This means that a candidate who gets nine grades 4, technically, has passed all of them. Students need a 4 for a standard pass and 5 for a strong pass. Students now need 4 for a standard pass and 5 for a strong pass, replacing the traditional limit of a grade C. Before changing the system, a grade C was considered approved in GCSE.
This translates into a fourth grade in the new system, which is considered a “standard pass”. It is expected that, when a grade C has been previously accepted as a requirement for entry to higher education or employment, a grade 4 will now be accepted. The opposite can be said for the lower end of the GCSE rating system. Previously failed GCSE grades fell into grades D, E, F, and G, with U being 'Unrated'.
Failing GCSE scores now reach 3, 2, and 1, with U being the only constant in the GCSE rating system. If you achieve grade 4 in your GCSEs, then it is considered the same as the old grade C, under the grade equivalents of GCSE. No, the equivalent of GCSE grade 3 is between traditional grades D and E. If a student wants a higher grade to pass in mathematics and English (4 or higher), they may be able to retake an exam.
The Department of Education recognizes a GCSE grade 4 and above and a “standard pass,” which is the equivalent of the old grade C or higher in the traditional GCSE grading system.
