How Many Marks Are Needed to Get a 4 in GCSE Maths Foundation?

Getting a Grade 4 in GCSE Maths is your ticket to sixth form, college courses, apprenticeships, and even university down the line. But, there’s no need to feel overwhelmed or worried. You don't need to be a maths genius to pass. And, you definitely don't need full marks or anywhere close. In fact, you might be surprised at just how achievable a Grade 4 really is.

If you're thinking about your future exams, you're probably wondering exactly how many marks you need to get a 4 in GCSE Maths Foundation. In this guide, we'll show you the real numbers from recent exams, explain how grade boundaries work, and help you plan your revision to hit that Grade 4 target.

Key Takeaways

• You usually need about 56-67% to get a Grade 4 (opens in a new tab) in Foundation Maths.

• That's roughly 135-160 marks out of 240, depending on the year and board.

• Grade boundaries change slightly each year.

• The Foundation Tier allows you to get up to a Grade 5, whereas Higher Tier allows you to get up to a Grade 9

What Is a Grade 4 in GCSE Maths?

Grade 4 is considered a "standard pass" in GCSE Maths. When compared to the old grading system that was used before 2017, this is roughly equivalent to a low C.

You'll need this grade for most sixth form courses, apprenticeships, and university applications. Many employers also recognise Grade 4 as the minimum requirement for jobs that need basic maths skills. Achieve this grade or above - like 58.2% of students in 2025 (opens in a new tab) - and so many doors will open up. You’ll have lots of opportunities to explore.

What's the Maximum Grade on Foundation Tier Maths?

Foundation Tier covers Grades 1 to 5 only. If you're aiming for a Grade 6 or above, you'll need to take Higher Tier instead.

You might be wondering why you should opt for the Foundation instead of Higher Tier. The logic is pretty simple. Most students who struggle with maths choose Foundation Tier because it gives them the best chance of getting that crucial Grade 4 pass. 

• Foundation Tier has easier questions but caps your maximum grade at 5. 

• Higher Tier has tougher questions but allows you to achieve the top grades (6-9).

You may need fewer marks to achieve a Grade 4 on the Higher Tier, but the questions can be more challenging. With less challenging questions at Foundation Tier level, you can make sure that you can tackle every question and finish the paper.

How GCSE Maths Is Marked and Graded

GCSE Maths consists of 3 papers across all exam boards.

Each paper is usually worth 80 marks, giving you 240 total marks across all three papers (this applies to AQA and Edexcel).

Your raw marks are then converted to grades using boundaries that are set each year. These boundaries can shift slightly depending on how difficult the exam was and how well students performed overall.

How Many Marks You Need for a Grade 4 in Foundation Maths

Based on recent grade boundaries, here's what you need to know for each major exam board.

AQA

For AQA Foundation Maths (opens in a new tab), the Grade 4 boundary has typically been:

The exact boundary varies each year based on exam difficulty, but you can see it generally falls between 135-160 marks.

Edexcel

Edexcel Foundation Maths (opens in a new tab) Grade 4 boundaries show a similar pattern:

Edexcel tends to have slightly less variation in boundaries year-on-year.

OCR

OCR Foundation Maths (opens in a new tab) papers are marked out of a combined total of 300 rather than the 240 of AQA and Edexcel. Grade 4 boundaries typically require:

OCR often has slightly lower boundaries, which may make it marginally easier to achieve Grade 4 compared to other boards.

Keen to learn more? Our Grade Boundaries resource allows you to explore the marks you need to get for whatever grade you’re targeting in your GCSE Maths exams.

How to Use Grade Boundaries to Plan Your GCSE Maths Revision

Knowing these boundaries helps you set realistic revision targets. When you’re ready to set up your revision timetable, follow these steps.

1. Aim to hit at least 50-65% consistently in past papers, depending on your exam board. While grade boundaries shift a little each year, aim for these percentage on past papers to give you a bit of boundary breathing space:

• 65% across all papers (for AQA) 

• 60% across all papers (for Edexcel) 

• 50% across all papers (for OCR)  

2. Identify your weaker areas. Are you stronger at non-calculator or calculator papers? Is your geometry stronger than your algebra? Use a mix of blocked practice and the chunking revision technique to focus extra revision time on the maths areas you find most challenging.

3. Track your marks in mock exams to build confidence over time. Seeing your scores improve is brilliant motivation to keep going.

4. Use examiners' reports to understand what commonly loses marks. These reports show exactly where students go wrong and how to avoid the same mistakes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a Grade 4 on Higher Tier Maths?

Yes, you can. Higher Tier still allows Grade 4, and the boundary is usually lower (around 18-26% instead of 56-67%).

However, Higher Tier questions are much more challenging. If you're not confident with Grade 6+ level topics, Foundation Tier gives you a better chance of success.

What happens if I just miss the Grade 4 boundary?

If you're just a few marks short, you might be able to request a remark if you think there's been a marking error. Otherwise, you can retake the exam in November or the following summer. Many students improve significantly on their second attempt.

Is Foundation Maths easier than Higher Tier?

The questions are definitely easier on Foundation Tier. However, you need a higher percentage of marks to get Grade 4. 

Foundation Tier is designed for students who can find elements of maths challenging but still need to achieve a pass grade.

Next Steps to Maths Success

Achieving a Grade 4 in GCSE Maths Foundation is absolutely within your reach with the right approach.

The key is consistent practice. Save My Exams has a huge selection of flashcards, revision notes, and past papers to help you focus on areas you find most challenging, and revise with purpose. With steady effort, that Grade 4 is not just possible - it’s well within your grasp.

References

Oxford Revise - GCSE Maths Grade Boundaries (opens in a new tab)

GCSE Student Performance Analysis (opens in a new tab)

AQA GCSE Mathematics Specification (opens in a new tab)

Edexcel GCSE Mathematics Specification (opens in a new tab)

OCR GCSE Mathematics Specification (opens in a new tab)