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Confused on raw marks/UMS.

Okay, can someone clarify me this confusion.

Let's suppose the grade boundaries are like this

70 - 48,45,42,39,42,36 0 (A,B,C,D,E,U)

I get 49/70 in the exam. Does that give me 80 UMS?

Reply 1

Revel

Original post by Hody421

Okay, can someone clarify me this confusion.

Let's suppose the grade boundaries are like this

70 - 48,45,42,39,42,36 0 (A,B,C,D,E,U)

I get 49/70 in the exam. Does that give me 80 UMS?

Grade boundaries for each subject and each exam differ.
An AS Unit 1 Maths exam last year will not have the same UMS conversion scheme as an AS Unit 1 Maths exam this year. Grade boundaries are calculated based on how many people get each grade.

Give me the exam board, subject, unit and qualification and I'll find out for you.

Reply 2

Hody421

Original post by Revel

Edexcel , Geography , GCE (AS) Unit 1 and 2
OCR, Economics GCE (AS) Unit 1 and 2

Reply 3

Revel

Original post by Hody421

Edexcel , Geography , GCE (AS) Unit 1 and 2
OCR, Economics GCE (AS) Unit 1 and 2

OCR Economics - January 2013 grade boundaries:
Unit 1: 48 Raw Marks = 80 UMS
Unit 2: 45 Raw Marks = 80 UMS

Edexcel Geography - Summer 2013 grade boundaries:
Unit 1: 56 Raw Marks = 80 UMS
Unit 2: 70 Raw Marks (maximum) = 80 UMS

Regarding Geography: It looks like Unit 1 is out of 120 UMS (30% of AS), whereas Unit 2 is out of 80 UMS (20% of AS). Therefore, you'll need to get exactly full marks on the Unit 2 exam to get 80 UMS.

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 4

Hody421

Original post by Revel

Wait so if I get the 'A' grade from grade boundaries, do I get 80 UMS?

Reply 5

Revel

Original post by Hody421

Wait so if I get the 'A' grade from grade boundaries, do I get 80 UMS?

Again, it depends on the subject, unit and exam board. An A does not necessarily equate to 80 UMS.

OCR Economics - January 2013 grade boundaries:
Unit 1: A = 48 Marks (80 UMS) - so in order to get the 80 UMS in this, you need to get exactly an A.
Unit 2: A = 45 Marks (80 UMS) - just like Unit 1, an exact A in this exam is also 80 UMS.

Edexcel Geography - Summer 2013 grade boundaries:
Unit 1: A = 64 Marks (96 UMS) - see how this exam differs to OCR? This is out of 120 UMS total, so you don't need an A to get 80 UMS in this exam. Judging by last years mark scheme, you need 56 Raw Marks (between a B and a C).
Unit 2: A = 48 Marks (64 UMS) - this is completely the opposite of Unit 1. This is out of 80 UMS total, so you only get 64 UMS for an A in this exam! As I said above, for 80 UMS in this exam you need FULL MARKS (70 Raw Marks).

I really would advise that you stop fretting about UMS Marks. They are complicated and are always changing within different subjects, units and exam boards. Just take a note of the following information and turn your attention to gaining as many Raw Marks as you can.

A Level UMS Boundaries (from Units 1-4 in total):

A = 320/400 UMS
B = 280/400 UMS
C = 240/400 UMS

AS Level UMS Boundaries (from Units 1-2 in total):

A = 160/200 UMS
B = 140/200 UMS
C = 120/200 UMS

Regarding A*s - you cannot get these at AS Level from any exam boards. You can only achieve them in your A2 Units. In order to get an A* overall at A Level you must:

- Get 80 UMS Marks in both Unit 1 and Unit 2 (your Unit 1 Geography is out of 80 UMS so you need 64 here, and your Unit 2 is out of 120 so you need 96 there)
- Get 90 UMS Marks in both Unit 3 and Unit 4 (although I said 90 UMS, this is not necessarily true. You need 90% average from both exams, so for example 85% in Unit 3 and 100% in Unit 4 would work)