How do the 9-1 GCSE grade boundaries work in England?
Summary
In England, GCSE exams use a number grading system from 9 (highest) to 1 (lowest), replacing the old letter system (A*-G). The grades reflect different levels of achievement, with a score of 4 or above generally considered a pass. Wales and Northern Ireland mostly still use letter grades but have made some recent updates.Key Facts
- The 9-1 grading system started in England in 2017, beginning with English and maths.
- Grade 9 is higher than the old A*, and grade 4 is roughly equivalent to a C grade.
- Students need at least a grade 4 to pass a GCSE, though some schools require higher grades to continue studies.
- Grade boundaries, or minimum marks for each grade, are set annually by examiners.
- Wales continues to use letter grades A*-G but has updated some courses since 2015.
- Northern Ireland uses letter grades but introduced a new system including a C* grade in 2019.
- The change to numbers was made to better distinguish top students and reflect harder exams introduced in 2014.
- GCSE coursework was reduced; most grades now come from final exams after two years of study.
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