Post on 05-Jun-2018
Schools and colleges sometimes enquire about the operation of the Uniform Mark Scale
(UMS). This leaflet explains why the UMS is necessary and how it works. It is intended for
examinations officers and others who have a reasonable understanding of the
examination system and of the terminology used.
Uniform marks are used for all GCE, VCE, GNVQ and modular GCSE specifications
(including GCSE Applied (Double Award)), as well as for non-modular GCSE Mathematics
and most GCSE Modern Foreign Languages specifications.
In a conventional non-modular examination (ie in most GCSEs and many pre-2002
A Levels), all candidates take the papers in the same examination series. After scaling
the raw marks to comply with the papers' weightings , candidates' marks are added
together to give them total marks for the examination as a whole. Using the grade
boundaries set by the awarding committee, candidates' subject grades are then
determined from these total marks.
Modular specifications on the other hand allow candidates to take the module (or unit)
examinations in different series. Candidates who complete a GCE, VCE, GNVQ or
modular GCSE course in any given series are likely to have taken the units on a variety
of occasions. It is possible that the papers for a particular unit are at slightly varying levels
of difficulty, so that, for example, a mark of 45 in January 2004 represents the same level
of achievement as a mark of 48 in summer 2004. It follows that some method must be
found of putting the marks from different series on a common, or uniform, scale so that
both 45 (from January) and 48 (from the summer) have the same value when contributing
to an overall grade.
A crude method of resolving the problem described in the previous paragraph would be to
award just grades to candidates for each unit. The grades could then be equated to
points (for example, A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2, E=1 for GCE/VCE or A*=8, A=7, B=6, C=5,
D=4, E=3, F=2, G=1 for GCSE) and each candidate's points could be added to give that
candidate a points total for the subject as a whole. However, this method would have
several disadvantages: for example, it would need to be modified if the units were not
equally weighted. For an individual unit it would give a candidate who had obtained a low
mark within a particular grade the same credit as a candidate who had obtained a high
mark within that grade.
The Uniform Mark Scale has been developed to avoid these disadvantages, although it
is, in effect, a more sophisticated version of the points system just described. It allows the
same scale to be used, irrespective of the weightings of the units . It gives greater
credit to a candidate who has obtained a high mark within a particular grade than to one
who has obtained a lower mark within that grade.
Introduction1
2 Why the Uniform Mark Scale is necessary
The term 'raw mark'
denotes the original mark
given when a paper is
assessed. The 'weighting' of a
paper is its contribution to the
total assessment: for example
to say that the weighting is
40% means that the paper
accounts for 40% of the total
assessment. Raw marks often
have to be multiplied by some
scaling factor (eg 1.5) in order
to give them the correct
weighting. The new marks are
called 'scaled marks'. See
Section 7.
A common scale is used
for all GCE and VCE
specifications across all
awarding bodies and another
common scale is used for all
GCSE Applied (Double Award)
specifications. However, there
are variations across other
GCSE specifications which
use a uniform mark scale.
See Appendix A.
1
1
2
2
Notes
1
The relationships between uniform marks and grades are shown on the back of
candidates' results slips and in the document RES/INF, which is distributed to centres
with the results. They are shown in Appendix A to this leaflet. Further details on how the
Uniform Mark Scale varies between different qualifications are given in Section 4.
Table 1 shows typical grade boundaries for a GCE unit which is marked out of 80 and
which has 20% weighting. The second column shows the raw mark boundaries. For
example, the grade A boundary (ie the lowest mark for grade A) is 61 (approximately
76%). The third column (which is extracted from Table (a) in Appendix A) shows the
uniform mark boundaries. For a GCE unit with 20% weighting , the maximum uniform
mark is 120 and uniform marks in the range 96-120 correspond to grade A. This does not
mean that the paper is marked out of 120 or that a candidate has to score 80% of the raw
marks (96/120) to obtain grade A on the unit. A candidate who scores 61 (the lowest raw
mark for grade A) will receive a uniform mark of 96 (the lowest uniform mark for grade A).
Similarly, a candidate who scores 43 will receive a uniform mark of 60 and a candidate
who scores 49 will receive a uniform mark of 72. A raw mark between 43 and 49
corresponds to a uniform mark between 60 and 72; for example, a raw mark of 46
(exactly half way between 43 and 49) corresponds to a uniform mark of 66. This is
illustrated in Figure 1.
