The 9-1 grade boundaries explained
Summary
In England, a new grading system for GCSE exams uses numbers 9 to 1, which replaced the old A-to-U letter system starting in 2017. This system was introduced to provide more precise differentiation among students' performances. Although Wales and Northern Ireland have revised their grading, they still use letter grades.Key Facts
- GCSE results day in 2025 is on August 21.
- The 9-1 grading system in England was introduced in 2014 and fully implemented by 2020.
- The highest grade in the new system is 9, and the lowest is 1; U stands for ungraded.
- Grade boundaries are set by examiners and published on results day.
- A grade 4 is considered a "standard pass," while a grade 5 is a "strong pass."
- Students need at least a grade 5 in English and maths for good standings in school league tables.
- Students with grades 3 or below in key subjects may need to retake exams.
- Northern Ireland uses both the A*-G and the 9-1 grading scales.
- Wales still uses the traditional A*-G grading scale despite making other curriculum changes.
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