I don't understand GCSE Gradings!

[snowdropsandcrocuses]

As my title explains really. Can anyone explain the new gradings and their old equivalents?

Dd predicted 6-7's. What does that mean? Considering 9 is the highest grade it doesn't seem that high..

ofqual.blog.gov.uk/2018/03/02/gcse-9-to-1-grades-a-brief-guide-for-parents/

That is top B and As in old grades. A 4 is a C and a pass. 8 is roughly equivalent of A*

9 is A*
7 is low A
6 is B

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-48993830

Table shows grades compared to old letters

6 is roughly a B in old money. And 7 is rouggly an A. But I don't think they're directly comparable really because the scales are different.

They're respectable grades but nothing to write home about. 6s would be enough to do a-levels in some sixth forms, whereas others would require 7s in their chosen subjects.

Thank you. Why oh why did they change it? I can't see any benefit at all

@snowdropsandcrocuses

Thank you. Why oh why did they change it? I can't see any benefit at all

Presumably to get more differentiation in the top grades because too many kids were getting the old A*s?

I imagine they'll add a grade 10 in a few years to address the issue of too many kids getting 9s.

As above, decent grades. Just check what she needs to study A levels if she's staying on - DC needed 7s here.

Because they would keep having to add to As. A 9 is not equivalent to A, it can be a little bit more. By having 9 as the current top grade they have the opportunity if necessary to add 10 or 11 if necessary.

There has been talk about having to bring in numbers for A-level grades due to the number of A grades in the last set of ‘exams’.

This is what puzzles me, is some are not impressed with x many getting a's but if people are studying better , then why is that a bad thing that they are getting the a results ?

@snowdropsandcrocuses

Thank you. Why oh why did they change it? I can't see any benefit at all

It’s easier to work with data wise

@Hawkins001

This is what puzzles me, is some are not impressed with x many getting a's but if people are studying better , then why is that a bad thing that they are getting the a results ?

The problem is that various academic studies have shown that the increase in grades over the years is not down to students studying better. For example, from 2000 to 2009 the percentage of pupils getting 5 or more good GCSEs went up by around 30% while independent tests (PISA and TIMSS) showed that literacy, maths and science scores fell by around 6% over the same period. It is believed the apparently improved performance was due to a combination of teachers teaching to the test and grade inflation by the examining boards.

The same thing has been happening at degree level. When I went to university in the 1970s, 7% of students were awarded a first class degree. That stayed the same until the late 1990s. Now, over 25% of undergraduates are awarded first class degrees. The evidence is that this is not down to improved performance by students.

It’s easier to work with data wise

Not really. Letter grades needed converting to a scale first - hardly complicated data wise.