Exactly the same principles apply for other qualifications that use uniform marks, eg
GNVQ and modular GCSEs.
When a candidate has completed all of the units, his/her uniform marks are added
together. The overall subject grade is then determined using the appropriate table in
Appendix A. For example, in GCE A Level a candidate with a total uniform mark of 309
would obtain grade D, while a candidate with a total uniform mark of 299 would obtain
grade E [see Table (a) in Appendix A]. Similarly, in AQA GCSE Mathematics a candidate
with a total uniform mark of 440 would obtain grade B, while a candidate with a total
uniform mark of 415 would obtain grade C [see Table (f) in Appendix A], although there is
some restriction on the grades available, as explained in Section 4.5 below. AQA GCSE
Modular Science works differently - see Section 4.7.
Table 1 GCE unit with maximum raw mark 80 and accounting for 20% of the A Level
assessment: typical raw mark grade boundaries, together with the uniform
mark boundaries
How the Uniform Mark Scale works3
As explained in Section 2,
the difficulty of the papers for a
unit may vary from one
examination series to another.
Therefore, the raw mark grade
boundaries may vary.
However, the uniform mark
grade boundaries, for a GCE
unit with 20% weighting, are
always the same.
The use of N is explained
in Section 5.
3
4
3
Lowest raw mark in grade
(max 80)
Corresponding uniform mark
(max 120)
Grade
A
B
C
D
E
(N)
61
55
49
43
37
31
96
84
72
60
48
364
Notes
2
Figure 1 Conversion to uniform marks (for part of the mark range) for the data in Table 1
4 Uniform Mark Scales for different qualifications
95
100
90
85
80
75
70
65
60
55
40 45 50 55 60 65 70
Un
ifo
rm
Raw
D
C
A
B
46
66
By inter-awarding body agreement, the uniform mark grade boundaries in GCE and VCE
are always at the following percentages of the maximum uniform mark for the unit or
qualification: A 80%, B 70%, C 60%, D 50%, E 40%. Also by inter-awarding body
agreement, the maximum uniform mark for an Advanced qualification is 600 (Advanced
Subsidiary is 300 and Advanced VCE: Double Award is 1200). Therefore, the uniform
mark grade boundaries for an Advanced qualification are A 480 (= 80% of 600), B 420
(= 70% of 600), C 360, D 300, E 240, as shown in Table (a) of Appendix A.
For a unit which accounts for 20% of the total Advanced assessment, the maximum
uniform mark is 120 (= 20% of 600). Therefore, the uniform mark grade boundaries for
such a unit are A 96 (= 80% of 120), B 84 (= 70% of 120), C 72, D 60, E 48, as shown in
Table (a) of Appendix A and in Table 1 in Section 3.
In VCE, the units are all equally-weighted and therefore all have a maximum uniform
mark of 100, with grade boundaries A 80, B 70, C 60, D 50, E 40.
GCE and VCE4.1
Notes
3
GNVQ has a similar Uniform Mark Scale to GCE and VCE, with a maximum uniform mark
of 100 for each unit. Because there are six units, the maximum uniform mark for the whole
qualification is 600. The uniform mark boundaries are at the following percentages of the
maximum uniform marks: Distinction 80%, Merit 60%, Pass 40%.
GNVQ4.2
In VCE the portfolio units are initially marked out of 24 (16 in GNVQ). The mark out of 24
is the raw mark for the unit, and it is converted to a uniform mark in the same way as for
any other type of unit. Since the grade boundaries out of 24 for portfolio units are fixed,
the conversions are always the same, as shown in Appendix B.
Portfolio units in VCE and GNVQ4.3
By inter-awarding body agreement the uniform mark grade boundaries in GCSEs which
use uniform marks (except Modern Foreign Languages) and in all GCSE Applied (Double
Award) specifications are at the following percentages of the maximum uniform mark for
the component, unit/module or qualification: A* 90%, A 80%, B 70%, C 60%, D 50%,
E 40%, F 30%, G 20%.
Each GCSE Applied (Double Award) consists of three units, with a maximum uniform
mark of 100 for each unit and 300 for the qualification as a whole.
The assessment patterns vary for other GCSEs which use uniform marks and the
maximum uniform marks therefore also vary across specifications. Details for AQA are
given in Appendix A.
