GCSE Grade Boundaries.

[MathsRC]

No wonder teachers are losing confidence.

Here are a couple of blogs I have written about the changing Edexcel GCSE Maths grade boundaries over the past 3 years.

Let me know what you think.

1. Foundation - mathsreviewandcomment.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/gcse-foundation-edexcel-historic-grade.html

1. Higher - mathsreviewandcomment.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/gcse-maths-edexcel-higher-grade.html

Well they did it with English and now Maths is the obvious choice. Horrible for the pupils, hideous for the teachers.

Thanks for sharing your insights. Fascinating. Will be interested to see graphs after this year's results.

It's in pretty much every subject. Makes it impossible to supply accurate predicted grades and to manage expectations of students and parents. In my subject, the same overall mark would have got a B last year and an A two years previous. In the exam, last year, a mark of 58/60 was required for an A, 57/60 for an A and 56/60 for a B. That's ludicrous.

This year's GCSES are going to be very interesting.

I have my dyslexic borderline A for maths, B for English, DD1 waiting for results. She's getting twitchy, nervous and slightly annoying. She worked incredibly hard the last thing she needs is them messing with the boundaries for political ends.

Or even just a pile of news stories suggesting they might have done.

Interesting is not a word she wants to hear!

I don't think interesting will cut it with the teens who have worked so hard then perhaps fallen victim to the politics of the system

My DS1 fell foul of these changes, he failed to get a C in match by 3 points and although sent for remark still missed it by 1 point. He resat and again missed by 2 points because they had changed the boundary, he sat a different exam last summer and missed it again by 2 points. Again they had changed the boundary. He took his last resat (last November) and was 1 point away and very depressed by it - thankfully that time his remark came back as a pass.

Since taking the first exam 18 months ago (foundation paper) to finally getting the pass I think the grade boundary had moved up by at least 20 marks. It just seemed so unfair that he was trying so hard and reaching the required mark each time only for them to move the boundary.

My DS worked his socks off and is dreading results day so you don't need to do a fucky off face for me.

It's a fucking disgrace.

Blog post on twitter yesterday showed the difference in grade boundaries for (I think) English over the last few years. Steadily more difficult to get A*, A, B & C grades as boundaries were moved up but D & E grade boundaries have gone down - so frustrating that it isn't even consistent.

This year if fewer students get the higher grades it will be because Gove contined to raise standards and make exams more rigorous. And as a consequence of his meddling, teachers will be put onto competency procedures, students will miss out on 6th form & college places and parents will lose faith in the system even more. It's utterly shambolic.

The grade boundaries are always going to be a different no of marks out of hundred because no 2 papers are exactly the same difficulty.

I'm dreading it; DD2 has missed so much school through illness, has worked like crazy to make up, and is now a seething mass of nerves because of the grade boundaries.

That was our concern, we knew DS would get everything else he needed for 6th form but the maths was going to be borderline. You always expect slight changes in the boundaries but when there is a big jump it causes a lot of upset when kids have tried so hard.

I have to go through this another 3 times and I wonder what the exams will be like for DD1 in 4 years never mind for DD2 and DS2.

DD2 does her's in three years (2017) which possibly makes her the Guinea pig for that lunacy.

Which, as far as I caan see, is going to have to split 7,8,9 on whether or not DCs can do about two hard questions. No doubt at the end of the paper.

Maths is already rather like this. So clever DCs have to gamble do we do those first or last and how much time do they need.

I dont think DS has noticed the news but I will be absolutely gutted if he doesnt make or exceed his predicted grades. He worked really hard. I'm waiting for the night before/morning of results to find out the trend and see how I prepare him on the day.

The school my DS goes to lowered the grades from A's in the relevant subjects to be taken to at least B's. This was done before the exams started as they obviously expected a decline in standards with introduction of linear exams. I'm sure the other schools will follow in same way. It's a grammar school which are used to getting high results so it will be interesting to see the difference from previous years.

In 2012, when English boundaries were so dramatically changed, I spent hours on the phone to sixth forms/ colleges. They were brilliant and essentially, as long as I could say the pupil would have got the C/B/A predicted, they allowed them on the course, sometimes subject to a resit. I would expect them to be equally understanding this year. The huge amount of publicity certainly helped.

• as far as I caan see, is going to have to split 7,8,9 on whether or not DCs can do about two hard questions. No doubt at the end of the paper.

Maths is already rather like this. So clever DCs have to gamble do we do those first or last and how much time do they need.*

They are at the end of the paper for a reason! Candidates shoul pick up the easy marks first!!!

Coolas- they arent all in the same boat. Those SEN kids who have had extra time withdrawn are definitely in a very different boat.