How to Use the WJEC Biology Grade Calculator

📋 Contents

Overview - Which Tool Should I Use?
Understanding UMS, Raw Marks & Percentages
Using the UMS Analyser (Results Day)
Using the Resit Impact Calculator
Using the Mock Exam Analyser
Tips & Common Questions

🎯 Overview - Which Tool Should I Use?

This page contains two separate tools designed for different situations:

Tool	When to Use
UMS Analyser (Green section)	• On results day to see what you need for your target grade • To explore whether resitting AS units would help • When planning your A2 revision strategy
Mock Exam Analyser (Purple section)	• After receiving mock exam results • To see what grade your mock performance represents • To identify which units need more work

📊 Understanding UMS, Raw Marks & Percentages

What are Raw Marks?

Raw marks are your actual score on the exam paper. For example, if Unit 1 is out of 80 marks and you scored 58, your raw mark is 58/80.

What are UMS Marks?

UMS (Uniform Mark Scale) marks are standardised scores. WJEC converts your raw marks to UMS so that grades are fair regardless of when you took the exam. UMS grade boundaries stay the same every year.

💡 Key Point: Your results slip shows UMS marks, not raw marks. The maximum UMS for each unit is: Unit 1 = 100, Unit 2 = 100, Unit 3 = 125, Unit 4 = 125, Unit 5 = 50.

What about Percentages?

Percentages are useful for mock exams when your teacher gives you a score like "72%". The calculator converts this to an estimated UMS based on historical grade boundaries.

Input Type	Example	When to Use
UMS	72 / 100	Results day (shown on your results slip)
Raw Marks	58 / 80	If you know your actual exam marks
Percentage	72%	Mock exams

📈 Using the UMS Analyser (Results Day)

Use this tool when you have your actual AS results and want to see what you need in your A2 exams to achieve your target grade.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1

Select the Grade Boundaries Year
Choose the year your exams were taken. This ensures the raw-to-UMS conversion is accurate.

2

Choose Your Input Type
Click "UMS Marks" (recommended for results day) or "Raw Marks" depending on what information you have.

3

Enter Your Unit Marks
Type in your scores for each completed unit. Tick "Not taken" for units you haven't sat yet (usually Units 3, 4, and 5 if you're an AS student).

4

Select Your Target Grade
Click on the grade you're aiming for (A*, A, B, C, D, or E).

5

Click "Calculate My Grade"
The tool will show you:

Your current UMS total
How much UMS you need for your target
What marks you need in each remaining unit
How difficult each target will be to achieve
Personalised advice based on your situation

💡 Tip: The "Difficulty" badges (Achievable, Challenging, Difficult) are based on the percentage you'd need to score. Under 60% is achievable for most students, 60-75% is challenging, and over 75% is difficult.

🔄 Using the Resit Impact Calculator

This section helps you decide whether resitting one or both AS units is worth it. It appears after you calculate your main results.

1

First, complete the UMS Analyser above
You need to enter your current AS results before using the resit calculator.

2

Enter your expected resit scores
In the Unit 1 and/or Unit 2 boxes, enter the UMS you think you could realistically achieve if you resit. Leave blank any unit you don't plan to resit.

3

Click "Calculate Resit Impact"
You'll see:

Your new UMS total after resits
How much UMS you've gained
Updated requirements for your A2 units
Whether the resit makes your target more achievable

⚠️ Important: Remember that resitting means sitting 4 or 5 Biology exams in the same summer session. This requires careful time management. Always discuss resit decisions with your teacher.

📝 Using the Mock Exam Analyser

Use this tool after your mock exams to see what grade you're currently working at and identify areas for improvement.

📝 Note: This is a completely separate tool from the UMS Analyser. Scroll down the page to find the purple "Mock Exam Analyser" section.

1

Select the Grade Boundaries Year
Choose the most recent year for the most relevant boundaries.

2

Choose Your Input Type
Select how your teacher gave you your results:

Percentage - if you got "72%"
Raw Marks - if you got "58/80"
UMS - if your teacher converted to UMS

3

Enter Your Mock Results
Type in your score for each unit you've completed a mock for. Leave blank any units you haven't done.

4

Click "Analyse My Mock Results"
You'll see:

The unit grade (a-e) for each mock
The UMS equivalent of your score
Your overall AS and A-Level grades based on mock performance

💡 Tip: Mock exams may be easier or harder than real exams, so treat these results as a guide. The important thing is to identify which units need more revision.

❓ Tips & Common Questions

Why can't I enter more than the maximum mark?

The tool prevents you from entering invalid data. Each unit has a maximum UMS and raw mark - for example, Unit 1 has a maximum of 100 UMS and 80 raw marks.

Why do the grade boundaries change each year?

Raw mark boundaries change to account for differences in exam difficulty. If a paper is harder, the boundaries are lower. UMS boundaries stay the same, which is why we convert everything to UMS for fair comparison.

What does "Current Trajectory" mean?

This predicts your final grade assuming you perform at about 70% in your remaining units. It's an estimate to show you what's realistic without exceptional effort.

Should I trust the difficulty ratings?

They're a useful guide but not absolute. "Achievable" doesn't mean easy - it means most students who study well can reach that target. Your personal strengths and weaknesses matter too.

How accurate are the mock exam predictions?

They're estimates based on historical grade boundaries. Your actual exam performance may differ, but mocks give you a realistic picture of where you currently stand.

⚠️ Remember: This tool provides estimates only. Grade boundaries vary each year, and nothing replaces speaking to your teacher for personalised advice about your situation.