[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-621130-105":59,"doc-detail-621130-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":123,"head_meta":125,"extra_data":127,"updated_unix":129},105,"en","setting-the-grade-standards-in-the-first-year-of-the-new-gcses","Setting the grade standards in the first year of the new GCSEs","","Reformed GCSEs in English, English Literature, and Mathematics are introduced from September 2015 for first teaching, with first examinations in summer 2017, followed by other reformed subjects in summer 2018. The paper analyzes simulation results used to design the new nine-point linear grading scale. It evaluates Ofqual’s transition-year decisions on reference points, grade boundary alignment, and comparability measures, and discusses risks such as narrower top-grade boundaries, classification inaccuracy, and limited use of confirmatory examiner judgement.",{"@graph":69,"@context":122},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":20,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/setting-the-grade-standards-in-the-first-year-of-the-new-gcses/621130/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/setting-the-grade-standards-in-the-first-year-of-the-new-gcses/621130.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Fahsai","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-07","2026-10-20",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":34},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"What grading changes are introduced in the reformed GCSEs?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"English, English Literature, and Mathematics are first taught from September 2015, with first examinations in summer 2017. The new specifications use linear assessment and a numerical 1–9 grading scale, with grade 9 as the highest grade.","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"How does the paper describe Ofqual’s reference point mapping across grade boundaries?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"Ofqual sets three reference points by aligning the A/B boundary with the 7/6 boundary, mapping the C/D boundary to the 4/3 boundary, and mapping the G/U boundary to the 1/U boundary to support comparisons during the transition.",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"What concerns does the paper raise about the transition-year grading design?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"The paper highlights that setting grade 9 so the top grade corresponds to 20% of the cumulative percentage reaching grade 7 may be controversial. It also notes potential detrimental effects on classification accuracy due to having more grades, even if mitigations via assessment design are possible.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":124,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":126,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":128,"site_id":62},621130,1792501756,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":131},{"doc_id":128,"user_id":132,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":19,"category_name":20,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":34,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":139,"language":140,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":144,"read_time":145,"preview_page_count":4},549768702563,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/8000c4aa63b76e948b?x-image-process=image/resize,m_fixed,w_180,h_180&k=1786536092046926083","Centre for Education Research and Practice  \nSetting the grade standards in the first year of the new GCSEs  \nWilliam Pointer  \nSummary  \nReformed GCSEs in English, English Literature and Mathematics are being introduced for first teaching from September 2015 with the first examinations in summer 2017. Other subjects are being reformed to start the following year with first examinations in summer 2018. The new specifications will be assessed linearly, will have revised subject content and will have a numerical 9-point grade scale.  \nThis paper looks at the results of simulations that were carried out to inform how the new grading scale for GCSEs will work. It discusses the pitfalls associated with various ways of implementing the new grade scale, highlights potential problems that could arise and evaluates the final decisions made by Ofqual. The paper focuses specifically on issues relating to the transition year and not subsequent years.  \nOfqual has decided that the new grading scale should have three reference points: the A/B boundary will be statistically aligned to the 7/6 boundary, the C/D boundary will be mapped to the 4/3 boundary and the G/U boundary will be mapped to the 1/U boundary. This will aid teachers in the transition to the new grading scale and will also aid employers and further education establishments to make more meaningful comparisons between candidates from different years. If possible, pre-results statistical screening will be used to ensure comparability between awarding organisations at all grades , not just those that have been statistically aligned, by means of predictions based on mean GCSE outcomes.  \nThe above decisions seem logical based on the modelling which has been carried out. However, the decision to set grade 9 so that the percentage of candidates achieving this top grade is 20% of the cumulative percentage obtaining grade 7 is more controversial. It risks having narrower grade boundaries for the top grades and also fails to take into account differences in the ability of the candidates taking different subjects.  \nFor tiered subjects Ofqual has said that test equating will be used at grades 4 and 5 to inform boundary setting ; ensuring standards are equated between tiers. However, there is perhaps also a place for examiner judgement in a confirmatory capacity.  \nAn increase in the number of grades is likely to have a detrimental effect on classification accuracy, i.e. more candidates are likely to be awarded an incorrect grade. This can be mitigated through assessment design but may have to be accepted as a consequence of the desire to have more differentiation among higher-performing candidates.  \nIntroduction  \nReformed GCSEs in English, English Literature and Mathematics are being introduced for first teaching from September 2015 with the first examinations in summer 2017. A host of other subjects are being reformed to start the following year with the first examinations in summer 2018. The new specifications will be assessed linearly, will have revised subject content andwill have a numerical 9-point grade scale. The grades will run from 1 to 9. Grade 9 has been  \nset as the highest grade rather than grade 1 (as was the case with CSEs) to enable the future addition of extra grades giving further discrimination at the top end of the ability range should the need arise. In his policy steer, the then Secretary of State for Education, said:  \n“Any changes should apply across all subjects, and should differentiate performance more clearly, particularly at the top end.”  \n(Gove, 2013)  \nIn April 2014 Ofqual launched a consultation on the new grade standards for GCSEs (Ofqual, 2014a) . Ofqual’s primary aims with regard to the new grading scale are to:  \n• ensure candidates are not disadvantaged in the first year of the new GCSEs  \n• have reference points to enable comparisons between the old and new scales  \n• increase discrimination above grade C.  \nIn the consultation Ofqual discussed w","cbCaicuoexGzyuYw","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaicuoexGzyuYw","pdf",979025,23,"English","# Summary\n# Introduction\n## Grade reform timeline and aims\n## Simulation approach and reference points\n## Transition-year implementation issues","[{\"question\":\"What grading changes are introduced in the reformed GCSEs?\",\"answer\":\"English, English Literature, and Mathematics are first taught from September 2015, with first examinations in summer 2017. The new specifications use linear assessment and a numerical 1–9 grading scale, with grade 9 as the highest grade.\"},{\"question\":\"How does the paper describe Ofqual’s reference point mapping across grade boundaries?\",\"answer\":\"Ofqual sets three reference points by aligning the A/B boundary with the 7/6 boundary, mapping the C/D boundary to the 4/3 boundary, and mapping the G/U boundary to the 1/U boundary to support comparisons during the transition.\"},{\"question\":\"What concerns does the paper raise about the transition-year grading design?\",\"answer\":\"The paper highlights that setting grade 9 so the top grade corresponds to 20% of the cumulative percentage reaching grade 7 may be controversial. It also notes potential detrimental effects on classification accuracy due to having more grades, even if mitigations via assessment design are possible.\"}]","Setting the grade standards in the first year of the new GCSEs | PDF",1792464988,58]