Editing GCSE (section)

===Grades and tiering===

GCSEs are awarded on a graded scale and cross two levels of the [[Regulated Qualifications Framework]] (RQF): Level 1 and Level 2. These two levels roughly correspond, respectively, to foundation and higher tier in tiered GCSE qualifications. Level 1 qualifications constitute GCSEs at grades G, F, E, and D or 1, 2, and 3. Level 2 qualifications are those at grades C, B, A, and A* or 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.

The tiering of qualifications allows a subset of grades to be reached in a specific tier's paper. Formerly many subjects were tiered, but with the mid-2010s reform the number of tiered subjects reduced dramatically, including the removal of tiering from the GCSE English specifications. Untiered papers allow any grade to be achieved. Coursework and controlled assessment tasks are always untiered.

In the past mathematics qualifications offered a different set of tiers, with three. These were foundation tier at grades G, F, E, and D; intermediate tier at grades E, D, C, and B; and higher tier at grades C, B, A, and A*. This eventually changed to match the tiers in all other GCSE qualifications.

The evolution of grades and a rough comparison between them are as follows:
<!--This template shows a comparison table of grades between the GCSE, CSE, and O-Level, which is replicated on the pages for these other qualifications. Please make edits at the "Template:GCSE grades" page, not in-place.-->
{{GCSE grades}}

====Letter grades====
When GCSEs were introduced in 1988 they were graded on a letter scale in each subject: A, B, C, D, E, F and G being pass grades, with a U (unclassified) below that, which did not qualify the pupil for a certificate. These grades were initially set such that a GCSE grade C was equivalent to an O-Level grade C or a CSE grade 1, though changes in marking criteria and boundaries over the years mean that this comparison is only approximate.

Infrequently, X and Q grades are awarded. X indicates that a course was not completed and therefore an appropriate grade cannot be calculated. The Q (query) grade is a temporary grade that requires the school to contact the examining body. These two grades are usually provisional and are replaced with a normal grade once any issues have been resolved. X grades are also sometimes used for other purposes on rare occasions, such as to indicate that an examiner found offensive material or hate speech within a pupil’s answers. In some cases this may lead to the pupil losing all marks for that paper or course. These grades are most common in subjects that cover ethical issues, such as biology, religious studies and citizenship.

In 1994 an A* grade was added above the initial A grade to indicate exceptional achievement, above the level required for the A grade.

Under the letter grade scheme, foundation tier papers assess content at grades C to G, while higher tier papers assess content at grades A* to C. In foundation-tier papers, pupils can obtain a maximum grade of a C, while in a higher-tier paper they can achieve a minimum grade of a D. Higher-tier candidates who miss the D grade by a small margin are awarded an E. Otherwise the grade below E in these papers is U. In untiered papers pupils can achieve any grade in the scheme. This scheme has been phased out in England, but remains in Wales and Northern Ireland. In Northern Ireland the A* grade has been adjusted upwards with the introduction of the numerical scheme in England, such that an A* is equivalent to a new English grade 9. Northern Ireland also added a C* grade to line up with the grade 5 in the English grading. Pupils in Northern Ireland studying for GCSEs with any of the English exam boards are awarded grades based on the 9–1 system as opposed to the A*–G system.

====Numerical grades (2017 onwards)====
Since 2017 in England (and in Wales and Northern Ireland on qualifications from the English-based awarding bodies) most GCSEs have been assessed on a nine-point scale, using numbers from 9 to 1, and a U (unclassified) grade for achievement below the minimum pass mark. Under this system 9 is the highest grade and is set above the former A* classification, equivalent to the new Northern Irish A* grade. A grade 8 is also equivalent to an A*; however, the grade 9 is the top end of the A*. The former C grade is set at grade 4 (known as a "standard pass") and grade 5 (considered a "strong pass") under the numerical scheme. 

