CAT indicators and new GCSEs grading system in England From 2017, students' GCSEs will be marked numerically from nine down to one. The changes will be introduced for students starting year 10 in September 2015 and taking exams in summer 2017. New GCSEs in English language, English literature and maths will be introduced first and marked under the new system, with more subjects following in September 2016. The new GCSE points system only applies to England. The graphic below from The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) shows the approximate relationship between the new and current system. The new system will better differentiate students of average and above average ability. Key points from Ofqual      Broadly the same proportion of students will achieve a grade 4 and above as currently achieve a grade C and above. Broadly the same proportion of students will achieve a grade 7 and above as currently achieve an A and above. For each exam, the top 20 per cent of those who get grade 7 or above will get a grade 9 – the very highest performers. The bottom of grade 1 will be aligned with the bottom of grade G. Grade 5 will be positioned in the top third of the marks for a current grade C and bottom third of the marks for a current grade B. This will mean it will be of greater demand than the present grade C, and broadly in line with what the best available evidence of average PISA performance in countries such as Finland, Canada, the Netherlands and Switzerland. CAT4 indicators The current CAT indicators are based on students’ CAT scores and actual GCSE exam results using the A*-G grading system. Until the new examinations with their new-style exam papers are sat in summer 2017, we cannot know for sure what the real relationship between CAT scores and GCSE points will be. The information provided by Ofqual give us the best estimates available at this time and schools wishing to use the new system can use the following table to map their CAT indicators to the new GCSE points. New CAT4 reports will be developed so schools can get indicators based on new points system or the old grades. Current CAT GCSE indicator grades A* A*/A A A/B B B/C C C/D D D/E E E/F F F/G G Approximate new GCSE points 9 8 7 6 5.5 5 4 3.5 3 3 2 2 1.5 1 1