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Grade BoundariesCIE IGCSE Grade Boundaries 2026

CIE IGCSE Grade Boundaries 2026: Averages & Why They Matter

Curious about the CIE IGCSE grade boundaries for 2026? If you're sitting your IGCSE exams this year, understanding how grade boundaries work can help you to navigate your results and work out how you've performed.

Grade boundaries are the number of marks you need to hit each grade. It's important to know that they aren't fixed. They shift slightly each year based on how the entire year group finds the exam.

If your paper is particularly difficult, the boundaries might drop to balance things out. Found a paper surprisingly manageable? The boundaries may rise slightly. This system keeps things fair, so students aren't penalised just because they sat a tougher exam than the year before.

This page shows average grade boundaries for CIE IGCSE exams from the past 3 years. These aren't predictions, but they give you a solid idea of what boundaries normally look like.

We'll update this page the moment official 2026 boundaries drop, so bookmark it now and sign up for alerts below.

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Average Grade Boundaries 2026

We've crunched the numbers from the past 3 years to work out average grade boundaries for CIE IGCSE exams. Think of these as your benchmark. It's a way to see what boundaries have typically been in recent years.

All data comes from our Grade Boundary Archive, which tracks consistent patterns across multiple exam sessions.

SubjectYearMonthMaximum MarkGrade 9Grade 8Grade 7Grade 6Grade 5Grade 4Grade 3Grade 2Grade 1
English (as an Additional Language) (X) 03, 11, 21, 412026June18016114613111810593735333
Biology (BX) 21, 41, 512026June2001661501341159779645137
Biology (CX) 21, 41, 612026June2001671511351169779655138
Biology (CY) 22, 42, 622026June20017415914412811195776042
Biology (FX) 11, 31, 512026June200----131118957351
Biology (GX) 11, 31, 612026June200----132119967452
Biology (GY) 12, 32, 622026June200----135117977758
Chemistry (BX) 21, 41, 512026June2001681521361169879645036
Chemistry (CX) 21, 41, 612026June2001691531381189879655138
Chemistry (CY) 22, 42, 622026June2001651491351169880655137
Chemistry (FX) 11, 31, 512026June200----119102795735
Chemistry (GX) 11, 31, 612026June200----120103815937
Chemistry (GY) 12, 32, 622026June200----124106856444
Physics (BX) 21, 41, 512026June2001501341181038874625039
Physics (CX) 21, 41, 612026June2001491341191038874614937
Physics (CY) 22, 42, 622026June2001541401261089175614734
Physics (FX) 11, 31, 512026June200----125112927354
Physics (GX) 11, 31, 612026June200----129115947454
Physics (GY) 12, 32, 622026June200----121109886746
Art and Design (A) 01, 022026June20017315313412010794704622
Business Studies (X) 11, 212026June1601059381705847372717
Geography (AY) 03, 12, 222026June220186174162146131116926947
Geography (BY) 12, 22, 422026June220175163151136121107856444
History (AY) 03, 12, 222026June15011310393857770594838
History (BY) 12, 22, 422026June150988879706152443629
Business Studies (Y) 12, 222026June1601069686756353402917
Co-Ordinated Sciences (Double Award) (CX) 21, 41, 612026June24018516514612710890735640
Mathematics (AY) 12, 322026June160----10890674422
Mathematics (BY) 22, 422026June2001821661501271058360--
Co-Ordinated Sciences (Double Award) (CY) 22, 42, 622026June24019017115113311597775839
Computer Science (AX) 11, 212026June15011510187725743342618
Computer Science (AY) 12, 222026June15012210792776248382819
Accounting (AX) 11, 212026June1431099378645239322417
Accounting (AY) 12, 222026June14311510086715642332517
Co-Ordinated Sciences (Double Award) (FX) 11, 31, 512026June240----142115927048
Economics (X) 11, 212026June15011210496867666534027
Economics (Y) 12, 222026June150127116105928068544027
Co-Ordinated Sciences (Double Award) (GX) 11, 31, 612026June240----136112906948
Co-Ordinated Sciences (Double Award) (GY) 12, 32, 622026June240----140115937150
Design and Technology (AY) 02, 12, 322026June200160149137125113102836548
Design and Technology (BY) 02, 12, 422026June200170158146132118105856546
