GCSE Grade Converter
Convert a 9–1 GCSE grade to its rough equivalent in the old A*–G system, or turn an old letter grade into the new numbers. The converter also shows whether a grade is a standard pass or a strong pass.
9–1 to A*–G
Roughly equivalent to
High B
Good
Strong pass
A*–G to 9–1
Roughly equivalent to
5 or 6
The two scales do not line up exactly, so some letters span two numbers.
GCSE 9–1 to A*–G conversion table
| 9–1 grade | Roughly equivalent to | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Above A* | Highest grade, awarded to the very top performers |
| 8 | A* | Exceptional |
| 7 | A | Strong; bottom of 7 aligns with bottom of A |
| 6 | High B | Good |
| 5 | Low B / high C | Strong pass |
| 4 | C | Standard pass; bottom of 4 aligns with bottom of C |
| 3 | D / high E | Below a standard pass |
| 2 | Low E / F | Below a standard pass |
| 1 | Low F / G | Bottom of 1 aligns with bottom of G |
| U | U | Ungraded |
Pass grades explained
- Grade 4 is the standard pass. In England, students who do not reach a 4 in English language or maths must keep studying those subjects until 18.
- Grade 5 is the strong pass, used to measure school performance. Some sixth forms ask for a 5 or 6 in the subjects a student wants to continue.
- Grades 3 to 1 are below a standard pass.
Grade boundaries are set each year after marking, so the raw mark needed for a grade varies by board, subject and year. This converter compares grades, not marks.
Common questions
What is a grade 9 at GCSE equivalent to?
Grade 9 is the highest GCSE grade and sits above the old A*. It is awarded to the very top performers in each subject.
Is a 3 a pass at GCSE?
No. Grade 4 is the standard pass and grade 5 is the strong pass. A grade 3 is roughly equivalent to a D or a high E on the old scale.
Is a grade 5 a B or a C?
A grade 5 sits between a low B and a high C. It is the strong pass that the government uses to measure schools.
What is a grade 6 at GCSE?
A grade 6 is roughly equivalent to a high B. Many sixth forms ask for a 6 in the subjects a student wants to study at A-Level.
Are the new and old grades exact equivalents?
No. Ofqual aligned three points: the bottom of grade 7 with the bottom of grade A, the bottom of grade 4 with the bottom of grade C, and the bottom of grade 1 with the bottom of grade G. The other grades are approximate.
Does this work for IGCSE grades?
As a rough guide, yes. Cambridge IGCSE mostly uses A*–G and Edexcel International GCSE mostly uses 9–1, but the qualifications and grade boundaries differ, so treat any comparison as approximate.
Do all UK nations use the 9–1 system?
No. England uses 9–1 for GCSEs and Wales uses it for most GCSEs. Scotland has different qualifications, such as National 5s, and Northern Ireland mainly uses letter grades for its GCSEs.
More on GCSE and IGCSE grades
Read GCSE grades 9–1 explained and IGCSE grades explained. For help reaching a target grade, see GCSE maths tutoring, GCSE English tutoring and online GCSE tutors in the UK.