The British grading system across the UK
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The British Grading System uses letter grades from A to D for Scotland’s National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher qualifications. A is the best grade and D is the worst and lowest passing grade; there is no percentage key.
In England, grading rules are set by the Department for Education (DfE), not by a national grading body. The main school-leaving exam is the GCSE.
This page explains how to read the scale and how school grading is run. It also covers teaching British students online or abroad, related grading systems, and sources for checking the information.
Reading the British scale
British grades vary by school stage and country, and there is no single percentage key. For GCSEs in England, grades run from 9 to 1, with 9 highest and 1 lowest; U means ungraded. The lowest passing grade is D in higher education.
| Grade | Meaning | Passing |
|---|---|---|
| A | Good to very good. | Yes |
| B | More than sufficient. | Yes |
| C | Sufficient. | Yes |
| D | Just sufficient. | Yes |
A score below 40% is a fail, indicated on the transcript as 'no award'.
In Scotland, D is the lowest satisfactory university grade, while a score below 40% in National 5 courses, Highers or Advanced Highers is a fail recorded as “no award.”
Compared with related systems
United Kingdom
4 of 4 grades pass
Netherlands
5 of 10 grades pass
How British school grading is run
In England, the Department for Education sets grading rules, and no national body sets grading rules across the country. Grading practice differs considerably between regions.
Secondary education diplomas state the subjects a student has passed and the examination results.
In Scotland, the Scottish Qualifications Authority issues the official secondary education diploma, which states the subjects the student has passed and their examination results (Nuffic).
If you teach British students online or abroad
Ask students to provide the grading key used on their report cards and transcripts. Record the key alongside each grade, and check that it matches the document.
Set the scale up once in a gradebook so every report card and transcript you produce uses the same key.
Related grading systems
Sources and verification
- [1]gov.uk. GCSE 9 to 1 grade scale explained - GOV.UK. Accessed Sep 24, 2026. Official source
- [2]educationhub.blog.gov.uk. How does the 9-1 GCSE grading system work? – The Education Hub. Accessed Sep 24, 2026. Official source
- [3]nuffic.nl. Grades and study results | Nuffic. Accessed Sep 24, 2026. Credential evaluator
- [4]nuffic.nl. Grades and study results | Nuffic. Accessed Sep 24, 2026. Credential evaluator
The facts on this page were last verified on Sep 24, 2026. Suggest a correction
Frequently asked questions
What is a passing grade in the United Kingdom?
Passing grades vary by country and qualification. In Scotland’s National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher qualifications, D is the lowest passing grade; for GCSEs in England, grades run from 9 to 1 and U means ungraded.
Do schools in the United Kingdom use percentages for grades?
Grading practice varies by region and qualification, and there is no single percentage key. Scotland’s National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher qualifications use letter grades, while GCSEs in England use grades 9 to 1, with U meaning ungraded.
