Junior Cycle grading will undergo changes ahead of June’s exams, under plans set to be outlined by Education Minister Helen McEntee, reports The Mirror.
It is anticipated that the adjustments could lead to more students receiving higher grades.
At present, students completing exams at the end of third year are graded using a number of percentage “bands”, reports The Mirror.
Students scoring above 90 per cent receive a “distinction”. Those who score between 75 and 90 per cent are awarded a “Higher Merit”, while a “merit” applies to marks between 55 and 75 per cent.
Scores ranging from 40 to 55 per cent are graded as “achieved”, while “partially achieved” is given to those who score between 20 and 39 per cent. Any result below 20 per cent is considered ungraded, reports The Mirror.
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Minister McEntee is set to announce on Tuesday that the criteria for the top four grade bands will be revised.
The new system will divide distinction, higher merit, merit, and achieved into equal 15 percentage point ranges.
These revisions will apply to the 73,000 Junior Cycle students who are preparing to take their exams this June.
Minister McEntee said: “I am happy to confirm that the grade bands at Junior Cycle will be amended, and that these changes will apply to the more than 73,000 students due to sit their examinations in the coming weeks. With the top four grade bands now becoming evenly distributed, this will have a positive impact on students, ensuring their grades are more reflective of their work and effort, as well as of the work of our teachers. It can be expected that higher numbers of students will achieve Distinction and Higher Merit grades with this change,” reports The Mirror.
According to sources, kids are said to be impacted by the Junior Cycle grade bands now in place, especially the “narrow” distinction band and the “broad” merit band.
Additionally, they stated that the modified bands will be more “reflective of students’ work” and that more students will probably receive merit or distinction ratings as a result of this adjustment, reports The Mirror.
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