Question 1

What are Edexcel IGCSE GCSE French grade boundaries?

Accepted Answer

Grade boundaries are the minimum raw marks you need for each grade in Edexcel IGCSE GCSE French (specification 4FR1). Edexcel IGCSE sets them once marking is complete for the whole cohort, based on how the four papers (listening, speaking, reading, writing) scored and how past cohorts performed.

Question 2

What's the difference between Higher and Foundation tier French?

Accepted Answer

Higher-tier papers target grades 9-4 (with grade 3 as a safety net), and Foundation-tier papers target grades 5-1. Your school enters you for one tier based on how you are performing in class. The papers are different, so the boundaries are published separately per tier.

Question 3

When are the boundaries published?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

Add up your marks across the four skill papers (listening, speaking, reading, writing) after sitting past papers timed, and compare your total to the boundary for your target grade. Speaking is marked in class, so score realistically against the mark scheme. A [Cognito French course](https://cognito.org/courses/gcse/french/edexcel-igcse) can help you work through vocabulary + grammar systematically.

Question 5

Can I use Cognito for Edexcel IGCSE GCSE French practice?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our [GCSE French (Edexcel IGCSE) course](https://cognito.org/courses/gcse/french/edexcel-igcse) covers vocabulary, grammar and past papers. Use the [past-papers library](https://cognito.org/past-papers) to time yourself on the reading and listening papers, then check your total on this page against the boundaries.

Question 6

Which Edexcel IGCSE GCSE French exam series are covered on this page?

Accepted Answer

This page covers every published Edexcel International GCSE French (specification 4FR1) grade-boundary release we can source from Pearson. At time of writing that includes the Nov 2025, Jun 2025, Nov 2024, Jun 2024, Nov 2023, Jun 2023 and Jun 2022 series. Pearson discontinued the January IGCSE series after Jan 2023 and replaced it with a November series from Nov 2023; French wasn't offered in the Jan sittings.

Boundaries are shown per paper-option variant, because Pearson sets a separate boundary table for each combination of papers you can sit (for example the mainstream '01 02 03', the 'R' regional variants and the '03T' translation-option combinations). Match your paper combination to the tier when you're checking a total from a past paper.

Series	Max	Grade 9	Grade 8	Grade 7	Grade 6	Grade 5	Grade 4	Grade 3	Grade 2	Grade 1
Nov 2025Latest	160	133	116	100	90	80	71	54	37	20
Jun 2025	160	131	113	96	85	75	65	50	35	20
Nov 2024	160	133	116	100	90	80	71	54	37	20
Jun 2024	160	134	117	101	91	81	71	54	37	20
Nov 2023	160	134	118	102	91	81	71	53	36	19
Jun 2023	160	133	117	102	91	80	70	53	36	19
Jun 2022	160	127	111	96	83	71	59	47	35	23

GCSE French Edexcel International GCSE (Pearson) Grade Boundaries

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