Understanding GCSE Maths grade boundaries is key to knowing what you need to aim for in your exams. This guide breaks down official grade boundaries from recent years to help you set clear, realistic revision targets.
What Are Grade Boundaries? 🎯
Grade boundaries are the minimum raw marks you need to achieve a specific grade. After all exams are marked, senior examiners meet to set these boundaries for each paper, every single year.
This process ensures fairness. If an exam is judged to be harder than the previous year’s, the grade boundaries will be lowered. This means you aren’t disadvantaged by a particularly difficult paper.
The 9-1 Grading System Explained
A Grade 4 is a ‘standard pass’, and a Grade 5 is considered a ‘strong pass’. A Grade 9 is set higher than the old A*, rewarding the very highest-achieving students.
| New Grade (9-1) | Old Grade (A*-G) | What it Means |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Higher than A* | The very highest achievement, showing exceptional mastery. |
| 7 | A | A strong performance, highly valued by colleges. |
| 5 | High C / Low B | A ‘strong pass’ and a solid achievement. |
| 4 | C | The ‘standard pass’ grade. |
| U | U (Ungraded) | Did not meet the minimum requirements for a grade. |
Official GCSE Maths Grade Boundaries (2023-2025)
Here are the official raw mark boundaries from the last three completed exam series. This historical data is the most reliable guide for setting future revision targets.
2025 Grade Boundaries
Total marks out of 240 (Edexcel, AQA, Eduqas) or 300 (OCR).
| Exam Board | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edexcel Higher | 217 | 186 | 156 | 121 | 87 | 53 | 36 |
| Edexcel Foundation | – | – | – | – | 175 | 144 | 105 |
| AQA Higher | 219 | 191 | 164 | 130 | 96 | 63 | 46 |
| AQA Foundation | – | – | – | – | 188 | 160 | 119 |
| OCR Higher | 258 | 212 | 166 | 126 | 86 | 47 | 27 |
| OCR Foundation | – | – | – | – | 182 | 134 | 95 |
| Eduqas Higher | 196 | 155 | 115 | 85 | 56 | 27 | 12 |
| Eduqas Foundation | – | – | – | – | 141 | 111 | 81 |
2024 Grade Boundaries
| Exam Board | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edexcel Higher | 197 | 167 | 137 | 105 | 73 | 42 | 26 |
| Edexcel Foundation | – | – | – | – | 175 | 142 | 103 |
| AQA Higher | 219 | 191 | 163 | 129 | 95 | 61 | 44 |
| AQA Foundation | – | – | – | – | 186 | 157 | 117 |
2023 Grade Boundaries
| Exam Board | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edexcel Higher | 203 | 174 | 145 | 112 | 79 | 47 | 31 |
| Edexcel Foundation | – | – | – | – | 182 | 147 | 109 |
| AQA Higher | 214 | 186 | 158 | 125 | 92 | 59 | 42 |
| AQA Foundation | – | – | – | – | 189 | 158 | 117 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What grade would 70% be in GCSE Maths?
A: This is a great score! Using the most recent 2025 Higher tier papers as an example:
• On Edexcel, 70% (168 marks) would have earned you a Grade 7.
• On AQA, 70% (168 marks) would also have secured a Grade 7.
Q: Is a Grade 7 a good GCSE grade?
A: Yes, a Grade 7 is an excellent grade, equivalent to an A in the old system. It is highly respected by colleges, universities, and employers.
Q: How will future grade boundaries be decided?
A: The exact boundaries for 2026 and beyond will only be decided after those exams are marked. The best strategy is to use the 2023-2025 data in this guide as a reliable indication of the standard required. Your goal should be to maximise your own score, not just to beat a previous year’s boundary.
