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Free converter · Ofqual's official comparison points

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GCSE grades explained

What GCSE grades 9 to 1 mean, how they compare with A* to G, and what counts as a pass. Free converter using Ofqual's official comparison points.

What the 9 to 1 scale means

GCSEs in England have been graded from 9 to 1 since 2017. 9 is the highest grade, 1 is the lowest and U means ungraded. Ofqual fixed three comparison points with the old A* to G letters: the bottom of a 7 is comparable to the bottom of an A, the bottom of a 4 to the bottom of a C, and the bottom of a 1 to the bottom of a G.

9 to 1 grades and the old A* to G grades

New gradesOld gradesFixed point
9, 8, 7A*, ABottom of 7 = bottom of A
6, 5, 4B, CBottom of 4 = bottom of C
3, 2, 1D, E, F, GBottom of 1 = bottom of G
UUUngraded on both scales

GCSE grades 9 to 1 and their letter equivalents

Rows marked as an anchor point are official. The others are the nearest letters on the comparison charts published by Ofqual and the Department for Education.

GCSE grades 1-9 equivalent

GradeOld gradeHow close
9A*No exact match
8A or A*No exact match
7AOfficial anchor point
6BNo exact match
5B or a high CNo exact match · Strong pass
4COfficial anchor point · Standard pass
3D or ENo exact match
2E or FNo exact match
1GOfficial anchor point
UUSame on both scales

What counts as a pass: grade 4 and grade 5

The Department for Education counts a grade 4 and above as a standard pass in every subject, and a grade 5 and above in English or maths as a strong pass in its school performance measures. If a course or employer used to ask for a C, the equivalent is at least a 4.

Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland

The 9 to 1 scale is England's. Made-for-Wales GCSEs continue to be graded A* to G. CCEA GCSEs in Northern Ireland use A* to G with an extra C* grade, lined up with a 5. Scotland has its own National Qualifications; National 5 is graded A to D.

Frequently asked questions

What is a pass at GCSE?

The Department for Education counts grade 4 and above as a standard pass in every subject, and grade 5 and above in English or maths as a strong pass in its school performance measures. A grade 3 or below is still a grade, but it is below a standard pass.

What grade is a 6 at GCSE?

A 6 is roughly a B. Ofqual groups grades 4, 5 and 6 with the old B and C, and the Department for Education's comparison chart sets 6 alongside B. There is no exact match, because only the bottoms of grades 7, 4 and 1 are officially tied to A, C and G.

Is a 9 higher than an A*?

Yes, in the sense that it is harder to get. 9 is the highest GCSE grade, and Ofqual says fewer 9s are awarded than A*s were. The old A* covers roughly the same ground as grades 8 and 9 together.

What is a 4 in GCSE in old grades?

A 4 is a C. This is one of Ofqual's official anchor points: the bottom of grade 4 is comparable to the bottom of the old grade C. If a course or employer used to ask for a C, the equivalent is at least a 4.

What is a 7 in GCSE in old grades?

A 7 is an A. The bottom of a grade 7 is comparable to the bottom of the old grade A, which is one of Ofqual's three anchor points.

Is a grade 5 a B or a C?

It sits between them and has no exact letter. Ofqual groups 4, 5 and 6 with B and C. The Department for Education's chart sets 5 alongside B, while CCEA in Northern Ireland lines up its C* grade with a 5.

Do Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland use 9 to 1 grades?

Not as their main scale. Ofqual says Wales and Northern Ireland use different GCSE grading scales. Made-for-Wales GCSEs are graded A* to G. CCEA GCSEs in Northern Ireland are graded A* to G with an extra C* grade, though students there can also take 9 to 1 GCSEs from English boards. Scotland has its own National Qualifications instead of GCSEs, such as National 5, graded A to D.

How are combined science grades shown?

Combined science is worth two GCSEs, so you get a double grade made of two equal or adjacent grades, such as 9-9, 9-8 or 5-4. If the two numbers differ, the higher one is shown first.

When did GCSEs change to 9 to 1?

GCSEs in England have been graded 9 to 1 since 2017, starting with English language, English literature and maths. Other subjects followed in 2018 and 2019, and the last new exams were sat in 2020.

How many marks do I need for each grade?

It depends on the paper and the year. Grade boundaries are set after the exams are marked, so that a grade is no easier or harder to get from one year to the next. Look up the official boundaries for your board and subject.

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