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4Matrix Desktop: General User Guidance and FAQ
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Knowledgebase 4Matrix Desktop: General User Guidance and FAQ

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Provisional KS4 APS for KS5 Progress Measures (Current Y12 2023/24)

Information correct as at 2nd October 2023 This guide applies to Year 12 in the 2023/24 academic year. If you wish to import KS4 APS figures for use with the Value Added performance measure, you can u...

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English Progress 8: 2022 DfE Guidelines

For students with English results from 2020 or 2021: How to ensure English Progress 8 calculates correctly as per DFE 2022 guidelines

1,238
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Grade Analysis blue grades/cells

Cells that shaded in blue indicate that the grade in that cell is excluded from performance measures. There are 2 possible reasons that grades are excluded: The subject does not count for the cohort ...

1,023
(14)

Borderline Analysis is blank

This is usually caused by either: Duplicate subject names in the same series or conflicts with a field in the database (such as Photography being shortened to Photo which is also a field in the databa...

1,005
(12)

Can I change or add to the fields that show on pupil reports?

All the reports which can be printed via the File menu or from the Reports tab cannot be edited, except where there are options to include pupil premium, UPN information and so on, as seen in the Pupi...

1,110
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Can I import and use A Levels in a GCSE/KS4 series?

It is not possible to import A Levels into a GCSE series - only AS Levels. Full A levels do not contribute towards performance measures.

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Can I import and use GCSEs in a KS5/A Level series?

It is not currently possible to import GCSEs into a KS5 series. We do plan to implement the English and Maths GCSE retakes measure pin 2019, but it is as yet undecided whether or not we will support o...

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Can I print the Progress Graph for a class or group of pupils?

Yes - but only for the subject settings that are shown on screen, and not on the same graph (so that's 1 graph per pupil). In the Progress Graph tool go to File > Print and you will see the group s...

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Can I see a summary of those above, on and below target in Series Comparison?

Yes - using the Matrix view, it is possible to see the number of pupils on, above and below their target grade. Other tools which support this are Subject Summary and Subject Overview.  

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English Literature doesn't appear to be counting

This is usually related to the English Language mapping, check that it is not mapped to the English Language and Literature combined award as this will discount subsequent entries in 'single' English ...

1,005
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Fine Grades tool definitions

The idea of this tool is to try and predict the schools 5A*-C count by specifying how certain you are that specific ‘groups’ of pupils will achieve the measure;  

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How can I change the Subject Tracking tool to show series in a different order?

The order in which series are displayed is determined by the Termly Position Slider, which is set during the Import process. It can be adjusted after this using Admin > Edit Series. You can also sh...

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Version Information

To check your 4Matrix version number, in 4Matrix Desktop, go to Help > About 4Matrix. The version number is shown on the left hand side under the heading 'Version'. Version Information The latest v...

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How can I print and export data from 4Matrix?

You can print and export data from almost all tools in 4Matrix using the File menu in the top left of the application. It also possible to save the report in various formats from the Print Preview dia...

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How do I create a Research Group?

Under the Home tab go to the Group Manager tool. Select the Research Groups tab and Click [+ New] at the top, give your group a name and select the students that you want in the group.  You can filter...

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How is double/combined Science handled in Progress 8?

Science Double Awards that are included in the EBacc measure can now take up to two slots (use 2 entries in P8), as indicated in the official Progress 8 Technical Guide. The DfE state the following fo...

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In-school training

Please see https://www.4matrix.com/training-packages f

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Is there a way to lock down Research Groups?

It is not possible to 'lock' Research Groups. 4Matrix is a powerful research and diagnostic tool and it's designed for all staff to use. We do not intend to limit the functionality so that, for exampl...

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Progress 8: Can I see an individual pupil's subject Progress 8 score?

No - although we calculate this behind the scenes in order to calculate the subject's Progress 8 score, a pupil's subject score is hidden from the display as it would make the grid unmanageable.  It i...

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Progress 8 filtering by class gives a different A8 and P8 score at bottom of subject column vs stats in bottom right

This is because the scores shown at the bottom of the subject column are based on entries in the subject only, whereas the scores in the bottom right of the display are the overall figure (all subject...

1,543
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Progress 8 subject scores - calculations

In the default Subjects Grades view, you will find a P8 score for each subject at the bottom of each subject column - note that this is NOT an official measure and it uses our own methodology. The sub...

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Progress 8 subject scores - English and Maths not matching basket scores

Assuming that you have grades for both language and Literature, the Progress 8 scores shown at the bottom of each of those columns will not match the English Basket calculation. The subject score is e...

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School Overview - what do the APS figures mean?

