What this guide covers
- The two IGCSE grading scales
- What the nine to one numbers mean
- How numbers map to letters
- Why two scales still coexist
- Reading a mixed results slip
- Frequently asked questions
The two IGCSE grading scales
Families comparing IGCSE results quickly notice something confusing: some grades are numbers and some are letters. This is not an error. The International General Certificate of Secondary Education has moved much of its grading onto a numeric scale that runs from nine at the top down to one, while a large number of subjects and regional variants continue to report on the older lettered scale from A star down to G. Both are current, both are valid, and which one a candidate receives depends on the subject, the examination board and the part of the world in which the qualification is sat.
The numeric scale was introduced to give more separation at the top end and to align with reforms to the equivalent qualifications in England. Understanding what the numbers mean, and how they relate to the letters, is the key to reading any IGCSE result with confidence.
What the nine to one numbers mean
On the numeric scale, grade 9 is the very highest result, awarded to the strongest candidates in a subject. Below it, grade 8 and grade 7 represent excellent performance, grade 6 and grade 5 solid to strong achievement, and grade 4 a standard level of competence. Grades 3, 2 and 1 sit below that, with 1 the lowest reported grade above ungraded. The important design feature is that grade 9 is not simply the old A star renamed. It sits above the former top grade and is deliberately harder to reach, so that the ceiling of the scale distinguishes the very best from the merely excellent. Fewer candidates achieve a 9 than once achieved an A star, which is exactly what the reform intended.
How numbers map to letters
Because the two scales were designed to broadly align at certain anchor points rather than to convert cleanly, any mapping is approximate. As a working guide, the top grades 9 and 8 together cover the ground of the old A star and A, with grade 9 reserved for the highest performers within that band. Grade 7 aligns broadly with a grade A. Grade 4 aligns with a lower grade C, and grade 5 with an upper C shading into a lower B, which is why grade 5 is often described as a strong pass. Grade 1 corresponds broadly to the old grade G. Families should treat these as sensible equivalences for comparison rather than exact swaps, because the underlying standards were set through the grade award process rather than a fixed lookup table.
Grade 9 is not just a renamed A star
The single most common misunderstanding is that a grade 9 equals an A star. It sits above it. For a full side by side treatment see our guide to grade 9 versus A star, and the British curriculum hub for wider context on Cambridge and Edexcel qualifications.
Why two scales still coexist
The mixed picture exists because the major examination boards adopted the numeric scale at different times and for different subjects, and because IGCSE is an international qualification taken in many countries with their own conventions. Cambridge and Edexcel each grade a range of subjects on the nine to one scale while retaining A star to G for others, and some regions specifically request the lettered scale. The result is that a single candidate can leave school with a results slip that mixes numbers and letters across subjects. This is entirely normal and does not indicate that one grade is worth more than another simply because of its format. What matters is where each grade sits on its own scale.
Reading a mixed results slip
When a results slip carries both formats, the practical approach is to read each grade against its own scale and then translate mentally to a common reference if you need to compare. A grade 7 in one subject and a grade A in another represent broadly similar achievement. A grade 4 and a grade C are close cousins. When applying to a school, a sixth form or a university, always check exactly how the institution states its entry requirements, because some express them in numbers, some in letters, and some accept either. If a requirement is written only one way, the equivalences above let you judge whether a result meets it, but where a place depends on the answer it is worth confirming directly with the admissions office rather than relying on an approximate conversion.
Frequently asked questions
What does a grade 9 mean at IGCSE?
Grade 9 is the highest grade on the numeric IGCSE scale and sits above the old A star. It is awarded to the strongest performers and is deliberately harder to reach than an A star was, so fewer candidates achieve it.
Is IGCSE graded 9 to 1 or A star to G?
Both scales are in use. Many Cambridge and Edexcel IGCSE subjects are graded nine to one, while others, and some regional variants, still report A star to G. The syllabus and region determine which scale a subject uses.
What is a pass at IGCSE on the 9 to 1 scale?
There is no single official pass mark, but grade 4 is widely treated as a standard pass and grade 5 as a strong pass, mirroring the old grade C. Always check the requirement of the school or course you are applying to.
How does grade 4 compare to the old grades?
Grade 4 aligns broadly with a lower grade C, and grade 5 with an upper C or lower B. The mapping is approximate because the scales were designed to broadly align at key points rather than convert one to one.