GCSE4.4
In non-modular GCSE Mathematics (Specification A), candidates take all papers in the
same series, in contrast to other examinations where uniform marks are used. Therefore,
the justification outlined in Section 2 does not apply. Uniform marks are used in this
specification because coursework, which is a common component covering three tiers,
would contribute considerably less than the intended 20% to the overall assessment if the
marks were combined in the same way as in other non-modular subjects. For all awarding
bodies, UMS replaces the special scalings which were used in the 1998 - 2002 GCSE
Mathematics syllabuses to overcome this problem.
In written papers, Foundation tier and Intermediate tier candidates will not be awarded
uniform marks which correspond to a grade above the maximum available for the tier. For
example, the maximum uniform mark available for an Intermediate tier written paper is
191 (top of grade B). However, candidates who fall below the bottom grade for a tier do
GCSE Mathematics4.5
Notes
4
obtain some credit. For example, uniform marks below 96 (bottom E) are available for an
Intermediate tier written paper. Despite the availability of these uniform marks, it is not in
candidates' interests to be entered at a tier which does not correspond to their expected
performance, as (apart from a small 'safety-net', which is explained in Section 5 below)
the 'rate of exchange' is likely to decrease rapidly below the bottom grade.
In order to meet the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) requirements, the
grade awarded in GCSE Mathematics (Specification A) is restricted by the tier of entry.
For example, a candidate entered for the Intermediate tier cannot receive a grade outside
the range B-E, even if his/her total uniform mark appears to imply a different grade. Thus,
an Intermediate tier candidate with a total uniform mark of 482 would receive grade B
rather than grade A [see Table (f) in Appendix A] and an Intermediate tier candidate with a
total uniform mark of 230 would receive Unclassified rather than grade F. A similar
arrangement applies in Specification B, where the grade is restricted by the tier of entry of
the terminal module. These restrictions apply to all awarding bodies' specifications.
As in the case of non-modular GCSE Mathematics, the reasons for using uniform marks
outlined in Section 2 do not apply to GCSE Modern Foreign Languages Specification A.
Uniform marks are used in these specifications because candidates may take the
components (skills) at different tiers, making it impossible to add up the raw marks in the
normal way.
The Uniform Mark Scale in GCSE Modern Foreign Languages specifications is consistent
with the points system which it replaced in 2003. Under that system, which was used for
tiered syllabuses with four equally-weighted components (Listening, Reading, Speaking,
Writing), points on each component were awarded as follows: A* 8, A 7, B 6, C 5, D 4,
E 3, F 2, G 1. The new Uniform Mark Scale has a maximum uniform mark of 90 for each
component, with the following uniform mark grade boundaries: A* 80, A 70, B 60, C 50,
D 40, E 30, F 20, G 10 [see Tables (h) and (i) in Appendix A ]. Thus, in this scale A* is 8/9
of the maximum, A is 7/9, B is 6/9 and so on.
Foundation tier candidates will not be awarded uniform marks above top C (59). However,
Higher tier candidates who fall below bottom E do obtain some credit - uniform marks
below 30 are available for Higher tier components. Despite the availability of these
uniform marks, it is not in candidates' interests to be entered at the Higher tier if they are
expected to perform at a lower level, as (apart from a small 'safety-net', which is explained
in Section 5 below) the 'rate of exchange' may decrease rapidly below grade D.
The same thresholds are used in AQA's modular specifications [see Table (j) in Appendix
A], with the same maximum uniform mark (360) as in the non-modular specification. Thus
Module 1, which accounts for 15% of the total assessment, has a maximum uniform mark
of 54 (15% of 360). The uniform mark grade boundaries for this module are A* 48 (= 8/9 of
54), A 42 (= 7/9 of 54), B 36, C 30, D 24, E 18, F 12, G 6.
GCSE Modern Foreign Languages4.6
Notes
5
GCSE Modular Science does not work in the same way as other specifications which use
uniform marks. First, uniform marks are used only for the module tests. They are not used
for the subject as a whole. The raw marks for each test are converted to uniform marks,
then these uniform marks are added together for all of a candidate's tests (using the
better mark if the candidate has taken a test twice) to give the candidate's mark for the
so-called module tests component. This mark is then combined with the marks for the
other components using the normal procedure for non-modular examinations. Second,
the grade equivalencies in Table (l) in Appendix A are given for guidance only. The grade
boundaries for the module tests component as a whole (which consists of 3 or 6 module
tests) are not necessarily 3 times, or 6 times, the boundaries shown in the table. These
component grade boundaries are determined when the information from the other
components is available at the end of the course.
