Students in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland will receive their GCSE results on Thursday. The current grading system uses a numerical scale from 9 (highest) down to 1 (lowest). Grade 4 is a standard pass, grade 5 is a strong pass, and U still means ungraded.
How the 9-1 grading system works
This numbered structure replaced the older A* to G letter system in 2020, although specific subjects began adopting the number system in 2017. Traditional A* to G grades are still used for GCSEs in Northern Ireland and Wales.
In England, many students who do not secure at least a grade 4 in English and/or maths are required to retake those subjects during post-16 education.
Top grades and grade boundaries
Last year, more than a fifth (21.9%) of UK entries were awarded the top grades – at least a 7 or an A-grade – up from 21.8% in 2024. This was higher than in 2019, the last year before the pandemic, when 20.8% of entries achieved the top grades.
Grade boundaries for the June 2026 exams will be officially released by exam boards like AQA, Edexcel, and OCR on results day at 8am.
P1 and P2 grades explained
As well as the 1-9 grades, there are also other ways students will get their results. A P1 grade stands for a Pass at Level 1, and Level 2 for P2. They are not part of the standard numerical GCSE grading system, but rather appear on results for vocational, technical, or skill-based qualifications (such as BTECs, OCR Nationals, or Tech Awards) that are equivalent to GCSEs.
Mark equivalents and endorsements
Mark equivalent is the method of comparing new GCSE grading systems (9 for highest, 1 for lowest) with the previous format (A* to U). It's used by those wishing to convert their results into the older, more recognisable structure.
Endorsement is used by teachers to evaluate spoken language abilities in English. However, it doesn't form part of the final result, so if you don't attain the mark you'd hoped for, don't panic – it won't affect your overall grade. The assessment involves students delivering a spoken presentation on a specific topic, with the scoring system implemented during the time of then-Education Secretary, Nicky Morgan.
While it's not mandatory for obtaining a GCSE, completing the endorsement is strongly recommended, as failing to take it or not passing could potentially hamper future applications. Should you achieve the endorsement but fall short of your desired GCSE grade, you can keep the endorsement and don't need to resit it.
