Year 9. GCSEs are getting closer!

[BlueRoller]

DS1 is 14 and in year 9. Despite the school doing a 3 year GCSE program, we have no idea of how he is doing academically.

His school (which is in England) still uses the old national curriculum levels. However we don't know how they translate to GCSE grades at all. I know with the new GCSEs it is hard to make accurate predictions but I'd like to get a feel for where he is. Is he going to get 9 good passes or 6 average ones kind of thing? What kind of final grades did kids with his levels get in the end - that sort of idea.

On DS's report (issued last day of Xmas term, helpfully), he was getting level 6s - mainly 6Cs) in the main subjects. Lower for German and PE. All things being equal does this indicate a kind of A/B/C or D kind of student (or 8/7/6/5/4/3 as it is now)?

It is complicated by the fact that DS is autistic, so may struggle to get the grades he is capable of anyway once faced with the stress of exams. However, we'd like to get an idea of his potential so we can be sure to maximise it.

If there are any teachers who could advise? Or any parents whose teens were at that level in year 9?

I would ask the school. I was a teacher but never taught a three-year KS4 so I can't really help. Level 6 in MFL (my subject) by the end of year 9 was good but not amazing IIRC, but that was as KS3 which is different IME. I'm surprised the school isn't giving GCSE predictions but maybe they feel it is too soon in the course.

If they are doing the GCSE course, are you sure they’re not using GCSE grades? National curriculum levels were for KS3.

Level 6 at the end of Y9 generally translated into Bs at GCSE (C for maths) - so grade 5/6. But obviously those are very loose predictions.

Hi Clary. Yes, school have said it is too early for predictions. I'm not asking for certainties, just a ballpark. The school have been doing 3 year GCSEs for a few years now but maybe proper predictions only come in once kids get into year 10?

Noblegiraffe - thank you, that is helpful to know. B grades sound about right to me, though DS may struggle in the actual exams to get that. The school have been clear the grades given are the old NC ones. I assume once DS gets to year 10 they will switch to the 9-1 GCSE grades. His predicted grades for end of year 9 are 7's but his progress at senior school has not been very speedy so I suspect he will end year 9 on 6s still.

Thanks for your input.