Student Performance Analysis

PLEASE NOTE:
As of 2004 the DfES have decided to use a different points scale to calculate values for the Attainment and Achievement Tables. The grade equivalence remains the same.

The DfES points scales, as devised by QCA, can be seen at Performance tables - Point Scores

Table 1

With the advent of half GCSEs, or short course GCSEs, the DFEE has decided that these examinations should merit exactly half the points of full GCSEs. Therefore the points allocation is as follows:

Grade	Full GCSE points old system	Half GCSE points old system	Full GCSE points new system	Half GCSE points new system
A*	8	4	58	29
A	7	3.5	52	26
B	6	3	46	23
C	5	2.5	40	20
D	4	2	34	17
E	3	1.5	28	14
F	2	1	22	11
G	1	0.5	16	8

These points are aggregated to provide a total points score for the school and then divided by the number of candidates to produce an average points score per pupil in the school. This figure is one of the performance measures for the school reported in the DFEE Performance Tables.

In calculating the percentage of pupils with five or more GCSE grades at C grade or above half GCSE's count where two or more were at C grade or above.
Where a candidate achieved four full GCSE's at grade C and two half GCSE's, also at grade C, then this candidate would be considered to have achieved the equivalent of five GCSE's at or above C grade.
If a candidate gained four full GCSE's at C grade or above and one half GCSE, even if it were an A*, then this candidate would still be judged to have gained only four full GCSE's.
Should a candidate achieve a half GCSE at grade D and another half GCSE at grade A* this would not be considered the equivalent of a full GCSE at grade C, for half GCSE's cannot be aggregated in this way, but a candidate with two half GCSE's of a B and a C grade would.

Clearly, where a school only allows its candidates to sit one half GCSE their results, no matter how good, cannot contribute to the performance measure of five or more GCSE's at grade C or above. They can still count to the average points per pupil measure however.

Table 2

Part 1 GNVQ Intermediate qualifications are equivalent to two GCSE grades in the range A*-C. Part 1 GNVQ Foundation level qualifications are equivalent to two GCSE grades in the D-G range.
The DFEE has decided that these examinations should merit points as follows:

Grade	Part 1 GNVQ Intermediate points	GCSE grade equivalence	New points scale
Distinction	7.5 x 2	A* & A	55 x 2
Merit	6 x 2	B & B	46 x 2
Pass	5 x 2	C & C	40 x 2
Grade	Part 1 GNVQ Foundation points	GCSE grade equivalence	New points scale
Distinction	4 x 2	D & D	34 x 2
Merit	3 x 2	E & E	28 x 2
Pass	1.5 x 2	F & G	19 x 2

NB. Full GNVQ Intermediate and Foundation courses are worth exactly double the above stated points.

By way of illustration, a pupil who has gained a GNVQ Intermediate qualification with distinction will be deemed to have the equivalent points to a GCSE candidate gaining two GCSEs graded A* and A.

Table 3

Advance GNVQ qualifications are equivalent to two A level grades.
The DFEE has decided that these examinations should merit points as follows:

Grade	Advanced GNVQ points	A level grade equivalence
Distinction	220	A & B
Merit	160	C & C
Pass	100	D & E

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