How grade standardisation works in Wales

CENTRES provided CAGs and a rank order for each learner, for each subject, to the WJEC.

There are two main steps to standardisation:

1. WJEC calculates a set of grades for each subject in each centre.

2. WJEC allocates these grades to learners using the rank order provided by centres.

In Wales, GCSE, AS and A-level and Skills Challenge Certificate qualifications have different designs and structures. For unitised qualifications where performance in earlier units can be looked at, Model 1 will be used.

Model 1 will be used for A-levels, GCSEs in biology, chemistry, physics, double award science and English literature and Skills Challenge Certificate qualifications.

Model 1 calculates a set of grades for the centre based on learners’ performance in previous units of the qualification. Model 1 is only used in Wales and Northern Ireland.

For linear qualifications and unitised qualifications where there is insufficient evidence from units already taken Model will be is used. Model 2 will be used for AS levels and most GCSEs.

Model 2 calculates a set of grades for the centre based on its previous performance, taking into account learners’ prior attainment. For AS levels, evidence of prior attainment comes from average performance in GCSEs for those learners.

For GCSEs, evidence of prior attainment comes from learners’ performance in the key stage 3 national tests and teacher assessments for those learners. Will it be fair? Qualifications Wales admitted there could be flaws, saying: “Despite this rigorous testing there is still the possibility of bias coming through in the final grades, so we have monitored gender gaps at the qualification level (i.e. across all A-levels, etc.) before signing off the awards.

“We will publish an in-depth equalities analysis after the summer once more detailed data is available.”