GCSE Grades Explained: The 9 to 1 Scale

GCSE grades in England run on a 9 to 1 scale, where 9 is the highest result and 1 the lowest, with U (ungraded) below grade 1. This replaced the old A* to G letters. Grade 4 is a standard pass and grade 5 a strong pass. Grade 4 lines up roughly with an old grade C, the traditional pass mark.

What does each number on the GCSE 9 to 1 scale mean?

Each GCSE is graded from 9 down to 1, with 9 the highest and 1 the lowest before U for ungraded. Grades 9, 8 and 7 sit where the old A* and A used to be, with grade 9 set deliberately above the old A* so fewer students reach it. Grades 6, 5 and 4 cover the old B and C range, and grades 3, 2 and 1 cover the old D to G range. England switched to 9 to 1 from summer 2017, starting with English language, English literature and maths, with almost all subjects graded this way by summer 2019.

How does the 9-1 scale map to the old A*-G grades?

The 9 to 1 scale lines up with the old A* to G letters at three fixed anchor points set by Ofqual: the bottom of grade 7 matches the bottom of an old grade A, the bottom of grade 4 matches the bottom of an old grade C, and the bottom of grade 1 matches the bottom of an old grade G. As a rough guide, 9 is a high A*, 8 spans A*/A, 7 is an A, 6 is a high B, 5 is a low B or high C, and 4 is a low C. There is no one-to-one letter for every number, because nine numbers (9 down to 1) replaced eight letters (A* to G).

Is a 4 a pass in GCSE? Grade 4 vs grade 5

Grade 4 is a standard pass and grade 5 is a strong pass, so a 4 does count as a pass. Grade 4 is roughly equivalent to the old grade C, the long-standing benchmark for a pass. Schools are measured on grade 5 in English and maths as the strong pass in performance tables, which is why a 5 carries more weight than a 4 even though both clear the pass line. Students in England who do not reach grade 4 in English or maths usually have to keep studying the subject after 16 as a condition of funding.

What is a 7, an 8 and a 9 in GCSE?

A grade 7 is equivalent to the old grade A, a grade 8 sits between the old A and A*, and a grade 9 is above the old A*, awarded to the highest-scoring students in each subject. Many sixth forms and colleges ask for at least a grade 6 or 7 in a subject before you can take it at A-Level. Grade 9 was created so the very top performers could be separated from strong A* candidates, and a smaller share of entries reaches a 9 than reached the old A*.

Can a tutor lift a GCSE grade from a 5 to a 7?

Moving from a grade 5 to a grade 7 means crossing two grade boundaries, which usually comes down to exam technique and a handful of recurring topics rather than starting the subject again. One-to-one tutoring targets the specific marks a student keeps dropping, for example the longer extended-answer questions in English or the harder algebra and problem-solving questions in GCSE maths. StudyGuru's first lesson is a £15 Starter Pack, regular lessons are from £24 per hour at every level including A-Level, and you can book a free 15-minute intro call with a tutor to talk through the target grade before committing.

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GCSE grades: common questions

Is 4 a pass in GCSE?
Yes. Grade 4 is a standard pass in GCSE, roughly equivalent to the old grade C. Grade 5 is a strong pass. Both count as passes, but schools are judged on grade 5 in English and maths in performance tables.
What is a 4 in GCSE?
A grade 4 in GCSE is a standard pass, roughly equivalent to the old grade C. It is the lowest grade counted as a pass. Students in England who score below grade 4 in English or maths usually have to keep studying the subject after 16.
What is a 5 in GCSE?
A grade 5 in GCSE is a strong pass, sitting roughly between an old low B and high C. It is one grade above the standard pass (grade 4) and is the benchmark used for the strong pass in English and maths in school performance tables.
What is a 6 in GCSE?
A grade 6 in GCSE is broadly equivalent to a high old grade B. It sits above the strong pass (grade 5) and below grade 7, which equals the old grade A. Many colleges ask for a grade 6 in a subject as an A-Level entry requirement.
What is a 7 in GCSE?
A grade 7 in GCSE is equivalent to the old grade A. Ofqual fixed the bottom of grade 7 to the bottom of the old grade A. A grade 7 is a common minimum requirement for studying that subject at A-Level.
What is a 9 in GCSE?
A grade 9 is the highest GCSE grade, set above the old A*. It is awarded to the top-scoring students in each subject, and fewer students get a 9 than used to get an A*. Grade 9 was introduced to separate the very best candidates from strong A* performers.
What is a pass in GCSE?
A pass in GCSE is grade 4 or above, called a standard pass. Grade 5 is a strong pass. Grade 4 is roughly the old grade C, the traditional pass mark, so any grade from 4 to 9 counts as a pass.
How do GCSE grades work?
GCSE grades run from 9 (highest) to 1 (lowest), with U for ungraded below grade 1. The 9 to 1 system replaced A* to G from summer 2017. Grade 4 is a standard pass and grade 5 a strong pass, and final grades are set by grade boundaries decided after each exam series.

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