The new GCSE grading system Grade 6, Grade 5 and Grade 4 are equivalent to the old Grades B and C. To pass you need at least a Grade 4 or Grade 5. Grades 1 to 3 are like the old D to G. The U grade, meaning “ungraded”, remains the same.
What is a 4 grade GCSE? If you achieve a grade 4 in your GCSEs, then it is considered the same as the old grade C, under the GCSE grade equivalents.
What's a GCSE standard pass? This refers to a grade of 4, which is also a pass. It's directly equivalent to a grade C in the old number grading system. Most university courses require that you have at least a grade C/4 in your GCSEs.
Equivalent GCSE grades
The Government has said that grade 4 is a 'standard pass'. Grade 5 is a 'strong pass' and equivalent to a high C and low B on the old grading system.
What is a Fail in GCSE? Anything below a 4 is a fail under the UK grading system, with U standing for 'ungraded', which was the same in the previous system.
The 9-1 grading scheme was brought in alongside an overhaul of the curriculum in England in 2014. The highest grade is now 9, while 1 is the lowest. The U grade, meaning "ungraded", remains the same. The number scale is not directly equivalent to the old letter one.
To Sum Up. There is nothing to worry about, your life isn't over if you fail your GCSEs. You can always resit or take a gap year and get some additional help from someone who already passed the exam with straight 9s.
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The traditional boundary for a pass used to be a C grade but pupils now need either 4, for a standard pass, or 5, for a "strong pass." A grade of 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 is a pass, and exams watchdog Ofqual has said that anyone who achieves the highest grade of a 9 has "performed exceptionally".
Each GCSE exam board has only slightly different pass grade boundaries each year. Typically this is somewhere between 30% – 50%. This is because the GCSE pass mark depends on that year's overall student performance. A set % must fall within each grade boundary, including roughly the same percentage each year who pass.
Grade 3 is the equivalent of in between grades D and E.
B – Pass. C – Pass. D – Pass/Failcourse. F – Fail.
Letter grades are the most common and typically correlate with a range of percentages or points. "A"s and "B"s get interpreted by many as “good” grades. "D"s and "F"s get labeled as “bad grades.” "C" is often considered average.
When comparing letter grades to number grades, the grade 4 is equivalent to the grade C. All GCSEs, regardless of whether they are graded using letters or numbers, will continue to reflect students' achievements. Employers, colleges and universities will recognise and value them.
If one paper carries three times the weight of the other, it will be allocated 150 uniform marks and the other 50 uniform marks. If a paper is allocated 120 uniform marks, the range of marks allocated to grade B is 84 to 95 (70% to 79% of 120); for grade C, 72 to 83 (60% to 69% of 120).
Most colleges like you to take a minimum of five GCSEs, including English Language and Maths at grade 4 (C) or above, while sixth forms have slightly higher entry requirements, looking for at least six GCSE examination results achieving at least a grade 4 (C).
Truthfully, you only really need to pass GCSE English Language in order to get a job and to study in the future. You do not need to pass GCSE English Literature. Consequently, GCSE English Language can be seen as more important.
According to this illustration, grade 4 requires 56 - 66 per cent, grade 5 requires 67 - 77 per cent and grade 6 requires 78 - 88 per cent. ranges may seem extraordinarily narrow and demanding, but they are supported by other evidence discussed below.
In essence, a grade 4 or 5 would be considered “good” because the government has outlined the passing grade to be a 4 – a 4 is a standard pass and a grade 5 is considered a strong pass. Therefore, anything above this standard would technically be deemed good.
2 = Lower E or high F.
The reformed GCSE qualifications will be awarded on a grade scale of 9 (the highest grade) to 1 (the lowest). This new scale will be aligned to key grades on the current A* to G scale. broadly the same proportion of students will achieve a grade 4 and above as currently achieve a grade C and above.
What Happens If You Fail Your GCSEs Twice? Fortunately, there is no limit on the number of times that you can retake your GCSEs. So, if you fail your GCSEs twice, you will have the option to retake them. Plus, if you resit them in the same school, your resits will be at no extra cost.
The hardest GCSE in 2023 is Film Studies. Nationwide it only scored a 0.46 E:F ratio. This means you are over twice as likely to fail as you are to score an 8 or 9 on your Film Studies GCSE.
Yes, it is possible to get into university with bad GCSEs. You may be limited in your choice of university but it is still possible to get into even the best universities with poor GCSEs if you have very strong A levels or equivalent as well as an outstanding personal statement. There are certain limits, however.