Updated 29 October 2026

GCSE and IGCSE grades explained

What 9 to 1 and A* to G mean, how they line up, and which grade counts as a pass, for parents whose children sit GCSEs or IGCSEs at a British-curriculum school.

On the 9 to 1 scale, 9 is the top grade. The bottom of a 7 lines up with the bottom of an old A, and the bottom of a 4 with the bottom of an old C.

4 is a 'standard pass' and 5 a 'strong pass'. Grades have no fixed percentage: boundaries are set after each exam.

Two scales: 9 to 1 and A* to G

GCSEs in England moved from letters (A* to G) to numbers (9 to 1) from 2017, with 9 the highest grade and U meaning ungraded. International GCSEs (IGCSEs) taken in the UAE may use either scale, depending on the exam board and the version the school chooses:

Qualification	Grades
GCSE (England: AQA, OCR, Pearson Edexcel and others)	9 to 1
Pearson Edexcel International GCSE	9 to 1
OxfordAQA International GCSE	9 to 1
Cambridge IGCSE	A* to G, or 9 to 1 for some subjects (the school chooses)

Cambridge offers both versions of many subjects (maths, English, the sciences, languages, humanities and others) to schools in its administrative zone 3. The two versions have different syllabus codes, for example 0580 for A* to G maths and 0980 for 9 to 1 maths, and the school cannot switch after the entry deadline. Your child's statement of entry shows which code they are sitting.

How 9 to 1 lines up with the old letters

Ofqual, the exams regulator for England, groups the grades like this and fixes three exact points where the scales meet. In between, there is no one-to-one match: there are more number grades than letter grades at the top.

9 to 1 grades	Replace old grades	Fixed point
9, 8, 7	A* and A	Bottom of a 7 = bottom of an A
6, 5, 4	B and C	Bottom of a 4 = bottom of a C
3, 2, 1	D, E, F and G	Bottom of a 1 = bottom of a G

From gov.uk and Ofqual. Cambridge sets its own 9 to 1 IGCSE grades 7, 4 and 1 at the same standards as A, C and G. AQA describes a 5 as equivalent to a high C and low B.

Standard pass and strong pass

In 2017 the UK Department for Education said a grade 4 is a 'standard pass' and a grade 5 a 'strong pass'. It also said that where employers, colleges and universities used to accept a C, it expected them to accept a 4. Schools in England are measured on both.

For your child, the grade that matters is the one asked for by the sixth form, university or employer. Some examples:

UCL requires GCSE or equivalent passes in English Language and maths at grade 4 or C for every undergraduate programme (2026-27), and some programmes ask for more.
The UAE Ministry of Education asks for five GCSE/IGCSE passes at grade 3 or E or above for the equivalency certificate.
Sixth forms set their own entry grades for A level subjects, often higher in the subjects your child wants to continue.

Tiers: why some papers cap the grade

In some subjects, such as maths and the sciences, there are two levels of paper, and the level limits the grades available.

Qualification	Lower tier	Higher tier
GCSE Mathematics (AQA)	Foundation: grades 1 to 5	Higher: grades 4 to 9
Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics (0580)	Core: grades C to G	Extended: grades A* to E

So a child entered for Foundation GCSE maths cannot get above a 5, and a child on Cambridge Core maths cannot get above a C, however well they do. If your child needs a higher grade for a sixth-form course, ask the school early which tier they will sit.

Why there is no fixed percentage for each grade

Parents often search for 'IGCSE grades to percentage'. There is no fixed conversion. Grade boundaries are set after each exam series, using data and examiners' judgement, so that no grade is easier or harder to get than in other years. The mark needed for a 7 or an A can differ between subjects, exam boards and years. Each board publishes its boundaries on results day.

Combined science: two grades in one

GCSE Combined Science gets a double grade, which can be the same or different, such as 9-9, 9-8 or 8-8.

Predicted and indicated grades at school

Many British-curriculum schools in the UAE use CAT4 to set targets. GL Assessment says CAT4 indicators give a picture of expected achievement at GCSE and A level, shown as the probability of achieving each grade. They are a guide for teachers, not a promise. See CAT4 scores explained.

For the difference between the qualifications themselves, see IGCSE vs GCSE.

Questions parents ask

What are GCSE grades in letters?

There is no exact letter for every number, but the official anchor points are: the bottom of grade 7 lines up with the bottom of an old A, the bottom of grade 4 with the bottom of an old C, and the bottom of grade 1 with the bottom of an old G. Grades 9, 8 and 7 replace the old A* and A; 6, 5 and 4 replace B and C; 3, 2 and 1 replace D to G. The government's guidance says the two scales are not directly equivalent beyond the fixed points.

Is a grade 4 a pass at GCSE?

Yes. The UK Department for Education calls grade 4 a 'standard pass' and grade 5 a 'strong pass'. Where employers, colleges and universities used to ask for a C, they now ask for a 4.

What is a 9 in GCSE?

9 is the highest grade. Grades 9, 8 and 7 together replace the old A* and A, so a 9 picks out the strongest of those students. Pearson and OxfordAQA both describe a 9 as set above the old A*. AQA says that, under the formula used for GCSEs in England, around one in five grades at 7 or above is a 9.

What percentage is a grade 7 or an A*?

There is no fixed percentage. Grade boundaries are set after each exam series so that a grade is no easier or harder to get than in other years. The same grade can need a different mark in different subjects, boards and years. Your school or the exam board publishes the boundaries for each series.

Are IGCSEs graded 9 to 1 or A* to G?

Both exist. Pearson Edexcel and OxfordAQA International GCSEs use 9 to 1. Cambridge IGCSE is graded A* to G around the world, and Cambridge offers a 9 to 1 version of many subjects to schools in one of its administrative zones. The school picks the version when it enters your child, so ask which one they use.

What does the UAE need for equivalency: grade 3 or grade 4?

The UAE Ministry of Education asks for five approved GCSE or IGCSE subjects at grade E or above, or 3 or above on the 9 to 1 scale, plus AS or A level passes. That is lower than most UK universities ask for in English and maths: UCL, for example, requires at least a 4 or C in both.

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