Question 1

What are GCSE grade boundaries?

Accepted Answer

Grade boundaries are the minimum raw marks you need for each grade (9 down to 1) in a given GCSE specification. Each exam board sets its own boundaries per series once marking is complete, so a grade represents the same standard year on year even though the raw mark shifts a little with paper difficulty.

Question 2

What happened to A*-G grades in GCSE?

Accepted Answer

England moved to the 9-1 grading scale in 2017-2019 as part of the new linear GCSE specifications. Grade 9 sits above the old A*, grade 4 is roughly a standard pass (equivalent to an old C), and grade 7 sits at the old A boundary. Scotland (SQA) and CIE IGCSE still use letter grades for most subjects.

Question 3

When are GCSE grade boundaries published?

Accepted Answer

GCSE boundaries land at 8am on results day (mid-to-late August). Each board publishes one PDF per series covering every subject at that qualification level. We update this hub and every subject page shortly after the boundaries drop.

Question 4

Where can I revise GCSE subjects on Cognito?

Accepted Answer

Every subject on this hub links through to a [Cognito GCSE course](https://cognito.org/courses/gcse) with the full specification broken into short notes, quizzes and past papers by topic. Pick a subject above, then choose your exam board on the subject page. You can also browse the full [past-papers library](https://cognito.org/past-papers) directly.

Subject	AQA	Edexcel (Pearson)	Edexcel International GCSE (Pearson)	OCR	OCR Gateway (A)	OCR 21st Century (B)	Cambridge IGCSE (CIE)	SQA National 5	Edexcel A (Pearson)	Edexcel B (Pearson)
Biology	AQA	Edexcel (Pearson)	Edexcel International GCSE (Pearson)	—	OCR Gateway (A)	OCR 21st Century (B)	Cambridge IGCSE (CIE)	SQA National 5	—	—
Business Studies	AQA	Edexcel (Pearson)	Edexcel International GCSE (Pearson)	OCR	—	—	Cambridge IGCSE (CIE)	—	—	—
Chemistry	AQA	Edexcel (Pearson)	Edexcel International GCSE (Pearson)	—	OCR Gateway (A)	OCR 21st Century (B)	Cambridge IGCSE (CIE)	SQA National 5	—	—
Combined Science	AQA	Edexcel (Pearson)	Edexcel International GCSE (Pearson)	—	OCR Gateway (A)	OCR 21st Century (B)	Cambridge IGCSE (CIE)	—	—	—
Computer Science	AQA	Edexcel (Pearson)	Edexcel International GCSE (Pearson)	OCR	—	—	Cambridge IGCSE (CIE)	—	—	—
Design & Technology	AQA	Edexcel (Pearson)	—	OCR	—	—	Cambridge IGCSE (CIE)	—	—	—
Economics	AQA	—	Edexcel International GCSE (Pearson)	OCR	—	—	Cambridge IGCSE (CIE)	—	—	—
English Language	AQA	Edexcel (Pearson)	Edexcel International GCSE (Pearson)	OCR	—	—	Cambridge IGCSE (CIE)	—	—	—
English Literature	AQA	Edexcel (Pearson)	Edexcel International GCSE (Pearson)	OCR	—	—	Cambridge IGCSE (CIE)	—	—	—
Food & Nutrition	AQA	—	—	OCR	—	—	—	—	—	—
French	AQA	Edexcel (Pearson)	Edexcel International GCSE (Pearson)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Geography	AQA	—	Edexcel International GCSE (Pearson)	—	OCR Gateway (A)	OCR 21st Century (B)	Cambridge IGCSE (CIE)	—	Edexcel A (Pearson)	Edexcel B (Pearson)
History	AQA	Edexcel (Pearson)	Edexcel International GCSE (Pearson)	—	OCR Gateway (A)	OCR 21st Century (B)	Cambridge IGCSE (CIE)	—	—	—
Maths	AQA	Edexcel (Pearson)	Edexcel International GCSE (Pearson)	OCR	—	—	Cambridge IGCSE (CIE)	SQA National 5	—	—
Physical Education	AQA	Edexcel (Pearson)	—	OCR	—	—	Cambridge IGCSE (CIE)	—	—	—
Physics	AQA	Edexcel (Pearson)	Edexcel International GCSE (Pearson)	—	OCR Gateway (A)	OCR 21st Century (B)	Cambridge IGCSE (CIE)	SQA National 5	—	—
Psychology	AQA	Edexcel (Pearson)	—	OCR	—	—	—	—	—	—
Sociology	AQA	—	—	—	—	—	Cambridge IGCSE (CIE)	—	—	—
Spanish	AQA	Edexcel (Pearson)	Edexcel International GCSE (Pearson)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

GCSE grade boundaries

Frequently asked questions

Don't let another term slip by

Find your GCSE grade boundaries

Pick your subject

Frequently asked questions

Don't let another term slip by