GCSE Science Exam Grading Format
image from /www.cgpbooks.co.uk/gcse_grades_9_1_explained
What does it mean?
- Broadly the same proportion of students as currently achieve grades A*-C in existing GCSEs will achieve grades 9-4 in the new GCSEs
- Grade 4 = Grade C = current threshold standard
- The threshold standard is being raised to grade 5
- BUT unclear what students will have to know or be able to do for that grade 5 and the boundaries will shift year on year as they do now
All of this means two things:
- it will be harder to meet the new grade 5 and above – than C and above.
- more pressure as Coursework and practical assessments play a much smaller part in the new GCSE courses — which means most of the marks are won or lost in the exams at the end of Year 11.
A bit more detail
- This format for GCSE Science exams started in summer 2018.
- Most students will either take the Combined Science course (worth two GCSEs) or three separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
New vs old grading
