Students need a 4 for a standard pass and 5 for a strong pass. This means that a candidate who gets nine fourth-grade grades has technically passed all of his or her exams. However, government school leaderboards are based on the percentage of students who achieved 5 or higher in GCSE for English and Math. Grade 4 is the Standard Pass qualification.
If students do not reach fourth grade in mathematics and English, they will have to continue studying these subjects. Mathematics and English are the most important subjects, as they are a requirement for most courses, apprenticeships, jobs and university degrees. Generally, you will need at least grade 4 or higher in mathematics and English before you can take these studies. With a grade 4 or higher in mathematics and English, you'll have a much larger number of opportunities open to you.
To study A-levels, you need a minimum of five GCSEs in grades 4-9 or above, including English. If you do not obtain a grade 4 or higher in mathematics from GCSE, you will need to study GCSE Mathematics along with your A-levels. Upon inspection, Ofsted will establish that students are in the most suitable program of study and that any exemption to study mathematics and English is appropriate. This also applies to students who have previously obtained GCSE grade 2 and who pass functional skills level 2.We treat some grades in mathematics, English language, English literature, and English language and literature as equivalent to grades 9-4 of the GCSE or A*-C.
Students who have earned the Certificate of Christian Education (ICCE) do not have to study mathematics and English, as the ICCE is equivalent to a standard pass in mathematics and English. There is no need to inform ESFA that a student is outside the scope of Math and English funding status because they are studying less than 150 hours in the academic year. This means that higher papers now contain more demanding questions and that only about 20% of the questions on the paper are designed for grade 4.Achieving a Level 2 grade, and in particular a GCSE from 9 to 4 or from A* to C, in both mathematics and English, helps students progress to continue their studies and become trained and skilled employment. Institutions will be subject to a risk-based compliance audit to ensure that data submitted for participation in mathematics and English and prior achievement and evidence of exemptions are robust.
Once they have achieved this, there is no requirement to take further math or English qualifications to meet the funding condition. Because the government requires that all students now reach grade 4 or higher in math and English, you will be able to retake the test if you succeed. If a student wants a higher grade than a pass in mathematics and English (4 or higher), they may be able to retake the exam. A variety of English and Math Level 3 qualifications can be taught, such as Levels A and AS, Basic Mathematics, Pre-U and International Baccalaureate as an alternative to GCSE when appropriate for the student.
The percentage of students who reach grades 9-4 in mathematics is lower than the percentage who receive grades 9-4 in all subjects.
