How to understand the new GCSE results
Saba Safdar • 31 July 2019
How to understand the new GCSE results
With the government choosing to scrap the traditional A* to G GCSE grades in favour of a brand-new grading system in 2017, many students and parents are struggling to get their heads around the totally different marks system.
Starting with English, English literature and maths, it is expected that most GCSE results will utilise the revised system this year with all subjects using this system by 2020.
But for parents who’ve only ever known the previous system, how do the new grades measure up?
Previously, we saw eight grades from A* to G, but the addition of a ninth grade (grade 9) is confusing many parents who aren’t 100% sure why the system was changed in the first place. According to government sources, the grades have been changed following a national curriculum review in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
With findings that around 60% of students achieve a B or C grade, dividing grades up even more will make it easier for teachers, colleges and potential employers to differentiate between the good and the great students.
It also comes as reports show that UK students are falling behind other countries on international educational rankings; therefore plans have been put in motion to make the GCSE examinations more ‘rigorous' to bring them in line with the rest of Europe and further afield.
Here’s a simple comparison guide that details the new numeric grades against their traditional alphabetical counterparts.
- The top two grades of A and A* are roughly equivalent to a grade of 7, 8 or 9, but fewer grade 9s will be awarded to students than A* results prior to the changes. Grade 9 will only be awarded for exceptional performance in any subject.
- The good to average grade passes of B and C – which are the minimum grades expected by colleges for entry onto A level courses - have now been replaced by grades 4, 5 and 6.
- At the lower end of the scale D, E, F and G grades will now be scored 1, 2 or 3 with a fail graded U as per the alphabetical scale.
According to the government, not only will this make it easier for employers and colleges to see which students gave the best performance in their examinations and coursework, but it will also mean that students will have to work harder to achieve the top grades than they would have done prior to 2017. With this change, it might be worth investing in a GCSE tutor
to help your children get the results they deserve under this more taxing new system.
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