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Grade BoundariesGCSE Grade Boundaries 2026

GCSE Grade Boundaries 2026: Everything You Need To Know.

The official grade boundaries for the 2026 GCSE exams are now available. Grade boundaries show the minimum raw mark needed for each grade and are set after marking is complete to ensure standards are consistent year-on-year.

Use the official 2026 data on this page to see how raw marks were converted into final grades for your subjects.
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SubjectYearBoardMonthMaximum MarkGrade 9Grade 8Grade 7Grade 6Grade 5Grade 4Grade 3Grade 2Grade 1
Art & Design (3D Design)2026AQAJune48040337134030326623016610340
Art & Design (Art,Craft & Design)2026AQAJune48040337134030326623016610340
Art & Design (Fine Art)2026AQAJune48040337134030326623016610340
Art & Design (Graphic Comm)2026AQAJune48040337134030326623016610340
Art & Design (Photography)2026AQAJune48040337134030326623016610340
Art & Design (Textiles Design)2026AQAJune48040337134030326623016610340
Bengali Tier F2026AQAJune240----126101785533
Bengali Tier H2026AQAJune2402021771521271027866--
Biology Tier F2026AQAJune200----144127915519
Biology Tier H2026AQAJune20013312010788705243--
Business2026AQAJune1801331241151028977553413
Chemistry Tier F2026AQAJune200----132110815224
Chemistry Tier H2026AQAJune20015513712094684330--
Chinese (Spoken Mand) Tier F2026AQAJune240----143121885624
Chinese (Spoken Mand) Tier H2026AQAJune2402121781441231028170--
Citizenship Studies2026AQAJune1601411321241119885644424
Computer Science Opt A (C#)2026AQAJune1801601481361149372543720
Computer Science Opt B (Python)2026AQAJune1801601481361149372543720
Computer Science Opt C (Vb.Net)2026AQAJune1801601481361149372543720
Dance2026AQAJune40033330928625422219014610360
Design and Technology2026AQAJune200179165151134117100744823
Drama2026AQAJune200167156145130115100744924
Economics2026AQAJune1601361281201079482614019
Engineering2026AQAJune200177166156140124108805326
English Language2026AQAJune160122112103938475553516
English Literature2026AQAJune160142127113978166493317
Food Preparation and Nutrition2026AQAJune20017215814512811296714723
French Tier F2026AQAJune200----146134986227
French Tier H2026AQAJune200179164149135121108101--
Geography2026AQAJune252204185166148130112825324
German Tier F2026AQAJune200----149136996327
German Tier H2026AQAJune2001761601441281139890--
History AA2026AQAJune1681191079684736244269
History AB2026AQAJune16811910796847260432610
History AC2026AQAJune1681211099886756445279
History AE2026AQAJune1681171059481685640248
History AF2026AQAJune1681171059480675439249
History AG2026AQAJune1681191079683705841248
History AH2026AQAJune1681161049380675539238
History AJ2026AQAJune1681171059481685640248
History AK2026AQAJune1681171059480675439249
History BA2026AQAJune16811510697867666472810
History BB2026AQAJune16812010897867564462811
History BC2026AQAJune16811910999887868482910
History BD2026AQAJune16811910796857565462810
History BE2026AQAJune1681181069583716043269
History BJ2026AQAJune1681181069583716043269
History BL2026AQAJune1681201089785736244269
History CA2026AQAJune16812010897867564462810
History CB2026AQAJune16812010897857362452811
History CC2026AQAJune16812211099887766472810
History CD2026AQAJune16811910796857463452710
History CE2026AQAJune1681181069582705841259
History CH2026AQAJune1681171059481695741259
History CL2026AQAJune1681201089784726043269
History CM2026AQAJune1681171059481695741259
History DA2026AQAJune1681191079685746345279
History DC2026AQAJune1681211099887766546279
History DE2026AQAJune1681171059481695740248
History DJ2026AQAJune1681171059481695740248
History DL2026AQAJune1681191079683715942258
History EA2026AQAJune16811910796857565462810
History EE2026AQAJune1681171059482705942259
History EH2026AQAJune1681161049381695841259
History FA2026AQAJune16812010998877665462810
History FB2026AQAJune16812110998867463452811
History FC2026AQAJune168123111100897867482910
History FD2026AQAJune16812010897867564462810
History FE2026AQAJune1681191079683715942259
History FF2026AQAJune16811910796837057412510
History FG2026AQAJune1681191089885736143269
History FH2026AQAJune1681181069582705841259
History FJ2026AQAJune1681191079683715942259
History FK2026AQAJune16811910796837057412510
History FL2026AQAJune1681181089885736143269
History FM2026AQAJune1681181069582705841259
History GA2026AQAJune16812010999897969493011
History GB2026AQAJune16812211099887767483012
History GC2026AQAJune168123112101918171513111
History GD2026AQAJune16812110998887868493011
History GE2026AQAJune16812010897857463452710
History GF2026AQAJune16812010897857361442711
History GG2026AQAJune16812311199877665462810
History GH2026AQAJune16811910796847362442710
History GJ2026AQAJune16811710797857463452710
History GK2026AQAJune16812010897857361442711
History GL2026AQAJune16812411199877665462810
History GM2026AQAJune16811910796847362442710
History HA2026AQAJune16812411199887767482911
History HC2026AQAJune168123112101907969493011
History HD2026AQAJune16812110998877666472911
History HE2026AQAJune16812010897857361442710
History HF2026AQAJune16812010897847159432711
History HG2026AQAJune16812411199877563452710
History HH2026AQAJune16811910796847260432610
History HJ2026AQAJune16811710797857361442710
History HK2026AQAJune16812010897847159432711
History HL2026AQAJune16812511299877563452710
History HM2026AQAJune16811910796847260432610
History JA2026AQAJune16811510698877666472810
History JC2026AQAJune168122111100897868482910
History JD2026AQAJune16812010897867565462810
History JE2026AQAJune1681191079684726043269
History JG2026AQAJune1681211099886746244269
History JH2026AQAJune1681181069583715942259
History JJ2026AQAJune1681191079684726043269
History JK2026AQAJune16811910796837058422610
History JL2026AQAJune1681191089886746244269
History JM2026AQAJune1681181069583715942259
History KC2026AQAJune168123111100908070503011
History KL2026AQAJune16812110998867564462810
History LA2026AQAJune16812110998867564462810
History LB2026AQAJune16812110998836955402511
History LC2026AQAJune168123111100887766472810
History LE2026AQAJune1681191079683705841259
History LG2026AQAJune1681211099885726043269
History LH2026AQAJune1681181069582695741259
History LJ2026AQAJune1681191079683705841259
History MA2026AQAJune16812211099887868493011
History MB2026AQAJune16812211099887766483012
History MC2026AQAJune168124112101908070503011
History ME2026AQAJune16812010897857362442710
History MG2026AQAJune16812211099877564462810
History ML2026AQAJune16812211099877564462810
History NA2026AQAJune16812211099887766472911
History NC2026AQAJune168124112101907968493011
History ND2026AQAJune16812110998877665472911
History NE2026AQAJune16812010897847260432610
History NG2026AQAJune16812211099867462442710
History NH2026AQAJune16811910796837159422610
History NK2026AQAJune16812010897847158422611
History NL2026AQAJune16812211099867462442710
History NM2026AQAJune16811910796837159422610
History OA2026AQAJune16812110998877665462810
History OB2026AQAJune16812110998867463452811
History OC2026AQAJune168123111100897867482910
History OG2026AQAJune1681211099885736143269
History OJ2026AQAJune1681191079683715942259
History OM2026AQAJune1681181069582705841259
History PD2026AQAJune16812010897867666472911
History PG2026AQAJune16812110998867463452710
History QA2026AQAJune16812111099887767482911
History QC2026AQAJune168124112101907969493011
