Edexcel

International
GCSEs (9–1)
A guide to the new
9–1 grading scale
for schools
Introducing the new
9–1 grading scale
This guide provides information on the new 9–1 grading system being
used for the new Edexcel International GCSEs (9–1), available for first
teaching from September 2017.
In 2013 Ofqual (The Office of Qualifications and Examinations
Regulation in England) and the UK government announced a number
of changes to GCSE and GCE A level qualifications in England from
September 2015 onwards. This included the introduction of a new 9–1
grading scale.
To ensure international students have the same opportunities as
students in the UK, we felt it was important to align our new suite of
Edexcel International GCSEs with the new GCSEs (9–1) in England.

9 A*

8
7 A
Let’s take a closer look
at the new 9–1 grading scale
The new grading scale will have grades 9–1 instead of the current A*–G
grades that you’re currently used to. You can use the diagram below
to understand how the the A*–G and 9–1 grading scales align.

NEW CURRENT
9–1 A*–G
GRADES GRADES
The new Grade 9 represents a new level of
attainment and we’ve introduced this to really 9
differentiate your top performing students. A*
8

The bottom of the grade 7 aligns 7 A

with the bottom of the grade A.

6
B
There’s also greater differentiation in the middle
range of grades, with grades 4 to 5 being
equivalent to the old grade B and grade C.
5
So grade 5 will be awarded to the
top grade C performers and grade 6 to the
grade B performers.
C
4
The bottom of the grade 4 aligns
with the bottom of the grade C .
3 D

E
2
F
1
The bottom of the grade 1 aligns G
with the bottom of the grade G.
U U

We will award our qualifications so that broadly the same proportion of students who achieved a C and above will achieve
a 4 and above, and broadly the same proportion of students who achieved an A and above will achieve a 7 and and above.
The grades that fall between the key boundaries of 7, 4 and 1, will be awarded arithmetically, at even intervals.

We will use the same trusted awarding process that we currently use to award A*–G. This awarding process sets grade
boundaries for each qualification after each paper has been marked, to ensure that students achieve a fair grade after sitting
different examination papers. For more information how grade boundaries are set, please watch this useful video.

Our grading scale graph showing the alignment of grades, combined with exemplar marked materials available in 2017
for the new qualifications and the textbooks which indicate the level of difficulty of a question, should help you to form a
broad understanding how students may perform against the new grading scale.
Rewarding outstanding
academic achievement
With 9 levels of attainment, rather than the 8 in the current
A*–G grading scale, the new 9–1 grading scale offers greater
differentiation of the most able at the top end of the grading scale,
recognising outstanding academic achievement. There is also greater
differentiation in the middle of the scale, with three grades (4, 5 and
6) aligned to the current C and B grades, motivating students and
supporting progression.

Supporting progression
Our International GCSEs (9–1) have been designed to support
progression to further study, including A levels, International
A levels and beyond.
UK universities are familiar with, and support, the new 9–1 grading
scale and will be setting acceptance criteria for admission to university
based on the new 9–1 grading, alongside GCE A level and International
Advanced level (IAL) qualifications.
Aligning with English national practice ensures international
recognition and understanding from universities and ministries around
the world. The UK government and UK NARIC (UK National Agency for
the Recognition and Comparison of International Qualifications and
Skills) communicate with universities and government ministries across
the world endorsing the new 9–1 grading scale.

Positive feedback from universities

about the new 9–1 grading scale

The proposed model and assessment

questions would certainly support
progression to higher levels and
secure these qualifications as being
rigorous and challenging.”
Alison, Aston University, UK
Structured and
supported transition
We will be supporting you transition to the new Edexcel International
GCSEs (9–1) with a wide range of teaching and learning materials,
resources and training, so you can be confident in planning and
delivering the new qualification.