Design and Technology (CY) 02, 12, 522026June200171159147134122109886746
Design and Technology (DY (DY1) 12, 32, 822026June200160148137125114103846648
Design and Technology (DY (DY2) 12, 32, 922026June200160148137125114103846648
Design and Technology (FY (FY1) 12, 52, 822026November200171160149135122109876645
Design and Technology (FY (FY2) 12, 52, 922026November200171160149135122109876645
Drama (AY) 02, 122026June200168158149136124111855934
Drama (BY (BY1) 12, 822026November200170160151138125112866035
Drama (BY (BY2) 12, 922026November200170160151138125112866035
French (X) 03, 11, 21, 412026June20016915514112611197765636
French (Y) 03, 12, 22, 422026June20016815514212711398775737
German (Y) 03, 12, 22, 422026June200175159143129115102805938
Spanish (Y) 03, 12, 22, 422026June200172157142128114100795939
English as a Second Language (Count-In Speaking) (AX) 11, 31, 512026June200----1641521259871
English as a Second Language (Count-In Speaking) (AY) 12, 32, 522026June200----1501451189266
Biology (BY) 22, 42, 522026November20017215714312711297806346
Computer Science (0984) (AY) 12, 222026November1501089685725946352515
English as a Second Language (Count-In Speaking) (FX) 21, 41, 512026June200185178171159147136110--
English as a Second Language (Count-In Speaking) (FY) 22, 42, 522026June200186179173160148136109--
English as a Second Language (Count-In Speaking) (GX) 21, 41, 812026June200184176169157146135110--
English as a Second Language (Count-In Speaking) (HX) 21, 41, 912026June200184176169157146135110--
English as a Second Language (Count-In Speaking) (AX) 11, 21, 312026November1601511471441371311251078972
English as a Second Language (Count-In Speaking) (BX) 11, 21, 812026November1601511471441371311251078972
English as a Second Language (Count-In Speaking) (CX) 11, 21, 912026November1601511471431371311251078972
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (AX) 11, 31, 512026November200----16515613311189
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (BX) 11, 31, 812026November200----16515613311189
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (FX) 21, 41, 512026November200187181175166157148128--
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (GX) 21, 41, 812026November200187181175166157148128--
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (MA) 21, 412026November200187181175166157148128--
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (AX) 11, 31, 512026June200----16715412710073
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (FX) 21, 41, 512026June200185177170158146135109--
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (FY) 22, 42, 522026June200187180173160147135108--
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (HX) 21, 41, 912026June200185177170158146135109--
Geography (CY) 12, 22, 832026November220182171160144129114916845
History (AX) 03, 11, 212026November15011410596867768544128
History (BX) 11, 21, 412026November1501009182726252413020
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (MA) 21, 412026June200185177170158146135109--
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (AX) 11, 21, 312026November1501431401371311261211059075
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (B1) 11, 21, 812026November1501431401371311261211059075
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (CX) 11, 21, 912026November1501431401371311261211059075
Mathematics (AX) 11, 312026November160----12190664320
Mathematics (BX) 21, 412026November2001811621431241068864--
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (LA) 11, 212026November1501431401371311261211059075
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (AX) 11, 21, 312026June1501421391361291231171008367
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (AY) 12, 22, 322026June150141138136127118109947965
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (BX) 11, 21, 81/912026June1501431401371301231171008468
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (BY) 12, 22, 822026June150141138136127118109947965
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (LA) 11, 212026June1501421391361291231171008367
First Language Arabic (7184) (A) 01, 022026November100767064575145362718
