Maths ICGCSE - grade 9 - how hard to obtain?

[NaturalHistory]

Maths IGCSE

We have been told that only an extraordinary child is likely to obtain a grade 9 in a much harder syllabus in the future? Will there be few, if any, grade 9s re: the new grading system this summer?

Reading up but not getting a clear sense of whether grade 7-8 will be viewed as the 'same' as the old A*? Can anyone shed light, thanks.

I read (somewhere) that a grade 9 would relate to @ the top 3% of candidates. That a 7 would equate to a strong A. I can't remember now if that was school's interpretation or govt. site.

No one knows yet. Until the results are out the grade boundaries are unknown. There's some suggestion that only the top 2-3% of grades will be a 9.

As a grade 7 is expected to be the equivalent of an A grade and 8 an A* there's little point being anxious as to whether your child will get a 9. Any grade 7,8 or 9 is an equivalent to an old fashioned A grade which used to be considered only achievable by top few %.

telegraph's interpretation

top 20% of those getting 7 or above will get a 9....

Not sure if the reasoning behind this new grading system but it seems so elitist. To think that someone leaving with straight As is going to feel insecure about their results. I don't understand the benefit of having to sub-catergorise an A grade student in that depth. And how traumatic and demoralising for young people having to collect their results with no understanding of their value!

Are all GCSEs now graded in this way and when does it come in to effect?

I wish we were more like countries with a leaving certificate you just have to pass.

It seems crazy to focus on yet further subdividding high achievers and make good solid grades look lower

I just don't get it.

top 20% of those getting 7 or above will get a 9....

No, that was the original proposal, it has since been changed to a formula where more 9s will be available in subjects more usually taken by bright kids, like Latin.
It'll be about the top 3% for GCSE maths. An 8 is actually low A high A so will be easier to get an 8 than an A.

I assume it will be similar for IGCSE. Weirdly the Ofqual postcard includes IGCSE for English but doesn't mention it for maths. Maybe the IGCSE ability spread for maths is different.

DSs school has said that grade 7 or above are fine to carry on with A level. Grade 6 (B?) must take part in a week-long Summer school, and weekly top-up lessons for the first term. Feeling most nervous about the Maths.

In theory, the 8 starts just under an A*, but the spec is so significantly more difficult that it's not really easier to get.

It doesn't matter that the spec is more difficult because the GCSE isn't criterion-referenced (this year at least), it's norm referenced. For maths last year about 7% of students got an A, but about 11% will get an 8. For English, 4% got an A but 7% will get an 8.

We know that these kids will actually be worse at the new spec than future cohorts getting the same grades.