What are the Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE Grade Boundaries in 2020 and Why They Matter

Grade boundaries set by Edexcel (Pearson) are the minimum number of marks you need to score in your IGCSE exam to achieve a certain grade. The grade boundaries change for every exam series, so they will be different in 2020 than they were in previous years. Grade boundaries are set after your Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE exams have been marked, so you won’t know the exact grade boundaries for the 2020 exams before you take them.

This article will provide you with the grade boundaries for Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE 2020, help you interpret them, and provide tools to help you succeed in your exams.

SubjectYearMonthMaximum MarkGrade 9Grade 8Grade 7Grade 6Grade 5Grade 4Grade 3Grade 2Grade 1
Accounting Paper(s) 01 022020November1501059076635038302215
Accounting Paper(s) 01 022020January150127116105948372574329
Accounting Paper(s) 01R 02R2020November15012110487705336292215
Arabic (First Language) Paper(s) 01 022020November125968881716253433323
Arabic (First Language) Paper(s) 01 022020January125999388827670574431
Art & Design: Fine Art Paper(s) 01 022020November1441201059071523424145
Art & Design: Fine Art Paper(s) 01T 022020November1441201059071523424145
Art & Design: Graphic Design Paper(s) 01 022020November1441201059071523424145
Art & Design: Graphic Design Paper(s) 01T 022020November1441201059071523424145
Bangla Paper(s) 012020November100858075635140322518
Bangla Paper(s) 012020January100878278726660493828
Bangladesh Studies2020November150928374655647362514
Biology Paper(s) 1B & 2B2020November18012910989705133282318
Biology Paper(s) 1B & 2B2020January180136120104907764524130
Biology Papers 1BR & 2BR2020November18012911091745842352822
Biology Papers 1BR & 2BR2020January180134119105948372604837
Business Paper(s) 01 022020November160907764503724201612
Business Paper(s) 01R 02R2020November160978777624834282217
Chemistry Paper(s) 1C & 2C2020November18013711593725130241914
Chemistry Paper(s) 1C & 2C2020January18016214913712210792755943
Chemistry Paper(s) 1CR & 2CR2020November180143124105887154433222
Chemistry Paper(s) 1CR & 2CR2020January1801591431281139884695440
Chinese Paper(s) 01 022020November1201098561554943332415
Chinese Paper(s) 01R 02R2020November1201028568625650382716
Commerce2020January160928374655749413326
Commerce Paper(s) 01 022020November16072615039291915117
Commerce Paper(s) 01R 02R2020November160797164524029231813
Computer Science Paper(s) 01 022020November16012611197796245362719
Economics Paper(s) 01 022020November160978472594634302623
Economics Paper(s) 01 022020January1601119988807366554535
Economics Paper(s) 01R & 02R2020November160989082716151423426
Economics Paper(s) 01R & 02R2020January16011010090837771594735
English Language A Papers 01 & 022020November1501089786766656422814
English Language A Papers 01 & 022020January15011810898887868513418
English Language A Papers 01 & 032020November150120110100887665503520
English Language A Papers 01 & 032020January150127116105948474574024
English Language A Papers 01 & 03T2020November150120110100887665503520
English Language A Papers 01 & 03T2020January150127116105948474574024
English Language A Papers 01R & 02R2020November15011310190796858432814
English Language A Papers 01R & 02R2020January15011410494847566503418
English Language A Papers 01R & 032020January150121111101918171553924
English Language A Papers 01R & 03T2020January150121111101918171553924
English Language B Paper 012020November10068615447413526178
English Language B Paper 012020January100777064605653402715
English Language B Paper 01R2020November10061554944393425179
English Language B Paper 01R2020January100776962595653402715
English Literature Papers 01 & 022020November1501079685726048352210
English Literature Papers 01 & 022020January15011410494837363463014
English Literature Papers 01 & 032020November15011510392796654402613
English Literature Papers 01 & 032020January15012010998877767503317
English Literature Papers 01 & 03T2020November15011510392796654402613
English Literature Papers 01 & 03T2020January15012010998877767503317
English Literature Papers 01R & 02R2020November1501069483715947342210
English Literature Papers 01R & 02R2020January15011410494837363463014
English Literature Papers 01R & 032020November15011410393816958432814
English Literature Papers 01R & 032020January15012010998877767503317
English as a Second Language Paper(s) 01 022020November1501341251171038976675849
English as a Second Language Paper(s) 01R 02R2020November150136124113937354474135
English as a Second Language Papers 01 & 022020January15013913212511510697857362
English as a Second Language Papers 01R & 02R2020January15013713112511510697857362
English as a Second Language Speaking Endorsement2020January4038343026232015117
French Paper(s) 01 022020November120897765554535261810
French Paper(s) 01R 02R2020November120928069554127211510
Further Pure Mathematics Papers 01 & 022020November2001591259275594335--
Further Pure Mathematics Papers 01 & 022020January200183166149122956854--
Further Pure Mathematics Papers 01R & 02R2020November2001531239379655245--
Further Pure Mathematics Papers 01R & 02R2020January200184168152124977056--
Geography Paper(s) 01 022020November175132116100816345352617
Geography Paper(s) 01R 02R2020November17513011498826651403020
German Paper(s) 01 022020November120796653423121171411
German Paper(s) 01R 02R2020November120806653453730252015
Global Citizenship2020November100736557483931241812
Greek (First Language)2020November1251039384766860514233
History Paper(s) 01 022020November12093816960514331198
History Paper(s) 01R 02R2020November12093816960514331198
Human Biology2020January18014913912911810796806449
Human Biology Paper(s) 01 022020November18013311597867564483217
Human Biology Paper(s) 01R 02R2020November18011810491806958422712
ICT Paper(s) 01 022020November200120997962452922159
ICT Paper(s) 01R 02R2020November20012510892725232241710
Islamic Studies2020November90675849382716141210
Mathematics A (Foundation) Paper(s) 1F 2F2020November200----11893684420
Mathematics A (Foundation) Paper(s) 1FR 2FR2020November200----11893684420
Mathematics A (Foundation) Papers 1F & 2F2020January200----145120885624
Mathematics A (Foundation) Papers 1FR & 2FR2020January200----141112835425
Mathematics A (Higher) Paper(s) 1H 2H2020November2001411169168462413--
Mathematics A (Higher) Paper(s) 1HR 2HR2020November200152121916743208--
Mathematics A (Higher) Papers 1H & 2H2020January20015913110483624130--
Mathematics A (Higher) Papers 1HR & 2HR2020January20015813010382614131--
Mathematics B Paper(s) 01 022020November30019615511484552611--
Mathematics B Paper(s) 01R 02R2020November300231186142106713618--
Mathematics B Papers 01 & 022020January3002442101771441117861--
Mathematics B Papers 01R & 02R2020January3002412081751421097761--
Pakistan Studies2020November150988573594532251913
Physics Paper(s) 1P 2P2020November18012810480624528231814
Physics Paper(s) 1PR 2PR2020November18013411596775839322620
Physics Papers 1P & 2P2020January1801491351221109887715540
Physics Papers 1PR & 2PR2020January18014813412011010091745740
Religious Studies2020November1671141029174574029199
Science (Single Award)2020November18011610085715743352720
Sinhala2020November100867871594736302520
Spanish Paper(s) 01 022020November120887359504133272115
Spanish Paper(s) 01R 02R2020November120827161514132262015
Swahili Paper(s) 01 022020November120989082695644373023
Tamil2020November100696052453832251913

