How do gcses work

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Join our wonderful community of tutors today. Become a tutor. Recent Guides view all guides. Log In. The way GCSEs are graded changed in Grade 9 is the highest grade. Ofqual's GCSE grading diagrams outline the changes and also provide some useful guide for parents. Ofqual's grade descriptors for the reformed GCSEs graded 9 to 1 are designed to help teachers by indicating the likely average level of performance at the mid-points of grades 2, 5 and 8.

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. Grade 4 remains the level that students must achieve without needing to resit English and Maths post The approach to awarding the top grades will be the same for all GCSE subjects. The grade 8 boundary will be equally spaced between the grade 7 and grade 9 boundaries. The highest grade is 9, while 1 is the lowest, not including a U ungraded.

Pupils need a 4 for a standard pass and 5 for a "strong pass". This means that a candidate who gets nine grade-4s has, technically, passed all their exams. However, the government's school league tables are based on the percentage of pupils achieved a 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs.

What's more, many sixth forms will insist on a minimum number of 5s or 6s as a condition of entry. Last year there was a spike in the number of pupils who received marks of 4 or above. Ofqual said this year's results would be just as generous, given that Covid has continued to disrupt education. The numerical grading scheme is part of a curriculum introduced in England's schools in by then Education Secretary Michael Gove.

GCSE courses now include much less coursework than before, with grades in almost all subjects depending on exams.