Although fewer qualifications have tiered examinations than before, the tiering system still exists. At foundation tier the grades 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are available, whilst at higher tier the grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are targeted. Students who take the higher tier and miss the grade 4 mark by a small margin are awarded a grade 3. Controlled assessment and coursework tasks are untiered. The youngest person known to have achieved a grade 9 is Ellie Barnes, who achieved the grade in Mathematics aged eight.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wigantoday.net/education/top-gcse-success-ellie-despite-her-age-680671|title=Top GCSE success for Ellie despite her age|website=wigantoday.net}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Wolstenholme |first1=Maxine |title=Bolton News |url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/17866112.home-schooled-ellie-8-achieves-top-mark-gcse-maths/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mutch |first1=James |title=Leigh Journal |url=https://www.leighjournal.co.uk/news/17856810.home-schooled-ellie-8-achieves-top-mark-gcse-maths/}}</ref>

====Results====
[[File:GCSE results 2016.pdf|thumb|[[Infographic]] from [[Ofqual]] showing statistics about GCSE entries in 2016. 5.24 million people took a GCSE in that year.]]

GCSE results are published by the examination board in August for the exam series in April to June of the same year. They are usually released one week after the A-Level results, on the Thursday that falls between 20 August and 26 August. The examination results are released to centres (schools) prior to the release to candidates and the public. Examination results are released by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), which represents the main GCSE awarding organisations. Some boards and schools release results online, although many still require pupils to attend in person to collect their results from the centre at which they sat the exams.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.edexcel.org.uk/studying/onlineresults/|title=Edexcel's online results service|access-date=2008-07-27|publisher=[[Edexcel]]|archive-date=26 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726154018/http://www.edexcel.org.uk/studying/onlineresults/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In England these results then go on to inform league tables published in the following academic year, with headline performance metrics for each school. Owing to COVID-19, pupils who were supposed to sit their GCSEs in 2020 and 2021 were awarded qualifications based on predicted grades from their teachers. Traditional exams, however, have been taken since the summer of 2022.