GCSE Modular Science (Specification A) [see Table (l) in Appendix A]4.7
The tables in Appendix A refer to a notional grade N. There is also a notional grade above
the highest available grade called the 'cap'. Notional N and the cap are used in the
conversion of raw marks to uniform marks. They apply only at unit level, not at
qualification level. They are used in order to ensure that, on conversion to uniform marks,
raw marks have the same value just above and just below the boundary for the highest
available grade and the same value just above and just below the boundary for the lowest
available grade . A consequence of using the cap is that a candidate with a raw mark
below the maximum may sometimes obtain the maximum uniform mark.
Figure 2 shows diagrammatically the conversion to uniform marks for the GCE data in
Table 1. It extends Figure 1 to cover the whole mark range. The plotted points correspond
to grade boundaries (including the maximum mark, the cap, notional N and zero). It can
be seen that:
(i) the slope of the graph is the same on both sides of grade A, indicating that raw
marks have the same value just above and just below this boundary;
(ii) similarly, the slope is the same on both sides of grade E;
(iii) candidates with a raw mark above the cap obtain the maximum uniform
mark (120).
5 Notional N and the 'cap'
Notes
The term 'unit' is used to
refer to unit, module or
component, as appropriate.
Depending on the
specification, it may be that
marks for units, marks for
modules or marks for
components are converted to
uniform marks. For example,
in GCSE Religious Studies
Specification B marks for units
are converted to uniform
marks, in GCSE Modular
Mathematics (Specification B)
marks for modules are
converted to uniform marks
and in GCSE Mathematics
Specification A marks for
components are converted to
uniform marks. See Appendix
A.
Notional N is not used
below grade G in GCSE
specifications.
5
5
6
6
6
The mark width between the A and B raw mark boundaries is doubled and added to the A
boundary. For example, in Table 1 the cap is 2 x 6 + 61 = 73 raw marks. This raw mark is
converted to the maximum uniform mark for the unit (120 in this case). Thus, in Table 1,
candidates with 80, 79, 78, 77, 76, 75, 74 or 73 raw marks will all receive 120 uniform
marks.
Calculation of the cap in a GCE or VCE unit5.1
0
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Un
ifo
rm
Raw
(N)
E
D
C
B
A
(cap)
The mark width between the D and E raw mark boundaries is subtracted from the E
boundary. For example, in Table 1 notional N is 37 - 6 = 31. This raw mark is converted to
the appropriate uniform mark (36 in Table 1).
The mark width between the Distinction and Merit raw mark boundaries is added to the
Distinction boundary (in contrast to GCE and VCE, the raw mark width is not doubled).
The resulting raw mark is converted to the maximum uniform mark for the unit (see
Appendix A Table (e)).
The mark width between the Merit and Pass raw mark boundaries is subtracted from the
Pass boundary. This raw mark is converted to the appropriate uniform mark in the unit, as
shown in Appendix A Table (e).
Notes
7
Figure 2 Conversion to uniform marks for the data in Table 1
Calculation of notional N in a GCE or VCE unit5.2
Calculation of the cap in a GNVQ unit5.3
Calculation of notional N in a GNVQ unit5.4
Use of notional grade N
makes the rate of exchange
the same on both sides of the
grade E boundary (although
it is different below N)
Use of cap makes the
rate of exchange the
same on both sides of
the grade A boundary
Mathematics Foundation tier
The mark width between the D and E raw mark boundaries is added to the D boundary.
The resulting raw mark is converted to the maximum uniform mark available in the
Foundation tier for the unit. See Appendix A Tables (f) and (g).
Notes
Higher tier of two-tier specifications
Half of the mark width between the C and D raw mark boundaries is subtracted from the D
boundary . This raw mark is converted to the appropriate uniform mark in the unit (see
Appendix A Tables (h), (j), (l) and (n)).
7
8
Mathematics Higher tier
Half of the mark width between the B and C raw mark boundaries is subtracted from the C
boundary. This raw mark is converted to the appropriate uniform mark in the unit (see
Appendix A Tables (f) and (g)).
Mathematics Intermediate tier
Half of the mark width between the D and E raw mark boundaries is subtracted from the E
boundary. This raw mark is converted to the appropriate uniform mark in the unit (see
Appendix A Tables (f) and (g)).
In the Higher tier of two-
tier specifications, notional N is
the same as allowed E.
