Grades Compared To The Old System

GCSE Grading explained

Grades compared to the old system

GCSE's are now graded 9 to 1, with 9 being the highest. This is comparable to the old letter system, with a grade 9 being equivalent to above an A.

Standard and strong pass marks

A standard pass is a grade 4, while a strong pass is a grade 5. This means that a candidate who gets nine grade 4s and one grade 5 has achieved a standard pass in all of their GCSEs.

What these grades mean for students, schools, parents, and employers

The new grading system is designed to be more transparent and consistent than the old system. It is hoped that this will make it easier for students, schools, parents, and employers to understand the level of achievement that has been reached.

The new grading system is also designed to be more challenging than the old system. This is because the new grades are aligned to key grades on the international GCSE scale.

As a result of these changes, it is likely that the average GCSE grade will fall in the coming years. However, this should not be seen as a negative thing. The new grading system is designed to be more rigorous and challenging, and it is important that students are prepared for this.