New GCSE Grades System: What You Need To Know

A new system for grading GCSE results is
being used for the first time this year,
with the old A* to G grades being
replaced with numbers from 9 to 1.


- Which results will be affected?

The first courses to use the new marking
system will be the GCSE maths, English
literature and English language exams
taken in England this summer.

The other countries in the UK have
different exams systems and will continue
to use the old grading system.

The grading scheme will be extended next
year to include GCSE science exams.



- What do the grades mean?

The new grading system will score pupils
from 1 to 9, with grade 9 being the
highest mark and grade 1 the lowest.

The Government predicts that a pupil who
scored a C previously will receive a 4 this
year.

Similarly what would have been a low A
grade is now equivalent to a grade 7.

To get a level 9 is harder than getting an
A*, meaning far fewer students will get
the top mark.




- Why was the system introduced?

The new grading system should create
greater division between pupils' abilities
as there are more grades to split them
between.

Under the old system there were eight
categories (A* to G) whereas now there
are nine.

The new system was specifically created to
allow for more differentiation among high
achieving pupils, as those students who
previously got As or A*s will now be split
between three grades 7, 8 and 9.



- What to do if you've missed your
grades:
It is possible to retake GCSE exams in the
autumn to try and increase your mark.

If you have missed your grades, some A-
level or college course may still accept you
if you're planning to re-sit your exams.

But if you can't resit, you could take
another course where you made the
grades or apply to a different college as
not all colleges will require the same
grades.

If your grades are unexpectedly low you
can also request to see your exam papers
and consider asking for the paper to be
remarked.


Source-SKYNEWS