GCSE grades 2023: The 9-1 boundaries explained

GCSE students successful England, Wales and Northern Ireland person their results connected Thursday.

In England, GCSEs are present graded utilizing a numerical strategy from 9 to 1, alternatively than from A to E, arsenic was antecedently the case.

They are graded otherwise successful Wales and Northern Ireland.

Scotland has a abstracted qualifications strategy to the remainder of the UK, with nary GCSEs.

Senior examiners determine the minimum marks needed for each grade.

In England, the 2023 people boundaries are being released astatine 08:00 connected Thursday and volition beryllium disposable via the pursuing links for the antithetic exam boards:

The 9-1 grading strategy was brought successful alongside an overhaul of the program successful England successful 2014.

The rollout began successful 2017 with 3 subjects - English language, English lit and maths - being the archetypal to beryllium graded successful numbers. By 2020, each subjects were utilizing the caller grading system.

The highest people is present 9, portion 1 is the lowest. The U grade, meaning "ungraded", remains the same.

The fig standard is not straight equivalent to the aged missive one. However, the 2 scales bash conscionable successful definite places:

Exams watchdog Ofqual has said less people 9s volition person been awarded than A*s "to place exceptional performance".

Pupils volition person needed a 4 for a "standard pass" and 5 for a "strong pass".

This means that a campaigner who gets 9 grade-4s has, technically, passed each their exams.

However, the government's school league tables are based connected the percent of pupils who execute a 5 oregon supra successful English and maths GCSEs.

Many sixth forms importune connected a minimum fig of 5s oregon 6s arsenic a information of introduction for further study.

The numerical grading strategy was introduced arsenic portion of a 2014 program overhaul by then-education secretary, Michael Gove.

It enactment little accent connected GCSE coursework than before, with grades successful astir each subjects decided successful last exams.

The qualifications were designed to beryllium much challenging, with exams taken aft 2 years of study. Previously pupils covered the syllabus done a bid of modules with regular assessments passim the course.

At the clip of the changes, the authorities argued that the caller standard "recognises much intelligibly the achievements of high-attaining students, arsenic the further grades let for greater differentiation".

It besides said that the determination from letters to numbers would marque it wide - for illustration to an leader - "whether a pupil has taken a new, much challenging GCSE, oregon an aged reformed GCSE".

Grades person changed successful Northern Ireland too.

In summertime 2019, the CCEA introduced a caller nine-category people standard - A* to G, including a C*.

Students whitethorn besides get results with grades 9-1 if they instrumentality exams acceptable by English boards.

The Welsh authorities introduced caller and revised GCSE courses successful September 2015.

The astir important changes were successful English language, Welsh connection and mathematics.

Wales retained the letter-based grading operation A*- G.