If you’re just starting your GCSE Maths course, you might be wondering what the difference is between the tiers and whether it matters to you. The simple answer is that if you take the Foundation Tier papers then the maximum grade you can get is a C, but with the Higher Tier papers the full range of grades A* to G are open to you.
What is the difference between higher and foundation GCSE exams?
In terms of the grade you get there is no difference between higher and foundation. The higher paper gives grades from 3 - 9, and includes difficult questions. The foundation paper only has easier questions, but the max grade awarded is a 5, and you'd need a much higher proportion of correct answers for that 5 than if you sat higher.
How hard is Foundation Maths GCSE?
With the new GCSE foundation maths is grades 1-5 and higher, grades 4-9. So you can 'pass' on either paper but the higher includes harder questions. The crossover is now grades 4&5 and used to be grades D & C so making the new higher paper harder than the old one as 4 is roughly bottom 2/3 of a C and 5 top third of a C and bottom third of a B.
What is the difference between foundation tier and higher tier GCSEs?
To summarise, if you were to take a foundation tier course, the highest grade you could obtain is a grade 5, however, for higher tier courses, the maximum grade is a grade 9, which is the highest grade you can get for a GCSE course. Foundation tier courses will always have less content than higher tier courses, meaning that there is less to learn.
What are the new GCSE maths grades?
For those less familiar with the detail of GCSE maths, there are two tiers: foundation and higher. Each tier is targeted at a range of the new numerical grades: 9 to 4 on the higher tier (with a ‘safety net’ grade 3 for students scoring a small number of marks below grade 4), and 5 to 1 on the foundation tier.
What is the difference between the Foundation and Higher Tier papers?
Foundation tier papers will see a greater focus on the number topic compared to the higher, while the higher tier will see a greater focus on algebra. Smaller differences exist between the tiers for the ratio, proportion and rates of change, geometry and measures topic weightings, whilst probability and statistics are equal across the two.
How to contact OCR maths?
If you have any queries or questions on our maths questions, you can comment below, email us via [email protected], call us on 01223 553998 or tweet us @OCR_Maths.
What is the new foundation?
The new foundation covers grades 1 to 5, which means that there’s a higher level grade achievable than with the previous foundation tier (where grade C was the maximum).
Can you download practice papers from OCR?
To assist in tiering decisions, we have produced multiple sets of practice papers, available to download from ocr.org.uk/gcsemaths. Practice papers sets two and three are only available to download securely, by using your OCR Interchange login. We have also published practice paper analysis grids, which allow you to get an estimate of both class and individual student performance on the papers in
Who is Neil from OCR?
Neil has worked in a variety of qualification lead roles at OCR for a number of years, having joined the maths team in 2012 and then becoming a subject specialist in 2014. Neil led the development of the new GCSE (9-1) maths qualification (J560) and following its accreditation, the majority of his time is currently spent supporting teachers through the introduction of the new qualification.
How many marks do you need to get a grade 5 in biology?
For example, in 2018 combined science AQA paper, 39 marks were needed to get a grade 5 in the foundation biology as supposed to 24 marks to get the same grade in the higher paper. [1] . Many parents and students assume that because less marks are needed in the higher paper, it’s easier to pass in the higher paper.
What is the difference between foundation and higher papers?
But there are some key differences. The main ones being the type of skill and level of understanding of the subject required. In the foundation paper, the student will need to have a good knowledge of science and be able to skilfully answer multiple choice and short answer exam questions. On the other hand, higher paper students will need to have a sound knowledge of science and should be able to answer questions that link topics between different areas of the specification. The higher paper has more applied thinking questions that are designed to stretch and test the student’s knowledge.
How many marks do you need to pass a science paper?
Fewer marks needed to pass. There are usually fewer marks needed to gain a good grade. For example, in 2018 combined science AQA paper, 24 marks were needed to get a grade 5 in the higher biology as supposed to 39 marks to get the same grade in the foundation paper. [1]
What is higher paper?
The higher paper has more applied thinking questions that are designed to stretch and test the student’s knowledge.
What is the maximum grade for science?
This is because most further education institutions will require or at least favour a 6 and above to study science. The maximum grade on the foundation paper is grade 5.
Why do kids not perform well in higher papers?
If a child is not performing well in practice higher papers or mock tests, it could really knock their confidence as they struggle to answer the questions. Doing the foundation paper may give them a better confidence boost. More content. There’s more content in the higher paper and the questions are more challenging.
