New GCSE grade 4 deemed ‘a standard pass’
As the new GCSE grades are rolled out over the next three years, the government has released further clarification of the new grading system.
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To clarify the situation over which grade will deemed a “pass”, the government has announced that they will distinguish between a grade 4 as a “standard pass” and a grade 5 as a “strong pass” and report on both.“Under the new system, a grade 4 and above will be equivalent to a C and above. This is – and will remain – the level that pupils must achieve in order not to be required to continue studying English and maths post-16. Therefore, a GCSE pass at new grade 4 will continue to have real currency for individual pupils as they progress to further study and employment,” continued Ms Greening.“Where employers, FE providers and universities currently accept a grade C, we would expect them to continue recognising a grade 4.“The process used by Ofqual to avoid grade inflation will ensure that broadly the same proportion of pupils achieve the grade 4 and above this summer as achieved the grade C and above last year. This is why I want to be very clear to schools, employers, colleges and pupils themselves that a ‘standard pass’ is a credible achievement and one that should be valued as a passport to future study and employment.”