At a glance support for you at every stage

Support from your subject advisor
Free
Face-to-face and online training events
support
Getting started guides
Planning Curriculum matched, endorsed resources*
Published ActiveLearn Digital (online subscription service)
resources brings together planning, teaching and
assessment resources all in one place*
Teacher’s guides
Schemes of work
Lesson plans*
Free
Exemplar marked responses*
Teaching & support
Sample assessment materials
Learning Examiner reports
Ask the expert

Published Student Books with free, accompanying ActiveBooks*

resources ActiveLearn Digital (online subscription service)*
Exam preparation resources
Past exam papers
Free
Community support
support
Results analysis tool, ResultsPlus
Assessment & Past paper questions with ExamWizard*
Progression Student Books with chapter summaries
and exam practice*
Published
resources ActiveLearn Digital (online subscription service)
contains a range of resources to support
assessment and progression*

*Available for selected subjects.

Exemplar marked responses
To support your understanding of the new mark schemes for the new 9–1 grading, we are
producing exemplars of students’ responses from the new sample assessment materials, marked
by our senior examiners, so you can be clear on how the new mark schemes will be applied. A
variety of student abilities will be shown, demonstrating how the highest marks for questions
can be achieved.
These will be available for English, Mathematics and Science subjects in 2016 and for additional
subjects in 2017.

Here are the first five terms of an arithmetic sequence

5 8 11 15 17

c) Is 42 a term of this seuqence? Show how you get your answer

1 /2
(2)
 y guide t
will be

Your handening and when?

more chall
enging, Fewer cour
for exam se optio
ple
substanti more in Science ns
happ new for Engli al texts will eithe
r
- students Coursewo
rk and
guide to the Combine take the new
sh Literature practical
this handy
and new d Science assessme
ges. topics for (wor play a muc nts
d together k of the chan
two GCSE
Maths. s) or three th h smaller
We have pulle ) so you can keep trac
separate with the part
GCSE exception
Chemistry s in Biology, practical of
GCSEs (9-1 and Phys subjects
ics. as Dram such
a and Danc
e.

an ging? The new

What’s ch to better prep
of a challenge ent.
are 9-1 Gradi
ng
ent more loym
GCSEs, pres e studies and emp Grades
The new g the A*-G
ents for futur em replacin
Existing
your stud
grading syst
A* - G Grad Grade 9
is
a new ‘9-1’ are bein es the new
There’s even ter differentiation. replaced g
with
top Grad
e
can be rougand
Grade 4
the equi is
to show grea a 9-1 scale equated hly valent Grade 5
to a to a low the equi is
A* grade top mid grad to valent This will
eC to a low mea
to high
B greater n
C differenti
ation

be A* A
There will B
C
ized’
s will be taken fewer ‘bite-s more

Published resources
Most exam the two-year questions
and D E
Current
s of
style exam at the end questions. New F G GCSE
The first new r than on essay-style GCSE
U
Maths and course rathe modules. Grading
for GCSE be in of Grading
English will completion 9 8 7 Structur
. Structur 6 e
August 2017 e
4
5
3 2 1 U

4 C
and = and
GCSE reform –
above
above

k and
e options
Coursewor
sments
practical asses er part
Your handy guide to what’s
Fewer cours
happening and when?
We will be publishing teaching and
small
- students play a much tion of ACADEM
Content will
be in Science IC YEAR
take the new h with the excepcts such
more challe
for example
substantial
nging,
more
texts
will either
Combined
two GCSE
Science (wort
s) or three
Biology,
practical subje Dance.
as Drama
and We have pulled together this handy guide to the new When?
h Literature separate
GCSEs in cs.
GCSEs (9-1) so you can keep track of the changes.
for Englis for and Physi
Chemistry
and new topics

learning resources for many of the new

Math s.
SEPTEMBE
2015 Sept 2015
What’s changing?
R 2015

• English new GCS Es

Language (9-1 ) in
g
9-1 Gradin
• English Mat hs
( Lan gua ge and Eng lish
20 ALGEBRA 1
International GCSEsUNIT 1
The new GCSEs, present more of a challenge to better prepare Literature

The new
Edexcel (9–1), which
• Maths
and
wer e intr oduLite ratu re )
your students for future studies and employment.
There’s even a new ‘9-1’ grading system replacing the A*-G Grades
first exams ced
to show greater differentiation.
will mean in Sum
Grade 5 is
This m er 20
Grade 9 is Grade 4 is alent
the equiv B
greater
differentia
tion 2016 17

will also support the new 9–1 grading.

