GCSE Grade Boundaries

GCSE grade boundaries for the 9-1 courses in maths, English and science can be accessed via this dedicated page. All three major exam boards, AQA, OCR and Edexcel are covered. Find the grade you would have obtained by finding your paper from those listed below.

Grade Boundaries by Exam Board and Subject

This dedicated GCSE grade boundaries page displays the grade boundaries for AQA, Edexcel and OCR GCSEs. Have a look at all of the GCSE English, Science and Maths grade boundaries below to find out what grade you would have achieved on the past paper you have completed.

GCSE Grades Explained

The GCSE 9-1 grading system has now been about for a few years but for students or parents who are new to this then this short explanation may help. GCSE’s are now graded 9-1 with 9 effectively being a grade above the old A*. A level 4 is now considered as a low C grade and a 5 a high C grade, or low B grade. Level 6 is a solid B, 7 an A grade and a level 8 an A*. The foundation papers for each subject are graded from 5-1 and the higher papers from 9-3. If on a higher paper a student falls below the grade boundary of a level 3, they will achieve a U which stands for unclassified.

For students who are aiming for a level 4 or 5 in Maths or Science, determining which paper, foundation or higher, is most appropriate will be a discussion to have with your school and parents. The GCSE grade boundaries for a level 4 or 5 are higher in the foundation papers but these papers are significantly easier than the higher tier papers, so it just depends on the guidance your school gives as to which paper you are likely to sit.

GCSE Grade Boundaries FAQ’s

Do you have GCSE Maths grade boundaries?

Yes, you can find the OCR, AQA and Edexcel GCSE maths grade boundaries for all of the 9-1 papers below.

Can I access the past papers through your site?

Yes, you can access maths, English and Science past papers via our site. Just click the MME logo, revise and then you will see our all past papers option which will direct you to our dedicated past papers page.

Do the GCSE grade boundaries change each year?

Yes, the grade boundaries are altered to reflect the difficulty of the exam paper and what students across the country have scored in the specific test.

Can I access the GCSE grade boundaries for the old past papers?

Not currently on this page, but if this is something you would find useful then please email in as we take all content feedback requests and use them to help direct what we do.

What mark do I need to get in order to get a level 9?

All of the grade boundaries are set out below. Specific levels and marks vary from subject to subject and indeed from exam paper to exam paper so please look for your specific paper in order to find out the exact mark you need for each level.

Why do the grade boundaries change from exam paper to exam paper for the same subject?

The GCSE grade boundaries are based on how difficult each paper is so from paper 1 to paper 2 in the same exam series, the grade boundaries can differ as the difficult of paper may differ. The GCSE grade boundaries are set after the results have been collated and are based on how students across the country have performed.

AQA GCSE Maths Grade Boundaries