GCSE results are out on Thursday, August 23. The reforms to GCSEs in England have come as part of a government drive with new grades, 9 to 1, being introduced to help employers and universities to better differentiate between students of different abilities. Grade 9 is at the top end of the ability and it is to recognise and reward truly exceptional performance.
Last year students received this new numerical grading in English literature, English language and maths. This year the numerical style grading has been rolled out across more subjects including biology, chemistry and physics. The reform has been phased over a number of years and will take until summer 2020 for all subjects to move to the new grade scale.
The government explains how the new grades relate to the old grades as: the bottom of a grade 7 is comparable to the bottom of the old grade A. The bottom of a 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. The government advises that for employers, universities and others that have previously set entry requirements of at least a grade C, then the equivalent now would be to require at least grade 4.
Students taking science will take one or more separate sciences – biology, chemistry and physics – or combined science, which is two GCSEs rolled into one qualification. Those taking combined science won’t cover as much content as those students sitting separate sciences. They will be awarded two equal or adjacent grades from 9 to 1 (e.g. 9-9, 9-8 through to 1-1), and this will count as two GCSEs when students apply for jobs and further education.
For further information see our blog New GCSE grading or visit Ofqual