What do I need to understand about 9-1 for English GCSEs in summer 2017?
This update summarises the key information you need to understand about 9-1 grading for English GCSEs in summer 2017.
Our ‘Understanding 9-1 grades’ webpage provides full information on how the new grading scale for 9-1 will work.
Visit the ‘Understanding 9-1 grades’ webpage.
The table below summarises how 9-1 grades will be awarded including what proportion of students will achieve each grade.
9-1 GCSE Grade |
How is grade boundary set? |
How many students will get it? |
|---|---|---|
9 |
7% + 0.5 x (% of those awarded grade 7 or above) |
Around 20% of all GCSE grade entries that achieve Grade 7 or above across all subjects |
8 |
Arithmetically calculated (as they were for A*-G) midway between 7 & 9 |
|
7 |
Key boundary primarily statistically driven |
Broadly the same proportion of students at national level who achieved grade A and above in the legacy qualification in 2016 |
6 |
Arithmetically calculated (as they were for A*-G) 2/3 the difference in marks between 4 & 7 |
|
5 ‘Strong pass’ for performance tables |
Arithmetically calculated (as they were for A*-G) 1/3 the difference in marks between 4 & 7 |
|
4 ‘Standard pass’ required for progression by most universities, FE providers & employers. Students achieving 4 will not need to continue studying English post 16. |
Key boundary primarily statistically driven |
Broadly the same proportion of students at national level who achieved a grade C and above in the legacy qualification in 2016
|
| 3 | Arithmetically calculated (as they were for A*-G) |
|
2 |
Arithmetically calculated (as they were for A*-G) |
|
| 1 | Key boundary primarily statistically driven |
Broadly the same proportion of students at national level who achieved a grade G and above in the legacy qualification in 2016 |
U |
|
|
