A Guide to the New GCSE Grading System

 As you may be aware, the GCSE grading system has changed over the past few years. This began in 2017 with English and Maths, but all GCSEs are now graded according to the new system. The government's aim in making these changes was to provide a more precise differentiation between the levels achieved, but many parents are still unsure of exactly what to make of the new system. What do the new grades mean, and how do they relate to the old, familiar ones?

Comparison Between Old and New Systems

 Whereas the old system of grades used letters, with A* at the top, then A down to G, the new has 9 at the top, going down to 1 at the bottom. In both case, there's a U (ungraded) level for candidates who don't achieve the minimum level for a grade. The government stressed, when introducing the new system, that the new grades don't exactly equate to any specific old grade. However, there are some general similarities that can help you understand what to make of your child's grades

• Grades 9-7 — These are roughly equivalent to the old A* and A, but with three distinct grades instead of just two. The bottom level of grade 7 will be equivalent to the bottom level of the old grade A, but it's anticipated that fewer grade 9s will be awarded than grade A*.
• Grades 6-4 — Again, these three grades roughly correspond to the old grades B and C, with the bottoms of grade 4 and grade C at the same level. Grade 4 is enough for a standard pass, while grades 5 and above are considered a strong pass.
• Grades 3-1 — This time, three grades have replaced four (D, E, F and G), with the bottoms of 1 and G aligned. These are all considered as being below the standard required for a pass.

What Do the Grades Mean for Your Child?

 Grade 4 is the pass level, and a student who achieves 4 in all their exams has technically passed them all, but this doesn't necessarily mean that it will be enough. If they want to enter the Sixth Form, they may well need a minimum number of grade 5s or above to qualify, while employers may well make similar distinctions, especially for competitive positions. At the other end of the scale, it will be a lot harder to achieve a grade 9 than an A*. Grade 8 will be considered an excellent result, but if your child has 9s among their results, they'll be very justified in feeling proud.

Other Changes to GCSEs

 Alongside the change to the grading system, the curriculum and assessment system for GCSEs have changed. Where ten years ago, students would take modules and be assessed on them during the two years by coursework and exams, the emphasis now is on final exams at the end of the two years. Of course, this has been different during the pandemic, when exams have been impractical, and students have been assessed on coursework alone. The aim, however, is for this to return to final exam assessment in the current academic year, although grades will continue to be a little more generous than normal, for this year at least, to reflect the disruptions in education.

 All this puts more pressure than ever on students as they approach crucial exams for all their subjects at the same time. If you feel your child would benefit from some extra help, register with TutorExtra to find the right private tutor.