Combined Science doesn’t use single 9–1 grades. Here’s the 17-point double-award scale explained clearly.
GCSE Combined Science is a double award - worth two GCSEs - reported on a 17-point scale from 9-9 down to 1-1. Students receive two identical grades (e.g. 7-7) or two adjacent grades (e.g. 7-6), reflecting performance across biology, chemistry and physics combined. It’s tiered: Higher tier targets the higher grades and Foundation tier the lower grades.
Because Combined Science is worth two GCSEs, it’s graded on a scale that runs 9-9, 9-8, 8-8, 8-7, 7-7 … all the way down to 1-1 - 17 grade points in total. It’s tiered: the Higher tier covers 9-9 down to 4-4 (with a ‘safety net’ 4-3 available just below), and the Foundation tier covers 5-5 down to 1-1. The marks from the biology, chemistry and physics assessments are combined and a single double grade is awarded at qualification level - students don’t receive separate Biology, Chemistry and Physics grades.
Combined Science grades aren’t single 9–1 grades. A result is always a pair, like 7-7 or 7-6 - a lone ‘7’ doesn’t describe a Combined Science outcome, and you don’t get separate grades for the three sciences.
Because it’s a double award - two GCSEs’ worth of science graded together, at qualification level.
Higher tier: 9-9 down to 4-4, plus a 4-3 safety net just below. Foundation tier: 5-5 down to 1-1. A 5-5 means the same standard whichever tier it’s achieved on.
No. The marks are combined and one double grade is awarded for the whole qualification. If you want separate grades, that’s Triple / Separate Sciences, each graded on the single 9–1 scale.
Its 17-point scale can’t be shown faithfully on the single 9–1 model the tool uses for other subjects, so we’ve temporarily left it out rather than misrepresent it. A proper double-grade view is planned.
Explore the single sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) and other GCSE subjects while we build a faithful Combined Science view.
Browse GCSE pages →Last checked August 2026. This is a plain-English summary of official guidance; always check the linked Ofqual, JCQ and exam-board pages for the definitive rules, which can change.
Join thousands of teachers and students who use tutor2u for free teaching resources, revision support, exam insights and practical ideas throughout the year. Enter your email to hear what’s new and useful.