Cambridge Grade to PUM Range Converter
Convert your Cambridge International grade to the associated Percentage Uniform Mark (PUM) range. Supports IGCSE, AS Level, and A Level qualifications.
How the Cambridge Grade-to-PUM Range Converter Works
Cambridge International provides Percentage Uniform Marks (PUM) as a supplementary way to understand student performance within each grade. Rather than giving a single mark, PUM is reported as a range that indicates whether a candidate\u2019s performance was near the top, middle, or bottom of a grade boundary.
This converter shows the PUM range associated with each grade across Cambridge\u2019s major qualification types. Select your qualification and grade to see the corresponding PUM range.
PUM Reference Tables
IGCSE (A*-G)
| Grade | PUM Range |
|---|---|
| A* | 90\u2013100% |
| A | 80\u201389% |
| B | 70\u201379% |
| C | 60\u201369% |
| D | 50\u201359% |
| E | 40\u201349% |
| F | 30\u201339% |
| G | 20\u201329% |
IGCSE (9-1)
| Grade | PUM Range |
|---|---|
| 9 | 90\u2013100% |
| 8 | 80\u201389% |
| 7 | 70\u201379% |
| 6 | 60\u201369% |
| 5 | 50\u201359% |
| 4 | 40\u201349% |
| 3 | 30\u201339% |
| 2 | 20\u201329% |
| 1 | 10\u201319% |
AS Level (a-e)
| Grade | PUM Range |
|---|---|
| a | 80\u2013100% |
| b | 70\u201379% |
| c | 60\u201369% |
| d | 50\u201359% |
| e | 40\u201349% |
A Level (A*-E)
| Grade | PUM Range |
|---|---|
| A* | 90\u2013100% |
| A | 80\u201389% |
| B | 70\u201379% |
| C | 60\u201369% |
| D | 50\u201359% |
| E | 40\u201349% |
Worked Example
Scenario
A student receives a grade B in Cambridge IGCSE English (A*-G scheme). What does this mean in terms of PUM?
Answer: A grade B in IGCSE A*-G corresponds to a PUM range of 70\u201379%. This means the student\u2019s performance was between 70% and 79% of the maximum possible mark \u2014 solidly in the middle of the B grade band.
The student\u2019s actual total mark might be, for example, 78 out of 100, but the PUM tells us that relative to the grade thresholds set for that particular exam series, this mark fell within the 70\u201379% PUM band for grade B.
Interpreting Your Results
- Higher PUM within a grade: A PUM near the top of the range (e.g., 78% in the 70\u201379% B range) indicates stronger performance within that grade.
- Lower PUM within a grade: A PUM near the bottom (e.g., 71%) suggests performance close to the next lower grade boundary.
- PUM is not your exam mark: It is a standardised indicator, not the raw score. Two candidates with the same grade may have different total marks but fall into the same PUM range.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is a Percentage Uniform Mark?
A PUM is a standardised score on a common scale (0\u2013100) that shows how close a candidate\u2019s performance is to the top, middle, or bottom of the grade they achieved. It is not the actual percentage mark the candidate scored in the exam \u2014 it is calculated from the total mark relative to the grade thresholds set for that particular exam series.
Can I calculate my exact PUM from my grade alone?
No. A specific PUM cannot be calculated from the grade alone. It requires the actual total mark and the position of the grade thresholds for that exam series. This tool shows the PUM range associated with each grade for reference purposes only.
Do universities look at PUM or just the grade?
Most universities primarily consider the letter or number grade. However, some highly competitive programmes may request PUM information to differentiate between candidates who achieved the same grade. PUM can show whether a student was near the top or bottom of that grade band.
Are PUM ranges the same every year?
The PUM ranges associated with each grade are fixed by Cambridge International standards. What varies from year to year is the actual total mark required to achieve each grade (grade thresholds), which depends on exam difficulty.
Related Tools
- ZIMSEC A-Level Points Calculator — points for Zimbabwean university applications
- Percentage to Grade Converter — convert scores across multiple grading scales
- Grade Calculator — calculate your overall course grade
- Education Calculators — all education tools in one place