Junior Certificate / Junior Cycle 2020 and new Grade Descriptors
Dear Parents/Guardians.
For most students and parents, the grading system within the new Junior Cycle has been a big change. We were all so used to the grades A, B, C, D etc – these have been replaced with ‘Grade Descriptors’ and we have outlined what this change means below. You will have seen these marks on your daughter/son’s Mock results.
Because the introduction of the new descriptors is happening in steps, the current 3rd Year class who are sitting the Junior Cycle Class in 2020 are following both the old system (A, B, C, D etc) and the new descriptor system.
- They receive new ‘Grade Descriptors’ in English, Irish, French, German, Italian, Art, Business, Science and Wellbeing.
- They receive the grades from the ‘old system’ such as A, B, C, D etc in the remaining subjects.
New Junior Cycle and Grade Descriptors
Distinction 90 to 100 %
Higher Merit 75 to 89 %
Merit 55 to 74 %
Achieved 40 to 54 %
Partially Achieved 20 to 39 %
(not graded) 0 to 19 %
NEW GRADE DESCRIPTORS:
OLD MARKING SYSTEM
