# GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition - Summer Exam

**GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition**

GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition gives students the knowledge, understanding and practical skills to cook and to apply the principles of food science, nutrition and healthy eating. The course covers nutrition, food provenance and food choice, cooking and food preparation, and a wide range of preparation and cooking techniques. GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition is excellent preparation for further study in food science, nutrition, catering and hospitality.

Our approved GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition exam centre welcomes private candidates for exams with OCR. We provide a safe, well-organised environment designed to support you through every step, ensuring your exam experience is smooth and stress free helping you to gain a recognised qualification in GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition under official exam conditions.

**FAQ GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition:**

**Can I sit GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition as a private candidate?**  
_Yes. Our JCQ-approved centre (centre number 20212) accepts private candidates for OCR GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition (J309), entry option J309 A._

**How is GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition assessed?**  
_The written exam (Paper 01) is 1 hour 30 minutes and is worth 50% of the qualification. The other 50% is coursework (non-examined assessment): the Food Investigation Task (15%) and the Food Preparation Task (35%), in which candidates prepare, cook and present three dishes within a single session of no more than three hours._

**Do I need to book the coursework before booking the exam?**  
_Yes. The coursework element must be pre-booked with [@theland](https://www.attheland.co.uk/qualifications "@theland - OCR GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition coursework") before you book the exam on our website. When booking the exam you will be asked to confirm that you have already booked the coursework. We do not deliver the coursework element for this subject ourselves._

**What does entry option J309 A mean?**  
_Entry option A is the written paper (01) together with both coursework tasks submitted to OCR by moderated upload: the Food Investigation Task (02) and the Food Preparation Task (04)._

**When are the coursework tasks released?**  
_OCR publishes the Food Investigation Task on 1st September and the Food Preparation Task on 1st November of the academic year in which the exam is taken, so we recommend arranging your coursework as early as possible._

**I am resitting. Can I carry forward my coursework?**  
_OCR allows coursework results to be carried forward for resits using a different entry option. Our online booking is for entry option J309 A only, so please contact us before booking if you wish to carry forward your coursework. You will need the UCI number you used when you originally took the exams._

**Is GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition available in November?**  
_No. OCR offers GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition in the summer (May/June) exam series only._

_We strongly recommend that you familiarise yourself with the [OCR GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition specification and non-exam assessment guidance](https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse/food-preparation-and-nutrition-j309-from-2016/ "OCR GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition"), as this sets out the content of the written exam and the requirements of both coursework tasks._

## Details

- **Price:** 270.0 GBP
- **Vendor:** Exam Centre Birmingham
- **Type:** Exams
- **Tags:** ECB, GCSE Summer Exams

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 270.00 GBP | In stock |

## Images

- GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition - Summer Exam - Exam Centre Birmingham Limited

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> Source: [Exam Centre Birmingham](https://www.examcentrebirmingham.com/products/gcse-food-preparation-and-nutrition-summer-exam)
> Updated: 2026-10-19
