CAT indicators and new GCSEs grading system in England

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
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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