alent SEPTEMBE
the new the equiv to a low R 2016
Existing and to a low to to high C
es top Grade ly
A* - G Grad can be roughtop mid grade
C
Subjects
are being equated
to a include:

Sept 2016
with
replaced A* grade • Biology
a 9-1 scale
• History
Current • Chemistry
GCSE • Physics • Drama
new GCSEs (9-1)
E F G
U Grading
C
• Physical
D
Stru cture • Combine
for 20 subjects,

SIMPLIFYING ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

The first new style exams Most exams will be taken There will be d Science Education
B fewer ‘bite-sized’• French • Religious
for GCSE Maths and at the end of the two-year Studies including Science,

The level of difficulty of the exercises in

A* A
English will be in course rather than on questions and more • German • Music
August 2017. completion of modules. essay-style questions.
• Latin
History and Geography
1 U • Spanish

4 3 2
5
• Geograph
y
• Dance first exams in Summer 2018
New 6 • Compute
7
GCSE 9 8 r Science

the published resources are signposted in

Grading
Structure C
4 = and
and
above
above 2017
SEPTEMBE
Sept
the following ways, ACTIVITY
to help 2indicate what
R 2017

Content will be Fewer course options

Subje
Coursework andcts include:
2017
more challenging, in Science - students practical assessments
• Economic
IC YEAR play a much smaller part s
Ov er 25
ACADEM for example more will either take the new
ne
wil l be w GC SE s (9-
• Statistics • Business
substantial texts Combined Science (worth with the exception of
for English Literature two GCSEs) or three practical subjects
• Psycsuch • Phase int ro 1)
Sept 2015 De sig n du ce d inc lud
holo two Mod
as Drama and Dance. gy ern

level students are working towards and

and new topics for separate GCSEs in Biology, Foreign
• Design Language
Maths. Chemistry and Physics. & Technolo incl. Chin
ese,
s &T ec hn ing
When?
gy
Arabic and Italic, olo gy
SKILL: REASONING 2015 (9-1 ) in Urdu. first exams i
new GCS Es Eng lish n Sum
m
Mat hs and Lite ratu re ) er 2
019
and
( Lan guag e intro duce d

help them reach theirInvestigate

grade aspirations. The new 9-1 Grading SEPTE MBER 2015

the result when you substitute various values (positive or negative) for x in both
• English
• English
Language
Literature
were
first exams i
n Summer 2017 To find ou
t
our latest more about GCSE
qualificati
ons and
(9-1) includ
Grade 5 is www.
ing
of these expressions: resource
• Maths
2016 pe
Existing Grade 9 is
the new Grade 4 is
arsonglo s visit
016
A* - G Grades This will mean
top Grade and the equivalent the equivalent
ba
Sept 2SEs (9-1)
are being
replaced with
can be roughly to a low to to a low B
greater
differentiation lschools.c
a 9-1 scale
equated to a top mid grade C to high C
om/GCS
E
A* grade

,
2
x + 6x + 5 ne w GC0 su bj ec ts e,
2016
SEPTEMBER

fo r 2 in g Sc ie nc ph y
x +1 and
e:
Subjects includ
• History in cl ud d Ge og ra Current
• Biology • Drama A* y Aan
Hi st or
B
C D E F G U
GCSE

x +5
Grading
• Chemistry • Physical
Education er 2018
in Summ Structure
• Physics Studies exams
Science
• Religious
New
first
• Combined • Music
• French • Latin
GCSE
Grading
9 8 7 6 5
4 3 2 1 U
Structure

What is your conclusion? Which expression would you rather use? 4

• German • Dance
• Spanish Science
• Computer
• Geography
C
= and
2017 Sept 2017 and
above above

Over 25
new GCSEs (9-1)
SEPTEMBER
2017 including YEAR
will be introduced ACADEMIC
e: Design &Technolo gy
Subjects includ
• Business
• Economics
• Statistics
• Phase two
Modern
ages
Foreign LanguItalic,
When?
first exams in Summer 2019
Sept 2015
• Psychology
incl. Chine
se,
Urdu.
2015
Arabic and
• Design
& Technology new GCSEs (9-1) in
SEPTEMBER 2015 Maths and English

