New Format GCSE Science Exams will be taken for the first time in 2018

• The grading will change fro A* to G to a grade 9 to 1.
• The images on this page give some examples of attempts to read across between the two systems:

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

• Many students started the new course using draft specifications in 2015. Official teaching starts in September 2016
• The first new format GCSE Science exams will start in summer 2018.
• Most students will either take the new Combined Science course (worth two GCSEs) or three separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

Exam Board Websites

New vs old grading