Every GCSE subject is assessed using the 9-1 grading system, with all exams set at the end of Year 11.Grade 1 is the lowest grade and Grade 9 is the highest grade.The grade boundaries are a little bit different to the old A*-G system
Although GCSEs grades 9-1 are not directly equivalent to GCSEs grades A*-G, the descriptions we've put together below are a good gauge for comparison.
What is a Grade 7, 8 and 9?
Low Grade 7 is equivalent to a low Grade A. | Grade 8 is equivalent to a high Grade A. | Grade 9 is equivalent to higher than a Grade A*.
These are the top grades. Grade 9 is the highest grade possible, and is awarded to students for exceptional exam performance — if you get one, well done you!
What is a Grade 4, 5 and 6?
Low Grade 4 is equivalent to a low Grade C. | Grade 5 is equivalent to in-between a Grade C and B. | High Grade 6 is equivalent to a high Grade B.
Grade 4 is the Standard Pass grade. Grade 5 is a Strong Pass grade.
Although Grade 4 is a Standard Pass, many colleges and sixth forms want students to achieve a minimum number of Grades 5 and 6 in their GCSE results.
What is a Grade 1, 2, and 3?
Low Grade 1 is equivalent to a low Grade G. | Grade 2 is equivalent to in-between a Grade F and E. | High Grade 3 is equivalent to a high Grade D.
What is a Grade U?
U means "Ungraded" — a failure to achieve a grade.
In Summary...
- If you get any GCSEs grades 9 to 4 then you've passed. Woohoo!
- A Grade 9 is an incredible achievement.
- You're going to do just fine.
Wales and Northern Ireland...
In Wales, state-maintained schools can usually only teach the reformed A*-G GCSE courses offered by WJEC (also known as CBAC). However, in subjects whereWJEC doesn’t offer a reformed GCSE, Grade 9-1 GCSEs are allowed. Independent schools in Wales can teach any GCSE courses they choose.
In Northern Ireland, schools can teach most of the new Grade 9-1 courses if they choose to, or they can teach
reformed A*-G CCEA GCSE qualifications (which include the Grade C* — equivalent to Grade 5!).
Why were GCSE grades changed?
In 2014, the Department for Education introduced the 9-1 grading system as part of a curriculum overhaul to make GCSEs more challenging. It was decided thatcoursework and practical assessments would play a much smaller part in GCSE courses and most of the marks would be won or lost in final exams at the end of Year 11.
The change from A*-G to 9-1 was designed to more clearly recognise the achievements of students getting higher grades (which is why there are six separatepass grades 4-9 compared to four separate grades C-A*), as well as to help show employers whether a student has taken a new or old type of GCSE.
Resitting GCSEs
We hope you got the results you wanted for your GCSEs, but sometimes things can go wrong.
Who has to resit GCSE Maths and English?
You will need to resit GCSE Maths or English if you’ve not got a Grade 4, and you’re under 18. Some students are allowed to take a Functional Skills qualification instead of retaking their GCSE. We’d recommend you talk to your teachers to find out about your options. Luckily your school or college will handle most of the tricky bits on your behalf.
When are resits in 2023?
For English and Maths, the resit exams will be in the Autumn of 2023 and for any other subject you’ll sit them next year during the summer exam season. You can resit any subject you want, as long as you submit your application by 4th October 2023.
Do you have to pay to retake GCSEs?
The good news is that if you are resitting GCSE Maths or English the year after you get your results, it is usually free of charge. If you’re resitting another GCSE subject to improve your grade, you may have to pay yourself. You can always check with your school or college so you know for certain whether you have to pay.
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A bit more detail...
- Some of the current grades match up with the old ones. A low Grade 1 is comparable to a low Grade G, a low Grade 4 is comparable to a low Grade C and a low Grade 7 is comparable to a low Grade A.
- Coursework and practical assessments play a much smaller part in the current GCSE courses — which means most of the marks are won or lost in the exams at the end of Year 11. No pressure...
- Both Wales and Northern Ireland have introduced their own reformed A*-G courses
- In Wales, state-maintained schools can usually only teach the reformed GCSE courses offered by WJEC (also known as CBAC). However, in subjects where WJEC doesn’t offer a reformed GCSE, Grade 9-1 GCSEs are allowed. Independent schools in Wales can teach any GCSE courses they choose.
- In Northern Ireland, schools can teach most of the new Grade 9-1 courses if they choose to — the only exceptions to this are GCSE Science and GCSE English Language, which must follow the reformed A*-G courses.
