Sisra Analytics: KS3/4 - How is Attainment 8 calculated?

Overview

This article explains what the DfE's Attainment 8 measure is and details how it is calculated. This can help with troubleshooting figures or for those interested in the details behind the measure calculations.

Definition

Attainment 8 (A8) measures an individual student's attainment progress using the results from their best eight qualifications. It is calculated using eight Slots within three Attainment 8 Baskets (or Elements). The Baskets comprise English & Maths, EBacc and Open. The student's overall Attainment 8 score is the sum of scores from the eight Slots. Only Ebacc-eligible qualifications can be used in the calculation of Attainment 8. If the result from a qualification is not recognised as eligible, it cannot be used to calculate a student's Attainment 8 score.

Where students have KS2 data, Attainment 8 can be used to calculate their Progress 8 score. See Sisra Analytics: KS3/4 - How is Progress 8 calculated?

Calculation video

Calculation

The calculation for Attainment 8 is:

Attainment 8  = Maths element (x 2) + English element (x 2*) + 3 EBacc elements + 3 Performance qualifications
* English can only be double weighted if a pupil sits both English Language and English Literature.

Qualifications included by Basket

Select a Basket to see what is included:

  • Maths - Double-weighted Mathematics

    • If a student has taken an eligible GCSE Mathematics qualification, this will be double-weighted.
    • Where a student has taken more than one EBacc Maths qualification, qualifications which are not used in Basket 1 cannot count at all.

    English - Double-weighted English

    • If a student sits English Language and English Literature, the higher grade counts towards Basket 1 and is double-weighted. The lower grade can still count in Basket 3.
    • If only English Literature or English Language is taken, then this qualification will count in Basket 1 but will not be double-weighted.

  • This is the student's three highest point scores from EBacc-eligible qualifications (Science*, History, Geography and Languages) and normal EBacc entry rules do not apply.

    * Science - Separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Science Core, Science Additional and Computer Science each take up one slot. However, Science Combined Double 9-1 can take up two slots. In this case, the average of the two grades would be taken, regardless of whether there is only one or two slots left to fill for the student.

  • This can include the best three qualifications that are approved to count in the performance tables for that year, which can include the lower scoring English Language or English Literature not included in Basket 1. If a qualification has been counted in Basket 1 or Basket 2, then it cannot be counted again within Basket 3.

    Level 3 Free Standing Mathematics qualifications will only count in Basket 3 if a student has not taken an EBacc Maths qualification.

    Slots can also be filled by other GCSEs or DfE approved academic, arts or vocational qualifications.

    This bucket takes the highest scoring grades out of all of these subjects. For example, if a pupil took English Literature and English Language, as well as Media Studies, and achieved a higher grade for Media Studies than the remaining English grade, the Media Studies grade will be counted.

It is not mandatory for students to fill all three buckets or to take eight qualifications, however, if a slot in any bucket is not filled, pupils will receive a score of 0.

Example

  • The table below shows all the qualifications that Student A has achieved. Using this information, we can determine which qualifications fit the criteria for each Attainment 8 Basket, then the Attainment 8 Points can be added together to calculate student A’s Attainment 8 Score:

    Qualification Grade A8 Points
    GCSE Mathematics 3 3
    GCSE English Language 4 4
    GCSE History 4 4
    BTEC First Award Hospitality Merit 5.5
    BTEC First Award Sport Pass 4
    Cambridge National Certificate Business & Enterprise Pass 4
    Cambridge National Certificate ICT Pass 4

  • The below table then translates these grades into the slots they would fill in each A8 basket. Here English Language is not double weighted as this student does not have an entry in English Literature, and empty slots are given 0 points:

    Basket 1 (Eng & Mat) Basket 2 (EBacc) Basket 3 (Open)
    GCSE Mathematics (3 x 2 = 6) GCSE History (4) BTEC First Award Hospitality (5.5)
    GCSE English Language (4) - BTEC First Award Sport (4)
    - - Cambridge National Cert Business & Enterprise (4)
    Eng & Mat = 6 + 4 = 10 EBacc = 4 Open = 5.5 + 4 + 4 = 13.5

  • Student A's Attainment 8 Score is calculated as follows:

    Student A's Attainment 8  = 10 + 4 + 13.5 = 27.5

Related information

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