What Is a Good IGCSE Grade? Is a 5, 6 or B Good?

To see how the two scales line up first, use our IGCSE grading system chart.

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Is a 5 a good IGCSE grade?

Grade 5 (Edexcel 9-1 scale) is a strong pass, broadly equivalent to a low B on the Cambridge A*-G scale. It is the standard requirement set by most UK universities in English and Maths and is fully respected for general A-Level or IB entry. For competitive university courses (Medicine, Russell Group Engineering) you would want to push beyond grade 5 in academic subjects.

"Is a 5 good?" "Is a B okay?" "Will my child get into medicine with these grades?" These are the IGCSE questions parents ask most often, and the honest answer is: a good IGCSE grade depends entirely on what comes next. A grade 5 (or low B) is a perfectly respectable pass for a student aiming at standard A-Level entry. The same grade is a problem for a student targeting Medicine at a Russell Group university. This guide breaks down what a "good" IGCSE grade actually means in 2026, by pathway.

For the full grading mechanics (A*-G vs 9-1, how boundaries are set), see our companion guide on how IGCSEs are graded. For board-specific context: Cambridge IGCSE vs Edexcel.

Is a 5, 6 or 7 a Good IGCSE Grade? (Table)

Only 7 = A, 4 = C and 1 = G are exact anchors (set by Cambridge); the other rows are approximate.

What Is the IGCSE Pass Mark?

There is no fixed pass percentage. The boards set new grade boundaries after every session, so the marks needed for a C or a 4 change from paper to paper. A "pass" means reaching grade C (Cambridge) or 4 (Edexcel); a "strong pass" usually means 5 or above. Our guide to IGCSE grades as percentages explains how to check the official boundaries.

The Three Tiers: Pass, Strong Pass, Top Pass

Universities and sixth forms use a tier system that maps onto both grading scales:

• Standard pass — Cambridge C; Edexcel 4. Confirms the student met the curriculum's minimum competence. Most UK sixth forms accept C / 4 as the floor for entry.
• Strong pass — Cambridge B; Edexcel 5. The "good" baseline. Most UK universities set entry requirements at this level in English and Maths.
• Top pass — Cambridge A or A*; Edexcel 7, 8 or 9. Required across multiple subjects for competitive university courses, especially Medicine, Engineering, Law and Economics at Russell Group institutions.

So is a B (Cambridge) or 5 (Edexcel) good? Yes — for most pathways. Is it good enough for Medicine at Cambridge or Imperial? No — those courses typically want a profile loaded with 7-9s or A*/A across academic subjects.

What Sixth Forms (A-Levels and IB) Expect

For sixth-form entry specifically see our companion guide on how many IGCSEs you need for A-Levels. Most UK and international sixth forms set IGCSE entry requirements at five or more passes at grade C / 4 or above, including English and Maths. Competitive sixth forms — UK independent schools, top international academies — typically raise this:

• Six or more passes at B / 5 or above for general A-Level entry.
• A or A* / grade 7-9 in the subject for A-Level entry to that specific subject (especially Maths, Sciences, Modern Languages).
• Strong English Language grade (B / 6+) for international students who would otherwise need IELTS or TOEFL.

For IB Diploma entry, the expectations are higher because the workload is heavier. Most IB schools expect 6 or 7 in the corresponding MYP subject (or 7-9 / A*-A at IGCSE) for any subject the student wants to take at HL.

What Universities Want, By Course Type

UK universities increasingly factor IGCSE/GCSE grades into admissions because they are an early academic signal. The published norms:

• Medicine and Dentistry: typically 7-8 IGCSEs at grade 7-9 / A*-A, including English, Maths, Biology and Chemistry. The strongest medical schools often look for a high proportion of 8s and 9s.
• Engineering and Computer Science: A*-A / 7-9 in Maths and Physics is the minimum signal for Imperial, Cambridge, Oxford and equivalent.
• Economics, Law, PPE: A*-A / 7-9 in Maths and English are typically expected; LSE, Cambridge and Oxford pay close attention to the IGCSE profile.
• Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences: requirements are less subject-specific; strong overall grades (B / 6 floor) and especially strong English are weighed alongside A-Level/IB performance.

US, Canadian and Australian universities also read the IGCSE record but the post-16 qualification (A-Levels or IB Diploma) matters more for direct admission. See our guide to IGCSE recognition.

What 'Good' Means In Practice

If your child is sitting IGCSEs now, the practical guidance:

• Aim for 8 or more subjects at grade 6 / B and above, including English Language and Maths. This is the baseline for any competitive sixth form or university destination.
• Push the subjects you will continue at A-Level or IB to the top of the scale. A student planning to take A-Level Maths but sitting at a Cambridge C or Edexcel 4 will struggle — close the gap before sixth form, not in it.
• Don't ignore the "smaller" subjects. A second language at A*/9 strengthens a profile far more than a Maths grade pushed from 8 to 9.

For board-specific A* preparation see how to get an A* in IGCSE Maths and IGCSE subjects for medicine.

If The Grades Aren't What You Hoped

Below-target IGCSE grades feel like a closed door — they aren't. Three honest routes:

• Resits. Both Cambridge and Edexcel allow IGCSE resits in any session. A student who scored a 4 in May can re-sit in October/November the same year or the following May.
• Strong A-Levels can override weak IGCSEs at many universities — though Medicine and the most selective courses still look back at IGCSE in detail.
• Targeted tutoring in the gap subjects is more cost-effective than a full retake of strong subjects. For 1-on-1 IGCSE preparation, see our Cambridge IGCSE or Edexcel IGCSE tutoring pages.

Continue: how IGCSEs are graded (9-1 vs A*-G), how many IGCSE subjects to take, best subject combinations, subjects for medicine.

For the thresholds sixth forms actually apply, see how many IGCSEs you need for A-Levels.

Frequently Asked Questions