Breaking: New GCSE Grading System

In one month’s time, students across Sussex will be receiving their GCSE results. This year’s students have been the first to take the reformed GCSEs in English Language, English Literature and Maths.

The content, as well as the format of assessment has become more demanding. Maths now has three exams and some Maths A-level content has been incorporated into the syllabus. In English, pupils are required to learn 15 poems but only 1 will appear in the exam.

Students will now take all their exams at the end of the two-year study period. Students will now be graded on a scale of 9 to 1, with 9 being the top grade and 1 the lowest. Grade 4 will be a standard pass, equivalent to a C under the old system.

The new system is said to recognise the achievements of high-attaining pupils as well as focusing more on the progress pupils’ make from the end of primary school to the end of secondary school.

Pupils from Year 10 and Year 11 at Longhill School in Brighton expressed some anger at being the ‘guinea pigs’ for the new look GCSEs and said it added greater pressure. Others felt that a move away from coursework towards exams will disadvantage some of their peers, whilst some expressed relief that it would be more exam based. A number of students felt that having harder GCSEs may help them when they come to start their A-Levels.

Another 20 subjects will have the new GCSEs and 9 to 1 grades next year. The reforms will be completed by 2020.