Question 1

What are AQA GCSE Combined Science grade boundaries?

Accepted Answer

Grade boundaries are the minimum raw marks you need for each grade pair in AQA GCSE Combined Science (specification 8464). Combined Science is a double-award qualification, so you get two grades (a pair like 7-6 or 5-5) rather than one. AQA sets the boundaries once marking is complete for the whole cohort, based on how the papers scored and how past cohorts performed.

Question 2

Why is Combined Science graded as a pair (e.g. 7-6, 5-5)?

Accepted Answer

Combined Science counts as two GCSEs' worth of study but you sit fewer papers than a triple science student. To reflect the double weighting, AQA awards you a pair of grades that can be adjacent (like 7-6) or equal (like 5-5). The pair is decided by your total combined mark across all Combined Science papers.

Question 3

How do I know if I sat Higher or Foundation Combined Science?

Accepted Answer

Your school decides which tier to enter you for. Higher tier papers target grade pairs 9-9 down to 4-3 (with 3-3 as a safety net if you fall just short). Foundation tier targets 5-5 down to 1-1. If you're not sure which tier you sat, check your statement of entry or ask your teacher, since the paper's tier is printed on the front.

Question 4

When are AQA GCSE Combined Science boundaries published?

Accepted Answer

AQA normally publishes GCSE grade boundaries at 8am on GCSE results day, alongside the grades themselves. They land as one large PDF covering every GCSE subject that series.

We update this page shortly after AQA releases the boundaries.

Question 5

How should I use these boundaries when I'm revising?

Accepted Answer

Score your past papers realistically. Sit a Combined Science paper timed, mark it against the official mark scheme, and total your marks across all the papers your specification uses. Compare that total to the boundary for the grade pair you're targeting. A [Combined Science (AQA) revision course](https://cognito.org/courses/gcse/combined-science/aqa) can help you plug specific topic gaps.

Question 6

Can I use Cognito for AQA GCSE Combined Science practice?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our [GCSE Combined Science (AQA) course](https://cognito.org/courses/gcse/combined-science/aqa) covers all three sciences at combined-award depth with notes, quizzes and past papers. You can score your paper attempts against the mark scheme and cross-reference your totals to the boundaries on this page.

If you're closer to results day, our [past-papers library](https://cognito.org/past-papers) has the full set of AQA Combined Science papers.

Series	Max	Grade 9-9	Grade 9-8	Grade 8-8	Grade 8-7	Grade 7-7	Grade 7-6	Grade 6-6	Grade 6-5	Grade 5-5	Grade 5-4	Grade 4-4	Grade 4-3
Jun 2025Latest	420	299	281	263	245	228	206	184	162	140	118	96	85
Jun 2024	420	289	270	251	233	215	194	173	153	133	113	93	83
Jun 2023	420	291	273	255	237	220	199	179	159	139	119	99	89
Jun 2022	420	276	257	238	220	202	183	164	145	126	107	89	80

GCSE Combined Science AQA Grade Boundaries

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