The examples below are based on the 9-1 GCSE points.   APS: The first figure is the average points score per pupil. For example, if one pupil scores 50 points and another scores 40, the averag

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Series Comparison not matching subjects correctly

This may indicate that you have duplicate subjects in your database. Sometimes, duplicate subjects can appear in your database which then show in tools such as Series Comparison, meaning that you are ...

1,139
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Subject Summary - Comments Slide Out for Commentaries, Residuals, Distribution etc

Grades A-C This shows the number of pupils achieving grades in this range (or equivalent).  The national expectation of A*-C numbers for a typical school has also been calculated. This estimate is cal...

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Subject not showing in KS5 Value Added tool

The KS5 VA tool will include A level, Academic and Applied subjects only. Vocational subjects and subjects that do not contribute to performance measures will not appear on this display.

1,596
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User cannot see networked printers and/or correct file directories

This is a known issue with older versions of 4Matrix (specifically Launcher.exe). If updates are run as an Admin user, it logs in using the same admin account that is specified in the 4Matrix Network ...

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Why does double/combined science not register as 2 entries?

4Matrix has never registered double/triple grades as being worth 2 or more entries, even in pre-2014 measures before weight and points capping. But, you will find that it registers as 2 (or 3) under t...

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What is the Progress 8 View/Change Coefficients option and how should I use it?

Use this function to increase or decrease the Attainment 8 estimates by a percentage. This feature has been added in order to aid the tracking of future cohorts and prepare for best and worst case sce...

1,207
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When I open 4Matrix it goes straight to the Dashboard without asking me to log in

This would imply that you use Active Directory in school and 4Matrix is using your Windows ID to log in to the system. If this is the case, and you find that the Admin tab is missing when you should b...

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When calculating Progress 8, can the spare English grade count in the EBacc basket?

No - if a pupil is entered for both English Language and Literature, the higher of the 2 grades is doubled and the 'spare' grade can only count in the Other/Open basket (provided there are not 3 other...

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What do the Difference and Variance columns mean in Series Comparison?

KS4 Difference: The direction of the 'spread' of results expressed in points. Sum of all points differences for all pupils divided by number of pupils. Since the move to 9 - 1 Grades at GCSE the Perfo...

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Value Added for Subjects (KS5)

Scenario 1: Subject shows in the VA report but "Est" and "VA" are blank Check that student has both KS4 APS and KS4 APS (GCSE) in the markbook (Admin, Edit Markbook).

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Unhandled Exception (Object Reference) error occurs when trying to access tools in 4Matrix

These errors are usually non-specific and may require a Support Agent to check. First of all, check you're using the latest version of 4Matrix by going to Help > About 4Matrix and cross-reference ...

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KS5 headline figures in 4Matrix do not match the results in the performance tables

In 2016, the method used for calculating KS5 performance figures changed completely.  4Matrix uses the published guidelines to calculate headline figures based on the data that you have entered into y...

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Error: Base 64 String

This error is photo-related and usually implies that an invalid 'string' is stored as the pupils photo in the database. In the series that causes the error, go to Admin > Edit Pupils. 1) Click thro...

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Custom Report Builder

For more information on using the Custom Report Builder tool, including a quick-start guide and ready-made templates which can be edited, please see https://www.4matrix.com/customreports.

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Subject Value Added and Subject P8 Scores Information (KS4)

'Subject Value Added' (SVA) is a powerful tool - for key stage 4 series. Based on actual exam results data from all secondary schools across England, 4Matrix have used the Nation

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Notes on Pearson Qualifications

Please see 

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Allocation/inclusion of students to schools and colleges in KS5 performance tables

This article has been compiled to help 4Matrix customers understand how and when students are allocated to a school or college for reporting purposes.

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T Levels - An Update

T Levels have been rolled out nationally since September 2020 with 163 providers in 2022-2023, steadily growing to 466 providers in 2024-2025.  T levels are equivalent to 3 A levels. T Levels are made...

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4Matrix Desktop Provisional KS4 APS for KS5 Progress Measures (Current Y12 2026/27)

Information correct as at 14th September 2026This guide applies to Year 12 in the 2026/27 academic year. If you wish to import KS4 APS figures for use with the Value Added performance measure, you can...

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4Matrix Desktop Importing KS4 APS for KS5 Progress Measures (Year 13 Academic year 2026/27)

As this cohort has nationally published GCSE result it is possible to import them using a GIAP extract. Log into DfE Secure Access, and select GIAP site at https://get-information-pupils.service.gov....

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4Matrix Desktop Importing KS4 APS for KS5 Progress Measures (Year 13 Academic year 2026/27)

As this cohort have nationally published GCSE result it is possible to import them using a GIAP extract. Log into DfE Secure Access, and select GIAP site at https://get-information-pupils.service.gov...

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