Your child will be taking new GCSEs in most subjects. These have a different grading scheme.

Key points

• GCSE grading is from 1-9, with 9 being the highest grade
• For each exam, the top 20 per cent of those who get grade 7 or above will get a grade 9 – the very highest performers
• Science, modern foreign language and mathematic GCSEs are tiered, with grades 4 and 5 available through both tiers
• All other GCSEs are not tiered
• Some subjects are at the same level as a GCSE but are graded as pass, merit and distinction – each type of pass corresponds to a GCSE grade