First Language Arabic (A) 01, 022026June100756862565146362718
Spanish (X) 03, 11, 21, 412026November20017415714112611298795940
First Language English (0990) (AR (A1) 03, 112026June160125115106968677614529
First Language English (0990) (AS (A2) 03, 122026June160124115106978879614427
First Language English (0990) (AX (A1) 03, 112026June160125115106968677614529
First Language English (0990) (BR (B1) 11, 212026June160119110102938476604429
First Language English (0990) (BS (B2) 12, 222026June160118110102948678614427
History (CY) 12, 22, 832026June15011410393847668564534
First Language English (0990) (BX (B1) 11, 212026June160119110102938476604429
First Language English (0990) (BY (B2) 12, 222026June160118110102948678614427
First Language English (0990) (CR (CJ1) 11, 832026June160123113104948475594327
First Language English (0990) (CR (CN1) 11, 932026June160123113104948475594327
First Language English (AR (A1) 03, 112026June160125115106968677614529
First Language English (AS (A2) 03, 122026November1601271181101009182624324
First Language English (AX (A1) 03, 112026June160125115106968677614529
First Language English (AY (A2) 03, 122026November1601271181101009182624324
First Language English (BR (B1) 11, 212026June160119110102938476604429
First Language English (BS (B2) 12, 222026November160122114106988981624324
First Language English (BX (B1) 11, 212026June160119110102938476604429
First Language English (BY (B2) 12, 222026November160122114106988981624324
First Language English (CR (CJ1) 11, 832026June160125115106968677614529
First Language English (CR (CN1) 11, 932026June160125115106968677614529
First Language English (CS (CJ2) 12, 832026November1601271181101009182624324
First Language English (CS (CN2) 12, 932026November160127118109999081624224
Information and Communication Technology (AY) 12, 21, 312026June280207188169149129110856137
Information and Communication Technology (BY) 12, 22, 312026June280207187168149130111866036
Information and Communication Technology (CY) 12, 21, 322026June280212193175155136117906438
Information and Communication Technology (DY) 12, 22, 322026June280212193174155136118916437
Information and Communication Technology (EX) 02, 03, 112026November280217194172150128106825834
Italian (Y) 03, 12, 22, 422026June200175157140127114101816141
Literature in English (AY) 12, 222026June100716458514539322620
Literature in English (BY) 12, 32, 422026June100746761534740332620
Literature in English (CY) 05, 12, 322026June100767064565043342517
Music (A) 02, 03, 122026June170135123111998675563719
Music (B (B1) 12, 82, 832026November1701371251131008775563719
Music (B (B2) 12, 92, 932026November170135123111988573553719
Physical Education (AY) 02, 122026June20015113912711710797765535
Physical Education (BY) 12, 822026June20015113912711710797765535
Physical Education (AX) 02, 112026November200160149138128117107846239
History (CX) 11, 21, 832026November15011910999908274604633
Physical Education (AY) 02, 122026June20014813712711710798765433
Physical Education (BX) 11, 822026November200160149138128117107846239
Physical Education (BY) 12, 822026June20014813712711710798765433
Arabic (A) 01, 022026June100868074676053453730
Co-Ordinated Sciences (Double Award) (BX) 21, 41, 512026June24018716714812911091745842
Drama (AU) 02, 142026June200166156147134122110845833
Drama (BY (BY1)) 12, 822026June200166156147135123111855934
Drama (BY (BY2)) 12, 922026June200166156147135123111855934
English as a Second Language (Count-In Speaking) (AX) 11, 21, 312026June1601501461431351281211028365
English as a Second Language (Count-In Speaking) (AY) 12, 22, 322026June160150146143133123114978064
English as a Second Language (Count-In Speaking) (BX) 11, 21, 812026June1601501461431351281211028365
English as a Second Language (Count-In Speaking) (CX) 11, 21, 912026June1601501461431351281211028365
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (BX) 11, 21, 812026June150141138135128122116998266
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (CX) 11, 21, 912026June150141138135128122116998266
Physical Education (CY) 12, 922026June20015013812611510595755536

