Is a level 8 unusual at the end of year 8?

Not unusual but not common - my daughter is a Level 7B in Yr7 a class of 27 where I think most are 6A to 8C ..... to my knowledge these are fair assessments ...they all sat the level KS3 5 to 7 paper and then 60% sat the KS3 6 to 8 paper ....the teacher stated that she is just filling in Gaps in their knowledge ...they do their work then can work on the GCSE workbooks .... What is amazing is that this is a very average comp with kids that attend from the local schools and is not selective but its a GOOD school......

I think Maths is a subject where high levels can be achieved at younger ages...

I'm really proud of my daughter - she's always had natural ability but she was not very confident ...until she got a teacher who is enthusiastic and lets the children work to the level of their ability- no holding back with lots of motivation - sadly next year she has a different teacher :-(

It totally depends on the school. In my younger daughters school children were working at level 7&8 in first term maths in year 7. Strangely at older DDs super selective grammar some of the year 9 girls did not reach level 8.

I think the levels are applied creatively to say the least!

What do you teach (need a nosy icon!)?

And yes, I think she's just boasting too :)

I have taught for 10 years and have never awarded a level 8, in year 9 or any other year. To be honest, I'm not sure I've awarded a L7 either.

Although we no longer have external exams, we do have level descriptors for every level and every subject: in maths this takes the form of a detailed grid until next year when Gove shakes it all up again.

As schools are measured on their progress from KS2-4, but also KS3-4, it makes sense to keep KS3 scores in line with those grids. ...but not every school does, especially if it massages egos (of teachers and some parents) to throw around L9s. Of course the poor kids get a shock when they do GCSEs.

Level 8 is pretty exceptional by the end of year 9, let alone year 8!

I think schools do have a rather loose interpretation of levels. I now know of one school locally that seems to have come up with a level 9.

I think your friend is being unfair to her dd. That sort of pressure can really end up backfiring.

L8 in Y8 would be very unusual indeed. Unless the child is very gifted (taking GCSE and A levels early, not just 'top of the class' gifted I mean) it sounds like the poor thing is under excessive pressure. We have about 1 or 2 such students per year (at a very 'maths and business' focused school).

As a general guideline, a well performing student will go up two sub levels of progress per year (e.g. starting Y8 on a 6c/6-, they would reach 6A/6+ by now, and would progress onto L7 by Y9). If you work backwards from a Y8 grade of an 8B/solid 8, you can see that they would have come in at the start of Y6 on a high 6. So rather rare and not normal.

I think she is boasting. Just say that your DD is at exceptional performance level or whatever it is called.

I got 7s. I'm really clever now, y'see.

She sounds a loon

I wonder how consistent a grade is between schools now,they haven't done testing at KS3 for ages.

Yep - 7a is really good. My Yr 8 son is no where near that. Couple of 6's in science and maths. He is top group maths and science, not the top but not the worst.

I know it's hard but try not to compare.