History QD2026AQAJune16812110998877666472911
History QE2026AQAJune16812010897857361442710
History QF2026AQAJune16812010897847159432711
History QG2026AQAJune16812211099877563452710
History QH2026AQAJune16811910796847260432610
History QJ2026AQAJune16812010897857361442710
History QK2026AQAJune16812010897847159432711
History QL2026AQAJune16813011499877563452710
History QM2026AQAJune16811910796847260432610
History RA2026AQAJune168123111100908071513112
History RC2026AQAJune168126114102928273523212
History RD2026AQAJune16812211099897970503112
History RE2026AQAJune16812010998877665472911
History RG2026AQAJune168123111100897867482911
History RH2026AQAJune16812010897867564462811
History RJ2026AQAJune16812211098877665472911
History RK2026AQAJune16812110998867463462912
History RL2026AQAJune168127113100897867482911
History SA2026AQAJune168125112100897969503112
History SB2026AQAJune168123111100897867493113
History SC2026AQAJune168125113102918171513112
History SD2026AQAJune16812211099887868493012
History SE2026AQAJune16812110998867463452811
History SF2026AQAJune16812110998857361442812
History SG2026AQAJune168124112100887665472911
History SH2026AQAJune16812010897857362452811
History SJ2026AQAJune16812311098867463452811
History SL2026AQAJune168126113100887665472911
History TA2026AQAJune16812311199887868493011
History TB2026AQAJune16812211099887766483012
History TC2026AQAJune168123112101908070503011
History TD2026AQAJune16812110998877767482911
History TE2026AQAJune16812010897857362442710
History TF2026AQAJune16812010897847260432711
History TG2026AQAJune16812211099877564462810
History TH2026AQAJune16811910796847261442710
History TJ2026AQAJune16812010897857362442710
History TK2026AQAJune16812010897847260432711
History TL2026AQAJune16812211099877564462810
History TM2026AQAJune16811910796847261442710
History UC2026AQAJune168124112101918172523212
History UL2026AQAJune16812211099887766472911
Italian Tier F2026AQAJune240----136120916233
Italian Tier H2026AQAJune2401811571331161008476--
Mathematics Tier F2026AQAJune240----1871541157638
Mathematics Tier H2026AQAJune240219192166131976346--
Media Studies2026AQAJune24018417015613711899734721
Modern Hebrew Tier F2026AQAJune240----1571321078257
Modern Hebrew Tier H2026AQAJune2402031731431221018171--
Music2026AQAJune2401981851731581441301027446
Panjabi Tier F2026AQAJune240----1751561126824
Panjabi Tier H2026AQAJune240222199177156136116106--
Physical Education2026AQAJune2602162021881701531361037038
Physics Tier F2026AQAJune200----141126925824
Physics Tier H2026AQAJune200157142128107876757--
Polish Tier F2026AQAJune240----147134976024
Polish Tier H2026AQAJune240193171150139128118113--
Psychology2026AQAJune20016815414112210486623814
Religious Studies (Sc) Opt A2026AQAJune102827466585144332313
Religious Studies (Sc) Opt B2026AQAJune102898173635344332212
Religious Studies (Sc) Opt C2026AQAJune102827466585144332212
Religious Studies (Sc) Opt D2026AQAJune102857769615345342312
Religious Studies (Sc) Opt E2026AQAJune102817365564739302113
Religious Studies (Sc) Opt F2026AQAJune102837567584940302112
Religious Studies A Option AA2026AQAJune20417015714412510789664320
Religious Studies A Option AB2026AQAJune20417015714412510789664320
Religious Studies A Option BA2026AQAJune20417315914612710890664320
Religious Studies A Option BB2026AQAJune20417215914612710890664320
Religious Studies A Option CA2026AQAJune20417115814512610890664320
Religious Studies A Option DA2026AQAJune20417316014713011396704520
Religious Studies A Option EA2026AQAJune20417115814512710992684420
Religious Studies A Option FA2026AQAJune20417015714412610890664320
Religious Studies A Option HA2026AQAJune20417215914613011499724620
Religious Studies A Option HB2026AQAJune20417215914613011499724620
Religious Studies A Option JA2026AQAJune20417015714412711195704520
Religious Studies A Option JB2026AQAJune20417015714412711195704520
Religious Studies A Option LA2026AQAJune20417115814612811194694420
Religious Studies A Option MA2026AQAJune204173160148132116100734620
Religious Studies A Option MB2026AQAJune204174161148132116100734620
Religious Studies A Option NA2026AQAJune20417215914612911296704520
Religious Studies A Option NB2026AQAJune20417215914612911296704520
Religious Studies A Option OA2026AQAJune20417716114512811194694420
Religious Studies A Option PA2026AQAJune204173160147131115100734620
Religious Studies A Option QA2026AQAJune20417115814512811296704520
Religious Studies A Option RA2026AQAJune20417015714412711094694420
Religious Studies A Option SA2026AQAJune204173160147132117102744720
Religious Studies A Option TA2026AQAJune204172159146130115100734620
Religious Studies A Option UA2026AQAJune20417015714412811296704520
Religious Studies B Option XA2026AQAJune2041711541381189980593817
Religious Studies B Option XB2026AQAJune2041671511361159473543517
Religious Studies B Option YA2026AQAJune2041651501351169779583717
Religious Studies B Option YB2026AQAJune2041691511331129272533517
Sociology2026AQAJune20016415314312811398714418
Spanish Tier F2026AQAJune200----144130945924
Spanish Tier H2026AQAJune2001751551351201059082--
Statistics Tier F2026AQAJune160----9276573820
Statistics Tier H2026AQAJune160114988367513527--
Urdu Tier F2026AQAJune240----138122895624
Urdu Tier H2026AQAJune24021919617314912510189--
Ancient History2026OCRJune21018016214412510789694930
Art and Design: Art, Craft and Design2026OCRJune200187176165148131115855526
Art and Design: Fine Art2026OCRJune200187176165148131115855526
Art and Design: Graphic Communication2026OCRJune200187176165148131115855526
Art and Design: Photography2026OCRJune200187176165148131115855526
Art and Design: Textile Design2026OCRJune200187176165148131115855526
Art and Design: Three-Dimensional Design2026OCRJune200187176165148131115855526
Art and Design: Critical and Contextual Studies2026OCRJune200187176165148131115855526
Biology A (Gateway Science) (Foundation) 01+022026OCRJune180----11293684318
Biology A (Gateway Science) (Higher) 03+042026OCRJune180141131121103866960--
Biology B (Twenty First Century Science) (Foundation) 01+022026OCRJune180----11291715233
Biology B (Twenty First Century Science) (Higher) 03+042026OCRJune18013812411091725343--
Business2026OCRJune160128118108958270513214
Chemistry A (Gateway Science) (Foundation) 01+022026OCRJune180----120100765229
Chemistry A (Gateway Science) (Higher) 03+042026OCRJune180163151139118977665--
Chemistry B (Twenty First Century Science) (Foundation) 01+022026OCRJune180----10787664524
Chemistry B (Twenty First Century Science) (Higher) 03+042026OCRJune18013812411193755748--
Citizenship Studies2026OCRJune20015214313412010693725130
Classical Civilisation Option A 11+212026OCRJune18014813712611310087644220
Classical Civilisation Option B 11+222026OCRJune18014913812711410290664320
Classical Civilisation Option C 11+232026OCRJune1801491381271139985634120
Classical Civilisation Option D 12+212026OCRJune1801381271161039179583818
Classical Civilisation Option E 12+222026OCRJune1801391281171059382603918
Classical Civilisation Option F 12+232026OCRJune1801391281171039077573718
Classical Greek Option A 01+02+032026OCRJune200174154135123111100785736
Classical Greek Option B 01+02+042026OCRJune200173154135124113102805836
Classical Greek Option C 01+02+052026OCRJune200174154134123112101795736
Classical Greek Option D 01+02+062026OCRJune200173154136125114104815836
Classical Greek Option E 01+03+042026OCRJune20017315413512311199785736
