New GCSE grading system explained
With pupils around the UK receiving their GCSE results today there has been much discussion about the new grading system, introduced last year and rolled out to further subjects this year.
The changes mean that certain GCSE subjects are now graded using the numbers 9 to 1 instead of the letters A* to E.
As with any big change of this nature, the government has its work cut out explaining the new system to parents, schools and employers.
With this in mind here is a handy guide for Warwickshire businesses...
When were the changes brought in?
The new system was introduced last year and covered only English Literature, English Language and Maths GCSEs. This year it will be rolled out to a further 20 subjects. The roll-out is taking place gradually with most GCSE subjects adopting the new system by summer 2019. During this period students will be awarded a mixture of number and letter grades. Eventually every GCSE taken in England will receive a number grade from 9 to 1.
Why have the changes been brought in?
According to the Ofqual, the new changes have been brought in to signal that GCSEs have been reformed and to better differentiate between students of different abilities. These changes are only happening in England; Wales and Northern Ireland are not introducing the new 9 to 1 grading scales. Scotland has its own system of entirely separate national examinations: Nationals and Highers.
How does the new grading system work?
GCSEs marked under the new system will receive a grade from 9 to 1, with 9 being the highest mark. This will entirely replace the A-E* grades and the Department for Education has stressed that the old and new systems cannot directly be compared,
however there are points where they align:
The bottom of grade 7 is comparable to the bottom of the old grade A, the bottom of the new grade 4 is comparable to the bottom of the old grade C, and the bottom of the new grade 1 is comparable to the bottom of the old grade G.
Ofqual has told universities and employers that if they have set requirements of at least a grade C the equivalent would now be at least a grade 4.
In the first year each new GCSE is introduced the same proportion of students will get grades 1,4 and 7 and above as would have got grades G,C and A and above respectively under the old system. This is to avoid unfairly disadvantaging those pupils sitting the new qualifications for the first time.
Under the new system fewer grade 9s will be awarded than A*s and Ofqual has said that anyone who achieves a grade 9 will have ‘performed exceptionally’. The GCSE subjects marked using the new system will also be more challenging.
Science GCSEs
Students will take one or more separate science subjects (physics, chemistry and biology) or a combined science which is really two individual science GCSEs rolled into one. Students will study physics, chemistry and biology but won’t cover as much content as those studying a single science.
Those studying combined sciences will be awarded two adjacent grades from 9 to 1 (e.g. 9-9, 8-8 through to 1-1) which will count as two GCSEs.
Science GCSEs will now involve at least eight practical activities (16 for combined science) covering specific apparatus and techniques. Exam questions about practical work will comprise 15% of the total mark for the qualification.
Where can I get more information?
List of subjects received 9 to 1 grade this year (2018)
- ancient languages (classical Greek, Latin)
- art and design
- biology
- chemistry
- citizenship studies
- combined science (double award)
- computer science
- dance
- drama
- food preparation and nutrition
- geography
- history
- modern foreign languages (French, German, Spanish)
- music
- physics
- physical education
- religious studies