Grades & grade boundaries
IGCSE grades explained: how do 9 to 1 and A* to G compare?
It depends on the course. Pearson's Edexcel International GCSEs are graded 9 to 1, like the UK GCSE. Cambridge IGCSEs are graded A* to G, and schools in one of Cambridge's regions, which includes the UK, can choose a 9 to 1 version of its most popular courses. Cambridge sets grade 7 at the same standard as an A, 4 as a C and 1 as a G, and universities treat the two scales the same.
Last updated 5 October 2026 · Written and fact-checked by the GCSEwiz team
Which scale will your certificate show?
Pearson's Edexcel International GCSEs use the 9 to 1 scale, with 9 the highest grade.
Cambridge IGCSEs are graded A* to G as standard. For its most popular courses Cambridge also offers 9 to 1 versions, open to schools in one of its administrative regions, which includes the UK. The two versions are separate qualifications with their own syllabus codes (Mathematics is 0580 on A* to G and 0980 on 9 to 1), but the content and the exams are the same. Your school chooses the scale when it enters you, and it cannot switch after the entry deadline.
How do 9 to 1 and A* to G line up?
At three points they match exactly. Cambridge sets grade 7 at the same standard as an A, 4 as a C and 1 as a G. In between, the scales don't match one for one: there are nine numbered grades against eight letters, so a number is not a letter in disguise.
| 9 to 1 grade | A* to G grade at the same standard |
|---|---|
| 7 | A |
| 4 | C |
| 1 | G |
What Core, Extended, Foundation and Higher mean for your grade
On Cambridge, the Core papers lead to grades C to G, and the Extended papers open up the top grades: in Mathematics, Extended runs from A* down to E. If you are aiming for an A or an A*, you need to be entered for Extended.
Pearson's International GCSE Maths A has Foundation and Higher tiers, and the top grades need Higher. Its Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Science (Double Award) have no tiers: everyone sits the same papers, and every grade is open to everyone.
Do universities treat the two scales the same?
Yes. Cambridge says universities have told it they will keep their entry requirements consistent and treat 9 to 1 and A* to G grades equally. In the UK, sixth forms and colleges read an IGCSE grade the way they read a GCSE grade. If a requirement is written on one scale and your certificate shows the other, ask the school or university which grade they accept.
Where to find the grade boundaries
Boundaries are set after each exam series, once the papers are marked, so they change from one series to the next. Cambridge publishes them as grade threshold tables and Pearson as grade boundaries, both on their own websites. An old boundary tells you roughly how many marks a grade needed, never how many it will need.
Keep reading
- GCSE vs IGCSE - what is the difference, and are IGCSEs harder?
- Can you revise for IGCSE with GCSE resources?
- What are GCSE grades 1–9 in old A*–G terms?
- How many marks did each GCSE need for a 4, a 7 and a 9 in June 2025?
- Is a grade 4 a pass at GCSE?
- What percentage do you need for a grade 4, 5 or 7 at GCSE?
- What are grade boundaries and how do they work?