Fiducia TogetherGCSE
Also called General Certificate of Secondary Education, Grades 9 to 1
The main qualification at the end of year 11, graded 9 to 1 rather than A* to G.
Please note: This page explains a word or a process in education. It is general information about the system, the law and the guidance in England — not advice about your child, your school or your exam. If a decision is going against you, get advice from one of the free services we link to before you agree to anything or miss a deadline. If you are revising, check your own exam board's specification: boards word things differently and yours is the one that marks you.
What it is
GCSEs are taken at the end of Key Stage 4, normally in year 11. Since the 2017 reforms they are graded 9 to 1, with 9 the highest.
Grade 4 is a standard pass and grade 5 a strong pass. Grade 4 is broadly comparable to the old C.
Where it applies
Pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 in England.
How it works
Most subjects are assessed by terminal examination with little or no coursework.
English and maths matter beyond the subject: a student who does not achieve grade 4 must normally continue studying them post-16 as a condition of funding.
Access arrangements apply and must be applied for in advance.
What you can ask for
Ask which tier your child is entered for in maths and science. Foundation tier caps the available grade at 5, and the decision is often made quietly.
Ask about access arrangements by the start of year 10 at the latest. They rest on evidence of normal way of working, which takes time to build.
Ask what happens if a grade is disappointing: reviews of marking and appeals have deadlines within weeks of results day.
Where to get help
The exams officer at the school is the person who actually knows the rules. JCQ publishes the access arrangements regulations.
Where to read more
Last reviewed 2026-08-28 by Fiducia Together · Next review due 2027-08-28
Please note: This page explains a word or a process in education. It is general information about the system, the law and the guidance in England — not advice about your child, your school or your exam. If a decision is going against you, get advice from one of the free services we link to before you agree to anything or miss a deadline. If you are revising, check your own exam board's specification: boards word things differently and yours is the one that marks you.