GCSE results day 2026 – when results come out and grade boundaries explained

GCSE grade boundaries are not fixed from one year to the next, with exam boards deciding where they should fall once marking is almost complete.

The system is designed to prevent pupils being unfairly penalised if they happen to sit a particularly challenging paper. It means a harder exam can have lower grade boundaries, while an easier exam can result in higher boundaries.

In England, GCSEs are graded from 9 to 1, with 9 being the highest grade (sitting above the old A* as a ‘super grade’). A U means a qualification is “ungraded”.

Grade 4 is considered a “standard pass” (equivalent to a low grade C on the former letter-based grading system), while grade 5 or above is considered a “strong pass”.

Students who receive a grade 3 or below in GCSE maths or English language will generally have to continue studying the subject and resit the qualification.

The grading system differs elsewhere in the UK. Wales continues to use grades from A to G*, while Northern Ireland also uses letter grades, including the C* grade introduced in 2019.