What grade is a big mistake in revision?
If the child has been entered for the foundation tier, and they have low mock results e.g. grade 3 or 4, then this is a BIG mistake. Why?
Why are teachers hesitant about tier entry?
This was because there was less information available about the new qualifications, such as past examination papers and grade boundaries. We recently published a blog about the difficulties of predicting grade boundaries ahead of this summer.
What are the tiers of GCSE maths?
For those less familiar with the detail of GCSE maths, there are two tiers: foundation and higher. Each tier is targeted at a range of the new numerical grades: 9 to 4 on the higher tier (with a ‘safety net’ grade 3 for students scoring a small number of marks below grade 4), and 5 to 1 on the foundation tier.
Can we tell you the right entry strategy for your students?
We cannot tell you the ‘right’ entry strategy for your students, but we hope this analysis is helpful as you finalise your thinking.
What does higher math mean?
Higher maths means you need to learn harder maths. Foundation you would need more marks on the paper to get a 4 than on the higher - in a nutshell!
Is foundation math easier?
foundation maths has less content, easier questions, and can only achieve lower grades
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Why do schools start entering able students for further maths?
Schools started entering able students for further maths for two reasons: 1) to extend the most able mathematicians who found GCSE trivial and 2) to try to bridge the gap to A-level and stop so many dropouts/students struggling.
What is the higher tier in math?
That is called the Higher tier. Or if not so good at maths you take easier exams called Foundation tier. If you take the Foundation exams you can't get above a new grade 5 (a low B in previous grading). If you take the higher paper but can't do it instead of getting a low grade you can end up ungraded U.
What happens if you take a higher paper but can't do it?
If you take the higher paper but can't do it instead of getting a low grade you can end up ungraded U. Either tier you end up with 1 final overall grade and it doesn't say on your certificate which tier of papers you took. The school should decide/recommend what tier a pupil is entered for.
Does FSMQ count for progress 8?
Oh and I've just looked it up, the FSMQ won't count for progress 8 at all, even in the open slot, unless the student doesn't take GCSE maths.
Is FSMQ harder than GCSE?
Or perhaps because FSMQ is harder, further maths GCSE presented enough of an extra challenge (and it's great). Now maths GCSE has been reformed, it's much harder.
Is circle theorems on GCSE?
Circle theorems are definitely in the new higher maths GCSE. Not sure about the other things though. Circle theorems were always on the GCSE syllabus, as was completing the square and graph sketching, those aren't special to IGCSE. Calculus is on IGCSE but not GCSE although the new GCSE has pre-calculus. Further maths GCSE is a relatively recent ...
Does Witchend offer additional maths?
That makes sense, Witchend. At our school Additional Maths is offered to those wanting to do Maths for Alevel. Supposedly it makes the transition to 6th form easier. But why do they choose Additional Maths and not Further Maths?
How Many Exams Are Sat?
This means that there is no coursework present - one of the many changes to the GCSE over the years. The three exams are sat between late May and early June, with each paper lasting around 90 minutes per paper.
What are the three exam boards for maths?
There are three separate exam boards that provide papers for both calculator and non-calculator papers for GCSE Maths. Those are AQA, Edexcel, and OCR. When it comes to the topics that are covered, all three exam boards offer a Foundation paper and a Higher paper.
What is the highest grade a GCSE student can achieve?
GCSE Grades: An Explanation. The grades may surprise most parents nowadays, as the system is made up of numbers and not letter grades. 9 is the highest grade that a GCSE Maths student can achieve, and it matches the old A* grade. A 4 is considered to be a low grade C, with a 5 being a high grade C.
What is the foundation grade?
Foundation papers are graded as 5 to 1, with a high C being the top grade that students can achieve on the Foundation track. When a student takes a higher paper and falls below a grade 3, they will be given an Unclassified (U) and will not have passed the paper.
Is the first GCSE maths exam a calculator?
The first exam is a non-calculator paper, but for the second and third papers, a good quality calculator may be used. Most schools and colleges set mock exams throughout the GCSE Maths years, so this allows students the chance to see how they are progressing and whether any specific topics require more focus and teaching.
Is GCSE maths important?
As it stands, GCSE Maths is still one of the most important qualifications that can be achieved depending on the A-Levels applied for , and the degree programmes students wish to study later on.
Is GCSE maths still tiered?
The GCSE Maths exams of today are vastly different from a few years ago, but the exam is still tiered. Previously, there were three tiers:
