The Department for Education has unveiled plans to adjust GCSE exam grades for intelligence.
Students will be pre-assessed for intelligence and have their “raw grade” adjusted accordingly. The change will be introduced in 2026/27. The provisional adjustments are
IQ Level | Adjustment |
Above 140 | Minus 2 grades |
120-140 | Minus 1 grade |
100-120 | No adjustment |
80-100 | No adjustment |
60-80 | Plus 2 Grades |
Below 60 | Plus 4grades |
So, for example, a student with an IQ of 130 and achieving a “raw” grade 8 in Geography would have their grade adjusted to a 7.
Justifying the change, Education Minister Ben Phillips noted,
“It’s completely unfair that exam performance is influenced by an inherited factor like intelligence. These exams determine a student’s future career pathway. Why should more intelligent students have a greater choice of options?
There will be an exception for the PE GCSE where the adjustment will be based on physical fitness. Leaner, fitter and sporty students will be penalised. The fat lad, who can usually be found at the back of the school cross country, will get a generous uplift to his grade.”
Phillips continued,
“This is just the first stage in our “Equality Equalisation Strategy”. Next we plan to introduce adjustments for how hard a student has worked. Put the hours in and down goes your grade. It’s really just a form of cheating, isn’t it? Ultimately, we should arrive at an equal opportunities nirvana where everyone gets exactly the same grade. And the exams are completely meaningless.”