Disclaimer: These are not the official grade boundaries for 2026. They are calculated averages based on historical data and should be used as a rough guide only. Actual grade boundaries are set by the exam boards after all exam papers have been marked.

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CIE IGCSE Grade Boundaries 2025

Last year's boundaries can give you a feel for what might happen in 2026. Here's how they looked:

SubjectYearMonthMaximum MarkGrade 9Grade 8Grade 7Grade 6Grade 5Grade 4Grade 3Grade 2Grade 1
Accounting (AX) 11, 212025June1431109479665340322417
Accounting (AY) 12, 222025June1431139883685440322417
Arabic (A) 01, 022025June100868074676053453730
Art and Design (A) 01, 022025June20017315313412010794704622
Biology (BX) 21, 41, 512025June2001641471311129375625038
Biology (CX) 21, 41, 612025June2001651481321139476645240
Biology (CY) 22, 42, 622025June20017816314913211599816345
Biology (FX) 11, 31, 512025June200----133117957453
Biology (GX) 11, 31, 612025June200----134118977655
Biology (GY) 12, 32, 622025June200----127113957759
Business Studies (X) 11, 212025June1601049281705949382818
Business Studies (Y) 12, 222025June1601089889786756433018
Chemistry (BX) 21, 41, 512025June20017215714312410688725641
Chemistry (CX) 21, 41, 612025June20017415914512610788735843
Chemistry (CY) 22, 42, 622025June20017315914612710889735843
Chemistry (FX) 11, 31, 512025June200----124106825835
Chemistry (GX) 11, 31, 612025June200----123106836037
Chemistry (GY) 12, 32, 622025June200----126110886645
Co-Ordinated Sciences (Double Award) (BX) 21, 41, 512025June24018716714812911091745842
Co-Ordinated Sciences (Double Award) (CX) 21, 41, 612025June24018516514612610788725742
Co-Ordinated Sciences (Double Award) (CY) 22, 42, 622025June24018216214312610992745639
Co-Ordinated Sciences (Double Award) (GX) 11, 31, 612025June240125110907051
Co-Ordinated Sciences (Double Award) (GY) 12, 32, 622025June240128112917050
Computer Science (AX) 11, 212025June15012010794796450403021
Computer Science (AY) 12, 222025June150129114100846954453729
Design and Technology (AY) 02, 12, 322025June200163152141128115103846648
Design and Technology (BY) 02, 12, 422025June200171159147133119106866647
Design and Technology (CY) 02, 12, 522025June200173161149136124112917049
Drama (AU) 02, 142025June200166156147134122110845833
Drama (AY) 02, 122025June200166156147135123111855934
Drama (BY (BY1)) 12, 822025June200166156147135123111855934
Drama (BY (BY2)) 12, 922025June200166156147135123111855934
Economics (X) 11, 212025June15011310597857463513927
Economics (Y) 12, 222025June150125115106938068544128
English (as an Additional Language) (X) 03, 11, 21, 412025June18016114613111810593735333
English as a Second Language (Count-In Speaking) (AX) 11, 21, 312025June1601501461431351281211028365
English as a Second Language (Count-In Speaking) (AY) 12, 22, 322025June160150146143133123114978064
English as a Second Language (Count-In Speaking) (BX) 11, 21, 812025June1601501461431351281211028365
English as a Second Language (Count-In Speaking) (CX) 11, 21, 912025June1601501461431351281211028365
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (AX) 11, 21, 312025June150141138135128122116998266
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (AY) 12, 22, 322025June150141138135126117108937965
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (BX) 11, 21, 812025June150141138135128122116998266
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (BY) 12, 22, 822025June150141138135126117108937965
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (CX) 11, 21, 912025June150141138135128122116998266
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (LA) 11, 212025June150141138135128122116998266
First Language Arabic (A) 01, 022025June100766963575146362718
French (X) 03, 11, 21, 412025June20016715414212711399785737
French (Y) 03, 12, 22, 422025June20016915614412911499785737
Geography (AY) 03, 12, 222025June220185174164148133118947047
Geography (BY) 12, 22, 422025June220175164154139124109876544
Geography (CY) 12, 22, 832025June220185174164148133118947047
German (Y) 03, 12, 22, 422025June200179162146131116102805837
History (AY) 03, 12, 222025June15011410494867870605041
History (BY) 12, 22, 422025June150998979695950423528
History (CY) 12, 22, 832025June15011510494867870594838
Italian (Y) 03, 12, 22, 422025June200175158141127114101816141
Literature in English (AY) 12, 222025June100726559524539322620
Literature in English (BY) 12, 32, 422025June100756862544740332620
Literature in English (CY) 05, 12, 322025June100777165575043342517
Mathematics (AY) 12, 322025June160----10386634017
Mathematics (BY) 22, 422025June2001841681521301088665--
Music (A) 02, 03, 122025June1701371251131008775563719
Physical Education (AY) 02, 122025June20015013812611510595755536
Physical Education (BY) 12, 822025June20015013812611510595755536
Physical Education (CY) 12, 922025June20015013812611510595755536
Physics (BX) 21, 41, 512025June2001511371231079175655546
Physics (CX) 21, 41, 612025June2001521391261099276655443
Physics (CY) 22, 42, 622025June2001561421281119478645037
Physics (FX) 11, 31, 512025June200----124109886848
Physics (GX) 11, 31, 612025June200----126110886645
Physics (GY) 12, 32, 622025June200----124108866443
Spanish (Y) 03, 12, 22, 422025June200171157143128114100806040

