Here’s the cheat sheet. A 9 is a superstar grade—rarer than a unicorn riding a rainbow. It’s like getting an A* back in the old days. Only the best of the best get this.
An 8 is basically a top-tier A. Think of it as the cool older sibling of the 9. A 7 is the same as an old A grade—still excellent, and enough to make your nan cry tears of joy.
Now, 6 and 5 are the "Goldilocks" grades. A 5 is a strong pass (like a high C or low B), and a 6 is a solid B. They’re not flashy, but they get the job done—like a reliable pair of jeans.
The Pass Mark Mystery
Okay, let’s talk about the big question: What is a "pass"? Officially, a 4 is the standard pass. It’s like getting a C in the old system. Anything below a 4 is a fail, but don’t panic—you can always retake.
But here’s the playful twist: many colleges and jobs actually want a 5 (a "strong pass") in English and Maths. So a 4 is like "you made it," but a 5 is "you made it and you look cool doing it." A 3 is a D, a 2 is an E, and a 1 is an F or G.
And a U? That stands for "Ungraded"—basically, the exam board is saying, "Nice try, but no dice." Don’t let a U get you down; even Einstein bombed a test or two (probably).
Gcse Grading System Explained , what’s changed and how the new grades
