Guidance
Performance points: comparing KS4 or 16 to 18 qualifications
An introduction to calculating the performance points for key stage 4 or 16 to 18 qualifications.
- From:
- Department for Education
PublishedPublished:- 10 January 2012
- Last
updatedupdated: 413AprilAugust20242026 — See all updates
Applies to England
Documents
Performance points: a practical guide to key stage 4 and 16 to 18 performance points
PDF, 411366 KB, 3331 pages
Details
We use performance points to compare qualifications of different sizes and grading systems for schools and colleges in England.
Use this document to:
- calculate the points for a qualification
The document includes:
- intentions and limitations of the system
- qualification eligibility
- an overview of how points are calculated
- how to calculate a qualification’s size equivalence
- tables of 16 to 18 points for different types of qualifications
Read the:
Updates to this page
Published 10 January 2012
Last updated 413 AprilAugust 2024
+ show2026
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Update history
2026-08-13 16:07
Updated ‘Performance points: a practical guide’.
2024-04-04 13:27
Updated ‘Performance points: a practical guide to key stage 4 and 16 to 18 performance points’.
2023-04-05 14:29
‘Performance points: a practical guide to key stage 4 and 16 to 18 performance points’ was updated.
2022-05-19 10:59
We have updated the document ‘Performance points: a practical guide to key stage 4 and 16 to 18 performance points’.
Performance points: a practical guide to key stage 4 and 16 to 18 performance points
PDF, 411366 KB, 3331 pages
Details
We use performance points to compare qualifications of different sizes and grading systems for schools and colleges in England.
Use this document to:
- calculate the points for a qualification
The document includes:
- intentions and limitations of the system
- qualification eligibility
- an overview of how points are calculated
- how to calculate a qualification’s size equivalence
- tables of 16 to 18 points for different types of qualifications
Read the:
Updates to this page
Published 10 January 2012
Last updated 413 AprilAugust 2024
+ show2026
—
Show all updates
-
Sign up for emails or print this page
Update history
2026-08-13 16:07
Updated ‘Performance points: a practical guide’.
2024-04-04 13:27
Updated ‘Performance points: a practical guide to key stage 4 and 16 to 18 performance points’.
2023-04-05 14:29
‘Performance points: a practical guide to key stage 4 and 16 to 18 performance points’ was updated.
2022-05-19 10:59
We have updated the document ‘Performance points: a practical guide to key stage 4 and 16 to 18 performance points’.
Details
We use performance points to compare qualifications of different sizes and grading systems for schools and colleges in England.
Use this document to:
- calculate the points for a qualification
The document includes:
- intentions and limitations of the system
- qualification eligibility
- an overview of how points are calculated
- how to calculate a qualification’s size equivalence
- tables of 16 to 18 points for different types of qualifications
Read the:
Updates to this page
Published 10 January 2012
Last updated Sign up for emails or print this page
Update history
2026-08-13 16:07
Updated ‘Performance points: a practical guide’.
2024-04-04 13:27
Updated ‘Performance points: a practical guide to key stage 4 and 16 to 18 performance points’.
2023-04-05 14:29
‘Performance points: a practical guide to key stage 4 and 16 to 18 performance points’ was updated.
2022-05-19 10:59
We have updated the document ‘Performance points: a practical guide to key stage 4 and 16 to 18 performance points’.