Classical Greek Option F 01+03+052026OCRJune20017415413412211098775636
Classical Greek Option G 01+03+062026OCRJune200173154136124112101795736
Classical Greek Option H 01+04+052026OCRJune200173153134122111100785736
Classical Greek Option J 01+04+062026OCRJune200172154136125114103805836
Classical Greek Option K 01+05+062026OCRJune200173154135124113102805836
Computer Science2026OCRJune1601411321241089277563514
Design and Technology2026OCRJune2001631481331169983613918
Drama2026OCRJune200177168160146133120895828
Economics2026OCRJune160126115104917866513723
English Language2026OCRJune160132121110988675584226
English Literature2026OCRJune160135119104856647352413
Food Preparation and Nutrition2026OCRJune3002362161971761551351037140
Geography A (Geographical Themes)2026OCRJune20016514913311710185603612
Geography B (Geography for Enquiring Minds)2026OCRJune20015714513311910693684319
History A (Explaining the Modern World) Option AA 01+08+112026OCRJune21016615213912410995673912
History A (Explaining the Modern World) Option AB 01+09+122026OCRJune21016314913612110691643812
History A (Explaining the Modern World) Option BA 02+08+112026OCRJune21016515113812310894663912
History A (Explaining the Modern World) Option BB 02+09+122026OCRJune21016214813512010590643812
History A (Explaining the Modern World) Option BC 02+10+132026OCRJune21016114713411810287623712
History A (Explaining the Modern World) Option EA 05+08+112026OCRJune21015914513211810490643812
History A (Explaining the Modern World) Option FA 06+08+112026OCRJune21016214813512110793663912
History A (Explaining the Modern World) Option FB 06+09+122026OCRJune21015914513211710389633712
History A (Explaining the Modern World) Option FC 06+10+132026OCRJune21015814413111610186613612
History A (Explaining the Modern World) Option GA 07+08+112026OCRJune21016515113812310893663912
History A (Explaining the Modern World) Option GB 07+09+122026OCRJune21016214813511910489633712
History A (Explaining the Modern World) Option GC 07+10+132026OCRJune21016114713411810286613612
History B (Schools History Project) Option AB 11+21+332026OCRJune2101471321171038975553617
History B (Schools History Project) Option AF 11+21+392026OCRJune2101551391231099581593817
History B (Schools History Project) Option BB 12+21+332026OCRJune2101531381231089378573717
History B (Schools History Project) Option BC 12+21+342026OCRJune2101571421271129783613917
History B (Schools History Project) Option BF 12+21+392026OCRJune2101611451291149984613917
History B (Schools History Project) Option DB 14+21+332026OCRJune2101551391241099581593817
History B (Schools History Project) Option DF 14+21+392026OCRJune21016314613011510187634017
History B (Schools History Project) Option EB 15+21+332026OCRJune2101521371221079278573717
History B (Schools History Project) Option ED 15+21+362026OCRJune2101601441281139985623917
History B (Schools History Project) Option EF 15+21+392026OCRJune2101601441281139884613917
History B (Schools History Project) Option FB 16+21+322026OCRJune2101551391241099480593817
History B (Schools History Project) Option GB 17+21+332026OCRJune2101461311161028874553617
History B (Schools History Project) Option GD 17+21+362026OCRJune2101541381221089481593817
History B (Schools History Project) Option GF 17+21+392026OCRJune2101541381221089480593817
History B (Schools History Project) Option HB 18+21+332026OCRJune2101451301151018773543516
History B (Schools History Project) Option HD 18+21+362026OCRJune2101531371211079380583716
History B (Schools History Project) Option HF 18+21+392026OCRJune2101531371211079379583716
Latin Option A 01+02+032026OCRJune20017215714212510892694725
Latin Option B 01+02+042026OCRJune20017315814312510891694725
Latin Option C 01+02+052026OCRJune20017315814312610992694725
Latin Option D 01+02+062026OCRJune20017315814312610993704725
Latin Option E 01+03+042026OCRJune20017315814312610993704725
Latin Option F 01+03+052026OCRJune20017315814312611094714825
Latin Option G 01+03+062026OCRJune20017315814312711195714825
Latin Option H 01+04+052026OCRJune20017415914412711093704725
Latin Option J 01+04+062026OCRJune20017415914412711094714825
Latin Option K 01+05+062026OCRJune20017415914412711195724825
Mathematics (Foundation) 01+02+032026OCRJune300----183133965923
Mathematics (Higher) 04+05+062026OCRJune300264217170132945738--
Media Studies2026OCRJune20016715614512911499734823
Music2026OCRJune200170160151138125113927252
Physical Education2026OCRJune200162152143129116103805734
Physics A (Gateway Science) (Foundation) 01+022026OCRJune180----123108805326
Physics A (Gateway Science) (Higher) 03+042026OCRJune180152141131114978071--
Physics B (Twenty First Century Science) (Foundation) 01+022026OCRJune180----121106846240
Physics B (Twenty First Century Science) (Higher) 03+042026OCRJune180141130119103877163--
Psychology2026OCRJune1801461351241099480614223
Religious Studies Option AA 01+02+062026OCRJune252197180163143123103765024
Religious Studies Option AB 01+03+062026OCRJune25219417615813811899744924
Religious Studies Option AC 01+04+062026OCRJune252195178162142122103765024
Religious Studies Option AD 01+05+062026OCRJune252194177161141121102765024
Religious Studies Option AE 01+02+072026OCRJune252191174157138119100744924
Religious Studies Option AG 01+04+092026OCRJune252194176159140121102765024
Religious Studies Option DA 04+05+092026OCRJune25218817115413511697724824
Arabic (Foundation) Paper(s) 1F 2F 3F 4F2026Edexcel (Pearson)June280----1651451117744
Arabic (Higher) Paper(s) 1H 2H 3H 4H2026Edexcel (Pearson)June280225197169149129110100--
Arabic (Higher) Paper(s) 1H 2HT 3H 4H2026Edexcel (Pearson)June280225197169149129110100--
Art, Craft & Design Paper(s) 01 022026Edexcel (Pearson)June1801481361241089276543211
Art & Design: Fine Art Paper(s) 01 022026Edexcel (Pearson)June1801481361241089276543211
Art & Design: Graphic Communication Paper(s) 01 022026Edexcel (Pearson)June1801481361241089276543211
Art & Design: Photography Paper(s) 01 022026Edexcel (Pearson)June1801481361241089276543211
Art & Design: 3D Design Paper(s) 01 022026Edexcel (Pearson)June1801481361241089276543211
Art & Design: Textile Design Paper(s) 01 022026Edexcel (Pearson)June1801481361241089276543211
Astronomy Paper(s) 01 022026Edexcel (Pearson)June20016114613111610186664728
Biblical Hebrew Paper(s) 01 022026Edexcel (Pearson)June20015214113011610390725436
Biology (Foundation) Paper(s) 1F 2F2026Edexcel (Pearson)June200----132115845322
Biology (Higher) Paper(s) 1H 2H2026Edexcel (Pearson)June2001701581471261058473--
Business Paper(s) 01 022026Edexcel (Pearson)June1801471361251109581583512
Chemistry (Foundation) Paper(s) 1F 2F2026Edexcel (Pearson)June200----137118885930
Chemistry (Higher) Paper(s) 1H 2H2026Edexcel (Pearson)June200165146127103795543--
Chinese (Foundation) Paper(s) 1F 2F 3F 4F2026Edexcel (Pearson)June280----2151691237731
Chinese (Higher) Paper(s) 1H 2H 3H 4H2026Edexcel (Pearson)June28022920117314912610391--
Computer Science Paper(s) 01 022026Edexcel (Pearson)June1501181038874604633208
Citizenship Studies Paper(s) 01 022026Edexcel (Pearson)June1601351251151018875553617
Design and Technology Paper(s) 02 1A2026Edexcel (Pearson)June2001481341201048974543414
Design and Technology Paper(s) 02 1B2026Edexcel (Pearson)June2001491351221079277563515
Design and Technology Paper(s) 02 1C2026Edexcel (Pearson)June2001481341201059075543414
Design and Technology Paper(s) 02 1D2026Edexcel (Pearson)June2001471331191048974533313
