How does the numerical system work?
We currently have eight grade. When the new grading is introduced we will have nine, with grade 9 meaning the best available grade. How will the new system correlate to the old one?
- The new system allows for greater differentiation, having nine numerical grades in place of eight letter grades
- The new numbered grades will not translate directly from the old grades A* – G, but we do know that approximately the same proportion of students who currently achieve:
- grade A or higher will receive a grade 7 or higher
- grade C or higher will receive a grade 4 or higher
- Grade 9 will be a new grade for very high performing students, to be set as the top fifth of the current A grades
- Grade 5 will be the benchmark for a ‘good pass’
- The bottom of grade 1 will be the same as the bottom of grade G
This diagram by Ofqual is a great visual representation of the new system.
