How the GCSE system works
Grades run from 9 (top) down to 1. In England, grade 4 is the standard pass, and some further steps rely on it. Maths and sciences are tiered in most boards — the Foundation and Higher tiers — and exam boards include AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, and CCEA.
Exams run through May–June, and some subjects also carry non-exam assessment (NEA) that your school marks.

