GCSEs (General Certificate of Secondary Education) in the UK are typically marked through a combination of internal and external assessments. The marking process may vary slightly between subjects, but here is a general overview:
Internal Assessment:
- Internal assessments are conducted by teachers within the school and are often part of the coursework component. This can include essays, projects, and practical assessments.
- Teachers mark the internal assessments based on specific criteria provided by the exam boards.
External Exams:
- The majority of the GCSE assessment is through external exams, which are set and marked by independent exam boards approved by the government.
- Students sit written exams at the end of the GCSE course, usually in May or June. These exams assess the content covered during the course.
Grading System:
- The grading system for GCSEs in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales is on a scale from 9 to 1, with 9 being the highest grade and 1 being the lowest.
- Grades U (ungraded) and X (no result) may also be used in specific circumstances.
Standardization:
- To ensure consistency in marking across different examiners and years, exam boards use a process called standardization.
- This process involves adjusting the raw marks based on statistical analysis to account for variations in difficulty between different exam papers.
Final Grades:
- The final grade awarded to a student is based on a combination of their performance in internal assessments and external exams.
- The weightage of internal assessment versus external exams can vary by subject.
Appeals:
- If a student or school disagrees with the awarded grade, they have the option to appeal. The appeal process may involve re-marking or reviewing the marking process.
It’s important for students to familiarize themselves with the specific assessment methods and grading criteria for each of their subjects, as these can vary. Teachers and exam boards typically provide guidance on how students will be assessed and what is expected for each component of the GCSE.
GCSE Grades:
Prior to the introduction of the 9-1 grading system in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales, GCSEs were graded on an alphabetical scale from A* to G, with A* being the highest grade and G being the lowest. The old grading system varied across different exam boards, but the general correspondence between the old and new grading systems is as follows:
- A* – 9: The top A* grade was aligned with the new Grade 9. Grade 9 was introduced to differentiate exceptional performance.
- A – 7/8: Grades A and A were broadly aligned with the new Grades 7 and 8.
- B – 6: Grade B corresponded to the new Grade 6.
- C – 4/5: Grades C and D were mapped to the new Grades 4 and 5.
- U (Ungraded) – U: The U grade (Ungraded) is still used in both systems to indicate that the student did not achieve a passable standard.
The shift to the 9-1 grading system aimed to provide more differentiation at the high end of the performance scale and to provide a clearer indication of students’ achievements. The new system also introduced a Grade 4 as the standard pass, with Grade 5 considered a strong pass. This change aimed to raise the overall standards of attainment.
It’s important to note that Scotland has a different education system, and Scottish qualifications (such as National 5s and Highers) have their own grading scales that are separate from the GCSE grading system used in the rest of the UK.