Making the grade: the new double award GCSE grading scale explained

New double award GCSEs use a simpler and clearer grading scale. Oliver Stacey, Senior Qualifications Manager, explains what’s changing and why.

As part of the National 14–16 Qualifications, we have established a set of new double award GCSEs in four key subjects.

Double award GCSEs are larger qualifications, so learners receive two grade letters, for example, CC. Having two letters helps to signify that the qualifications are larger in size than standard GCSEs. This gives appropriate recognition to learners’ achievement within these qualifications, which include more content and assessment than the single awards.

Previously, double award grades have been awarded on a 15-point scale, meaning results could be AA, AB, BC, CD, and so on. However, feedback from stakeholders and our aim for consistency across the new GCSE suite has led us to review this approach.

What's changing?

The new National Qualifications double award GCSEs will be graded on an 8-point scale. This means learners will get two identical letters in their grade:

New GCSE grade scale

A*A*

Legacy GCSE grade scale

A*A*

A*A

Benefits

Clearer for everyone

The 8-point scale is simpler and easier for stakeholders to understand. With only identical double-letter grades, results are easier to interpret. For example, grades like CD can cause confusion about the level achieved. Under the new scale, this is not an issue.

Reduced risk of misunderstanding

Within the new suite of GCSEs, some subjects, such as English language and literature, which have been historically assessed as separate qualifications are now integrated. Therefore, having two different letters (e.g. AB) might incorrectly suggest separate grades for each aspect.

More consistent with single award GCSEs

Both now use the same number of grade points.

Technically more reliable

Having eight grades instead of 15 helps improve the classification accuracy of each grade. This is because with fewer grades the boundaries for each grade are wider. This means there are fewer candidates very close to the boundary between grades where the outcome a learner achieves could change on the basis of just a few marks.

Subjects

The new 8-point scale applies to these double award qualifications:

GCSE English Language and Literature
GCSE Cymraeg Language and Literature
GCSE Mathematics and Numeracy
GCSE The Sciences

Timing

Double award GCSEs in English language and literature, Cymraeg language and literature and mathematics and numeracy were introduced for first teaching in September 2025. They will be awarded for the first time in the 2026/2027 academic year.

The new GCSE The Sciences (Double Award) will be introduced later in September 2026 and will be awarded for the first time in summer 2028.

This means that in summer 2027 a mix of 15-point and 8-point double award grades will be issued. From summer 2028 all double awards will be graded on the new 8-point scale.

The table below summarises these changes.

Subject	First award	Grading scale
GCSE English Language and Literature (Double Award)	Summer 2027	All on 8-point scale
GCSE Cymraeg Language and Literature (Double Award)	Summer 2027
GCSE Mathematics and Numeracy (Double Award)	Summer 2027
GCSE The Sciences (Double Award)	Summer 2028

Maintaining standards

We are committed to ensuring that outcomes in the new GCSEs remain broadly similar to the legacy qualifications. You can find out more about our position on broadly similar outcomes here.

In the existing GCSE Science Double Award qualification there are three different grades that include a C (grades BC, CC and CD). In the new qualification there will only be one (CC). Because the new GCSE The Sciences (Double Award) has fewer grade points, we will work carefully with WJEC to make sure that learners outcomes are protected during the first award. More details will follow in the next academic year.