Details of GCSE shake-up revealed UPDATED

The changes are being proposed because of concerns that the current system does not “discriminate” between pupils of different abilities.

With the Government announcing a planned shake up of GCSEs today Ofqual have confirmed that they favour using a numbers system rather than letter grades.

The new GCSE exams will be taught from 2015 in the “core subjects” of English language, English literature, maths, science, geography and history.

The maths exam is expected to contain more advanced algebra in reforms which aim to test higher level skills such as essay-writing and problem solving.

Ofqual, the exam regulator has published a consultation document which sets out how the new exams which will be taught from 2015 could be marked.

It says: “We propose that the new grades should be described by the numbers 1−8, with 8

representing the highest level of performance. New grades will not correspond

precisely, or even necessarily approximately, to old grades, and so any continuation

of the same grade names would be confusing. We think the best and clearest

alternative to letters is a numbered grading system.

Grades in reformed GCSEs.

“GCSE grading does not currently discriminate effectively throughout the ability range

in all subjects. Some commentators suggest that there is insufficient discrimination at

the higher end of the grade range, despite the introduction of the A* grade. On the

other hand, there may be more grades than necessary below the C grade. Very few

GCSEs are awarded at the lowest grades: in 2012 across all subjects there were

more students achieving grade D (16 per cent) than grades E−G combined (14 per cent).”

The latest announcement on GCSE reform follows Education Secretary Michael Gove abandoning plans to scrap GCSEs in core subjects and replace them with a new English Baccalaureate certificate. (EBC)

He also withdrew the suggestion that each of these EBC’s could only be taught by one exam board to stop competing firms offering easier versions of the qualification in what he had described as a “race to the bottom.”