Students beginning Key Stage 4 will be taking the reformed GCSEs in all subjects. The reformed GCSEs are different from the previous qualifications in the following ways:
- they are graded 9-1 not A*-G
- the top grade, 9, is harder to achieve than the A* grade
- assessment is mainly by terminal exam at the end of a two-year course; fewer courses contain controlled assessments
- there is new, more demanding content for students to learn and remember
- there is a greater focus on literacy across all subjects
How do the new grades compare to the old grades?
| A*-G GCSE Grade | 9-1 GCSE Grade |
|---|---|
| A* | 9 / 8 (*see footnote) |
| A | 7 |
| B | 6 |
| C | 5 / 4 |
| D | 3 |
| E | 2 |
| F | 2 |
| G | 1 |
*Grade 9 will be awarded to the top 20% of students nationally gaining a 7 or above