7
8
8
Untiered specifications and Higher tier of tiered
specifications (including Mathematics)
The mark width between the A* and A raw mark boundaries is added to the A* boundary.
The resulting raw mark is converted to the maximum uniform mark for the unit (see
Appendix A Tables (f)-(n)).
Foundation tier of two-tier specifications
The mark width between the C and D raw mark boundaries is added to the C boundary.
The resulting raw mark is converted to the maximum uniform mark available in the
Foundation tier for the unit (see Appendix A Tables (h), (j), (l) and (n)).
Mathematics Intermediate tier
The mark width between the B and C raw mark boundaries is added to the B boundary.
The resulting raw mark is converted to the maximum uniform mark available in the
Intermediate tier for the unit. See Appendix A Tables (f) and (g).
Calculation of the cap in a GCSE unit (including Applied GCSE) 5.5
Calculation of notional N in a GCSE unit (including Applied GCSE) 5.6
Notes
The raw mark boundaries are those determined by the awarding committee following the
November 2003 examination. The cap and notional N are calculated as described
previously, that is:
- the cap is calculated by adding the mark width between the B and C raw mark
boundaries to the B boundary
- notional N is calculated by subtracting half the mark width between the D and E
raw mark boundaries from the E boundary.
The uniform mark boundaries are taken from Appendix A Table (f) (Intermediate tier). Note
that all raw marks between 74 and 100 inclusive are converted to a uniform mark of 191
(the maximum uniform mark available for the tier).
Figure 3 shows diagramatically the conversion to uniform marks for the data in Table 2
9
9
By way of example, Table 2 shows the November 2003 boundaries for AQA GCSE
Mathematics A Intermediate tier Paper 1 .
Table 2 Grade boundaries and conversion to uniform marks for AQA GCSE Mathematics A
Intermediate tier Paper 1 (November 2003)
Maximum
(cap)
B
C
D
E
(N)
Lowest raw mark
100
74
60
46
32
18
11
Corresponding uniform mark
191
191
168
144
120
96
84
The cap was not used in
November 2003. It is calculated
here merely as an example.
9
Figure 3 Conversion to uniform
marks for the GCSE
Mathematics data in
Table 2 Un
ifo
rm
Raw
00
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
(N)
E
D
C
B
(cap)
Notes
10
Appendix A
Relationship between uniform marks and grades
(a) GCE A Level
In the results documentation, candidates' scaled marks (sometimes abbreviated to 'sca')
are listed for each unit or component. For all VCE and GNVQ specifications, for the
majority of GCE specifications and for all GCSE Applied (Double Award) specifications,
scaled marks are the same as raw marks. They may be different in the small number of
GCE specifications where a unit is divided into two components.
For example, if Component 1 is marked out of 30, Component 2 is marked out of 60 and
each is intended to account for 50% of the assessment of a unit, candidates' marks for
Component 1 must be multiplied by 2 before being added to the marks for Component 2.
Thus, a Component 1 raw mark of 24 out of 30 becomes a scaled mark of 48 out of 60.
For Component 2, no scaling is needed, so scaled marks are the same as raw marks.
Candidates' total marks for the unit are subsequently converted to uniform marks.
In non-modular GCSE specifications (except Mathematics and most Modern Foreign
Languages), uniform marks are not used. A candidate's marks for the various
components are scaled if necessary and then added to give the total mark for the
examination as a whole.
