Mathematics: grade descriptors for GCSEs graded 9 to 1
Updated 6 September 2017
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1. Grade 8
To achieve grade 8, candidates will be able to:
- perform procedures accurately
- interpret and communicate complex information accurately
- make deductions and inferences and draw conclusions
- construct substantial chains of reasoning, including convincing arguments and formal proofs
- generate efficient strategies to solve complex mathematical and non-mathematical problems by translating them into a series of mathematical processes
- make and use connections, which may not be immediately obvious, between different parts of mathematics
- interpret results in the context of the given problem
- critically evaluate methods, arguments, results and the assumptions made
2. Grade 5
To achieve grade 5, candidates will be able to:
- perform routine single- and multi-step procedures effectively by recalling, applying and interpreting notation, terminology, facts, definitions and formulae
- interpret and communicate information effectively
- make deductions, inferences and draw conclusions
- construct chains of reasoning, including arguments
- generate strategies to solve mathematical and non-mathematical problems by translating them into mathematical processes, realising connections between different parts of mathematics
- interpret results in the context of the given problem
- evaluate methods and results
3. Grade 2
To achieve grade 2, candidates will be able to:
- recall and use notation, terminology, facts and definitions; perform routine procedures, including some multi-step procedures
- interpret and communicate basic information; make deductions and use reasoning to obtain results
- solve problems by translating simple mathematical and non-mathematical problems into mathematical processes
- provide basic evaluation of methods or results
- interpret results in the context of the given problem