GCSE Grades 1-9 Equivalent: Old vs New Grades
The new GCSE 9-1 grades replaced the old A*-G system between 2017 and 2020. Here is the full equivalence table in both directions — what each number is worth, where the old C grade went, and what actually counts as a pass.
The short answer
Grade 4 is the standard pass and grade 5 is a strong pass — together they replaced the old grade C. Grade 7 equals the old A, grade 8 sits between A* and A, and grade 9 is set above the old A*. Going down: grade 6 is the old B, grade 3 is the old D/E, grade 2 is the old F/G, and grade 1 is the old G.
There is no exact one-to-one mapping. The new scale splits the old C into two grades (4 and 5) and the old A* into two (8 and 9), so each old grade maps to a band of one or two new grades rather than a single number.
Key takeaways
- Grade 4 = standard pass (bottom of the old C); grade 5 = strong pass (top of the old C).
- Grade 7 = the old A, grade 8 = between A* and A, grade 9 = above A*.
- Grade 6 = the old B; grades 2-3 = the old D-F; grade 1 = the old G.
- Ofqual aligned the bottom of grade 4 with the bottom of the old C, so a 4 or 5 is accepted wherever a C was required.
- The conversion is a band, not a point — one old grade can span two new grades.
New GCSE grades to old grades (9-1 → A*-G)
Read this table if you have a new grade and want to know what it would have been under the old system.
| New grade | Old equivalent | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Above A* | Exceptional — top few percent nationally, beyond the old A*. |
| 8 | Between A* and A | Excellent — well above the old A. |
| 7 | A | Strong. The old top grade. |
| 6 | B | Good. A solid high grade. |
| 5 | Top of C / low B | Strong pass. Preferred by most sixth forms for A-Level subjects. |
| 4 | Bottom of C | Standard pass. The minimum most routes ask for. |
| 3 | D / E | Below pass. A fail for progression. |
| 2 | F / G | Below pass. |
| 1 | G | Lowest pass — but below the standard pass. |
Old GCSE grades to new grades (A*-G → 9-1)
Read this table if you have an old grade and want to know the modern equivalent.
| Old grade | New equivalent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| A* | 8 or 9 | Grade 9 is reserved for the very top, above the old A*. |
| A | 7 | A direct match. |
| B | 5 or 6 | Grade 6 is a solid B; grade 5 is the bottom of the old B range. |
| C | 4 or 5 | Grade 4 = standard pass, grade 5 = strong pass. |
| D | 3 | Below the standard pass. |
| E | 2 or 3 | Below the standard pass. |
| F | 1 or 2 | Below the standard pass. |
| G | 1 | The lowest pass under both systems. |
Grade by grade: what each new grade is equivalent to
What is a 9 equivalent to? Above the old A*. It is the highest grade and only the top few percent of entries achieve it in most subjects.
What is an 8 equivalent to? Between the old A* and A — a top-grade result that is a notch below a 9.
What is a 7 equivalent to? The old A. This is the standard "top grade" most students aim for.
What is a 6 equivalent to? The old B. A good, competitive grade.
What is a 5 equivalent to? The top of the old C and the bottom of the old B. This is the strong pass.
What is a 4 equivalent to? The bottom of the old C. This is the standard pass and the minimum for most post-16 routes.
What is a 3 equivalent to? The old D or E. It is below the standard pass.
What is a 2 equivalent to? The old F or G. It is below the standard pass.
What is a 1 equivalent to? The old G. It is technically a pass but below the standard pass.
Where the old C grade went: grade 4 vs grade 5
The single biggest change is that the old C was split in two. Under the old system, a C covered a wide range of ability. The new scale separates the bottom of that range (grade 4) from the top (grade 5).
| Grade | Old equivalent | Status | Typical requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Top of C / low B | Strong pass | Preferred for A-Level subjects; common employer requirement. |
| 4 | Bottom of C | Standard pass | The formal minimum for sixth form, college, apprenticeships and most jobs. |
Why the conversion is a band, not a point
Ofqual, the qualifications regulator in England, aligned the two scales at a few key anchor points rather than translating every grade exactly:
- Bottom of grade 4 = bottom of the old C. This protects anyone who would have got a C — they now get at least a 4.
- Grade 7 = grade A. The old top grade became the new strong grade.
- Grade 1 = grade G. The floor stayed the floor.
- Grades 8 and 9 were added above A* to separate the very best from the rest.
- Grades 5 and 6 were added inside B/C to separate a strong pass from a standard pass.
Because of this, an old grade maps to a band. An old B, for example, could now be a 5 or a 6 depending on where in the B range the mark fell.
Do universities and employers accept the equivalents?
Yes. Because the alignment was designed so that a grade 4 or 5 meets the old C standard, requirements written as "grade C" now read as "grade 4" or "grade 5". Most UK universities still require GCSE Maths and English at grade 4 or above as a condition of entry, even when your offer is based on A-Levels. Competitive employers, graduate schemes, teaching and nursing usually specify grade 4 (or grade 5) as the floor.
If you are converting your GCSE grades to a US-style GPA, see ourpercentage to GPA guide or use theGCSE grade calculator to estimate a grade from your marks.
Frequently asked questions
What is a grade 4 equivalent to in the old GCSE grades?
Grade 4 sits at the bottom of the old grade C. It is the official standard pass and is the minimum most sixth forms, colleges, apprenticeships and employers ask for. Anything below a 4 (grade 3 or lower) is a fail for progression.
What is a grade 5 equivalent to?
Grade 5 sits at the top of the old C range and the bottom of the old B. It is the strong pass. Many sixth forms require grade 5 or higher in the specific subjects you want to study at A-Level.
Is a grade 9 the same as an A*?
No. Grade 9 is set above the old A*. Grade 8 sits between the old A* and A, and grade 7 is broadly the old A. Only the top few percent of students nationally achieve a 9, so it is a narrower band than the old A*.
Is a grade 1 a pass at GCSE?
Grade 1 is technically the lowest passing grade, broadly equivalent to the old G. But it is well below the standard pass (grade 4), so it does not meet the entry requirements for sixth form, most college courses or most jobs.
Do employers and universities accept the new grades as equivalent to the old ones?
Yes. Ofqual deliberately aligned the bottom of grade 4 with the bottom of the old grade C, so wherever an employer or institution previously required a C, a grade 4 or 5 is accepted. Requirements are usually now written as grade 4 (or 5) rather than C.
Why is the conversion not exactly one-to-one?
The new scale deliberately added more grades in the most crowded parts of the old scale. The old C became grades 4 and 5, the old B became 5 and 6, and the old A* became 8 and 9. So each old grade maps to a band of one or two new grades rather than a single number.
Related guides: How GCSE Grades Work· What Is a 5 in GCSE?· What Is a Grade 4 in GCSE?· GCSE Pass Mark· UK Grading System