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GCSE grades explained: 9–1, passes, U and boundaries

A clear guide to England’s numbered GCSE scale, what grades 4 and 5 mean, what U means, and why a grade boundary is not a fixed percentage.

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Current answer

GCSE grades explained: the quick answer

In England, GCSE grades run from 9, the highest, to 1, the lowest numbered grade. Grades 9–4 are Level 2 grades and grades 3–1 are Level 1 grades. Grade 4 is the threshold used in the current Department for Education rules for post-16 English and maths study; grade 5 is one grade higher and has historically been described as a strong pass, but it is not a separate qualification status or a universal entry requirement. U means the result was below the minimum standard for grade 1.

“The highest grade is 9, the lowest is 1, and U means ‘ungraded’.” — Ofqual

A grade is not a permanent percentage. Awarding organisations set raw-mark boundaries for each qualification and examination series after evidence from the assessments and marking is available. Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland use different grading or qualification arrangements, so the detailed 9–1 explanation on this page applies to Ofqual-regulated GCSEs in England.

The GCSE 9–1 grade scale

The scale shows the final qualification result; it does not tell you a fixed percentage. Lower numbered grades should be described neutrally: grades 1–3 are awarded GCSE grades, not the same outcome as U.

A plain-English guide to the numbered GCSE scale used in England.

ResultPlain-English meaningLevel or context

9

The highest numbered GCSE grade.

Level 2

8

The second-highest numbered grade, between grades 9 and 7.

Level 2

7

An official comparison point: the lower boundary is comparable with the lower boundary of the former grade A.

Level 2

6

A numbered grade between grades 7 and 5.

Level 2

5

One grade above grade 4; historically described in government reporting as a strong pass.

Level 2

4

The principal Level 2 threshold; its lower boundary is comparable with the lower boundary of the former grade C.

Level 2

3–1

Awarded GCSE grades below the grade-4 threshold. Grade 1 is the lowest numbered grade.

Level 1

U

Ungraded or unclassified: the result was below the minimum standard for grade 1.

Below the classified grade scale

What is a pass in GCSE? Grade 4, grade 5 and grade 3

For the 2026–27 academic year, the Department for Education describes grades 9–4 as “a level 2 pass grade” in its English and maths condition of funding. Under those England rules, students on relevant 16–19 programmes who have not achieved grade 4 or an accepted equivalent must normally continue studying an approved English or maths qualification.

ResultWhat it meansWhat it does not guarantee
Grade 5A Level 2 grade above grade 4. It has historically been called a strong pass in government reporting.It is not a separate qualification status and is not the only grade that can count as a pass.
Grade 4A Level 2 grade and the current threshold used in the England post-16 English and maths funding rules.It does not guarantee entry to every sixth form, course, apprenticeship, university or job.
Grades 3–1Awarded Level 1 GCSE grades.They do not meet a requirement stated as grade 4 or above, but they are not the same outcome as U.

The practical question is therefore not only “Did I pass?” but “Does this result meet the published requirement for this subject, course, provider or vacancy?” Requirements can name a particular subject, a higher grade or a wider GCSE profile.

How do GCSE number grades compare with old letter grades?

The 9–1 and former A*–G scales are not directly equivalent. Official guidance supports three lower-boundary comparison points, not a full one-to-one conversion. This is why statements such as “grade 9 equals A* exactly” or “grade 6 equals B exactly” are too precise.

The three official comparison anchors between England's numbered and former letter-grade scales.

Numbered-grade anchorFormer letter-grade anchorWhat the comparison means

Lower boundary of grade 7

Lower boundary of former grade A

A comparison anchor, not a claim that every grade-7 result converts exactly to A.

Lower boundary of grade 4

Lower boundary of former grade C

The key continuity point for the former C threshold; it is not a complete conversion table.

Lower boundary of grade 1

Lower boundary of former grade G

The lowest official comparison anchor on the classified scale.

Grade scale, raw mark and grade boundary: what is the difference?

“Grade boundaries are the minimum marks you need to achieve each grade.” — CCEA

That definition applies to a particular qualification and examination series. It does not create one percentage for every GCSE.

TermPlain-English meaningWhat can change?
Grade scaleThe ordered set of possible final results, from 9 to 1 and U for a standard GCSE in England.The scale itself is stable.
Raw markThe marks earned from the assessments before weighting and conversion to a qualification grade.A student’s mark depends on their performance and the assessment.
Grade boundaryThe minimum raw-mark threshold for a grade in a named qualification and series.It can move between series.
Qualification gradeThe final result awarded for the whole qualification after the relevant total weighted mark is compared with the boundaries.The result depends on the total mark and the correct series-specific boundaries.

For a linear GCSE, the final grade is normally based on the total weighted qualification mark. A notional boundary shown for one paper is not a separate paper grade and should not be mistaken for the overall qualification boundary.

Why do GCSE grade boundaries change?

“Grade boundaries often vary year to year.” — Ofqual

  • Boundaries are set after evidence is available. Awarding organisations use information from the assessments and marking, not a permanent percentage announced in advance.
  • Statistics and expert judgement are both used. Examiners review work around proposed boundaries and compare standards with previous years.
  • Paper difficulty can change. A harder paper may lead to a lower raw boundary; an easier paper may lead to a higher one. The aim is to keep the standard represented by the grade comparable.
  • There is no universal grade-4 percentage. A grade 4 is not always 40%, 50% or any other fixed figure.
  • There is no fixed pass-or-fail quota. Outcomes are not set by requiring a predetermined proportion of students to receive each grade.
  • Different boundaries do not prove that one board is easier. Papers and mark schemes differ, so raw thresholds can differ while the grade standard is intended to remain comparable.

