Ofqual adjustments to GCSE Modern Languages grades – British Academy response

The British Academy has responded to news that the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) has adjusted grading standards for GCSE French and German so they align more with how other GCSE subjects are graded - having been graded more harshly until now.

Professor Charles Forsdick FBA, Lead Fellow for Languages at the British Academy, said: 

“It's good news for those taking languages GCSEs this summer and beyond that Ofqual will require exam boards to make positive adjustments to the grades they award in French and German. This completes adjustments originally announced in 2019 and interrupted by the pandemic. The severe grading of modern languages at GCSE is a longstanding anomaly, and it will be good to see the impact of these adjustments when this year's GCSE results are announced in August.

"Based on the recommendations we made in 'Towards a National Languages Strategy', we will continue to argue that there should be a greater adjustment so that pupils' grades in modern languages GCSE are comparable on average with their grades in other EBacc subjects. In the meantime, we hope that this change is encouraging for both students and teachers of modern languages."