24 SEPTEMBER 1994, Page 30

Not making the grade

Sir: The reason Nigel Nicolson (Long life, 27 August) has no recollection of what grade he got in his A levels or their equiva- lent seems to be that the vulgar custom of awarding grades had not been introduced; either you passed or failed, or humiliatingly got your 0 level again in the subject and had to re-sit the A level in the following year.

Michael W.D. White

19 Rue des Chalands, 95610 Eragny-sur-Oise