Examiner-written IGCSE revision resources that improve your grades 2x

  • Written by expert teachers and examiners
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What is the best way to prepare for your IGCSE Edexcel (Pearson) exam?

The best way to prepare for your Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE exam is to start your revision early. Begin with a list of topics for all your IGCSE courses and highlight the ones you are the most unsure about. Create a revision timetable with short periods of focus, giving the most time to these topics.

Ideally, you will want to revise all the topics for each subject, but often there just isn’t time. Prioritising topics will help you make the best use of the time you do have, and will give you the biggest increase in marks for your IGCSE exams.

Use revision notes to revise Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE content. Flashcards are a great tool to practice recall, reinforce key concepts and boost memory retention. Then use exam questions to test your understanding and identify any areas that you are still unsure of.

It is also super helpful to use 2020 Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE past exam papers to practice your exam technique. Set a timer for the amount of time allowed for your Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE exam, and sit the paper under exam conditions. This will help you to manage your time more effectively. It will also help increase your exam stamina! It is difficult to concentrate and to write for extended periods, so you need to practice this before the big day.

How to interpret 2020 grade boundaries for Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE exams

Grade boundaries are established by exam boards such as Edexcel (Pearson) to reflect student performance in any given year. It is important to understand that the IGCSE grade boundaries are set after the IGCSE exams have been marked.

A variety of methods are used to ensure the grade boundaries are set fairly. Statistical analysis and examiner judgement are used to ensure the grade boundaries are fair and consistent with previous years.

Each IGCSE exam paper is different, so the level of difficulty of the paper as a whole can fluctuate slightly from year to year. For example, if an entire cohort of students finds an exam paper particularly difficult, the grade boundary is lowered slightly so that students are not unfairly penalised.

Looking at the Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE grade boundaries for previous years can help you get an idea of the marks you need in 2020 to achieve the grade you want. With this information and your Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE past paper scores, you can get an idea of the grade you are currently working at. You will be able to see how many marks you would have needed to get the higher grade. Armed with this information and an effective revision process, you can successfully work to increase your grade.

A word of caution. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE grade boundaries were lowered to minimise the disadvantage faced by students who missed school due to lockdowns. Therefore, the grade boundaries for the Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE years 2020 to 2022 will not be representative of other years.

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