==== 1988–2018 ====
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Grades awarded (percentage)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bstubbs.co.uk/gcse.htm |title=GCSE National subject grade percentages |publisher=Bstubbs.co.uk |access-date=2013-06-17}}</ref>
|-
!
! A*
! A
! B
! C
! D
! E
! F
! G
! U
! A*+A
! A*–C
! entries
|-
|1988
| rowspan="6" {{N/a}}
|8.4
|12.8
|20.7
|19.3
|16.6
|12.5
|6.3
|3.4
|8.4
|41.9
|5,230,047
|-
|1989
|9.9
|13.8
|21.9
|19
|15.8
|11.2
|5.6
|2.9
|9.9
|45.6
|5,132,998
|-
|1990
|10.8
|14.4
|22.5
|18.7
|15.3
|10.6
|5.2
|2.5
|10.8
|47.7
|5,016,547
|-
|1991
|11.4
|14.7
|22.4
|18.6
|15
|10.5
|5.3
|2.2
|11.4
|48.5
|4,947,593
|-
|1992
|12.3
|15.3
|22.9
|18.6
|14.7
|9.9
|4.7
|1.6
|12.3
|50.5
|5,028,554
|-
|1993
|12.5
|15.9
|23.1
|18.6
|14.2
|9.3
|4.4
|1.8
|12.5
|51.5
|4,968,634
|-
|1994
|2.8
|10.2
|18
|21.8
|18.7
|13.7
|9.3
|4.1
|1.5
|13
|52.8
|5,029,599
|-
|1995
|3.2
|9.9
|17.8
|22.1
|18.6
|14
|9
|3.9
|1.5
|13.1
|53
|5,431,625
|-
|1996
|3.4
|10.3
|18
|22.3
|18.6
|13.4
|8.7
|3.8
|1.5
|13.7
|54
|5,475,872
|-
|1997
|3.6
|10.5
|18.1
|22.3
|18.7
|13.3
|8.5
|3.6
|1.5
|14.1
|54.4
|5,415,176
|-
|1998
|4.1
|10.6
|16.5
|23.6
|18.6
|13.2
|7.6
|3.5
|2.3
|14.7
|54.8
|5,353,095
|-
|1999
|4.4
|10.8
|16.9
|23.7
|18.7
|12.7
|7.5
|3.3
|2
|15.2
|55.8
|5,374,751
|-
|2000
|4.6
|11.2
|17
|23.8
|18.4
|12.5
|7.2
|3.2
|2.1
|15.8
|56.6
|5,481,920
|-
|2001
|4.9
|11.2
|16.9
|24.1
|18.3
|12.1
|7.1
|3.3
|2.1
|16.1
|57.1
|5,632,936
|-
|2002
|5
|11.4
|17.4
|24.1
|18.1
|12
|6.7
|3.2
|2.1
|16.4
|57.9
|5,662,382
|-
|2003
|5.1
|11.6
|17.3
|24.1
|17.7
|11.7
|6.8
|3.3
|2.4
|16.7
|58.1
|5,733,487
|-
|2004
|5.6
|11.8
|17.3
|24.5
|17.3
|11.3
|6.6
|3.2
|2.4
|17.4
|59.2
|5.875,373
|-
|2005
|5.9
|12.5
|18
|24.8
|17.3
|10.5
|6
|2.8
|2.2
|18.4
|61.2
|5,736,505
|-
|2006
|6.3
|12.8
|18.3
|25
|17.3
|10.2
|5.6
|2.6
|1.9
|19.1
|62.4
|5,752,152
|-
|2007
|6.4
|13.1
|18.6
|25.2
|17.2
|9.8
|5.3
|2.4
|2
|19.5
|63.3
|5,827,319
|-
|2008
|6.8
|13.9
|19.8
|25.2
|16.6
|9.1
|4.7
|2.3
|1.6
|20.7
|65.7
|5,669,077
|-
|2009
|7.1
|14.5
|19.9
|25.6
|16.5
|8.5
|4.4
|2.1
|1.4
|21.6
|67.1
|5,469,260
|-
|2010
|7.5
|15.1
|20.6
|25.9
|15.9
|7.8
|4
|1.9
|1.3
|22.6
|69.1
|5,374,490
|-
|2011
|7.8
|15.4
|21.7
|24.9
|15.1
|7.8
|4.1
|2
|1.2
|23.2
|69.8
|5,151,970
|-
|2012
|7.3
|15.1
|21.7
|25.3
|15.9
|7.7
|4.1
|1.9
|1
|22.4
|69.4
|5,225,288
|-
|2013
|6.8
|14.5
|21.5
|25.3
|16.6
|8
|4.1
|2
|1.2
|21.3
|68.1
|5,445,324
|-
|2014
|6.7
|14.6
|21.9
|25.6
|16.3
|7.6
|3.8
|2.0
|1.5
|21.3
|68.8
|5,217,573
|-
|2015
|6.6
|14.6
|22.1
|25.7
| 16.4
| 7.6
| 3.7
|1.9
|1.4
|21.2
|69
|5,277,604
|-
|2016
|6.5
|14.0
|21.4
|25.0
|16.9
|8.3
|4.2
|2.1
|1.6
|20.5
|66.9
|5,240,796
|-
|2017
|7.1
|14.2
|20.6
|23.5
|16.8
|9.3
|4.7
|2.3
|1.5
|21.3
|65.3
|3,694,771
|-
|2018
|7.0
|14.7
|21.8
|23.4
|15.2
|8.5
|4.5
|2.7
|2.2
|21.7
|66.9
|860,246
|}
'''Source''': Joint Council for General Qualifications via [http://www.bstubbs.co.uk/gcse.htm Brian Stubbs].
<br />
'''Note''': In the final year DES statistics for O-Levels are available, and across all subjects, 6.8% of candidates obtained a grade A, and 39.8% achieved grades A to C.

