iGCSE grading system explained: 9 to 1 and A*-G

If you've been looking at your child's iGCSE results and wondering why some subjects come back as a "7" while others come back as a "B", you're not alone. The iGCSE grading system isn't uniform. Depending on the exam board and the specific subject, results can appear on either the numeric 9-1 scale or the older A*-G letter scale, and both are considered current.

Cambridge Assessment International Education has been phasing in 9-1 grading across its iGCSE subjects in stages rather than switching everything at once, so the two scales run side by side. Edexcel took a different route and moved its International GCSE syllabuses to 9-1 across the board several years ago. The result is a picture that can look confusing at first glance, but is straightforward once you know which scale applies to which subject and what the numbers and letters really mean.

Here's a plain-English walk-through of how iGCSE grades work in 2026, how the two scales compare, and what your child needs for the next step.

On the 9-1 scale, 9 is the highest grade a student can achieve and 1 is the lowest passing grade. A grade of U (ungraded) is awarded to work that falls below grade 1. The scale is designed to spread the top end of performance more finely than the old letter grades did, so 9, 8 and 7 collectively cover roughly what an A* and A used to cover, with 9 sitting above the previous A* to distinguish the very strongest candidates.

Two grades on this scale carry particular weight in UK-style reporting. Grade 4 is treated as a standard pass, sometimes described as a "standard" level of performance. Grade 5 is treated as a strong pass. Both are commonly referenced by schools, colleges and employers when they set entry requirements, so it's worth knowing which one a course or job is asking for.

Roughly speaking, the two scales line up like this: 9 sits above the old A*, 8 aligns with the lower A*/high A boundary, 7 aligns with a solid A, and 4 aligns with a C. Grades 3, 2 and 1 cover the ground previously described by D, E, F and G. This mapping is approximate rather than exact, because the numeric scale was designed to allow more differentiation at the top rather than to be a straight one-to-one swap.

Some Cambridge iGCSE subjects still report results on the A*-G scale. On this scale, A* is the highest grade, followed by A, B, C, D, E, F and G, with U (ungraded) for candidates below the G threshold.

A*, A, B and C are widely treated as the "top" grades in this system, with C acting as the traditional pass threshold at UK-equivalent level. D through G are passing grades in the technical sense (they are certified rather than ungraded), but they sit below what most schools, sixth forms and universities use as their minimum entry benchmark.

The A*-G scale is the one many parents grew up with, so it can feel more intuitive. From a certification point of view, an A*-G grade on a Cambridge iGCSE is treated as a full, valid qualification. The letter scale hasn't been quietly retired; it simply sits alongside the numeric scale while Cambridge continues its phased move.

Cambridge iGCSE has been moving subjects from letters to numbers in cohorts, so which scale you see on a results slip depends on the specific subject and syllabus. Some Cambridge iGCSEs report on 9-1, some still report on A*-G, and a small number of syllabuses have offered both in parallel during transition years.

Edexcel International GCSE, by contrast, has used the 9-1 scale across all of its subjects for several years. If your child sits Edexcel International GCSEs, you can expect numeric grades on the results slip regardless of subject.

The most reliable way to check what a specific course uses is the syllabus (Cambridge) or specification (Edexcel) code printed on the exam entry paperwork or on the school's course list. Both boards publish current subject lists on their websites, with the grading scale clearly stated for each syllabus. If in doubt, ask the school's exams officer, who will have the exact scale confirmed for every subject the school enters candidates for. It's worth doing this before results day so there are no surprises when the envelope opens.

Grade boundaries are set after each exam series, not before. That means the raw marks needed to achieve a given grade can shift slightly from one series to the next, and the process is designed to keep standards consistent across years even when papers vary in difficulty.

The process is run by awarding committees at each exam board. These committees look at statistical evidence about how the cohort performed, comparisons with previous years' outcomes on the same syllabus, and the professional judgement of senior examiners who have marked the scripts and can assess whether a paper was harder or easier than usual. Cambridge International publishes an overview of how it approaches awarding on its public website, and grade threshold tables are made available after each series so schools and candidates can see the raw marks that correspond to each grade.

The practical effect is that boundaries can move by a few marks in either direction from one year to the next. A paper that turned out harder than expected will typically see boundaries drop; a paper that was more accessible will see them nudge up. This is why sitting a "harder" paper isn't necessarily bad news: the boundary should reflect the difficulty.

University entry requirements vary by institution, country and course, so there is no single answer. The general pattern is that a standard pass, meaning grade 4 on the 9-1 scale or grade C on the A*-G scale, is treated as the minimum acceptable level for most subjects.

Many UK universities require grade 4 or C in English and maths as a baseline for any degree, with higher grades expected in subjects relevant to the chosen course. Competitive courses and universities will often ask for grade 6, 7 or higher in specific iGCSEs. Universities outside the UK will each set their own conversion tables, so check the admissions page of the institution your child is aiming for.

At Cognito, we help iGCSE students prepare for both scales, with topic-by-topic revision, past papers and practice questions built around the current specifications. Explore our iGCSE courses to see how we can support your child through to results day.