About your grades 

The calculation of grades for unitised specifications is quite complicated and involves the use of what is called a uniform mark scheme (UMS). When the uniform marks are added up they give a total which is then converted to a grade. Although we give an explanation below of how a grade is calculated, do not worry too much about this; it is the final grade that is important for entry to college or university, or your chosen career.

When modular courses were first introduced, a problem occurred with the total number of marks that each subject had and so the examination boards decided to use what is called the Uniform Mark Scale. The following maximums were agreed for the qualifications listed:

Qualification	Maximum uniform marks
Advanced Subsidiary GCE	300
Advanced GCE	600

For modular GCSE subjects (Mathematics, Science and Religious Studies), there is no agreed total of uniform marks and these subjects have different totals. Each unit of a specification is valued at a certain percentage of the whole scheme of assessment. The most common percentages are 15%, 17.5% and 20%. All units will, of course, add up to 100% and to the maximum shown above. An example follows:

Unit	Percentage	Maximum uniform marks
Unit 1	15%	90
Unit 2	15%	90
Unit 3	15%	90
Unit 4	15%	90
Unit 5	20%	120
Unit 6	20%	120
Totals	100%	600

The uniform mark obtained for each unit of a specification is shown on the results slip, and when added up, you obtain a total number of uniform marks for that specification which determines the grade for that subject, as follows:

For AS specifications:

	Uniform marks
Grade A	240-300
Grade B	210-239
Grade C	180-209
Grade D	150-179
Grade E	120-149

For A level specifications:

	Uniform marks
Grade A	480-600
Grade B	420-479
Grade C	360-419
Grade D	300-359
Grade E	240-299

The UMS grade boundaries for units are as follows:
      
GCE max 90 UMS

A	72
B	63
C	54
D	45
E	36

GCE max 100 UMS

A	80
B	70
C	60
D	50
E	40

GCE max 120 UMS

A	96
B	84
C	72
D	60
E	48

From your results slip, you can see not only if you did better in some units and not so well in others, but also how close you were to an overall grade boundary. 

Yes. The higher score is the one that goes towards your overall grade. Even if you sat a unit more than twice, the best result will be used automatically when the overall grade is calculated. You do not need to ask us to take into account a previous result. This will be done automatically so you can be assured that all your best unit results have gone into calculating your overall grade.

  

You no longer need to decline an A or AS level grade if you need to resit units and cash in again in an attempt to improve your grade.

You cannot decline a GCSE grade.

Cashing in is the last stage of creating a grade for a qualification that is made up of a series of units (see question 'What is a uniform mark?' below). Usually for Advanced Subsidiary qualifications you must take three units before you get a grade; for Advanced GCE you must take six units.  

Cashing in should have been done at the same time as the entries were made for you for particular units this summer. If your school or college didn’t enter the cash-in code for a particular subject you won’t have a grade for it. Speak to your Examinations Officer, who will be able to check whether or not a cash-in code was submitted. If it wasn’t, please ask your Examinations Officer to contact us so that your grade can be calculated as soon as possible. A revised result will then be issued to you. Although Edexcel offers a fast turnaround time from receipt of written instructions, it may take up to five days for the grade to reach you, depending on your centre's arrangements.  

To enable us to calculate an overall grade, it is necessary to have the right number of units and the cash-in code. For some subjects it is also necessary to have the right combination of units.  

To receive an overall qualification grade your school or college must enter you for the last of the units that you are taking and a cash-in code. For example, the Edexcel A level Geography Specification B qualification is made up as follows:  
     

Specification Part	Unit Code
Unit 1	6471
Unit 2	6472
Unit 3	6473
Unit 4	6474
Unit 5	6475
Unit 6	6476
Cash-in Code: 9215

Please note that unit numbers for AS and A level specifications always start with a 6, and cash-in codes with an 8 for AS and 9 for A level.  

In some subjects, for example Mathematics and Biology/Human Biology, you have to complete a certain combination of units. For example, for A level Statistics (9453) you must do 6683, 6684, 6685, 6686 and 6687 as well as EITHER 6671 OR 6688.  

For GCSE modular examinations, the unit code numbers start with a 5, and the cash-in code starts with a 1.

Problems can arise from ineligible entries. These occur when the candidate has been entered for cashing-in but has not completed the correct combination of units. If this has happened, you must talk to your Examinations Officer.

You can compare your results with those of others in the UK who have completed the same examination by looking at the relevant statistics:   

• Statistics for AEA
• Statistics for GCE
• Statistics for GCSE

First of all, talk to your subject teacher. After all the teaching that you have had, tests and internal examinations, he/she is the person who best knows what grade you are capable of achieving. Take your results slip to your subject teacher, and go through the information on it in detail. If you both think that there is something wrong with the result, the school or college can apply to see your completed examination paper and then, if necessary, ask for a re-mark immediately. The original mark can be confirmed or lowered, as well as raised, as a result of a re-mark. A fee will be charged where:

• For non cashed-in subjects - the individual unit mark may change but the grade stays the same
• For cashed-in subjects - the overall grade stays the same.

The fee will be waived where:

• For non cashed-in subjects - the unit grade changes 
• For cashed-in subjects - the overall grade changes.
  

Another way of dealing with this problem is to consider resitting some parts of the examination. However, if you have taken a linear or a modular GCSE, you will have to take the terminal written components (written papers) again. You can carry forward your coursework mark and your unit test marks if you wish.

Your results slip can help you decide which units you might want to retake, as it will show all the units and their uniform marks that were used to calculate a subject grade. Remember that not all the units have the same percentage value towards the final grade - lower percentage units have less impact on the final grade than higher percentage ones. Look to see whether you have done particularly badly on a higher percentage unit – you can tell which ones they are by their higher uniform mark totals – and think about retaking those. Then look at the smaller percentage units.

Whatever you decide to do, you must speak to your subject teacher and, if necessary, your Examinations Officer, who will advise you on when entries have to be made, fees that might have to be paid and whether you are eligible to retake the units you want.