AQA Maths Higher — grade 9 (2025)
219/240
91% of total marks
GCSE · AQA · Edexcel · OCR · WJEC · Grades 1–9
GCSE Grade Boundaries 2026
Free grade boundary calculator for AQA, Edexcel, OCR and WJEC. Enter your raw mark — get your grade instantly. Covers Maths, English, Sciences, History, Geography and more. Showing 2025 boundaries (most recent available). 2026 boundaries published 20 August 2026 at 8:00am.
📅 Results Day: 20 Aug 2026Last verified: 26 May 2026AQA · Edexcel · OCR · WJEC
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AQA Grade Boundaries 2026
England's largest GCSE board
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Edexcel Grade Boundaries 2026
Pearson — widely used in England
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OCR Grade Boundaries 2026
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
View all OCR boundaries →
WJEC Grade Boundaries 2026
Welsh Joint Education Committee
View all WJEC boundaries →
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Using 2025 official boundaries — updates on 20 Aug 2026
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Based on official 2025 grade boundaries — AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC
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💡Boundaries ExplainedSee how grade boundaries are calculated and what marks you need.
GCSE Maths grade 9 boundaries 2025 — all boards
How many marks you needed for a grade 9 in GCSE Maths across each board in 2025 (the most recent series). 2026 boundaries will be published 20 August 2026.
Edexcel Maths Higher — grade 9 (2025)
217/240
90% of total marks
OCR Maths Higher — grade 9 (2025)
258/300
86% of total marks
WJEC Maths Higher — grade 9 (2025)
196/240
82% of total marks
GCSE Results Day 2026 — Thursday 20 August 2026
All 2026 GCSE grade boundaries for AQA, Edexcel, OCR and WJEC are published simultaneously at 8:00am on Thursday 20 August 2026. GradesNova will update this calculator with live 2026 data the moment boundaries are released. Bookmark this page and check back on Results Day for instant grade checking.
What are GCSE grade boundaries?
A GCSE grade boundary is the minimum number of raw marks you need to achieve a particular grade. Boundaries are not fixed percentages — they are set after all papers are marked, once examiners know how hard the paper was. If a paper was harder than usual, the boundaries are lowered. If it was easier, they rise.
This process is called comparable outcomes and is overseen by Ofqual in England and Qualifications Wales in Wales. It ensures that the overall national grade distribution stays broadly similar from year to year, regardless of paper difficulty.
Each exam board sets boundaries independently. An AQA grade 9 in Maths requires a different number of marks from an Edexcel grade 9 — you cannot mix boundaries between boards. Always use the specific board your school enters you for.
GCSE grades 9–1 explained
| Grade | Old equivalent | Post-16 status |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | A* (high) | Required for competitive A-Levels |
| 8 | A* | Strong sixth form entry |
| 7 | A | University standard |
| 6 | B (high) | Sixth form entry for most subjects |
| 5 | B/C | ✓ Required by most sixth forms |
| 4 | C (low) | ✓ Minimum pass, prevents resit |
| 3 | D | ✗ Must resit English/Maths |
| 2 | E/F | ✗ Must resit English/Maths |
| 1 | F/G | ✗ Must resit English/Maths |
GCSE Maths grade boundaries 2025 — AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC
Official grade boundaries from the June 2025 series. OCR Maths totals 300 marks across three papers; all other boards total 240. 2026 boundaries will be published on 20 August 2026.
| Board | Tier | 9 | 8 | 7 | 5★ | 4+ | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AQA | Higher | 219 | 191 | 164 | 96 | 63 | 240 |
| AQA | Foundation | — | — | — | 188 | 160 | 240 |
| Edexcel | Higher | 217 | 186 | 156 | 87 | 53 | 240 |
| Edexcel | Foundation | — | — | — | 175 | 144 | 240 |
| OCR | Higher | 258 | 212 | 166 | 86 | 47 | 300 |
| OCR | Foundation | — | — | — | 182 | 134 | 300 |
| WJEC | Higher | 196 | 155 | 115 | 56 | 27 | 240 |
| WJEC | Foundation | — | — | — | 141 | 111 | 240 |
★ Grade 5 = strong pass. + Grade 4 = standard pass. Source: Official board documents, June 2025. Verified: 26 May 2026.
