GCSE Reforms

• All GCSE subjects are now graded and assessed using the new 9-1 structure;

• 9 is the highest grade, awarded to the very best candidates in the subject. The official definition of a grade-9 candidate is that they will be ‘in the top 20% of those achieving grades 7-9 in the subject’;

• In every subject, the content is more demanding and the assessment more rigorous than previously;

• The assessment will be mainly by exam. In some subjects such as Drama and Art, other types of assessment will be used only where they are needed to test essential skills. For further information about assessment, please speak to the relevant Head of Department.

Tiering of exams

The new GCSEs are only split into foundation tier and higher tier if one single exam paper does not give all students the opportunity to show their knowledge and abilities. Consequently, exams are tiered in Biology, Chemistry, French, Maths, Physics and Spanish.