How to find the correct GCSE grade boundary

Use the official awarding-organisation document that matches the student’s exact qualification. A copied figure without these details can be misleading.

  • Awarding organisation

    Identify the board shown for the entry, such as AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, WJEC/Eduqas or CCEA.

  • Qualification and subject

    Match the exact GCSE and subject; similarly named qualifications can have different documents.

  • Specification or syllabus code

    Use the code on the entry or results information to avoid choosing an older or different specification.

  • Tier

    For a tiered subject, select foundation or higher as appropriate.

  • Examination series and year

    Match the season and year of the assessment. A previous series is useful for context but is not the current result’s boundary.

  • Overall or component figure

    Check whether the table shows the overall qualification boundary, a unit boundary or a notional component boundary.

  • Official document

    Use the awarding organisation’s own results or grade-boundary page rather than an unlabelled table copied elsewhere.

Do GCSEs use 9–1 grades across the UK?

No. Education and qualifications are devolved, so the scale depends on the nation and awarding organisation.

NationCurrent position relevant to this guide
EnglandOfqual-regulated GCSEs use grades 9–1, with U below grade 1.
WalesMade-for-Wales GCSEs use the A*–G letter scale.
Northern IrelandCCEA GCSEs use letter grades including C*. GCSEs from other awarding organisations can use numbered grades, so a results profile may contain both systems.
ScotlandScotland uses National Qualifications rather than GCSEs as its standard school qualification framework. National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher use grades A–D; National 2–4 use different assessment arrangements.

Do not use an England number-to-letter table to create a grade-by-grade conversion for another UK nation. This comparison also does not provide an International GCSE conversion.

Check what your next step actually requires

A general pass description cannot replace the published requirement for a particular course, apprenticeship, vacancy or provider. Read the exact wording before deciding what a result allows.

  • Named subject

    Check whether the requirement specifies English language, English literature, maths or another subject.

  • Exact grade

    Look for grade 4, grade 5, grade 6 or a wider GCSE profile rather than relying on the word pass alone.

  • Accepted equivalents

    See whether the provider lists an alternative qualification or accepted equivalent.

  • Essential or preferred

    Distinguish a firm entry condition from a preferred grade or typical offer.

  • Resits and conditional enrolment

    Read the provider’s current position on resits, conditional enrolment or other available options.

  • Decision question

    Ask: “Does this result meet this published requirement?” rather than assuming one general pass label settles every decision.

Official sources and further reading

These official sources support the grading, boundary and UK-scope explanations in this guide.

  • Ofqual: GCSE 9 to 1 grade scale explained

    The England 9–1 scale, U and the limited comparison with former letter grades.

    Open source 1

  • Ofqual: GCSE qualification conditions

    Regulatory detail on grade scales, combined science and qualification boundaries.

    Open source 2

  • Ofqual guide for schools and colleges 2026

    Tiered subjects, comparable standards and why boundaries move.

    Open source 3

  • Department for Education: 16 to 19 maths and English condition of funding

    The current England grade-4 threshold in the 2026–27 funding rules.

    Open source 4

  • Ofqual: Designing qualifications that will be fit for their purposes

    Context for careful use of grade-4 and grade-5 pass terminology.

    Open source 5

  • Qualifications Wales: Made-for-Wales GCSE standards

    The A*–G scale and standards approach in Wales.

    Open source 6

  • nidirect: GCSEs

    GCSE grading arrangements in Northern Ireland.

    Open source 7

  • Qualifications Scotland: Results

    The grading of Scottish National Qualifications.

    Open source 8

  • CCEA: Grade Boundaries

    A plain-English boundary definition and information about awarding evidence.

    Open source 9

Related guidance

More guidance from this section

More guidance from this part of the Ed Centre that may help with the same decision, stage or next step.

Related guidance

GCSE results day 2026: what happens and what to do next

GCSE results day for the June 2026 series is Thursday 20 August 2026. Learn how to get your results, understand your slip and decide what to do next if your grades affect sixth form, college, apprenticeships or resits.

Support and clarity

Frequently asked questions

Straight answers to the questions people ask most often.

Is grade 4 a pass in GCSE?

In England, grade 4 is a Level 2 grade and is the current threshold used in the Department for Education’s 16–19 English and maths funding rules. A school, course, apprenticeship or employer may require a higher grade or a different GCSE profile, so grade 4 is not a universal entry guarantee.

What is the difference between grade 4 and grade 5?

Grade 5 is one grade above grade 4. It has historically been called a strong pass in government reporting, but it is not a separate qualification status and does not make grade 4 a near pass.

Is grade 3 a fail?

Grade 3 is an awarded Level 1 GCSE grade, not the same outcome as U. It is below the Level 2 and grade-4 thresholds, so it may not meet a requirement stated as grade 4 or above.

What does U mean in GCSE results?

U means ungraded, or unclassified in regulatory language, because the result was below the minimum standard for grade 1. It does not necessarily mean zero marks or that the student was absent.

What percentage is a grade 4?

There is no universal percentage for grade 4. The raw-mark boundary depends on the awarding organisation, subject, specification, tier where relevant and examination series.

Why do GCSE grade boundaries change every year?

They often change between examination series, but a boundary does not have to move every year. Exam papers cannot be identical in difficulty, so a harder paper may have a lower raw boundary and an easier paper a higher one. Awarding organisations use statistical evidence and expert judgement to keep the standard represented by a grade comparable.

Why are there two numbers for combined science?

Combined science is a double-award qualification and is therefore reported with a paired grade. The two numbers form the result for the combined qualification; they are not separate grades for two individual science subjects.

Is a foundation-tier grade 5 worth less than a higher-tier grade 5?

No. Where both tiers can award grade 5, it represents the same standard on foundation and higher tier. The certificate does not show which tier the student entered.

Sources and references

Sources and references