IGCSE Grades Explained for Students

Taking your IGCSEs is like learning a whole new language. There are new words, new concepts to learn in your subjects and, on top of all of this, you need to take an exam at the end and perform your best.

Not only do you have to take the exam, but you’re expected to understand the grades, what’s good, what’s bad, and if you have even passed. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any more confusing, different exam boards use different grading scales. It can all be a little overwhelming!

Don’t worry. This article is here to explain what your IGCSE grades mean, how the system works, and what is considered a pass.

Key Takeaways

• IGCSE grades are awarded on one of two scales: 9–1 or A*–G, depending on your exam board.

• A grade 4 (9–1 scale) or grade C (A*–G scale) is the standard pass.

• Grade boundaries change every year and are set after marking is complete.

What Grading Scales Are Used for IGCSE?

There are two grading scales used by IGCSE exam boards. These are:

• 9-1

• A*-G

For the first scale, 1 is the lowest grade and 9 is the highest, while G is the lowest and A* is the highest grade in the second scale. 

U means ungraded in both scales. U would be given if the exam paper was left empty, for example. The more marks you get in the exam, the higher your grade will be.

The three main examining boards which award IGCSEs are:

• Cambridge Assessment International Education (CIE) (opens in a new tab)

• Pearson Edexcel (opens in a new tab)

• Oxford AQA (opens in a new tab)

The following table shows which scale is used by each exam board.

The grading scales do not line up perfectly, however. The A*-G scale has 8 levels, while the 9-1 scale has 9 levels.

Both scales are fully recognised by sixth forms, colleges, universities, and employers across the UK and internationally.

What Is a Pass in IGCSE?

The standard pass grade for IGCSE is:

• Grade 4 on the 9–1 scale

• Grade C on the A*–G scale

A pass in English and Maths is especially important. Most sixth forms, colleges, and universities require a grade C / 4 or above in these two subjects as a minimum entry requirement.

You need to pass your IGCSEs to continue with a subject at A Level. Some sixth forms and colleges may require higher grades - such as a 6 or B - in subjects you want to study post-16.

How Is Your IGCSE Grade Calculated?

Your final IGCSE grade is made up of several components. These can include:

• Written exam papers

• Coursework

• Practical assessments

Each component is worth a set percentage of your overall grade. The exact percentages depend on your IGCSE subject and exam board.

Example calculation:

Imagine an IGCSE assessed with three components:

• Paper 1 = 40% of the final grade

• Paper 2 = 40% of the final grade

• Practical = 20% of the final grade

If you scored 75% on Paper 1, 60% on Paper 2, and 55% on the Practical, your overall weighted score would be:

(75 × 0.4) + (60 × 0.4) + (55 × 0.2) = 30 + 24 + 11 = 65%

This 65% is then matched against the grade boundaries for that subject and exam series to determine your final grade.

What Are Grade Boundaries?

Grade boundaries refer to the total raw marks across all papers you need to get a certain grade. These are changed every year and are based on several factors, including:

• Pre-exam recommendations

  • Certain questions are written for students attaining a certain grade

  • Before the paper is taken by students, examiners suggest a percentage for a certain grade

• Prior attainment information

  • A year group’s performance in previous exams (e.g. key stage 2 tests) informs grade boundaries

• Assessment statistics

  • The average marks for questions or the whole paper are compared to pre-exam recommendations

• Principal Examiner or Principal Moderator recommendations

  • The subject expert reviews feedback from lots of different sources and gives their input on the grade boundaries

• Inter-board screening

  • Exam boards communicate with each other to ensure that the grades they give are fair and comparable

• Historical boundaries and outcomes

  • Grade boundaries from previous papers also inform the decision

• Inspection of student work

  • Examiners compare the quality of samples of students’ work to their expectations of grade boundaries

• External variables

  • Government education policies may change, which affects the way a student can complete an IGCSE and this is taken into consideration

  • Covid-19 was an example of an external factor which affected grade boundaries

• Standardisation

  • This is the second marking of a sample of marked papers to make sure the examiners are marking consistently

How to Interpret Your IGCSE Results

On IGCSE results day, you will be presented with a list of your grades in each subject.  These will be Gs to A*s or 1s to 9s, depending on your IGCSE exam board. 

Almost all students put in a lot of work when studying for their IGCSEs. Some will achieve results that they are proud of, but this is not the case for all students. 

If you get your results and are not happy, perhaps you have failed or been given a lower grade than expected, don’t worry. There are options such as:

• Resits in a later exam series – some boards have November series.

• Appeals if there were circumstances beyond your control affecting your exam performance.

• Asking for remarks if you are close to a grade boundary, though be aware this can include a cost if your grade does not get changed.

Frequently Asked Questions About IGCSE Grades

What is the highest IGCSE grade? 

The highest IGCSE grade depends on the scale. On the 9–1 scale, grade 9 is the top grade. On the A*–G scale, A* is the highest. 

What is a pass in IGCSE? 

A grade 4 (on the 9–1 scale) or a grade C (on the A*–G scale) is the standard pass. Both are equivalent to each other.

Are IGCSE grades the same as GCSE grades? 

The grading systems are very similar - both use a 9–1 scale (or equivalent A*–G) - but they are separate qualifications. 

GCSEs are typically taken in England, while IGCSEs are an internationally recognised alternative, often taken by students in international schools or independent schools. 

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References

CIE - Cambridge IGCSE (opens in a new tab)

Pearson - International GCSEs (opens in a new tab)

Oxford AQA (opens in a new tab)

Cambridge IGCSE Factsheet (opens in a new tab)

Pearson - Grading Scales (opens in a new tab)

Oxford AQA - Parent Guide to IGCSE Grading Scale (opens in a new tab)