Design and Technology Paper(s) 02 1E2026Edexcel (Pearson)June2001481341201059075543414
Design and Technology Paper(s) 02 1F2026Edexcel (Pearson)June2001461321181038874543414
Drama Paper(s) 01 02 032026Edexcel (Pearson)June2402001881771621471321006836
Drama Paper(s) 01T 02T 032026Edexcel (Pearson)June2402001881771621471321006836
English Language Paper(s) 01 022026Edexcel (Pearson)June1601321231151059687674727
English Language 2.0 Paper(s) 01 022026Edexcel (Pearson)June1601371271171069585644424
English Literature Paper(s) 01 022026Edexcel (Pearson)June1601361261161028875563718
French (Foundation) Paper(s) 1F 2F 3F 4F2026Edexcel (Pearson)June200----1521411006020
French (Higher) Paper(s) 1H 2H 3H 4H2026Edexcel (Pearson)June200175161147133120107100--
Geography A Paper(s) 01 02 032026Edexcel (Pearson)June256207191176158140123895522
Geography B Paper(s) 01 02 032026Edexcel (Pearson)June256215198182161140120855117
German (Foundation) Paper(s) 1F 2F 3F 4F2026Edexcel (Pearson)June200----1521401006020
German (Higher) Paper(s) 1H 2H 3H 4H2026Edexcel (Pearson)June20017516014613011510092--
Greek (Foundation) Paper(s) 1F 2F 3F 4F2026Edexcel (Pearson)June280----2491991499950
Greek (Higher) Paper(s) 1H 2H 3H 4H2026Edexcel (Pearson)June280261242223203183163153--
Gujarati (Foundation) Paper(s) 1F 2F 3F 4F2026Edexcel (Pearson)June280----1631331037343
Gujarati (Higher) Paper(s) 1H 2H 3H 4H2026Edexcel (Pearson)June28024922019116213310591--
History Paper(s) 10 2A 302026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681461341231109886654423
History Paper(s) 10 2K 302026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814713512411210088664423
History Paper(s) 10 2M 302026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814713512411210089664422
History Paper(s) 10 2N 302026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814813612511210088664423
History Paper(s) 10 2P 302026Edexcel (Pearson)June16815013812711410189674523
History Paper(s) 10 2Q 302026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814913712611410290674422
History Paper(s) 10 2R 302026Edexcel (Pearson)June16815013812711410290674422
History Paper(s) 10 2A 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681461341231109785634221
History Paper(s) 10 2D 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681481361251129987644220
History Paper(s) 10 2E 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681461341231109785634221
History Paper(s) 10 2F 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681481361251129986644221
History Paper(s) 10 2G 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681471351241119987644220
History Paper(s) 10 2H 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681481361251129987644220
History Paper(s) 10 2J 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681451331221109886644221
History Paper(s) 10 2K 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681471351241119987654321
History Paper(s) 10 2L 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681461341231119988654220
History Paper(s) 10 2M 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814713512411210088654220
History Paper(s) 10 2N 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681481361251129987654321
History Paper(s) 10 2P 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June16815013812711410188654321
History Paper(s) 10 2Q 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814913712611310189664320
History Paper(s) 10 2R 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June16815013812711410189664320
History Paper(s) 10 2T 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681461341231109886644322
History Paper(s) 10 2U 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681481361251129987654322
History Paper(s) 10 2V 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814713512411210088654321
History Paper(s) 10 2W 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814813612511210088654321
History Paper(s) 10 2C 322026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681461341231109785634221
History Paper(s) 10 2R 322026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814913712611310087654321
History Paper(s) 10 2C 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681461341231109784634221
History Paper(s) 10 2H 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681471351241109784634221
History Paper(s) 10 2J 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681441321211089583624222
History Paper(s) 10 2L 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681451331221099785634221
History Paper(s) 10 2M 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681461341231109785634221
History Paper(s) 10 2N 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681471351241109784634222
History Paper(s) 10 2P 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681491371261129885644322
History Paper(s) 10 2Q 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681481361251129986644221
History Paper(s) 10 2R 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681491371261129986644221
History Paper(s) 10 2U 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681471351241109784634323
History Paper(s) 10 2V 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681461341231109785644322
History Paper(s) 10 2W 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681471351241119885644322
History Paper(s) 11 2A 302026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681461351251129986644322
History Paper(s) 11 2E 302026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681461351251129986644322
History Paper(s) 11 2H 302026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814813712711410188654321
History Paper(s) 11 2J 302026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681451341241119987654322
History Paper(s) 11 2M 302026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814713612611310189664321
History Paper(s) 11 2N 302026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814813712711410188664422
History Paper(s) 11 2P 302026Edexcel (Pearson)June16815013912911510289664422
History Paper(s) 11 2Q 302026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814913812811510290674421
History Paper(s) 11 2R 302026Edexcel (Pearson)June16815013912911610390674421
History Paper(s) 11 2T 302026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681461351251129987654423
History Paper(s) 11 2A 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681461351251119885634120
History Paper(s) 11 2B 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681481371271139986644220
History Paper(s) 11 2C 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814713612611310087644119
History Paper(s) 11 2D 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814813712711310087644119
History Paper(s) 11 2E 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681461351251119885634120
History Paper(s) 11 2F 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681481371271139986644220
History Paper(s) 11 2G 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814713612611310087644119
History Paper(s) 11 2H 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814813712711310087644119
History Paper(s) 11 2J 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681451341241119886644220
History Paper(s) 11 2K 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814713612611310087644220
