GCSEs in England are graded from 9 to 1. Grade 9 is the highest. If you do not reach grade 1, the result is U (ungraded). Many parents grew up with letter grades, so here is a simple guide.
How numbers compare with the old letters
| New grade | Rough old grade |
|---|---|
| 9 | High A* |
| 8 | A* / A |
| 7 | A |
| 6 | B |
| 5 | High C / low B |
| 4 | C |
| 3 | D / E |
| 2 | E / F |
| 1 | F / G |
These links are only a guide. The grades are not an exact match.
Standard pass and strong pass
- Grade 4 is called a standard pass.
- Grade 5 is called a strong pass.
In England, if you do not get at least a grade 4 in English and Maths, you will usually carry on studying them after age 16 until you pass.
What do sixth forms ask for?
It depends on the school or college. A common pattern is:
- grade 4 or 5 in English and Maths to join a sixth form,
- grade 6 or 7 in a subject to take it at A level,
- often grade 7 in Maths to take A level Maths, and grade 6 or 7 in Science to take a science A level.
Always check the entry rules of the sixth forms you are thinking about.
How are grades set?
Each exam is marked out of a total. After marking, exam boards set grade boundaries: the lowest mark needed for each grade. Boundaries change a little each year, depending on how hard the papers were.
Combined Science grades
Combined Science is worth two GCSEs, so it gets a double grade, for example 6-6 or 6-5. The two numbers are next to each other or the same.
In short
9 is the top grade and 4 is a standard pass. Know what grade your future sixth form or college asks for, and use past papers with grade boundaries to track your progress.
Notes, tests and papers for your exam board
AshACE® Revise is opening soon for Year 6 to GCSE.