EXAMPLE 1 Simplify a + 3ab – 4ba • English Literature

• English Language

including
( Language and Literature )
were introduced
GCSE (9-1) s visit
ut• Maths
first exams in Summer 2
t more abo
017
ource
To find ou ions and res
a + 3ab – 4ba = a – ab our latest
qualificat
alschools.
com/GCSE
2016
songlob
www.pear Sept 201(9-61)
SEPTEMBER 2016

Note: ab = ba so 3ab and –4ba are like terms and can be simplified. Subjects include:

• Biology • History
s
new GC SE jec ts,
for 20 sub
• Chemistry • Drama Sci enc e,
• Physics • Physical Education inc lud ing Ge ogr aph y
His tor y and
• Combined Science • Religious Studies
ams in Summer 2018
first ex
• French • Music
• German • Latin
• Spanish • Dance
• Geography • Computer Science

EXAMPLE 2 Simplify 3p3 + 2p2 – 2p3 + 5p2 2017

Sept 2017
3p3 + 2p2 – 2p3 + 5p2 = 3p3 – 2p3 + 5p2 + 2p2 = p3 + 7p2 Over 25
SEPTEMBER 2017

Subjects include:
new GCSEs (9-1)
will be introd uced includi
• Economics • Business
Design &Tech nology ng
• Statistics • Phase two Modern
Foreign Languages
• Psychology
incl. Chinese, Italic, first exams in Summ
• Design & Technology Arabic and Urdu. er 201
9

KEY POINTS • You can only add or subtract like terms.

To find out more about GCSE (9-1) including
• 3ab + 2ab = 5ab but the terms in 3ab + b cannot be added together.
our latest qualifications and resources visit
www.pearsonglobalschools.com/GCSE
2 2 2 2
• 3a + 2a = 5a but the terms in 3a + 2a cannot be added together.
• You can check your simplifications by substituting numbers.

EXERCISE 1 Simplify these as much as possible.

1▶ 9ab − 5ab 7▶ 6xy − 12xy + 2xy

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ▶
2 8 5xy +
9 2yx 10 11 12 8▶
Exercises without a star, are working
4ab + 10bc − 2ab − 5cb
3▶ 4pq – 7qp 9▶towards
3ba − ab +new
the 3ab −grades
5ab 1–6 and the
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ▶
4 9 2xy 10 11
+ y − 3xy 12 10exercises
▶ 4gh − that are+starred
5jk – 2gh 7 are working
5▶ x − 3x + 2 − 4x 11towards
▶ 2p −the5p +new
2p −grades
4p 6–9. 2 2

6▶ 7cd − 8dc + 3cd 12 ▶ 2x y − xy2 + 3yx2 − 2y2x

2

EXERCISE 1* Simplify these as much as possible.

1▶ 7xy + 5xy – 13xy 7▶ x2 – 5x + 4 – x2 + 6x – 3
1 2 3 4 5 6 72 ▶ 8 7ab –
9 b – 3ab
10 11 12 8▶ 5a2 + a3 – 3a2 + a
3▶ 2ab – 3ba + 7ab 9▶ h3 + 5h – 3 – 4h2 – 2h + 7 + 5h2
2 3 4 5 6 7 84 ▶ 9 12ab10– 6ba11+ ba 12
– 7ab 10 ▶ 3a2b – 2ab + 4ba2 – ba
5▶ 4ab + 10bc – ba – 7cb 11 ▶ 0.7a2b3c – 0.4b2a3c + 0.3cb3a2 – 0.2a3cb2 + 0.3
6▶ q + q + 2q – q
2 3 2 3
12 ▶ 2pq2r5 – pq2r4 – (r4pq2 – 2q2r5p)

M01_IGMA_SB_1444_U01.indd 20 04/07/2016 16:08

More difficult questions appear at the end of some

exercises, further challenging more able students,
and are identified by green question numbers.
New Edexcel
International GCSEs (9–1)
available from September 2017
To help your school make a smooth transition to the new qualification,
all the new International GCSEs (9–1) will be available for first teaching
from September 2017 with assessment from May/June 2019.

