Students all across the UK are having to adapt to a brand new curriculum which, known by all, is undoubtedly more challenging in an attempt to bring up our education system on par with some of the best around the world. The most prominent change introduced this year is the discontinuation of grades A*-G to assess performance and adopting the 1 - 9 grading system.

2017 will be the first year where year 11 classes all across the country will be graded using the 1-9 system for English and Maths only; The following year will use the 1-9 for all of their subjects. There is a clear and relatively drastic change to exam papers from this year and the last, as many students within my year found the tests hard and more than a few were disheartened with their results. But as I witness these changes first hand, I wonder whether tougher exams are going to contribute to any real progress for us as individuals.

Of course, making exams harder with some more demanding material will mean students will need to learn more in depth which will, in the long term, help them but I have frequently heard students complain about the levels of stress they are experiencing due to this change that has all happened so rapidly. With my year being the first year to sit exams with the new system we are often referred to as the 'Guinea pig' year. It not only creates a sense of uncertainty but makes a lot of my peers worry for their future amidst this already quite stressful and exhausting time.

Being the first to do anything always has its repercussions. For one, we have absolutely no exam material( except for samples) unlike the years before us who have had an abundance of past papers and mark schemes. Unfortunately, we have no such luxurious to actually see what our exams may look like. Secondly, the grade boundaries are highly unpredictable and as of right now it's almost a game of chance. With no one having ever taken these new exams before the exam boards themselves do not have actual grade boundaries and we have been told they will be set according to the country's overall performance. This is unnerving as do we not only have proper past papers but we do not know what our score actually equates to in terms of grades.

All in all, high school is a challenging time for many, especially exam period, and a change can be frightening or worrying. But I acknowledge, although it may not seem favourable, change may be necessary and all we can do to get through is keep calm and carry on.

By Rajeshwari