History Paper(s) 11 2L 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814613512511210088654219
History Paper(s) 11 2M 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814713612611310088654219
History Paper(s) 11 2N 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814813712711310087644220
History Paper(s) 11 2P 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June16815013912911510188654220
History Paper(s) 11 2Q 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814913812811510289654219
History Paper(s) 11 2R 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June16815013912911510289654219
History Paper(s) 11 2T 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681461351251129986644221
History Paper(s) 11 2U 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814813712711310087654321
History Paper(s) 11 2V 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814713612611310088654220
History Paper(s) 11 2W 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814813712711410188654220
History Paper(s) 11 2A 322026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681451341241109683624121
History Paper(s) 11 2B 322026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681471361261129884634221
History Paper(s) 11 2D 322026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681471361261129885634120
History Paper(s) 11 2N 322026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681471361261129885634221
History Paper(s) 11 2P 322026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814913812811410086644221
History Paper(s) 11 2R 322026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814913812811410087644220
History Paper(s) 11 2D 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681471361261129884624120
History Paper(s) 11 2E 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681451341241109682614121
History Paper(s) 11 2J 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681441331231099683624121
History Paper(s) 11 2K 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681461351251119784634221
History Paper(s) 11 2L 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681451341241119885634120
History Paper(s) 11 2M 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681461351251119885634120
History Paper(s) 11 2N 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681471361261129884634221
History Paper(s) 11 2P 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681491381281139985634221
History Paper(s) 11 2Q 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681481371271139986644220
History Paper(s) 11 2R 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814913812811410086644220
History Paper(s) 11 2W 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681471361261129885634221
History Paper(s) 12 2A 302026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681461341231109785644323
History Paper(s) 12 2E 302026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681461341231109785644323
History Paper(s) 12 2G 302026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681471351241119987654322
History Paper(s) 12 2N 302026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681481361251129987654423
History Paper(s) 12 2P 302026Edexcel (Pearson)June16815013812711410188664423
History Paper(s) 12 2Q 302026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814913712611310189664422
History Paper(s) 12 2R 302026Edexcel (Pearson)June16815013812711410189664422
History Paper(s) 12 2A 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681461341231109784634221
History Paper(s) 12 2D 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681481361251129986644220
History Paper(s) 12 2E 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681461341231109784634221
History Paper(s) 12 2F 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681481361251119885634221
History Paper(s) 12 2H 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681481361251129986644220
History Paper(s) 12 2J 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681451331221099785634221
History Paper(s) 12 2K 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681471351241119886644221
History Paper(s) 12 2M 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681471351241119987644220
History Paper(s) 12 2N 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681481361251129986644221
History Paper(s) 12 2P 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June16815013812711310087654321
History Paper(s) 12 2Q 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814913712611310088654220
History Paper(s) 12 2R 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June16815013812711410188654220
History Paper(s) 12 2T 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681461341231109785644322
History Paper(s) 12 2U 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681481361251129986644322
History Paper(s) 12 2V 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681471351241119987654321
History Paper(s) 12 2W 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681481361251129987654321
History Paper(s) 12 2N 322026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681471351241109784634222
History Paper(s) 12 2A 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681451331221089481614122
History Paper(s) 12 2D 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681471351241109683624121
History Paper(s) 12 2F 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681471351241109682624222
History Paper(s) 12 2J 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681441321211089582624222
History Paper(s) 12 2N 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681471351241109683624222
History Paper(s) 12 2Q 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681481361251119885634221
History Paper(s) 12 2R 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681491371261129885634221
History Paper(s) 13 2N 302026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814913712611310087654423
History Paper(s) 13 2P 302026Edexcel (Pearson)June16815113912811410188664423
History Paper(s) 13 2Q 302026Edexcel (Pearson)June16815013812711410189664422
History Paper(s) 13 2R 302026Edexcel (Pearson)June16815113912811510289664422
History Paper(s) 13 2T 302026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681471351241119886654424
History Paper(s) 13 2W 302026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814913712611310088664423
History Paper(s) 13 2D 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681491371261129986644220
History Paper(s) 13 2H 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681491371261129986644220
History Paper(s) 13 2J 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681461341231109785634221
History Paper(s) 13 2K 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681481361251129986644221
History Paper(s) 13 2L 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681471351241119987644220
History Paper(s) 13 2M 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681481361251129987644220
History Paper(s) 13 2N 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681491371261129986644221
History Paper(s) 13 2P 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June16815113912811410087654321
History Paper(s) 13 2Q 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June16815013812711410188654220
