What level in year 9 for Level 7/8 GCSE

[maddieR]

Hi- trying to figure out whether my child is on track for GCSEs at level 7/8- she is currently in year 9 and is hoping to go to medical school so we know she will need to achieve high marks. Can anyone shed any light on what she should aim for this year 9 so we can ensure steady preparation rather than cramming in year 11?!! I’m finding levels confusing- my understanding is she should go up two sub levels a year, does your school expect similar? Thanks for reading!

Pressed to soon my post above refers to predicted Grade 8/9

OP, the trouble at the moment is that the new GCSEs haven't even been sat once yet (except for maths & English) so grades and potential grades are much more guesswork (i.e. have bigger error ranges) than in recent years. The new gradings and the new curricular mean that teachers can be much less confident in what a 7 or an 8 looks like.

Languages previously had 60% CA which was learn-and-regurgitate so there has been a considerable change, and primaries do next to nothing in the way of language teaching. These together mean that for languages I think a) the improvement graph will be steeper and b) predicting will be much harder than for other subjects where even if content had changed the basic format is similar.

If a child is already at a maths grade 6 in y9 I would personally (not a teacher) expect them to be looking at top grades in y11 as they are probably only at grade 6 because they haven't learned much of the 7/8/9 topics yet, and they have 2 whole years to go.

To be honest the best advice for your DD at this point is to continue to work steadily.

Predicted Grade 7 would be working between grades 4/5 in Year 9.

I too have kids using the two different systems!

I don't think the working at grades will be based on the fact that topics haven't yet been covered TeenTimesTwo. Students will be tested on topics covered - not not covered - and grades extrapolated from aptitude demonstrated there.

goodbye I don't think the working at grades will be based on the fact that topics haven't yet been covered TeenTimesTwo. Students will be tested on topics covered - not not covered - and grades extrapolated from aptitude demonstrated there.

I'm not convinced.

For English you can write grade 9 answers for e.g. Macbeth even if you haven't yet studied e.g. Great Expectations. So it would be reasonable to say 'currently working at' grade 9.

But for maths if you have only been taught the topics up to grade 6 and haven't yet done the grade 8&9 topics, I don't see how a teacher could say 'currently working at' grade 9. They could obviously say 'predicted' grade 9, but that is different.

If grades are extrapolated from aptitude then they are, I think, 'predicted' grades and not 'currently working at' grades.

Which all just goes to show how rubbish it is when schools don't properly explain their reports to parents.

Although fair to say that DD4 is in top set and they completed the GCSE syllabus before the start of Y11, so I guess that makes a difference and both of us correct!

Maybe we are talking at cross purposes then?

Because 'currently working at' doesn't mean the same as 'predicted at end y11' to me. (Unless it means 'currently working at a predicted grade of', which is just the same as saying 'predicted' I think).

Some schools appear to give predicted grades, some give 'currently working at', and no doubts some give both.

But due to the building block nature of maths, I still don't see how a school could give 'currently working at' 9 for maths unless they have covered at least some of the level 9 topics. I absolutely understand how they can give predictions of a 9 though.

I have no doubt you understand your DC's report. It is just that it is clear from the OPs question, and other similar threads, that many schools are not clear what their reports mean.

Teen I've just asked for my post to be deleted because I didn't read yours properly so mine is confused/ confusing. My mistake.

goodbyestranger

The school giving grade 9's is not a good idea as it depends on what other students are achieving. Unless they are scoring 100%

ofqual.blog.gov.uk/2017/04/05/setting-grade-9-in-new-gcses/

Yes I know that sashh. As I said, I'm taking the predictions lightly :) Nice and neat though, for the moment!

good glad we agree.

(And completing all the maths by the end of y10 is great going by the set.)

I think NobleGiraffe's thread on flightpaths and predicited GCSE grades still stands even though it was written in July of last year

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/2979988-School-reports-which-give-your-kids-GCSE-grades-or-flightpaths-are-bollocks

If your child is doing well, then encourage that and see where they are in a year's time.

Gosh just logged on to find heaps of info on this thread now- thanks so much everyone! I wondered if I was being a silly not figuring it out but it sounds like it is a minefield of a topic with the new GCSEs. Teenstimestwo good point that languages might (fingers crossed) be a steeper curve as mine only did a very cursory amount of French in primary taught by their teacher who didn’t know a word of it! And again interesting point that some topics might simply have not been covered yet. I think French and RE (required at her school) will be a huge slog for her😳. And of course a veteran teacher knows what a strong student looks like- I find all the teachers are enormously positive...about everyone which is lovely for the kids but I wouldn’t mind a bit of hard truths so we know what to focus on.

I find all the teachers are enormously positive...about everyone

I find with teachers you have to ask very direct questions - e.g. 'if my child selects this for GCSE would you expect them to get at least a 7' (or in my case 'pass'). Otherwise they wrap things up so nicely it can be hard to tell what they are saying.

At least with 'flightpath' info, (long range final grade predictions)(however inaccurate they might be) you get a general picture. So I can see visibly in y8 which core subject DD2 is weakest in, and know that external intervention is needed now to try to help her.

Totally agree @TeenTimesTwo !!

We had DS's options parents evening in January. Asking teachers if they feel their subject would be good for DS to take, and the amount of " I'd love him in my class!" " he's a little treasure " comments we got!

I didn't ask if you wanted him, I want to know if he'll do well in that subject

StressedoutFred that made me chuckle- talk about a feel good evening...which left us none the wiser as to which subjects she was a strong candidate for. I wonder whether in other schools head of year meets parents and child, and suggests subjects they are really strong at and others they should well avoid - having had staff discussions about each child and preliminary discussions with child about any future plans and interests. Sigh. Wishful thinking on my part!

Never known that happen even in dd’s tiny school. Would be impossible in most large secondaries.

I'm afraid I've only come across that level of guidance in the independent sector. Use the grade reviews/reports to inform her/your decision, but please do take into account how much she enjoys a subject- love of a subject can carry a young person through, as they want to learn it, and enjoy it. Far better one option is one they live, rather than the next strongest that they really don't particularly like. They'll just be more motivated.

I can't imagine that level of guidance either!

I thought have thought for medical school 7s will not be enough. Will need lots of 8s and the odd 9 especially in science/maths. My daughter ended up with a 7 in maths 3x 8s in triple science and 2x 9s in English last year. Back in year 9 and even 10 the comments were along the lines of if works hard should get 7 or maybe 8 (or A/A* in old money) For some people it is clear but generally very hard to predict in most cases especially whether going to push up from a 7 to an 8/9 and so much depends on how hard they work in year 11 (and that is from a teacher with 20 years experience)

herts Can you clarify your post? Do you mean predictions for or have you converted last years achieved science grades into the new grades? Last year science was graded with letters, wasn't it?

(Though I agree for medicine I would expect 8s for science & maths.)