=====2018–present=====
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Grades awarded (percentage)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bstubbs.co.uk/gcse.htm |title=GCSE National subject grade percentages |publisher=Bstubbs.co.uk |access-date=2018-09-08}}</ref>
! colspan="14" |England
|-
!
! 9
! 8
! 7
! 6
! 5
! 4
! 3
! 2
! 1
! U
! 9–7
! 9–4
! entries
|-
|2018
|4.3
|6.5
|9.5
|13.2
|16.8
|16.6
|17.6
|9.5
|4.4
|1.6
|20.3
|66.9
|4,609,830
|-
|2019
|4.5
|6.7
|9.4
|13.4
|16.6
|16.4
|17.3
|9.5
|4.5
|1.7
|20.6
|67.0
|5,070,481
|-
|2020
|6.3
|8.1
|11.5
|14.8
|17.4
|17.8
|14.2
|6.8
|2.7
|0.4
|25.9
|75.9
|5,214,030
|-
|2021
|7.4
|9.1
|12.0
|14.5
|17.1
|16.8
|12.1
|6.8
|3.2
|1.0
|28.5
|76.9
|5,236,858
|-
|2022
|6.6
|8.5
|10.9
|14.7
|17.4
|14.9
|13.0
|8.5
|4.0
|1.6
|26.0
|73.0
|5,219,550
|-
|2023
|4.9
|7.1
|9.6
|14.0
|16.6
|15.6
|16.0
|9.3
|4.9
|2.0
|21.6
|67.8
|5,422,613
|-
|2024
|5.0
|7.1
|9.6
|13.6
|16.6
|15.5
|16.3
|9.3
|5.0
|2.0
|21.7
|67.4
|5,677,940
|-
! colspan="14" |Wales
|-
!
!A*
!A
!B
!C
!D
!E
!F
!G
!U
!
!A*+A
!A*–C
!entries
|-
|2018
|6.1
|12.0
|19.0
|24.1
|16.6
|9.8
|5.1
|3.6
|3.7
|
|18.1
|61.2
|268,435
|-
|2019
|6.1
|11.8
|19.6
|24.9
|15.8
|9.7
|5.5
|3.8
|2.8
|
|17.9
|62.4
|289,502
|-
|2020
|10.8
|14.1
|22.3
|26.1
|14.0
|6.7
|3.3
|2.3
|0.4
|
|24.9
|73.3
|296,002
|-
|2021
|13.5
|14.7
|22.0
|23.1
|12.0
|7.0
|3.5
|1.7
|1.5
|
|28.2
|73.3
|322,712
|-
|2022
|10.8
|13.9
|20.3
|23.2
|13.0
|8.1
|4.7
|3.3
|2.7
|
|24.7
|68.2
|304,582
|-
|2023
|8.7
|12.6
|19.6
|23.6
|14.0
|9.0
|5.4
|3.9
|3.2
|
|21.3
|64.5
|293,368
|-
|2024
|6.5
|12.2
|19.7
|23.3
|15.0
|10.0
|5.8
|4.1
|3.4
|
|18.7
|61.7
|309,170
|-
! colspan="14" |Northern Ireland
|-
!
!A*
!A
!B
!C*
!C
!D
!E
!F
!G
!U
!A*+A
!A*–C
!entries
|-
|2019
|8.1
|23.3
|20.0
|16.2
|14.1
|9.3
|4.3
|2.2
|1.2
|1.3
|31.4
|81.7
|140,065
|-
|2020
|12.4
|24.6
|23.5
|13.7
|15.2
|5.9
|2.8
|1.1
|0.5
|0.3
|37.0
|89.4
|140,840
|-
|2021
|14.9
|25.6
|21.5
|13.3
|13.8
|5.1
|2.9
|1.3
|0.7
|0.9
|40.5
|89.1
|144,755
|-
|2022
|12.6
|25.2
|24.1
|17.5
|10.4
|5.1
|2.5
|1.2
|0.8
|0.6
|37.8
|89.8
|142,617
|-
|2023
|10.6
|24.8
|22.1
|16.8
|12.3
|7.2
|3.2
|1.6
|0.8
|0.6
|35.4
|86.6
|145,250
|-
|2024
|8.3
|23.4
|20.1
|16.1
|14.1
|9.4
|4.1
|2.3
|1.3
|0.9
|31.7
|82.0
|152,369
|}