GCSE maths grades

[BertrandRussell]

If a kid got a solid 5 in a maths mock GCSE last week what are the chances of them pushing it to a 7 in the real thing? Any thoughts?

I'm doing plenty of flapping myself as a parent, but not a lot we can do!

"Funny how there hasn't been a single thread (I don't think) stressing about grade boundaries in English?

I'm always fascinated by the emphasis on maths on here. G&T threads are almost always about maths. I wonder whether it'/ something about us all being able to read, but many of us are left behind by our children in maths very early (year 7 in my case)? Also maybe we feel we can do something about maths- it's just a matter of learning the right stuff properly when English is more subjective? If you're a real high flyer, in maths you used to be able to confidently predict an A*- that's always been much harder inAenglish.

Also (forgive me for this) most mumsnetters seem to have high ability children and the discussion is about the boundaries between 7,8 and 9. Which, as I said, are much fuzzier in English. Certainly at our school, which has a very high % of low ability children, there is much angst and discussion about getting the kids to a C equivalent in English, and what that will be in real terms.

I feel now is the time to stick on 'Dr Strangelove: How I learnt to stop worrying and love the bomb'

The English exam is actually a really good exam. Whatever happens, everyone at least will be in the same boat- and those that will go on to further education will be judged like for like.

It just feels painfully unfair that we are 'experimenting' on all these students.

Very much so, Bertrand. The level descriptors for the top two bands are quite similar- and as this 9 is now the super A* we're now not sure WHAT the equivalent to and A/B is. The C grade has always been "clear, explained" and that is easy to spot/mark, but the more able is harder to predict. Especially given the extra challenge of no poetry anthology/no text/no extract.

Ds's teachers are marking work they would formerly class as grade A as a 5...

At least they only want a 5 to do A level in English, whereas it's 7 for maths.

Ralph- they must be using insanely high grade boundaries. Our 5 comes under 'clear explained' in the mark scheme, and that is most certainly not an A.