For those less familiar with the detail of GCSE maths, there are two tiers: foundation and higher. Each tier is targeted at a range of the new numerical grades: 9 to 4 on the higher tier (with a 'safety net' grade 3 for students scoring a small number of marks below grade 4), and 5 to 1 on the foundation tier.
Each exam features Foundation tier and Higher tier papers. Foundation tier is designed for students who are aiming for grades 1-5, and Higher tier is designed for students who are looking for grades 4-9.
These two levels roughly correspond, respectively, to foundation and higher tier in tiered GCSE qualifications. Level 1 qualifications constitute GCSEs at grades G, F, E, and D or 1, 2, and 3. Level 2 qualifications are those at grades C, B, A, and A* or 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.
Key differences between foundation and higher tier GCSE science. In the reformed 9-1 curriculum, the foundation paper is targeted at grades 1 to 5 while the higher paper is for students aiming to achieve grades 4 to 9.
The Higher Tier examination will cover the full spectrum of the GCSE Mathematics syllabus and will contain more challenging questions to stretch the most able of students. In this tier, it will be possible to be achieve Grades 3 – 9.
What is the new grading scale for GCSE qualifications? The reformed GCSE qualifications will be awarded on a grade scale of 9 (the highest grade) to 1 (the lowest). This new scale will be aligned to key grades on the current A* to G scale.
According to this illustration, grade 4 requires 56 - 66 per cent, grade 5 requires 67 - 77 per cent and grade 6 requires 78 - 88 per cent.
The 9-1 grading scheme was brought in alongside an overhaul of the curriculum in England in 2014. The highest grade is now 9, while 1 is the lowest.
For those less familiar with the detail of GCSE maths, there are two tiers: foundation and higher. Each tier is targeted at a range of the new numerical grades: 9 to 4 on the higher tier (with a 'safety net' grade 3 for students scoring a small number of marks below grade 4), and 5 to 1 on the foundation tier.
Both GCSE and IGCSE are graded from 1 to 9 – with 9 being the top grade – and have the option of a Foundation or a Higher Tier. On Foundation it's possible to achieve up to a Grade 5; Grade 4 is a Level 2 pass, equivalent to a Grade C on the old scale. On Higher Tier you can get Grades 4 to 9… or a U, which is a fail.
The opposite can be said for the lower end of the GCSE grading system. Previously failed GCSE grades came in at grades D, E, F and G, with U being 'Unclassified'. Now, failed GCSE grades come in at 3, 2 and 1, with U being the only constant in the GCSE grading system.
GCSEs (General Certificate of Secondary Education) are subject-based academic qualifications that students study across year 10 and 11 at secondary school in England and Wales. The grading scale is from 9-1, with 9 being the highest grade. Beginning to think about which A-levels to take?
The average GCSE grade lies somewhere in between a grade 5 and 6. As you can see in the table below, the average GCSE grade overall for 2022 was 5.47, 5.14 for GCSE Maths, 5.2 for GCSE English Language, and 4.49 for GCSE Combined Science.
The following definitions will be used as a guide for the assignment of All Courses grades. F – Failed, Unacceptable Level of Achievement. AB– Absent from Final Examination.
An “F” (failure) grade indicates the student's failure to complete satisfactorily the work of the course.
The 'F' grade denotes poor performance and indicates failing a course. A student has an option to take the course with F grade either in study mode or examination mode when offered next. A student with F grade is also eligible to take Make-up Examination (see rule for Make-up examination: point no.
So 70 would be a Grade 6, but 69 would be a Grade 5. The GCSE grade boundaries are now only being released to students on results day, whereas previously they were published in advance.
A 80%-89% B 70% 79% C 60%-69% D 50%-59%
Approximately 50% of the marks on the higher paper are aimed at grade 7 and above (this is the usual requirement for entry to an A-level Maths course), so most of a higher paper will be too difficult to someone who's doubtful of achieving Grade 4.
A student who gets grade 7 (lower A) must have scored approximately 70-82 per cent in their examinations. According to the GCSE 2022 grade boundaries, securing grade 7 is considered a pretty decent score.
In all awarding bodies, the uniform mark grade boundaries in GCSEs are at the following percentages of the maximum uniform mark for the unit/module or qualification: A* 90%, A 80%, B 70%, C 60%, D 50%, E 40%, F 30%, G 20%.
The GCSE grade boundaries for a level 4 or 5 are higher in the foundation papers but these papers are significantly easier than the higher tier papers, so it just depends on the guidance your school gives as to which paper you are likely to sit.
According to this illustration, grade 4 requires 56 - 66 per cent, grade 5 requires 67 - 77 per cent and grade 6 requires 78 - 88 per cent.
As a rough example, in a higher-tier maths exam, you can expect to gain a grade 6 with a 50-70 per cent overall mark, and an 8 if you achieve 86 per cent or more. Grade 9 is reserved for the upper half of the old-style A* (over 90 per cent in the paper overall).