GCSE, BTEC & Cambridge National grading:
GCSEs are graded using the new 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.
Combined Science (Trilogy) grading
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 thecombined
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.