What is the GCSE pass mark in 2026?
The GCSE pass mark is grade 4, officially called the standard pass. Students who do not achieve grade 4 in GCSE English Language or GCSE Maths are required to continue studying and resit those subjects in post-16 education.
Grade 5, the strong pass, sits between the old C and B grades. Most sixth forms and colleges require grade 5 in both English and Maths for A-Level entry. Some competitive programmes require even higher grades.
AQA Higher — Maths 2025
Grade 4 (pass)
63/240
26% of total
Grade 5 (strong pass)
96/240
40% of total
Edexcel Higher — Maths 2025
Grade 4 (pass)
53/240
22% of total
Grade 5 (strong pass)
87/240
36% of total
OCR Higher — Maths 2025
Grade 4 (pass)
47/300
16% of total
Grade 5 (strong pass)
86/300
29% of total
WJEC Higher — Maths 2025
Grade 4 (pass)
27/240
11% of total
Grade 5 (strong pass)
56/240
23% of total
Maths Higher tier only. June 2025 official boundaries. 2026 boundaries published 20 August 2026.
GCSE grade boundaries 2026 — frequently asked questions
Answers to the most common questions about GCSE grade boundaries for AQA, Edexcel, OCR and WJEC in 2026.
What are the GCSE grade boundaries for 2026?↓
2026 GCSE grade boundaries for all boards will be published at 8:00am on Thursday 20 August 2026 (GCSE Results Day). Until then, the 2025 boundaries shown in this calculator are the most accurate reference point. GradesNova updates with live 2026 data the moment it is released.
How many marks do I need for a grade 9 in GCSE Maths 2026?↓
Based on 2025 boundaries (the best available reference), you needed 219/240 (91%) for AQA Higher, 217/240 (90%) for Edexcel Higher, 258/300 (86%) for OCR Higher, and 196/240 (82%) for WJEC Higher. The 2026 grade 9 boundary typically varies by ±5–10 marks from the previous year.
When are GCSE grade boundaries released in 2026?↓
GCSE Results Day 2026 is Thursday 20 August 2026. All grade boundaries are released at exactly 8:00am. They are strictly embargoed before this time — any "predicted boundaries" before this date are unofficial estimates.
Why do grade boundaries change every year?↓
Boundaries change because they are set after marking is complete, based on paper difficulty. Ofqual's comparable outcomes process anchors the grade distribution to prior attainment data, meaning the proportion of students achieving each grade stays broadly stable even when papers vary in difficulty.
Will 2026 GCSE grade boundaries be lower than 2025?↓
This depends entirely on 2026 paper difficulty, which cannot be known until after the exam. If papers are harder than 2025, boundaries will fall. If easier, they will rise. The Ofqual comparable outcomes process prevents dramatic swings. Year-on-year shifts are typically 3–10 marks.
Can I use these boundaries to predict my 2026 grade?↓
Yes, with caution. The 2025 boundaries shown here are the best available estimate for 2026. Use them to understand approximately where you stand. But treat them as a guide, not a guarantee — the actual 2026 boundaries will differ. Check back on 20 August 2026 for exact figures.
What is the difference between Foundation and Higher tier boundaries?↓
Foundation tier papers are easier, and the maximum grade you can achieve is grade 5. Higher tier papers allow grades 4–9. If you sit Higher tier and fall below the grade 4 boundary, you may receive grade 3 as a safety net. Foundation tier grade 5 boundaries are typically higher as a percentage of the paper than Higher tier grade 5, because Foundation papers are easier.
Do WJEC boundaries differ from AQA and Edexcel?↓
Yes. WJEC sets boundaries entirely independently from AQA, Edexcel and OCR. In 2025, WJEC Maths Higher required only 27/240 for grade 4 vs AQA's 63/240 — a significant difference. Always use boundaries for your specific board. Use the WJEC grade boundaries page for dedicated WJEC data.