GCSE Grade Converter
Pick a GCSE grade on either scale and see the grade it sits beside on the other, whether it is a standard or strong pass, and whether it is one of Ofqual's fixed anchor points. Paste your results to count how many reach grade 4, 5 and 7. Free, no sign-up.
Result
A
Comparable A*–G grade
Strong pass (5 or above)
DfE pass level
An anchor point: Ofqual aligns the bottom of grade 7 with the bottom of grade A.
This is the England GCSE scale. Most GCSEs in Wales and Northern Ireland are still graded A* to G.
Count your 9–1 results
Type your 9–1 grades to count them.
How to Use the GCSE Grade Converter
- 1. Choose a direction. Convert a 9–1 grade into the old A*–G letter, or an A*–G letter into the 9–1 number.
- 2. Pick the grade. The result shows the comparable grade or grades — A* sits beside both 9 and 8, for example — plus the Department for Education's pass level.
- 3. Check for an anchor point. Only three pairings are fixed by Ofqual. The tool tells you when yours is one of them and when it is only an approximate comparison.
- 4. Count your results. Type all your 9–1 grades in the lower box to see how many are at grade 4, 5 and 7 or above — three cut-offs that turn up in entry requirements.
How 9–1 and A*–G Compare
GCSEs in England moved from A* to G to a 9 to 1 scale from 2017, starting with English and maths. The Department for Education is explicit that the new scale is not directly equivalent to the old one. What exists is a set of comparable points, which Ofqual fixed so that, other things equal, broadly the same proportion of students reach each of them.
- The bottom of grade 7 is aligned with the bottom of grade A.
- The bottom of grade 4 is aligned with the bottom of grade C.
- The bottom of grade 1 is aligned with the bottom of grade G.
| 9–1 grade | Comparable A*–G grade |
|---|---|
| 9 | A* (awarded to fewer students than the old A*) |
| 8 | A* |
| 7 | A |
| 6 | B |
| 5 | B |
| 4 | C |
| 3 | D |
| 2 | E and F |
| 1 | G |
| U | U (ungraded) |
Source: the Department for Education's grade diagram in its 2019 factsheet for employers and FE and HE providers, and the anchor points on GOV.UK's GCSE 9 to 1 grade scale explained. Only 7/A, 4/C and 1/G are anchor points.
Standard Pass and Strong Pass
The Department for Education recognises grade 4 and above as a standard pass in all subjects, and says a grade 4 marks a similar achievement to the old grade C. It advises that anyone who previously set grade C as an entry requirement could reasonably ask for a 4 instead. Students without a grade 4 in English and/or maths must continue to study them after 16.
A strong pass is a grade 5 or above in English or maths, the benchmark the Department uses in its headline school performance measure for English and maths. The Department's grade diagram places grade 5 beside B, which is why the converter shows it there. A school's "grade 5 in English and maths" figure and the "grade 4" figure are different measures.
Grade 9 and Grade 8
The new scale has more grades at the top, so employers and universities can tell high achievers apart. Ofqual set grade 9 so that about 20% of all grades at 7 or above are a 9, and spaced the grade 8 boundary equally between the grade 7 and grade 9 boundaries. A 9 is therefore harder to reach than an A* was, which is why the table notes it.
Worked Example
A student's results are 7, 6, 6, 5, 4, 4 and 3. Six of the seven are grade 4 or above, four are grade 5 or above, and one is grade 7 or above. In old letters that is roughly A, B, B, B, C, C and D — six passes at the old grade C standard, with one D.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a grade 4 in old GCSE grades?
- A grade 4 is comparable to the old grade C. Ofqual aligns the bottom of grade 4 with the bottom of grade C, and the Department for Education says a 4 or above marks a similar achievement to a C or above. It is the 'standard pass'.
- What is a grade 7 equivalent to?
- A grade 7 is comparable to an A. Ofqual aligns the bottom of grade 7 with the bottom of grade A, and the Department for Education's diagram places 9 and 8 beside A*.
- Is a grade 5 a B?
- Roughly. The Department for Education's grade diagram places grades 6 and 5 beside B, but only 7/A, 4/C and 1/G are anchor points, so a 5 is not exactly a B. A 5 is the strong pass in English and maths.
- What is the difference between a standard pass and a strong pass?
- A standard pass is grade 4 or above in any subject. A strong pass is grade 5 or above in English or maths, used in the Department for Education's school performance measure. Many sixth forms and colleges set their own entry requirements, which may be higher than either.
- Is a 9 better than an A*?
- Grade 9 is awarded to fewer students than the old A* was: Ofqual set it so that about 20% of grades at 7 or above are a 9. In that sense it is a higher mark of achievement, but the scales are not directly equivalent, so the comparison is loose.
- Do old A*–G GCSEs still count?
- Yes. The Department for Education says letter grades awarded for old GCSEs remain valid for future employment or study. Wales and Northern Ireland still grade most GCSEs from A* to G.