6 Raw and scaled marks
A
B
C
D
E
(N)
600
480
420
360
300
240
-
300
240
210
180
150
120
90
120
96
84
72
60
48
36
105
84
74
63
53
42
32
100
80
70
60
50
40
30
90
72
63
54
45
36
27
Grade boundaries in terms of uniform marks according to weighting of unit
Weighting 15% 16.7% 17.5% 20% 50% Total subject
100%
Max uniform
mark
A
B
C
D
E
(N)
300
240
210
180
150
120
-
120
96
84
72
60
48
36
105
84
74
63
53
42
32
100
80
70
60
50
40
30
90
72
63
54
45
36
27
Grade boundaries in terms of uniform marks according to weighting of unit
Weighting 30% 33.3% 35% 40% Total subject 100%
Max uniform mark
(b) GCE AS
A
B
C
D
E
(N)
600
480
420
360
300
240
-
300
240
210
180
150
120
-
100
80
70
60
50
40
30
Grade boundaries in terms of uniform marks
Unit AS award Advanced award
Max uniform mark
(c) VCE
AA
AB
BB
BC
CC
CD
DD
DE
EE
(N)
1200
960
900
840
780
720
660
600
540
480
-
Grade boundaries in terms of uniform marks
Total subject
Max uniform mark
(d) Advanced VCE (Double Award)
Distinction
Merit
Pass
(N)
100
80
60
40
20
600
480
360
240
-
Grade boundaries in
terms of uniform marks
Unit Total subject
Max uniform mark
(e) GNVQ
11
Appendix A
Appendix A
A*
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
40%
143
-
-
-
-
120
96
72
48
40%
143
-
-
-
-
120
96
72
48
Grade boundaries in terms of uniform marks
Paper 1
Written
Paper 2
Written
20%
120
108
96
84
72
60
48
36
24
Coursework
100%
406
-
-
-
-
300
240
180
120
GCSE award
Weighting
Max uniform mark
(f) AQA GCSE Mathematics (Specification A)
Foundation tier
A*
A
B
C
D
E
(N)
F
G
40%
191
-
-
168
144
120
96
84
-
-
40%
191
-
-
168
144
120
96
84
-
-
Grade boundaries in terms of uniform marks
Paper 1
Written
Paper 2
Written
20%
120
108
96
84
72
60
48
-
36
24
Coursework
100%
502
-
-
420
360
300
240
-
-
-
GCSE award
Weighting
Max uniform mark
Intermediate tier
A*
A
B
C
(N)
D
E
F
G
40%
240
216
192
168
144
132
-
-
-
-
40%
240
216
192
168
144
132
-
-
-
-
Grade boundaries in terms of uniform marks
Paper 1
Written
Paper 2
Written
20%
120
108
96
84
72
-
60
48
36
24
Coursework
100%
600
540
480
420
360
-
-
-
-
-
GCSE award
Weighting
Max uniform mark
Higher tier
12
10
Notes A candidate's overall grade is restricted by the tier of entry.10
A*
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
10%
60
54
48
42
36
30
24
18
12
11%
39
-
-
-
-
33
26
20
13
Grade boundaries in terms of uniform marks
19%
67
-
-
-
-
57
46
34
23
10%
60
54
48
42
36
30
24
18
12
50%
179
-
-
-
-
150
120
90
60
100%
600
540
480
420
360
300
240
180
120
Weighting
Max uniform mark
(g) AQA GCSE Modular Mathematics (Specification B)
Module 1 Module 2 Module 3 Module 4 Module 5GCSE
award
Appendix A
Foundation tier
A*
A
B
C
D
E
(N)
F
G
10%
60
54
48
42
36
30
24
-
18
12
11%
52
-
-
46
40
33
26
23
-
-
Grade boundaries in terms of uniform marks
119%
90
-
-
80
68
57
46
40
-
-
10%
60
54
48
42
36
30
24
-
18
12
50%
239
-
-
210
180
150
120
105
-
-
100%
600
540
480
420
360
300
240
-
180
120
Weighting
Max uniform mark
Module 1 Module 2 Module 3 Module 4 Module 5GCSE
award
Intermediate tier
A*
A
B
C
(N)
D
E
F
G
10%
60
54
48
42
36
-
30
24
18
12
11%
66
59
53
46
40
37
-
-
-
-
Grade boundaries in terms of uniform marks
19%
114
103
91
80
68
63
-
-
-
-
10%
60
54
48
42
36
-
30
24
18
12
50%
300
270
240
210
180
165
-
-
-
-
100%
600
540
480
420
360
-
300
240
180
120
Weighting
Max uniform mark
Module 1 Module 2 Module 3 Module 4 Module 5GCSE
award
Higher tier
11
13
Notes All Higher tier modules are shown in one table (together with Modules 2 and 4, which are untiered), but candidates may mix tiers between modules if
they wish. Similarly, all Intermediate tier modules are shown in one table and and all Foundation tier modules are shown in one table. A candidate's
overall grade is restricted by the tier of entry of Module 5.