History Paper(s) 13 2R 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June16815113912811410188654220
History Paper(s) 13 2W 312026Edexcel (Pearson)June16814913712611310087654321
History Paper(s) 13 2P 322026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681501381271139985644322
History Paper(s) 13 2R 322026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681501381271139986644221
History Paper(s) 13 2D 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681481361251119783624121
History Paper(s) 13 2L 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681461341231109784634221
History Paper(s) 13 2M 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681471351241109784634221
History Paper(s) 13 2N 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681481361251119783624222
History Paper(s) 13 2Q 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681491371261129885634221
History Paper(s) 13 2R 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681501381271139985634221
History Paper(s) 13 2T 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681461341231099582624223
History Paper(s) 13 2W 332026Edexcel (Pearson)June1681481361251119784634222
Italian (Foundation) Paper(s) 1F 2F 3F 4F2026Edexcel (Pearson)June280----2101681268443
Italian (Higher) Paper(s) 1H 2H 3H 4H2026Edexcel (Pearson)June280256233210181153125111--
Italian (Higher) Paper(s) 1H 2HT 3H 4H2026Edexcel (Pearson)June280256233210181153125111--
Japanese (Foundation) Paper(s) 1F 2F 3F 4F2026Edexcel (Pearson)June280----2101681268544
Japanese (Higher) Paper(s) 1H 2H 3H 4H2026Edexcel (Pearson)June28022119817515212910694--
Mathematics (Foundation) Paper(s) 1F 2F 3F2026Edexcel (Pearson)June240----1811511106929
Mathematics (Higher) Paper(s) 1H 2H 3H2026Edexcel (Pearson)June240208177146114825034--
Music Paper(s) 01 02 032026Edexcel (Pearson)June200174164154141128116926946
Music Paper(s) 01T 02 032026Edexcel (Pearson)June200174164154141128116926946
Music Paper(s) 01T 02T 032026Edexcel (Pearson)June200174164154141128116926946
Persian (Foundation) Paper(s) 1F 2F 3F 4F2026Edexcel (Pearson)June280----2071651238139
Persian (Higher) Paper(s) 1H 2H 3H 4H2026Edexcel (Pearson)June280232216200184168152144--
Persian (Higher) Paper(s) 1H 2HT 3H 4H2026Edexcel (Pearson)June280232216200184168152144--
Physical Education Paper(s) 01 02 03 042026Edexcel (Pearson)June35029527826123721419114610157
Physical Education Paper(s) 01 02 03T 042026Edexcel (Pearson)June35029527826123721419114610157
Physical Education Paper(s) 01 02 03T 04T2026Edexcel (Pearson)June35029527826123721419114610157
Physics (Foundation) Paper(s) 1F 2F2026Edexcel (Pearson)June200----135118885930
Physics (Higher) Paper(s) 1H 2H2026Edexcel (Pearson)June200163148134113927160--
Portuguese (Foundation) Paper(s) 1F 2F 3F 4F2026Edexcel (Pearson)June280----2061641228038
Portuguese (Higher) Paper(s) 1H 2H 3H 4H2026Edexcel (Pearson)June280250233216186156126111--
Portuguese (Higher) Paper(s) 1H 2HT 3H 4H2026Edexcel (Pearson)June280250233216186156126111--
Psychology Paper(s) 01 022026Edexcel (Pearson)June18012411199867360442914
Religious Studies A Paper(s) 1A 2C 3A2026Edexcel (Pearson)June2041461331201048872513010
Religious Studies A Paper(s) 1A 2F 3A2026Edexcel (Pearson)June204142129116100846848289
Religious Studies A Paper(s) 1A 2F 4A2026Edexcel (Pearson)June204146133120104887351309
Religious Studies A Paper(s) 1B 2C 3B2026Edexcel (Pearson)June2041491361231079176553414
Religious Studies A Paper(s) 1B 2C 4A2026Edexcel (Pearson)June2041501371241099479573513
Religious Studies A Paper(s) 1B 2D 3B2026Edexcel (Pearson)June2041491361231079176553414
Religious Studies A Paper(s) 1B 2D 4A2026Edexcel (Pearson)June2041501371241099479573513
Religious Studies A Paper(s) 1B 2E 4A2026Edexcel (Pearson)June2041501361231089379573513
Religious Studies A Paper(s) 1B 2F 3B2026Edexcel (Pearson)June2041451321191038772523213
Religious Studies A Paper(s) 1C 2A 3C2026Edexcel (Pearson)June2041521391261109580583614
Religious Studies A Paper(s) 1C 2B 3C2026Edexcel (Pearson)June2041531401271129783603714
Religious Studies A Paper(s) 1C 2B 4B2026Edexcel (Pearson)June2041531401271129783603714
Religious Studies A Paper(s) 1C 2F 3C2026Edexcel (Pearson)June2041481351221079278563413
Religious Studies B Paper(s) 1A 2C2026Edexcel (Pearson)June2041471371271129783593512
Religious Studies B Paper(s) 1A 2D2026Edexcel (Pearson)June2041431331231089379573514
Religious Studies B Paper(s) 1A 2F2026Edexcel (Pearson)June2041401291191079583603715
Religious Studies B Paper(s) 1B 2C2026Edexcel (Pearson)June20415314313412010692653812
Religious Studies B Paper(s) 1B 2D2026Edexcel (Pearson)June20414913913011610288633814
Religious Studies B Paper(s) 1B 2E2026Edexcel (Pearson)June20414713712711410188633915
Religious Studies B Paper(s) 1B 2F2026Edexcel (Pearson)June20414613612611410392664015
Religious Studies B Paper(s) 1B 2G2026Edexcel (Pearson)June20414813812811510289633813
Religious Studies B Paper(s) 1B 3C2026Edexcel (Pearson)June20414813812811610594663912
Religious Studies B Paper(s) 1B 3G2026Edexcel (Pearson)June20415014013011810695673912
Religious Studies B Paper(s) 1C 2B2026Edexcel (Pearson)June2041461341231109784603613
Religious Studies B Paper(s) 1C 2D2026Edexcel (Pearson)June2041451341241109683603714
Religious Studies B Paper(s) 1C 3B2026Edexcel (Pearson)June20414813612511310189643915
Religious Studies B Paper(s) 1D 2B2026Edexcel (Pearson)June2041461351251109682583512
Religious Studies B Paper(s) 1D 3B2026Edexcel (Pearson)June20414813712711310087623814
Religious Studies B Paper(s) 1E 2B2026Edexcel (Pearson)June2041471371271139986623815
Religious Studies B Paper(s) 1F 2B2026Edexcel (Pearson)June20414613612611310087633915
Religious Studies B Paper(s) 1F 3B2026Edexcel (Pearson)June20414813812811610492674217
Religious Studies B Paper(s) 1G 2B2026Edexcel (Pearson)June20414713712711410188633814
Religious Studies B Paper(s) 1G 3B2026Edexcel (Pearson)June20414913912911710593674116
Religious Studies B Paper(s) 2B 3C2026Edexcel (Pearson)June2041441331231109785613713
Religious Studies B Paper(s) 2B 3D2026Edexcel (Pearson)June2041451351251109682593614
Religious Studies B Paper(s) 2C 3B2026Edexcel (Pearson)June20415114113111610288633915
Religious Studies B Paper(s) 2D 3B2026Edexcel (Pearson)June2041471371271129884613917
Religious Studies B Paper(s) 2F 3B2026Edexcel (Pearson)June2041441331231119988644118
Russian (Foundation) Paper(s) 1F 2F 3F 4F2026Edexcel (Pearson)June280----1741381026631
Russian (Higher) Paper(s) 1H 2H 3H 4H2026Edexcel (Pearson)June28023921018215512810187--
Russian (Higher) Paper(s) 1H 2HT 3H 4H2026Edexcel (Pearson)June28023921018215512810187--
Spanish (Foundation) Paper(s) 1F 2F 3F 4F2026Edexcel (Pearson)June200----1521411006020
Spanish (Higher) Paper(s) 1H 2H 3H 4H2026Edexcel (Pearson)June200179165152137122108101--
Statistics (Foundation) Paper(s) 1F 2F2026Edexcel (Pearson)June160----8366483012
Statistics (Higher) Paper(s) 1H 2H2026Edexcel (Pearson)June1601291058263452718--
Turkish (Foundation) Paper(s) 1F 2F 3F 4F2026Edexcel (Pearson)June280----1741391046934
Turkish (Higher) Paper(s) 1H 2H 3H 4H2026Edexcel (Pearson)June2802422201991651329982--
Turkish (Higher) Paper(s) 1H 2HT 3H 4H2026Edexcel (Pearson)June2802422201991651329982--
Urdu (Foundation) Paper(s) 1F 2F 3F 4F2026Edexcel (Pearson)June280----1971691237731
Urdu (Higher) Paper(s) 1H 2H 3H 4H2026Edexcel (Pearson)June280269255242209176143126--

