Guernsey Press

5 better ways GCSEs could be graded

Why ranks and belts could be way cooler than grades – and how JK Rowling got it just right.

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Exams aren’t like they were in your day.

Unless you took GCSEs this summer, that statement is actually true. Reforms to the grading system mean the traditional A*-G grades have been axed in English and maths, and will be replaced by the 9-1 grades – with 9 the highest result.

The new grading system for GCSEs
(PA Graphics)

Here’s some possibilities to ponder.

1. Emoji grades

People dressed as emojis
(Matt Alexander/PA)

Here’s how the old grading system might be replaced.

A*

Heart sunglasses
(Pingebat/ Getty Images)
Heart eyes
(Pingebat/ Getty Images)
Smiling emoji
(Pingebat/ Getty Images)
Smiling sweating
(Pingebat/ Getty Images)
Wide eyed flat mouthed emoticon
(Pingebat/ Getty Images)
Sweating and upset Emoticon
(Pingebat/ Getty Images)
A down in the dumps emoji
(Pingebat/ Getty Images)
Upset emoji
(Pingebat/ Getty Images)
A dead faced emoji
(Pingebat/ Getty Images)

Then again, if you don’t know that you might not quite be cut out for a host of exams – in the UK at least…

2. Harry Potter grading

Kids dressed as Harry Potter
(Danny Lawson/PA)

The exams invented in JK Rowling’s Wizarding World see students taking Hogwarts exams graded from A through to T – in order of best to worst marks, here’s how it works.

O – Outstanding

E – Exceeds Expectations

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P – Poor

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T – Troll

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3. Army ranks

Prince Charles saluting in an Army uniform
(John Giles/PA)

This idea would separate the men from the boys, plus you wouldn’t feel gutted at not doing well if you still got a nifty title along with your failure – private of French and proud.

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By using these two tiers of ranking you could actually reform the grading for both GCSEs and A-levels – with different names for different tiers of qualification.

Throw in some honorary medals for merit and you’re away.

4. Karate belts

Karate students
(diego_cervo/Getty Images)

Known as an Obi in Japan, belts varying in colour are given to people with varying mastery of fighting styles such as judo and karate.

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It might make things tough for those wanting to keep their grades quiet though…

5. Tennis rankings

Andy Murray with the ATP trophy
(Adam Davy/PA)

How about instead of giving grades, students are just given a ranking amongst all their peers who took the exam – or better still by pulling together the scores they got in all their exams to work out their place in the country?

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Throw a trophy in there for the winners and you’ve got yourself a mighty fine system…

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