English and Humanities Maths and Science

Art and Design Mathematics (Specification A)*^
Bangladesh Studies Mathematics (Specification B)*^
English Language (Specification A)*^ Further Pure Mathematics^
English Language (Specification B)*^ Biology*^
English Literature*^ Human Biology*^
English as a Second Language*^ Chemistry*^
Geography Physics*^
Global Citizenship Science (Double Award)*^
History^ Science (Single Award)
Islamiyat
Pakistan Studies
Religious Studies

Business and ICT Languages

Accounting*^ Arabic (First Language)*
Business Studies^ Bengali*
Commerce* Chinese
Computer Science French
Economics*^ German
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)^ Greek (First Language)
Sinhala
Spanish
Swahili
Tamil

* Qualifications with both a January and June assessment.

^ Will have accompanying published resources available.
What will happen with the
current Edexcel International
GCSE (A*–G)?
We believe that the new 9–1 grading is essential for improving
learner outcomes and ensuring progression for students to A level,
International A level, university and beyond. Therefore, last assessment
dates for the current Edexcel International GCSEs will be as follows:

June 2018 January 2019 June 2019

Art and Design Accounting Classical Arabic*
Bangladesh Studies Arabic First Language Gujarati*
Biology Biology Turkish*
Bengali Bengali
Business Studies Chemistry
Chinese Commerce
Commerce English Language A
English as a Second Language English Language B
French English Literature
Geography Economics
German Human Biology
Global Citizenship Mathematics A
Modern Greek Mathematics B
(to be retitled Greek Further Pure Mathematics
1st Language) Physics
Hindi* Science (Double Award)
History
Information and Communication
Technology (ICT)
Islamiyat
Pakistan Studies
Religious Studies
Sinhala
Spanish
Swahili
Tamil
Urdu*
Plus all subjects
from January 2019.

* Will not be replaced with new Edexcel International GCSE (9–1).

Frequently
asked
questions

How does this new

grading scale benefit
students?
Grade 9 is a new level of attainment and
represents the top of an A* grade. With 9
levels of performance in the new grading
scale, rather than the 8 in the current grading
scale, there is greater differentiation of the
most able at the top end of the grading
scale, helping high achieving students to
make informed decisions about their A level
and university choices. There is also greater
differentiation in the middle of the scale,
with three grades (4, 5 and 6) aligned to the
current C and B grades, motivating students
and supporting progression. This means that
the 9–1 grading scale rewards top grade
C students with a new grade 5, and top B
grade students with a new grade 6.
 How can I explain
the benefit of
the new grading
to learners and
parents?
The new International GCSEs (9–1)
will be fully comparable with GCSEs
in England, in terms of the level of
demand and assessment standards,
so that they continue to support
progression to further study, including
A levels , International A levels and
beyond. High performing learners
have the opportunity to achieve a
grade 9, a higher level of attainment
than the current A* grade, rewarding
outstanding academic achievement.
Take a look at our guide for parents
and learners on the new 9–1 grading.

Have we got to move to

the new 9–1 grading scale?
Because the UK Department for Education
and Ofqual (the Office of Qualifications and
Examinations Regulation in England) has introduced
a number of reforms to GCSE and GCE A level
qualifications in England, all Awarding Organisations
(Pearson, AQA and OCR) in England are now offering
9–1 GCSEs. We are introducing a new 9–1 grading
scale for updated Edexcel International GCSEs to
ensure that they will remain comparable to the
new 9–1 GCSEs in England, in terms of the level of
demand and assessment standards. Last assessment
for the current Edexcel GCSEs (A*–G) will be June
2018, January 2019 and June 2019.
Watch our video
See what our experts
have to say about
the new 9–1 grading

To find out more

about our new Edexcel
International GCSEs (9–1),
visit our website, where
you can request your local
consultant to contact you.

DECEMBER 2016