How does ICAS grading work?

Every year, thousands of students sit the ICAS competition from countries across the world.

If your child is one of them, and you’re wondering whether they have achieved a good ICAS score or grade, we’ll explain how they work in this article.

How ICAS scores work

Most ICAS tests are made up of simple “correct” or “incorrect” questions. The scores are automatically tallied up to provide a final “raw” score for each student and then compared with scores from other students to provide grades (see below).

Scoring is different with ICAS Writing because writing is a long form of expression that is marked using a more complex rubric. Students are given marks based on their command of genre, textual grammar and syntax/punctuation. When scores are totalled, as with other subjects, this “raw” score and the performance of other students determines the final grade.

How ICAS grading works

ICAS grading and awards are based on comparative percentages. Here’s how it works:

• The top 1% of participants will receive a high distinction, and a medal if they also receive the highest score in their region.
• The next 10% of participants get a distinction.
• The next 25% of participants get a credit.
• The next 10% of participants get a merit.
• Remaining participants get a participation.

You can see the ICAS grading system laid out in this graphic:

This comparative approach means that every participant in ICAS affects the scoring for everyone else. For example, if students perform exceptionally well one year, it will be harder for a student to achieve a high distinction or medal because the grades are based on percentages, and they will need to fall within the top 1%. Similarly, if students’ scores are on the lower side one year, it will be easier for a student to achieve a high distinction because the bar is lower.

ICAS grades are separate for each individual nation – Australia will have its own, as will New Zealand, Hong Kong, etc – as well as each subject and year level.

What do ICAS results mean?

ICAS is an academic competition that is designed to challenge students and celebrate their achievements. The tests are “low-stakes,” which mean they’re extremely unlikely to affect your child’s academic opportunities going forward. While some highly-selective schools may take students’ ICAS results into account for entry into their establishments, the vast majority don’t.

Ultimately, it’s important to remember that no matter your child’s ICAS score level or grade, the fact that they have chosen to challenge themselves is the thing that should be celebrated. With regular challenges, your child is more likely to discover and fufil their potential, and hopefully have a lot of fun along the way!