KS3/4 - How is Attainment 8 calculated?

This article provides an in depth look at the DfE's Attainment 8 measure, and how it is calculated. This can help with troubleshooting figures, or for those who are interested in the detail behind the measure calculations.

What is Attainment 8?

Attainment 8 (A8) is based on students’ performance across 8 qualifications using Attainment 8 points, and is then also used to calculate Progress 8.

Attainment 8 can be calculated for the following 'baskets':

• English
• Maths
• EBacc
• Open

Calculating Attainment 8

Attainment 8 is an overall attainment score calculated for each student, which consists of eight slots within three different ‘baskets’ or ‘elements’. The overall Attainment 8 score for the student is calculated by finding the sum of the scores achieved within these 8 slots.

In brief, the calculation is:

*English can only be double weighted if a student sits both English Language and English Literature.

What qualifications can be included?

Basket 1 - English and Maths: 

Maths - Double weighted Mathematics

• If a student has taken an eligible GCSE Mathematics qualification,
  this will be double weighted.
• Where a pupil 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 BOTH 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.

Basket 2 - EBacc (three highest EBacc point scores)

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.

Basket 3 - Open (three highest point scores from remaining approved qualifications)

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.

Attainment 8 - Worked 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.

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.

Student A's Attainment 8 score would then be calculated as follows:

Student A’s Attainment 8 = (10) + (4) + (13.5) = 27.5

Student A’s Average Attainment 8 Grade = 27.5 ÷ 10* = 2.75 (2dp)

*the Attainment 8 score will always be divided by 10, regardless of the student filling all slots or not

If students also have KS2 data, their Progress 8 score can then be calculated. For more information on how Progress 8 is calculated, see our article - How is Progress 8 Calculated?

Thanks for reading!