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What to do after the 2026 CIE IGCSE grade boundaries are released: Next steps

Once the 2026 CIE IGCSE grade boundaries go live on results day, you'll want to check where your final mark fits in them. Here's what to do, whether you smashed it or came up short.

1. Compare your marks to the boundaries

Grab your marks and stack them up against the official boundaries for your exam board. This shows you exactly how close you were to each grade and whether it's worth requesting a remark.

2. Understand what it means for you

Didn't get what you hoped for? Don't worry. It's not the end of the road. Plenty of students resit their IGCSE exams, while others shift their future plans. Our IGCSE revision resources can help you get back on track and build your confidence.

3. Plan your next move

Not everyone continues studying. But, if you're heading to sixth form or college, our revision resources can help you throughout the next stage of your journey. And, if university is on your radar, check out our University Acceptance Rates data. You'll see how your results match up with typical offers and explore your options from there. If you missed your grades, our Clearing guide explains how to find a course that works for you.

What are weighted boundaries?

Some subjects have more than one exam paper or component, and they don't all contribute the same amount to your final grade. Exam boards assign each paper a weighting factor.

Working out your weighted grade

Here's a simple step-by-step guide to how it happens:

  1. You get a raw mark for each paper (this is just the mark the examiner gives you).
  2. Each paper gets multiplied by a weighting factor, which turns it into a weighted mark.
  3. All your weighted marks are added up to give you your total course mark.
  4. This total gets compared with the grade-threshold table for your exam session to decide your final grade.

A quick example

Let's say you're sitting two papers:

  • Paper 1:
    • You score 64 out of 80.
    • The weighting is 1.25.
    • So your weighted mark is 64 × 1.25 = 80.
  • Paper 2:
    • You score 70 out of 100.
    • The weighting is 1.
    • So your weighted mark is 70 × 1 = 70.
  • Your total:
    • 150 weighted marks.

Remember, grade boundaries change each exam series. This means the same total mark might lead to a different grade in another year. Don't be tempted to compare your marks with your friend who sat the exam last year — the boundaries could be completely different!

Check with CIE to see if your course uses weighted scores.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

Grade boundaries are typically released at 8:00am on results day, just before students receive their official grades. In the meantime, you can use our 2026 grade boundary averages to get an idea of what the CIE IGCSE grade boundaries may look like.

We'll be updating our comprehensive CIE IGCSE grade boundaries resource as soon as the 2026 grade boundaries have been published, so be sure to visit this page on results day for live updates. Each exam board will also publish their results on their official websites. Once they're released, you'll be able to find them here:

After exams have taken place, senior examiners from each exam board review how students have performed. They look closely at:

  • How difficult the paper was compared to previous years.
  • The quality of student responses across the country.
  • Whether certain questions were considered unexpectedly hard or easy.

Ofqual asks exam boards to follow a rule called 'comparable outcomes'. This means that students with similar ability levels should get roughly the same grades each year, even if the exams are considered more or less difficult.

Grade boundaries show exactly how many marks you need to achieve each grade, whether that's a 9, 7 or 5 at GCSE, or an A, B or C at A Level.

For example, if the grade boundary for a grade 6 at GCSE is 61 marks, then a student who scores 63 would be awarded a grade 6.

If a paper is harder than expected, the grade boundaries may be lower, meaning students need fewer marks than usual to achieve a particular grade.