Example

This is the mark that the examiner gave the candidate for the work on the paper (or
Raw mark ‘component’). It is the mark you would see on the candidate’s completed examination 18 out of a possible 40
script.

19 out of a possible 40
The raw mark may be adjusted as the result of, for example, special consideration.
Adjusted mark Usually we do not need to adjust marks. When we do not do this the adjusted mark will
(18 on the candidate’s script, plus 1 because of
be the same as the raw mark.
special consideration)

This is the adjusted mark that has been multiplied by a pre-determined factor to give the
result of the paper its correct weighting within the result of the overall qualification. For
example:

· A Cambridge International AS Level with two components carries 100 marks.

28.5 out of a possible 60
· One component accounts for 60 per cent of the result.
Final mark · The maximum mark for that component is 40.
(18 on script, plus 1 because of special
consideration, all multiplied by 1.5)
We would have to multiply all marks for that component by 1.5 to convert them from a
mark out of 40 to a mark out of 60.

Usually we do not need to weight marks. When we do not do this the final mark will be
the same as the adjusted mark.

94.5 out of a possible 200(28.5 out of 60, plus

Syllabus (or option) This is the total of the final marks for the different papers the learner took in the subject
marks on other paper(s) or coursework added
total (and any coursework components).
up and compared to the maximum mark)

This is an indicator of the candidate’s performance on a particular component and

Component grade usually ranges from Grade A to Grade E (or Grade G for Cambridge IGCSE). It is not Grade C for the component
possible to receive Grade A* as a component grade, only as a syllabus grade.
 This is the indicator of the candidate’s performance for the syllabus overall and usually
ranges from Grade A* to Grade E (or Grade G for IGCSE). It is not possible to receive
Grade A* at Cambridge International AS Level, where the available grades range from
a to e.
Grade D because the learner’s syllabus total was
Syllabus grade (or 94.5 out of 200 and – in this case – we required
To determine a learner’s syllabus grade we compare their syllabus mark with the grade
option grade) at least 103 for a Grade C and at least 88 for a
thresholds for the syllabus. You cannot usually work out a candidate’s syllabus grade
Grade D
from their component grades. This is because a learner whose component grades were
A, A and B might receive an A or a B (or even an A*) overall. This will depend on where
they came within the A and B ranges for each paper, and on the relative weights of the
three papers.