How to read your GCSE results slip - and what does U mean?
Opened your results and not sure what it all means? Here’s how to read the slip, line by line - including what U stands for.
In short
Your results slip lists each subject with a grade on the 9–1 scale (9 is highest; 4 is a ‘standard pass’, 5 a ‘strong pass’). U means ungraded - the work didn’t reach the minimum for a grade 1, so no grade is awarded. Combined Science shows a double grade (like 5–5 or 6–5). You may also see a blank, X, Q or ‘pending’ where a result isn’t final. The slip is a statement of results, not your certificate, which comes later via your school.
How it works
The 9–1 grades
Each subject shows a number from
9 (highest) to 1 (lowest). A
4 is a ‘standard pass’ and a
5 a ‘strong pass’; a
7 is broadly equivalent to an old grade A.
How 9–1 grading works.
What ‘U’ means
U stands for ungraded (sometimes shown as ‘U’ or a dash). It means the marks didn’t reach the minimum needed for a grade 1, so no GCSE grade is awarded for that subject. It isn’t a ‘fail grade’ as such - it’s the absence of a grade.
Combined Science double grades
Blanks, X, Q or ‘pending’
Occasionally a subject shows no grade yet - a result can be
pending (still being processed), or marked
X or
Q (a result that can’t be issued in the normal way, e.g. an unresolved query). If you see this,
see what to do about a missing or pending result - the short version is to speak to your school’s exams officer, not the exam board.
Slip vs certificate
The slip is a statement of results for your own use. The official certificate arrives later (usually in the autumn) through your school - keep the slip safe in the meantime.
If something looks wrong
Speak to your school on the day. You can ask to see your marked paper (
Access to Scripts) and, if warranted, they can request a
review of marking - remembering a grade can go down as well as up.
Grades and ‘U’: Ofqual: GCSE 9–1 grades · Ofqual: what happens after your exams.
Example
Your slip reads: English Language 5, Maths 4, Combined Science 5–4, History 6, French U. You have your passes in English and maths, two GCSEs from Combined Science, a 6 in History - and a U in French, meaning no grade was awarded there. You check the U with your school and ask about seeing the script.
Common misconception
A U isn’t a grade 0 or an ‘F’ - it means ungraded, i.e. no grade was awarded. And your results slip isn’t your certificate: it’s the statement you use straight away, while the formal certificate follows later through your school.
Frequently asked questions
What does U mean on my GCSE results?
U stands for ungraded - the work didn’t reach the minimum needed for a grade 1, so no GCSE grade is awarded for that subject. Source: Ofqual ↗
Why does my Combined Science have two grades?
Combined Science is a double award worth two GCSEs, so it’s reported as two grades together, such as 5–5 or 6–5. Source: Ofqual ↗
Is a grade 4 a pass?
Grade 4 is a ‘standard pass’ and grade 5 a ‘strong pass’. Which one a college or employer wants depends on them, but 4 is the usual benchmark. Source: Ofqual ↗
My result is blank or says pending - what do I do?
Ask your school on results day. A result can be pending or held (X/Q) for various reasons; your school can tell you what it means and what happens next. Source: Ofqual ↗
Official sources
About this guide. Produced independently by tutor2u using published guidance from Ofqual, JCQ and the awarding organisations, to explain the system clearly and put it in context. Reviewed by
Jim Riley, tutor2u.
How we check this guidance. Last reviewed 19 August 2026.
In Wales: this guide covers England, where exams are regulated by Ofqual. Qualifications in Wales are regulated by Qualifications Wales and awarded by WJEC - see WJEC’s
grade boundaries and
post-results services.
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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.