11
A*
A
B
C
D
(N)
E
F
G
25%
59
-
-
-
50
40
-
30
20
10
25%
90
80
70
60
50
40
35
-
-
-
Grade boundaries in terms of uniform marks
Weighting
Max uniform mark
(h) AQA tiered GCSE Modern Foreign Languages (Specification A) and short courses
Each
Foundation tier
component
Each
Higher tier
component
25%
90
80
70
60
50
40
-
30
20
10
Coursework
(where
available)
100%
360
320
280
240
200
160
-
120
80
40
GCSE
award
Appendix A
A*
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
25%
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
100%
360
320
280
240
200
160
120
80
40
Grade boundaries in terms of uniform marks
Weighting
Max uniform mark
(i) AQA untiered GCSE Modern Foreign Languages
Each component GCSE award
14
Appendix AAppendix A
A*
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
5%
11
-
-
-
10
8
6
4
2
5%
11
-
-
-
10
8
6
4
2
Grade boundaries in terms of uniform marks
5%
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
15%
35
-
-
-
30
24
18
12
6
20%
72
64
56
48
40
32
24
16
8
Weighting
Max uniform mark
(j) AQA GCSE Modular Modern Foreign Languages (Specification B)
Module 1
(Speaking)
Module 1
(Reading)
Module 1
(Listening)Module 4Module 3Module 2
GCSE
award
Foundation tier
50%
119
-
-
-
100
80
60
40
20
100%
360
320
280
240
200
160
120
80
40
12 13
A*
A
B
C
D
(N)
E
F
G
5%
18
16
14
12
10
8
7
-
-
-
5%
18
16
14
12
10
8
7
-
-
-
Grade boundaries in terms of uniform marks
5%
18
16
14
12
10
8
-
6
4
2
15%
54
48
42
36
30
24
21
-
-
-
20%
72
64
56
48
40
32
-
24
16
8
Weighting
Max uniform mark
Module 1
(Speaking)
Module 1
(Reading)
Module 1
(Listening)Module 4Module 3Module 2
GCSE
award
Higher tier
50%
180
160
140
120
100
80
70
-
-
-
100%
360
320
280
240
200
160
-
120
80
40
A*
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
Grade boundaries in terms of uniform marks
200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
Max uniform mark
(k) AQA GCSE Religious Studies (Specification B)
Short Course awardModule 1, 2, 3, 4 Full Course award
15
Notes In Module 1, the marks for each component (Listening, Reading and Speaking) are separately converted into uniform marks. In Modules 2 and 4, the
component marks are added together before conversion.
12
All Higher tier modules are shown in one table (together with Module 1 Speaking and Module 3, which are untiered), but candidates may mix tiers
between modules if they wish. Similarly all Foundation tier modules are shown in one table.
13
Appendix A
A*
A
B
C
D
(N)
E
F
G
34
-
-
-
30
25
-
20
15
10
50
45
40
35
30
25
23
-
-
-
Max uniform mark
(l) AQA GCSE Modular Science including separate sciences (Specification A)
Foundation tier module tests (notional
uniform mark grade boundaries)
Higher tier module tests (notional
uniform mark grade boundaries)
A*
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
33.3%
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
33.3%
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
Grade boundaries in terms
of uniform marks
33.3%
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
Weighting
Max uniform mark
(m) GCSE Applied (Double Award) specifications (except Applied Science)
Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3
A*A*
AA
BB
CC
DD
EE
FF
GG
300
270
240
210
180
150
120
90
60
Max uniform mark
GCSE award
Grade boundaries in
terms of uniform marks
A*
A
B
C
D
(N)
E
F
G
33.3%
69
-
-
-
60
50
-
40
30
20
33.3%
100
90
80
70
60
50
-
40
30
20
Grade boundaries in terms of uniform marks
33.3%
100
90
80
70
60
50
45
-
-
-
Weighting
Max uniform mark
(n) GCSE Applied Science (Double Award)
Unit 1 Unit 2(Foundation
tier)
Unit 2(Higher tier)
A*A*
AA
BB
CC
DD
EE
FF
GG
300
270
240
210
180
150
120
90
60
Max uniform mark
GCSE award
Grade boundaries
in terms of
uniform marks33.3%
100
90
80
70
60
50
-
40
30
20
Unit 3
16
Appendix B
Mark conversions for portfolio units in VCE and GNVQ
Raw mark Uniform markGrade
(a) VCE portfolios (b) GNVQ portfolios
24
23
22
21
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
100
96
92
88
84
80
77
73
70
67
63
60
57
53
50
47
43
40
37
33
30
23
15
8
0
A
B
C
D
E
U
Raw mark Uniform markGrade
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
100
93
87
80
73
67
60
53
47
40
33
27
20
15
10
5
0
Distinction
Merit
Pass
U
The raw marks for portfolio units are converted by AQA to uniform marks using the following tables.
17
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Contact
AQA 2004
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