I am sure many of you reading this blog will already be focussed on next summer’s GCSE and A level exam series, and first awarding of more new qualifications. Below are a few points of potential interest related to some of those reformed subjects, but before coming to them I have been asked how GCSE awards will be managed this November.
November 2017
For many years there has been a November series which provides an opportunity for students to re-sit English and maths GCSEs. It’s mainly for those students that didn’t get the results they were aiming for in the previous summer, and it is now only available to those aged 16 or older at the start of the school year. This November will see the first awards of the new 9 to 1 GCSE qualifications at this time of year. This means that it’s the first time grade 9 has been awarded in a November series.
In the November series, exam boards use predictions for 17-year-old (Year 12) re-sitting students, based on their average GCSE grade in the previous summer, to guide the setting of grade boundaries. This November they will do the same, at grades 7, 4 and 1. Those grade boundaries will then apply to all students.
When it comes to setting the grade 9 boundary, we expect that there will be very few students in November aiming for a grade 9. The tailored approach formula was intended to be used only for the first year, and using the formula would be difficult if there are only small numbers of students getting a grade 7 or above. The approach we have agreed with the exam boards is a little different therefore. Exam boards will look at how far (in terms of marks) grade 9 was above grade 7 in the summer, and use that as a starting point. Senior examiners will review scripts around that mark and compare them to grade 9 scripts from the summer. This means that the standard set for grade 9 in the summer will be maintained in November.
Summer 2018
Summer 2018 sees a further round of new qualifications being awarded for the first time. Our overall approach to setting and maintaining standards is unchanged for 2018. We will use statistics to guide awarding; to anchor standards at grades 7, 4 and 1 to grades A, C and G in the old qualifications, so that the students in 2018 are not disadvantaged by being the first to sit the new qualifications. There are some subject specific points of note.
In 2018 students will take separate sciences – biology, chemistry and physics – or a new double award in combined science. This is the only double award in the new 9 to 1 GCSEs, and it will be reported on a 17-point grade scale: from 9-9, 9-8, 8-8 through to 1-1. Historically, the cohort taking the separate sciences has been more able and therefore the proportions of students at A and C have been higher than for science and additional science. If we see a similar pattern of entries to the new qualifications, then we would expect to see a higher proportion of students in separate sciences achieve grade 7 and above, compared to the proportion achieving 7-7 and above in combined science.
We also know that historically the proportions of students at A and C in science and additional science have been different, and that the cohorts entering science and additional science have also been different. For example, not all students who entered for science also entered for additional science. In anchoring the standard at 7-7, 4-4 and 1-1, we will be considering with the exam boards how best to reflect these differences in a way that’s fair to all students. We’ll be able to say more in the new year about how this will work next summer.
Grade 9
For those GCSE subjects being awarded for the first time in 2018, we will use the tailored approach formula for setting grade 9, as we did for English language, English literature and maths in summer 2017. For subsequent years, our intention has always been to move to using predictions to carry forward the standard at grade 9. So grade 9 in English language, English literature and maths in summer 2018 will be set using predictions, in the same way as grades 7, 4 and 1.
A level maths
First awards for the new A levels have, so far, taken place after the first two-year course has finished. A level maths is unusual, in that many students take it at the end of Year 12 and then go on to take A level further maths at the end of Year 13. The new A level maths course has only been taught since September 2017, but it will be awarded for the first time next summer, in order to cater for those students who want to take it at the end of Year 12. So we are discussing with exam boards the best way to set appropriate standards for this cohort. Again, we’ll be able to say more about that in the new year.
20 comments
Comment by Clare Haviland posted on
Thank you for sharing this. English teachers have been asking what your approach would be in November.
Comment by Nikki Cloudsdale posted on
Is there any news on how an A* at A-Level will be awarded?
