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Did 732 people really get all 9s?

Newspapers are claiming that 732 students achieved a 'clean sweep of 9s'. I just looked at the Ofqal statistics and they specify that 732 students achieved grade 9s in '7 or more subjects' - does this mean that people who achieved 7 9s and a couple 8s are also included in this number?

The caption to the table states 'Those with straight 9s in reformed subjects' but the table itself doesn't seem to match up with this. Anyone got any idea about what it means?

Here's some of the news stories if you want to have a look:

TES: "732 pupils get straight 9s" - https://www.tes.com/news/gcse-results-732-pupils-get-straight-grade-9s
ITV: "732 teenagers score clean sweep of 9s" - http://www.itv.com/news/2018-08-23/732-teenagers-score-clean-sweep-of-9s-after-shake-up-in-gcses/
Independent: "Only 700 teenagers in England get clean sweep of grade 9s" - https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/gcse-results-2018-live-updates-exam-pass-grades-school-latest-news-a8502716.html
BBC: "732 pupils scored a clean sweep of grade 9s in all subjects" - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-45282518

(edited 5 years ago)

Reply 1

Cat?

Well it seems like all of those 732 people use TSR.

Reply 2

vicvic38

Original post by Your Local Cat

Well it seems like all of those 732 people use TSR.

Tbh that doesn't surprise me.

Reply 3

Rugbee

Haven't see any of the news items you mentioned but I would interpret the same way you have. The data includes anyone who scored up to 7 9s. I would assume that people with only 7 9s would have achieved other grades in their remaining subjects.

Probably, yeah.

Original post by Rugbee

Thanks for the input. I'll edit the original post to include some news stories in case people want to take a look :smile:

Reply 6

Tolgash

Original post by jtkai

I was actually corrected about this recently. Ofqual stated that '[they] have looked at the number of students taking at least 7 reformed 9 to 1 GCSEs who achieved a grade 9 in all of their 9 to 1 graded subjects. In total, there were 732 students that achieved this, 62% of whom were female and 38% of whom were male.'

This means that the 732 students took more than seven subjects and did achieve the clean sweep (got 9s in them all). So yes, the figure of 732 is correct.

The source: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/guide-to-gcse-results-for-england-2018 (under the section 'Grade 9 in reformed GCSE subjects.')

Reply 7

jtkai

Original post by Tolgarda

Thanks for the link! That does make more sense. It's a shame the infographic wasn't entirely clear, but thanks for clearing that up for me :smile:

@Your Local Cat Now we wait for ~732 new accounts to sign up to TSR specifically to post on the 'Share your results thread'... :wink:

Reply 8

Ezzy19

My daughter got 7 9's and 3 8's. Is she accounted for in this number of 732?

Reply 9

Mel242

Original post by Ezzy19

My daughter got 7 9's and 3 8's. Is she accounted for in this number of 732?

No, she is not if I am interpreting Ofqual's guide correctly:

"This summer reformed 9 to 1 GCSE specifications were awarded in 23 subjects. On average, 16 year-old students in England took 7.46 reformed 9 to 1 GCSEs, so we have looked at the number of students taking at least 7 reformed 9 to 1 GCSEs who achieved a grade 9 in all of their 9 to 1 graded subjects. In total, there were 732 students that achieved this, 62% of whom were female and 38% of whom were male."

So, students who sat the new 9-1 system must have achieved 9s in all the subjects that were graded this way.

(edited 5 years ago)

Reply 10

Ezzy19

Original post by Your Local Cat

I think so.

'Think so' ..... can anyone actually confirm it?

Reply 11

Ezzy19

Just come across this. Would this not suggest she is included in the 732 statistics?

C6B3F117-CFA1-45C8-8F21-6726B6EADC23.jpg.jpeg

Reply 12

Mel242

Ofqual stats seem quite clearly set out - not sure what you find misleading? I would avoid newspaper headlines as reporters appear to be confused or perhaps, want a catchy headline.

Ironically with Ofqual's criteria, a student who gets 7x9s and 3A*s would be included in the set of "732 students", whereas the student who gets 7x9s and 3x8s would not, though technically both have achieved the same grade.

I got all 9s. AMA

Original post by Ezzy19

Just come across this. Would this not suggest she is included in the 732 statistics?

C6B3F117-CFA1-45C8-8F21-6726B6EADC23.jpg.jpeg

The Guardian incorrectly reported statistics from Ofqual's actual report, which have been stated by other users on this thread. Your daughter is not one of those 732 students. The report on their website confirms that she did not make it (the infographic omits important information that is present on their actual website).