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What is the best way to prepare for your GCSE exams?

Achieving success in your GCSE exams requires proper resources and effective strategies. Below are several ideas to help improve your performance:

  • Understand the Exam Format and Requirements: Use the exam board specifications to make a list of all the topics that are assessed in your GCSE exam for each subject. The specification also tells you the percentage that each paper contributes towards your final grade, how much time you get in the exam, and which topics are covered in each paper.

    Take a look at a set of GCSE past papers for each subject so you know how much reading there is to do on each paper, how many questions there are, what type of questions come up, and if different sections of a paper have different requirements. The more you know in advance, the better prepared you will be for your GCSE exams.

  • Create a Study Plan: Use your list of topics for each GCSE subject, and rate each one with your level of confidence. Create a weekly study schedule that you can stick to. Plan your revision sessions around your extracurricular activities and give yourself time for breaks. You may find it useful to use a calendar app or a study planner to stay organised.

  • Focus on Weak Areas: You will quickly see that you do not have enough time to revise every topic for every subject, so you need to prioritise. Give more revision time to the topics you are least confident in; this is where you can make the biggest difference in your GCSE grades.

  • Practice with Past Papers: Often GCSE students overlook the importance of practising the exam itself. Sitting an GCSE exam successfully requires a whole new skill set; can you physically write for 3 hours straight? Can you hold your concentration for 3 hours without taking a break? You need to build up your stamina, and you can only do that through practice. Print out the GCSE past exam paper, set your timer, put away your phone, textbooks and notes and sit the paper under exam conditions.

    Keep an eye on the time and see how you do, the more you practice this the easier it will get. Here at Save My Exams we have arranged all the GCSE past papers by subject and exam board so you can easily find everything you need all in one place.

  • Take Care of Yourself: The most important thing to remember during your GCSE revision process and during exam season is to look after yourself. A well-rested brain is a powerhouse, but if you are tired your brain struggles to retain and recall information. Therefore, you need to get around 8 hours of quality sleep each night. You need to take lots of breaks between study sessions. You need to eat well, get regular exercise and stay hydrated to give your brain everything it needs to perform at its best. As with everything in life, balance is key. With all this hard work, you need to make time for things you enjoy. You can use this downtime as a reward to help keep you motivated. Yes, you can watch your favorite TV show - after you finish your GCSE revision for the day.

