Assessments

How does the new GCSE assessment system work?

GCSE 9-1 Grades: A brief guide

Why did we need a new grade scale for GCSEs?

GCSEs in England have been reformed to keep pace with universities’ and employers’ demands. They are based on new and more demanding subject content but are still suitable for the same wide range of abilities. The new grade scale makes it clear to everyone that students have studied the new GCSEs. It also has more higher grades compared to the old A* to G grades, to give sixth forms, colleges, universities and employers the opportunity to better distinguish between students of different abilities.

• GCSEs in England have a scale from 9 (the highest) to 1 (the lowest).
• The old GCSE grading system do not directly compare, however alignments can be made between the letters A*-F and the Scale 9-1
• They have been designed this way to differentiate between student performance, and support those students who sit at the top of their grade banding

Please see this short video from AQA to help you understand how the grade system translates.