Last updated: 01 May 2008

The A* grade will be awarded for the first time in summer 2010. The following are documents (downloadable from this page) that show some of development work which is underway prior to the introduction of the new grade. A full report will be issued by Ofqual before the A* is awarded.

Minutes of meetings -

Document 1: Minutes of a meeting between QCA and the awarding bodies on 19/01/2007
Document 2: Minutes of the Technical Issues Group on 07/03/2007
Document 3: Minutes of the Technical Issues Group on 03/05/2007
Document 4: Minutes of the Technical Issues Group on 28/09/2007
Document 5: Minutes of the Technical Issues Group (including annex and K Value Issues paper) on 22/11/2007
Document 6: Minutes of the Technical Issues Group (draft) on 17/12/2007
Document 7: Minutes of the Technical Issues Group (final) on 17/12/2007

Papers to inform discussions -

Document 8: Grade A* for A-levels - a comparison of two methods of calculation. Presented on 09/02/2007
Document 9: The cap and its effect on the award of grade A* at A-level. Presented on 29/03/2007
Document 10: Modelling multiple A* at A-level. Presented on 04/07/2007
Document 11: Number of A grades vs number of A* grades
Document 12: An evaluation of the stretch and challenge trials

Correspondence between QCA and external bodies -

Document 13: Letter from Isabel Nisbet to the awarding bodies dated 21/12/2007
Document 14: Letter from QCA to the awarding bodies dated 19/12/2007