Exams and Intervention Information

GCSE, BTEC & Cambridge National Grading

GCSEs are graded using the 9-1 numbered system. This was introduced in 2017 and replaced the lettered system as much of the GCSE courses were updated and changed. BTEC and Cambridge National courses didn’t undergo this change and so the Pass, Merit, Distinction awarding system is the only way these are graded (even when taken alongside GCSEs).

Old A*-G GCSE Grades (replaced in 2017)	BTEC (Level 1/ Level 2)	Cambridge national (Level1/2)	New 9-1 GCSE Grades
		Level 2 Distinction*	9
A*	L2 D*		8
A	L2 D	Level 2 Distinction	7
B	L2 M	Level 2 Merit	6
			5
C	L2 P	Level 2 Pass	4
D	L1 D*	Level 1 Distinction	3
F	L1 D	Level 1 Merit	2
G	L1 M / L1 P	Level 1 Pass	1
U	U	U	U

Level 1 = L1

Level 2 = L2

U = Candidates who fail to reach the minimum standard will be unclassified.

Students who take GCSE Combined Science study all three sciences and will cover roughly two thirds of the content of the separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. If they take the combined science qualification, they’ll receive an award worth two GCSEs consisting of two equal or adjacent grades from 9 to 1, giving 17 possible grade combinations – 9-9; 9-8; 8-8 through to 1-1.