Comment by Philip McAllister posted on
Hi Nikki, Cath wrote a blog on this earlier in the year: https://ofqual.blog.gov.uk/2017/03/31/setting-a-in-the-new-a-levels/
Comment by Chris posted on
Is there any clarification around the % distribution for each of the combined grades? Much like you did last year in this blog for English and Math? https://ofqual.blog.gov.uk/2017/04/05/setting-grade-9-in-new-gcses/
Comment by Cath Jadhav posted on
Hi Chris,
We're currently discussing this with exam boards and will have more to say on this in 2018.
Comment by Amy Cavilla posted on
Is there any news on how an A* at A Level will be awarded?
Comment by Philip McAllister posted on
Hi Amy, check out Cath's blog from earlier this year: https://ofqual.blog.gov.uk/2017/03/31/setting-a-in-the-new-a-levels/
Comment by Kirsty posted on
Can I ask if the grade 4 for maths and English is enough to not re-sit in 2018 or will a student need to gain a 5 to be able to be free from a re-sit?
Comment by Cath Jadhav posted on
If you mean the Department for Education funding requirement for 16 to 19 students, the minimum requirement is a grade 4. A student with a grade 4 or above is not required to re-sit their GCSE. There is more information here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/16-to-19-funding-maths-and-english-condition-of-funding
Comment by Kieran posted on
Can you provide any updates about how standards will be kepy and grades will be awarded for those entering the new A2 maths exam in 2018, given that the cohort will be so high?
Comment by chrisshadforth posted on
We have been discussing with exam boards how they will award the new A level maths in summer 2018. We are expecting a relatively small entry of mainly year 12 students, and so exam boards will use data from year 12 students in 2017 to set grade boundaries this summer.
Comment by John posted on
Hi, please could you clarify what you mean by "exam boards will use data from year 12 students in 2017 to set grade boundaries this summer"? Thanks
Comment by chrisshadforth posted on
For A levels generally, exam boards use statistics to predict the likely proportion of 18-year-old students (who form the majority of the entry) getting A*, A and above, and at E and above. Those predictions are based on the GCSE prior attainment of those students two years previously. The predictions aim to replicate the achievement of students in previous years, taking account of any changes in the prior attainment profile of the cohort.
For the new A level maths this year, we expect the majority of the cohort to be 17-year-olds (those in year 12). Exam boards will therefore use predictions for this group of students, and those predictions will be based on how well 17-year-old students did last year. The principle we follow is always to compare like with like. The assumption is that year 12 students this year are, in general, similar to year 12 students in previous years in that they are those students who are typically also taking further maths.
Comment by Flo posted on
Will there be a GCSE maths re-sit exam in November 2018?
Comment by chrisshadforth posted on
Yes, there will be a November sitting for GCSE English language and maths in 2018 and subsequent years.
Comment by Rachel posted on
What is the difference in marks between a student getting a grade 4 and a grade 5 in the GCSE English Literature/Language 2018 exam.
Comment by Rachel posted on
Sorry that should have read grade 6 not grade 5.
Comment by chrisshadforth posted on
Exam boards set their own grade boundaries and they publish them on their websites - see links below for the June 2017 boundaries. Grade boundaries for 2018 will not be set until July/August 2018.
AQA - http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/over/stat_pdf/AQA-GCSE-RF-GDE-BDY-JUN-2017.PDF
OCR - http://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/408084-new-gcse-9-1-grade-boundaries-june-2017.pdf
Pearson - https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/Support/Grade-boundaries/GCSE/1706-gcse-9-1-grade-boundaries-v1.pdf
WJEC - https://www.wjecservices.co.uk/MarkToUMS/default.aspx?l=en
Comment by Hudhayfah Tapadar posted on
What would the percentage of marks to get a 7 in maths be like? Considering last year it was 55%.
Comment by Cath Jadhav posted on
The grade boundary positions will depend on a number of factors, including the relative difficulty of the papers. If this year's papers are more difficult than previous papers, then the grade boundaries might be lower; if the papers are easier than previous papers, then grade boundaries might be higher.