service personnel. The IGCSE does not involve coursework, instead candidates sit an extra paper. The IGCSE qualification is recognised world-wide.

In 2014, there were 1,763 applications from Armed Forces personnel for the IGCSE examinations. All applications were granted, although this does not mean that every candidate sat the exam.

These figures represent only those applicants who planned to have IGCSEs through Cambridge International Examinations.