What are good GCSE grades?
DIS Academic Team
Education Specialist · 8 May 2026
Good GCSE grades generally range from 9 to 6, equivalent to the old A* to B scale.
What counts as "good" depends on your goals. A grade 4 is a standard pass. A grade 5 is a strong pass. Most sixth forms and colleges ask for grade 5 or above to start A-Levels.
Competitive sixth forms and grammar schools often require grade 6 or higher in the subjects you want to study further. Top programmes may ask for grades 7, 8, or 9.
Here's how the current GCSE grading scale maps to the old letter grades:
| New Grade | Old Equivalent | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Above A* | Highest possible grade |
| 8 | Between A* and A | Excellent performance |
| 7 | A | Strong achievement |
| 6 | High B | Above average result |
| 5 | Low B / High C | Strong pass |
| 4 | Low C | Standard pass |
Grades 1 to 3 fall below the pass threshold for most progression routes. Employers and universities rarely accept them as qualifying grades.
Students studying the Cambridge IGCSE follow a different scale. IGCSE uses letter grades from A* down to G, with A* to C considered good grades. The IGCSE A* aligns closely with a GCSE grade 8 or 9.
Your target grades should match your next step. If you plan to study medicine or law at university, aim for mostly 7s, 8s, and 9s. If you want a solid foundation for A-Levels, consistent 5s and 6s will open most doors.
Online schooling and homeschooling families can target these same grades. The exams are identical. The qualification holds the same weight regardless of how you studied.
At Digital International School, students prepare for Cambridge IGCSE with live lessons from qualified instructors. Small class sizes and one-to-one support help students target the grades they actually need — from AED 500 per month.