GCSE grades to letters, and IB to A-Level
Convert between the GCSE 9-1 numbers and the old A*-G letters using the comparison points Ofqual publishes, and see how a set of IB grades compares with A-Levels in UCAS tariff points.
GCSE numbers and letters
B rangeBetween grade 4 (the bottom of an old C) and grade 7 (the bottom of an old A).
Roughly grade 5 or 6 (between the C and A comparison points)
Ofqual: “The number scale is not directly equivalent to the old letter one.” Only grades 7, 4 and 1 have official comparison points; the others are shown as ranges between them. England only: Wales and Northern Ireland use different scales.
IB to A-Level, by UCAS points
Enter three Higher Level and three Standard Level grades.
184 UCAS tariff points from your six subjects: at A-Level that's more than A*A*A* (168 points), the most three A-Levels can earn.
HL 7 = 56, 6 = 48, 5 = 32, 4 = 24, 3 = 12; SL 7 = 28, 6 = 24, 5 = 16, 4 = 12, 3 = 6; grades 2 and 1 earn no points. The core (TOK and the Extended Essay) earns UCAS points separately and isn't included. Many universities set IB offers in total points or HL grades instead, so check each course.
How GCSE numbers compare with letters
England's GCSEs moved from A*-G to 9-1, starting with English and maths in 2017. Ofqual set three comparison points: the bottom of a 7 is aligned with the bottom of an A, the bottom of a 4 with the bottom of a C, and the bottom of a 1 with the bottom of a G. Grade 9 is the highest and is awarded to fewer students than the old A*.
Ofqual says the number scale isn't directly equivalent to the letters, so the converter gives single letters only at those points and ranges for the grades in between.
Worked example: an old B lies between the C point (grade 4) and the A point (grade 7), so it corresponds to a 5 or 6.
IB and A-Level in UCAS points
UCAS gives tariff points to each IB subject, not to the Diploma total: HL 7 is 56 points (like an A* at A-Level), HL 6 is 48 (like an A) and SL 7 is 28. Adding six subjects gives a total you can compare with A-Level combinations.
Worked example: HL 6, 6, 5 and SL 6, 5, 5 make 128 + 56 = 184 points, more than three A*s at A-Level (168). Six IB subjects usually earn more tariff points than three A-Levels, which is one reason universities set separate IB offers.
Limits
- ✓ The 9-1 scale is England's; Wales and Northern Ireland use different GCSE scales
- ✓ Tariff points compare size and grade, not difficulty, and many universities set IB offers in total points or HL grades
- ✓ The IB core (TOK and the Extended Essay) earns UCAS points separately and isn't included here
- ✓ There's no official GCSE or A-Level to US GPA conversion
FAQs
What is a grade 7 at GCSE in letters?＋
An A. The bottom of a grade 7 is aligned with the bottom of the old grade A.
What is a C in the new GCSE grades?＋
A 4. The bottom of a grade 4 is aligned with the bottom of the old grade C, and the Department for Education recognises 4 and above as a standard pass.
Is a grade 9 an A*?＋
A 9 is the highest grade and is awarded to fewer students than the old A*, so it's best read as a top A*.
What is a grade 5 or 6 in letters?＋
There's no exact letter: 5 and 6 sit between the comparison points for C (grade 4) and A (grade 7), so broadly the old B to C range.
How do IB grades compare with A-Levels?＋
Through UCAS tariff points: an HL 7 earns 56 points, like an A* at A-Level, and an HL 6 earns 48, like an A. Universities often set separate IB offers, so check each course.
Can I convert GCSEs or A-Levels to a US GPA?＋
There's no official conversion. US colleges read UK grades in context or use a credential evaluation service, so we don't give a GPA figure.
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