Exams Administration

Information and resources for exams officers to plan ahead and stay on track throughout the whole exams lifecycle, from entries to results day.

FSMQ Explanation of results

Free-Standing Maths Qualifications (FSMQ) results

Free-Standing Maths Qualifications (FSMQs) are examined at three levels: Advanced, Higher (or Intermediate) and Foundation.

  • Advanced FSMQs are set at the level of demand of A level.
  • Higher FSMQs are set at the level of demand of GCSE grades 9 to 3 (formerly A*–D).
  • Foundation FSMQs are set at the level of demand of GCSE grades 4 to 1 (formerly C to G).
  • An Advanced FSMQ is one-sixth of the size of A level and a Higher or Foundation FSMQ is one-third of the size of pre-2017 GCSE.

Students who fail to reach the minimum standard for the lowest grade (ie grade D (d) for Higher FSMQs and grade E (e) for all other levels) will be recorded as U (unclassified). Unclassified results will not appear on certificates.

Foundation

  • Legacy FSMQ specifications (1999-2011, codes 6981, 6982, 6983)
  • Pathways pilot specifications (2008-2012, codes 9981, 9982, 9983)
  • Current specifications (2013 onwards, codes 4981, 4982, 4983)

A pass in a unit at a particular level is indicated by one of the five grades A(a), B(b), C(c), D(d), E(e), of which grade A(a) is the highest and grade E(e) the lowest.

Higher/Intermediate

  • Intermediate FSMQs (legacy specifications, 1999-2011, codes 6984, 6985, 6986, 6987, 6988) Pathways pilot specifications (2008-2012, codes 9984, 9985, 9986, 9988) A pass in a unit at a particular level is indicated by one of the five grades A(a), B(b), C(c), D(d), E(e), of which grade A(a) is the highest and grade E(e) the lowest.
  • Higher FSMQs (current specifications, 2013 onwards, codes 4984, 4985, 4986, 4988) A pass in a unit at a particular level is indicated by one of the five grades A*(a*), A(a), B(b), C(c), D(d) of which grade A(a) is the highest and grade D(d) the lowest.

Advanced

  • Current FSMQ specifications (1999 onwards, codes 6990, 6991, 6992, 6994)
  • Pilot specifications (2008 onwards, codes 9993, 9994, 9995, 9996, 9997, 9998)

A pass in a unit at a particular level is indicated by one of the five grades A(a), B(b), C(c), D(d), E(e), of which grade A(a) is the highest and grade E(e) the lowest.