GCSE grading changed from letters to numbers in England between 2017 and 2019. This guide explains the 9-1 scale, the difference between a standard and strong pass, and how the new grades map back to the old A*-G letters most parents remember.
The 9 to 1 GCSE grading scale
All GCSEs in England now use the 9-1 numerical scale. Wales and Northern Ireland kept the A*-G scale. The reform was designed to differentiate between top performers more sharply — there are now three grades (9, 8 and 7) covering what used to be the A* and A.
| New grade | Old grade equivalent | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Above A* | Awarded to the top ~5% of entries — very hard to achieve |
| 8 | A* / high A | Outstanding |
| 7 | A | Excellent |
| 6 | High B | Strong |
| 5 | Low B / high C | Strong pass |
| 4 | Low C | Standard pass |
| 3 | D / high E | Below pass |
| 2 | E / F | Below pass |
| 1 | G | Lowest awarded grade |
| U | U | Ungraded — no certificate |
What is a "standard pass" vs a "strong pass"?
The new system has two pass marks, which causes a lot of confusion:
- Grade 4 = "standard pass" — the minimum the government considers a successful GCSE
- Grade 5 = "strong pass" — what some employers, sixth-forms and apprenticeship providers prefer