The IGCSE Grading System Explained: A*,G vs 9-1 Scales

The IGCSE grading system can look confusing at first. Some students receive an A*, others a 7, for the same subject. Two official scales exist side by side, and your school's region and exam board decide which appears on your certificate.

The grading system is the set of achievement levels Cambridge International and other boards use to report IGCSE performance, across two scales: the traditional A* to G and the newer 9 to 1. Universities worldwide recognise both as equivalent.

The two IGCSE grading scales

The A* to G scale

The A* to G scale is the original system used by Cambridge IGCSE and Edexcel IGCSE. It has been in place for decades and remains the most widely used scale in international schools across the Gulf.

The scale runs from the highest grade down to the lowest recorded pass, with an extra category for students who meet no threshold.

A* represents exceptional mastery, reserved for candidates performing well above the A boundary. A U grade means ungraded: the student did not meet the minimum threshold for grade G and receives no certificate grade.

Grades A* through C are broadly considered strong academic performance. Grade C sits at the boundary many schools and universities treat as a standard pass, though requirements vary by institution and programme.

The 9 to 1 scale

The 9 to 1 scale is newer, introduced mainly through Pearson Edexcel for its international GCSE and IGCSE qualifications. It mirrors the reformed GCSE grading used in England since 2017 and is increasingly common in British-curriculum schools.

Grade 9 sits at the very top. It was deliberately designed to reward only the absolute highest achievers, distinguishing exceptional performance in a way the old A* boundary could not always do at scale.

Grade 1 is the lowest awarded grade, and a U (ungraded) applies when a candidate does not meet the threshold for grade 1. Grade 4 is the standard pass, and grade 5 is a strong pass.

How do the two scales compare?

The most common question our Academic Consultants hear is whether a grade 7 equals an A. It does. Cambridge International and Ofqual publish official anchor points that align the two scales directly.

The table below shows the alignment between the A* to G and 9 to 1 scales, based on Cambridge International and Ofqual published guidance.

A* to G Grade	9 to 1 Equivalent	Performance Descriptor
A*	9 / 8	Exceptional to very high achievement
A	7	High achievement
B	6	Good achievement
C	4 / 5	Standard to strong pass
D	3	Approaching standard pass
E	2	Below standard pass
F / G	1	Minimum graded achievement

One nuance: A* on the alphabetical scale maps to both grade 9 and grade 8. Grade 9 was created to distinguish the very top performers within the A* band, so it sits slightly above the traditional A* boundary.

Passing grades and grade boundaries

What counts as a pass?

There is no universal pass mark, but there are widely accepted benchmarks. On the A* to G scale, grade C is the standard pass. On the 9 to 1 scale, grade 4 is the standard pass and grade 5 the strong pass.

According to Cambridge International, students achieving grade C or above, or grade 4 and above on the numerical scale, are considered to have demonstrated competency in the subject at IGCSE level.

For competitive university programmes or top sixth forms, grade B or above (grade 6) is often the practical target. Our tutors regularly see Year 10 and 11 students aim for A or A* once they understand where the grade boundaries fall.

How are grade boundaries set?

Grade boundaries are not fixed percentages. Cambridge IGCSE sets them each session through expert judgement combined with statistical analysis of the whole cohort. The mark needed for an A* in one series may differ slightly from the previous year.

Edexcel follows a similar approach. The boundary for each grade is set after all scripts are marked, which is why Cambridge publishes its IGCSE grade boundaries after results day each year, not before.

The practical implication: aim for the highest possible raw mark, not a specific percentage. IGCSE tutoring focused on past-paper technique helps students maximise their mark rather than guess at a moving target.

Do universities treat both equally?

Yes. Universities in the UK, UAE, USA, Canada, and across Europe accept both scales as full equivalents. Admissions teams know both systems well. Whether your certificate reads A* or 9, the outcome for your application is identical.

For A-Level or IB pathways in the Gulf, sixth forms usually state entry requirements in both scales. A sixth form asking for BBB will accept the equivalent grade 6s on the 9 to 1 scale.

Students sitting Cambridge A-Levels after IGCSE will find their IGCSE grades stay on their academic record and often serve as a predictor of A-Level performance. The scale used at IGCSE does not disadvantage anyone in that transition.

How Talimat Can Help

Understanding the grading system is the first step. Building the subject knowledge to reach the grade your child is aiming for is where online tutoring makes a measurable difference.

At Talimat, every student is matched with a subject-specialist tutor. Sessions are live and 1:1, structured around the exact exam board and syllabus your child sits, whether Cambridge IGCSE on A* to G or an Edexcel programme on 9 to 1.

From sign-up, your child gets a dedicated Academic Consultant who maps a personalised study plan, tracks progress, and adjusts focus as exam dates approach. Mock exams with detailed feedback are built in, so students know where they stand before results day.

If you would like to discuss your child's current grades and where they need to get to, contact us and we will match you with the right tutor today.

Whichever scale appears on your child's certificate, the goal is the same: the strongest possible performance in every subject. The grading system is only the measure; the preparation is what moves the needle.