    The run up to exam season can be a very stressful time. Talk to your friends and family about how you are feeling and allow them to support you through this time. If you find that you are struggling physically or emotionally, reach out to someone you trust for help. You can contact your GP, or you can find information about mental health support at Young Minds and Mind.

  • Make Use of Online Resources: Revision is a huge task, but you don't need to do everything yourself. There are lots of online resources available to help with your revision. Here at Save My Exams, we believe in providing you with everything you need to get the best possible GCSE grades with the least possible effort. We have a team of expert teachers and examiners creating high quality, exam board specific GCSE revision notes, exam questions and flashcards, organised by topic so you can easily find exactly what you need.

Explore GCSE Study Tools

What are GCSE grade boundaries?

Grade boundaries are the thresholds set by examination boards to determine the final grades of students based on their exam performance. They set the minimum mark a student needs to achieve to get a particular grade.

Grade boundaries play a crucial role in the education system. They ensure that grades reflect students' knowledge, understanding and mastery of the subjects they have studied. These boundaries are established by the different exam boards, including AQA, Edexcel, and OCR. They are significant for students as they influence final grades, academic progression, and future opportunities.

What is the 9-1 grading system?

The 9-1 grading system was introduced to replace the traditional A*- G grades, aiming to provide a more accurate measure of student performance.

The new system ranges from 9 (highest) to 1 (lowest). It was designed to increase the challenge for students and create clearer differentiation among their abilities. The transition from the old to the new grading system began in 2017. It aimed to make the grading criteria more rigorous and more reflective of students' knowledge, understanding and skills.

Comparison between new and old GCSE grades

Old gradesNew grades
A*9
8
A7
B6
High C5 (strong pass)
Low C4 (standard pass)
D

3

2

1

E
F
G
UU

A grade 4 is the new minimum standard for colleges, universities and employers. This is equivalent to a low C on the old grading system. A grade 5 is a strong pass, this is equivalent to a high C. A grade 7 is equivalent to an A, and a grade 9 is higher than the old A* grade. The new grading system helps to differentiate between students scoring the higher grades. The old system had three top grades: B, A and A*. The new grading system has four top grades: 6, 7, 8 and 9.

Why are the grade boundaries important?

Grade boundaries are essential in the grading process, as they define the score ranges required for each GCSE grade. They ensure consistency and fairness in awarding grades, reflecting the relative performance of all GCSE students in a given exam series. These boundaries significantly impact students' final grades, influencing their academic progression, eligibility for further education, and career opportunities.

When teachers mark student work, particularly end-of-unit assessments, the thing that GCSE students often look for first is the grade the work has achieved. This is because grades have such a significant impact on their academic progression. But, it is essential to recognise the difference between grades and your knowledge and understanding.

To improve your grade you need to focus not just on your knowledge and understanding but how you apply this to the questions in the exams. Using websites such as Save My Exams for your GCSE can help you gain the exam skills you need to improve your grades.

How are GCSE grade boundaries set?

Exam boards such as AQA, Edexcel and OCR have a meticulous process in place for determining where the grade boundaries should be for each exam series. The process involves several factors:

  • Exam Difficulty: For each new exam series, new GCSE questions are written by a team of subject specialists. Therefore, with each new GCSE exam series there are minor fluctuations in the level of difficulty of each paper in comparison to previous years. If a cohort of GCSE students finds an exam particularly challenging, then the grade boundaries will be lowered slightly to compensate and vice versa. This ensures the consistency of GCSE grades from one year to the next.

  • Statistical Analysis: Exam boards use statistics from previous cohorts of GCSE students to inform how they set GCSE grade boundaries. Each cohort's results for each GCSE subject are compared to those of previous years to ensure consistency in grading standards. Previous attainment data of the current cohort can also be used as a benchmark. Particular attention is paid to those students around the grade boundaries to ensure they are set fairly.

  • Moderation: A sample of exam papers from each GCSE exam will be sent for moderation. Moderation is a second round of marking by another examiner to ensure that the marks awarded are consistent and fair.

  • Examiner Judgements: Experienced examiners will review a sample of exam papers from each GCSE exam. They will look at papers scoring a range of marks and compare them to papers from previous years. They will make recommendations to the exam boards on where they think the grade boundaries should be set.

Using grade boundaries to improve your results

By incorporating grade boundaries into your revision process, you can gain a clearer picture of the level you're currently working at and pinpoint exactly where you need to improve. Begin by selecting a GCSE past paper for your chosen subject and sitting it under timed exam conditions. Complete all the GCSE papers from that year's exam series, then use the official mark scheme or ask a friend or family member to score your work.

Add up your total marks from all the papers, then consult the corresponding year's grade boundaries to determine your working grade. Take note of how many marks you need to reach the next grade up, and reflect on any areas of weakness. For example: Did you struggle with time management? Did you find certain topics challenging? Focus your revision on these weaker areas, using notes, practice questions, and flashcards to build confidence.

Next, choose a different year's GCSE papers and repeat the process to gauge your improvement. Keep in mind that for 2021 and 2022 GCSE exams, grade boundaries were adjusted due to the impact of COVID-19, so these particular sets of papers may not provide an accurate reflection of the GCSE grade boundaries.

Conclusion: understanding GCSE grade boundaries in 2026

Grade boundaries ensure fairness and consistency across different years. By reviewing past grade boundaries, you can measure your current performance, gain insight into how many extra marks you need, and set realistic targets. This level of understanding can improve your technique and boost your chances of achieving a higher grade.

OCR Grade Boundaries by year

Edexcel (Pearson) Grade Boundaries by year

AQA Grade Boundaries by year

Got questions?
We've got answers

Knowing the grade boundaries for the subjects you are studying is helpful for you to understand the threshold that you need to meet to achieve a certain grade.

Grade boundaries are changed each year to account for changes in exam difficulty and changes in student performance. A particularly difficult exam may result in lower grade boundaries.

Grade boundaries for GCSE 2026 vary by exam board (e.g., AQA, OCR, Pearson Edexcel) and subject. These boundaries indicate the minimum number of marks required to achieve each grade, from Grade 1 (lowest) to Grade 9 (highest).

Exam boards set their grade boundaries using a combination of statistical analysis, moderation and examiner judgement whilst also taking into account the difficulty of the exam papers when compared to previous years.

A grade 4 is a standard pass. This is the minimum grade you need for college and employment, so you should be aiming for at least a grade 4 in your 2026 GCSE exams. If you get a grade 3 or below in maths or English, you will likely need to resit or retake an equivalent qualification. A grade 5 is a strong pass. Grades 6 to 9 are above average and demonstrate a higher level of achievement

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