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Wales is hiring someone to explain its new qualifications to university admissions tutors.

The move by Independent qualifications regulator Qualifications Wales comes after some universities said they did not consider Wales’ two new maths GCSEs to be equal or had not decided.

Institutions are also divided over whether the Welsh Baccalaureate is A level equivalent. Some universities include it in their offers to candidates while others don’t, or only for some courses.

And while Qualifications Wales remains adamant the two new maths GCSES – mathematics and maths numeracy – are of equal value, it says universities may want to stipulate a grade for the more traditional mathematics GCSE, rather than mathematics numeracy, for some courses.

Since 2015 pupils in Wales have been studying for two exams – mathematics and numeracy, with the first exam sat in November 2016.

Mathematics assesses “scientific skills” while numeracy assesses candidates’ problem solving skills. In results from November sittings out last week most candidates got D or below in both.

Results showed 48.5 of pupils got grades A* to C in GCSE maths numeracy and 45.9% got grades A* to C in GCSE maths.

Universities do consider GCSEs as well as A levels in offers.

(Image: PA)

A Qualifications Wales spokesman said: “We are in the process of recruiting a person to specifically liaise with universities and to explain our new qualifications and changes to higher education admission tutors.

“It extends the service we already provide to them, which includes an annually updated higher education admissions guide and regular meetings with UCAS.

“Our advice to universities about the two new GCSE maths qualifications is that both GCSE Maths and GCSE Maths-Numeracy are equal in size and level of challenge.

“Many university courses typically require a minimum of a grade C in Mathematics at GCSE level as an indication of academic attainment and potential.

“Where this is the case, our advice is that a grade C in either GCSE Mathematics or GCSE Mathematics-Numeracy could provide this evidence.

“For example, we advise that for a degree that stipulates a minimum grade at GCSE level to study subjects such as accounting, psychology, business or social science, either Maths or Maths-Numeracy should count.

“The only degree courses where we would suggest universities may want to specify attainment levels for GCSE Maths, rather than GCSE Maths-Numeracy, are those which have a specific mathematical, technical or scientific focus.

“The Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate includes the Skills Challenge Certificate. Our advice to universities is that it is the same size as an A level, has the same grading structure and attracts the same number of UCAS tariff points as an A level for each grade.”

Education Secretary Kirsty Williams said it was important to “dispel myths” about the changes: “It is not until reforms are implemented that institutions begin to think about them. We need to dispel myths and lack of understanding.”

Since 2015 pupils in Wales have been studying for two exams - mathematics and numeracy, with the first exam sat in November 2016.

Mathematics assesses “scientific skills” while numeracy assesses candidates’ problem solving skills.

GCSE pupils sat six new-style exams in the 2016-17 academic year: English Language, English Literature, Welsh Language, Welsh Literature, mathematics-numeracy and mathematics.

Since 2016 pupils have been studying new GCSE science exams.

New A levels have been introduced for teaching in Wales since September 2015 with more coming on board in 2016 and last year.

Wales continues to offer AS-levels as an integral part of studying for A-levels Wales. An AS now contributes to 40% of the A level mark.This is now different to England AS has ended and A-level is sat after two years of study.