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The Grades in Plain English
Grade 9 is the highest and grade 1 is the lowest. A student who does not reach grade 1 gets a U (ungraded). The old letter grades do not match exactly, but Ofqual, the exams regulator, lined up three points: the bottom of a grade 7 matches the bottom of an A, the bottom of a 4 matches the bottom of a C, and the bottom of a 1 matches the bottom of a G.
| New Grade | Roughly Equal To | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | The very top of A* | Exceptional. Only a small share of students get a 9. |
| 8 | A* | Excellent |
| 7 | A | Very strong. Often asked for to study A Level Maths. |
| 6 | A high B | Good. Often needed for science A Levels. |
| 5 | A high C or a low B | The "strong pass" |
| 4 | C | The "standard pass" |
| 3 | D or E | Below a pass. Maths must be continued after 16. |
| 2 and 1 | E to G | Working towards a pass |
Working At, Predicted and Target Grades
School reports often show three different grades. They mean different things:
The grade your child would most likely get if they sat the exam today, based on recent work and tests.
The grade the teacher expects by the end of Year 11, allowing for the progress still to come.
An ambitious grade, often set by a computer from earlier test scores. It is a goal, not a promise.
A gap between "working at" and "target" is normal in Year 10. A gap that is not closing by the spring of Year 11 is worth a conversation with the teacher.
Grade Boundaries Change Every Year
There is no fixed pass mark. The exam boards set the grade boundaries after the papers have been marked, so the number of marks needed for a grade 4 or 7 is a little different each year. This is why grades on mock exams are estimates: the school has to guess the boundaries.
What Sixth Forms and Colleges Usually Ask For
| Next Step | Maths Grade Often Asked For |
|---|---|
| Most college courses and apprenticeships | Grade 4 |
| Many sixth forms (general entry) | Grade 4 or 5 |
| A Level Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Economics, Psychology | Often grade 6, sometimes 5 |
| A Level Maths | Usually grade 6 or 7 |
| A Level Further Maths | Often grade 7 or 8, sometimes higher |
These are typical figures only. Every sixth form and college sets its own entry requirements, so always check the prospectus of the places your child is interested in.
What If My Child Does Not Get a Grade 4?
In England, students who do not get at least a grade 4 in maths by 16 must keep studying maths alongside their main course, usually until 18. Under the current Department for Education funding rules:
- Students with a grade 3 study towards GCSE Maths again.
- Students with a grade 2 or below can study Functional Skills Maths Level 2 (a shorter, practical maths qualification) instead, or GCSE.
- GCSE Maths can be resat in the November resit exams (for students aged 16 or over), or the following summer.
The exact rules are set by the government and can change, so check with the college or sixth form. The good news is that a resit is very achievable with the right support, and Functional Skills Level 2 is accepted by many employers and courses in place of a grade 4.