Double marking

I can understand the need for top universities or employers to distinguish the best of the best from the rest and the ensuing debate on A-level exam results and the alternative options for assessing sixth-formers ("Aptitude tests still favour rich", September 23).

So, how can this be achieved with little effort? The answer is to give two results: give a relative grade as well as the current grade.

So person A's results for mathematics might look something like this: mathematics (A/2 per cent).

This mark would indicate that the student had obviously got a grade A but also that the student had come within the top 2 per cent of his or her year group in that subject.

There is an added benefit to this method of allocating results - it does not require extra marking.

Chi-Ming Cheung Southend-on-Sea