Maths Higher — Grade 9
219/240
91% of total marks
AQA · GCSE · Grades 1–9 · England
AQA GCSE Grade Boundaries 2025-26
Verified against official AQA documents📅 2026 boundaries: 20 Aug 2026Last checked: 31 May 2026Source: aqa.org.uk ↗Add GradesNova as a Preferred Source
This page shows the official historic AQA GCSE grade boundaries from the June 2022–2025 exam series — the most recent data currently available. Maths Higher grade 9 required 219 out of 240 in 2025. The official 2026 AQA grade boundaries have not been released yet and will be published here at 8:00am on Thursday 20 August 2026, the moment AQA makes them public. Covers Maths, English, Sciences, History, Geography, Computer Science and more.
AQA grade boundaries 2025-26 (GCSE) — key figures
Mathematics Higher tier (out of 240)
Grade 9: 219 marks · Grade 8: 191 · Grade 7: 164 · Grade 6: 130 · Grade 5: 96 marks (strong pass) · Grade 4: 63 marks (standard pass) · Grade 3: 46
Mathematics Foundation tier (out of 240)
Grade 5: 188 marks · Grade 4: 160 marks · Grade 3: 119 · Grade 2: 79 · Grade 1: 39
English Language (out of 160)
Grade 9: 119 marks · Grade 5: 82 marks · Grade 4: 73 marks
Biology / Chemistry / Physics Higher tier (out of 200)
Biology — Grade 9: 141, Grade 4: 56 · Chemistry — Grade 9: 150, Grade 4: 42 · Physics — Grade 9: 152, Grade 4: 70
Source: AQA official grade boundary documents, June 2025. Published 20 August 2025. Verified 31 May 2026.
AQA GCSE 2025 key boundaries at a glance
Maths Higher — Grade 5
96/240
40% — strong pass
Maths Higher — Grade 4
63/240
26% — standard pass
English Lang — Grade 9
119/160
74% of total marks
AQA Results Day 2026 — Thursday 20 August 2026
AQA publishes all 2026 GCSE grade boundaries at 8:00am on Thursday 20 August 2026, simultaneously with Edexcel, OCR, and WJEC. GradesNova updates this page with live AQA 2026 data the moment the official boundary documents are released.
AQA: England's largest GCSE exam board
Understanding AQA's scale and structure matters when interpreting boundaries — a board setting grades for hundreds of thousands of candidates faces different statistical pressures than a smaller board.
~55%
Market share
AQA is used by approximately 55% of GCSE students in England — more than Edexcel and OCR combined for many subjects. This makes AQA boundaries the de-facto reference point for national grade discussions.
~700k
Maths entries (2025)
Around 700,000 students sat AQA GCSE Maths in 2025. The statistical weight of this cohort makes AQA Maths boundaries particularly stable year-on-year — large sample sizes reduce the need for large adjustments.
1908
Founded
AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance) was formed in 2000 through a merger of the Associated Examining Board (AEB, est. 1908) and the Northern Examinations and Assessment Board (NEAB). It is a registered charity.
AQA-specific marking features that affect boundaries
- Tiered on-screen marking: AQA pioneered widespread on-screen marking for GCSE Maths. Each paper is marked by multiple examiners across different question ranges, then totalled. This increases marking consistency and can affect where boundaries settle compared to boards still using traditional script marking.
- English Language: two-component structure: AQA GCSE English Language is sat as two components (Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing; Writers' Viewpoints and Perspectives), each 80 marks. Both are terminally assessed — unlike some boards, there is no Speaking and Listening component that contributes to the grade.
- Chemistry Higher: consistently low grade 4 boundary: AQA Chemistry Higher has returned a grade 4 boundary below 45/200 in each of the last four years (2025: 42, 2024: 39, 2023: 41, 2022: 38). This is a feature of the paper design — Higher Chemistry is intentionally challenging at the lower end of the mark range.
AQA GCSE grade boundaries calculator
Select your subject and enter your raw mark to instantly find your AQA GCSE grade based on the latest 2025 boundaries.
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Tier
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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AQA GCSE grade boundaries 2025 — all subjects
Complete official AQA grade boundaries from the June 2025 examination series, published 20 August 2025. 2026 boundaries update live on Results Day 20 August 2026. Verified against official AQA documents.
| Subject | Tier | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5★ | 4+ | 3 | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | Higher | 219 | 191 | 164 | 130 | 96 | 63 | 46 | 240 |
| Mathematics | Foundation | — | — | — | — | 188 | 160 | 119 | 240 |
| English Language | Higher | 119 | 109 | 100 | 91 | 82 | 73 | 54 | 160 |
| English Literature | Higher | 136 | 122 | 108 | 92 | 77 | 62 | 46 | 160 |
| Biology | Higher | 141 | 127 | 113 | 94 | 75 | 56 | 46 | 200 |
| Biology | Foundation | — | — | — | — | 140 | 121 | 87 | 200 |
| Chemistry | Higher | 150 | 132 | 115 | 90 | 66 | 42 | 30 | 200 |
| Chemistry | Foundation | — | — | — | — | 132 | 109 | 80 | 200 |
| Physics | Higher | 152 | 139 | 126 | 107 | 88 | 70 | 61 | 200 |
| Physics | Foundation | — | — | — | — | 144 | 131 | 95 | 200 |
| History | Higher | 146 | 134 | 123 | 110 | 98 | 86 | 65 | 168 |
| Geography | Higher | 154 | 141 | 129 | 115 | 102 | 89 | 65 | 200 |
| Religious Studies | Higher | 188 | 170 | 153 | 133 | 113 | 93 | 70 | 252 |
| Computer Science | Higher | 155 | 142 | 130 | 111 | 92 | 74 | 55 | 180 |
| Physical Education | Higher | 163 | 153 | 143 | 130 | 118 | 106 | 80 | 200 |
| Design Technology | Higher | 179 | 165 | 152 | 134 | 117 | 100 | 73 | 200 |
| Drama | Higher | 179 | 169 | 160 | 146 | 132 | 119 | 89 | 200 |
| Music | Higher | 170 | 160 | 150 | 137 | 124 | 112 | 91 | 200 |
| Food & Nutrition | Higher | 230 | 210 | 190 | 168 | 146 | 125 | 94 | 300 |
★ Grade 5 = strong pass. + Grade 4 = standard pass (resit required below this in English/Maths). Source: AQA official grade boundary documents, June 2025 series. Verified against aqa.org.uk, 31 May 2026. GradesNova is not affiliated with AQA.
AQA GCSE Maths grade boundaries 2022–2025
Four-year trend for AQA GCSE Maths Higher tier. Boundaries have risen consistently since 2022, reflecting improved cohort performance post-pandemic. The 2026 boundary will be confirmed on Results Day 20 August 2026. Based on this trend, the 2026 AQA Maths Higher grade 9 is expected in the range of 210–225.
| Year | Grade 9 | Grade 7 | Grade 5 | Grade 4 | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025latest | 219 | 164 | 96 | 63 | 240 |
| 2024 | 213 | 144 | 93 | 58 | 240 |
| 2023 | 210 | 142 | 90 | 59 | 240 |
| 2022 | 198 | 133 | 84 | 55 | 240 |
AQA GCSE Mathematics Higher tier, June series 2022–2025. Source: AQA official documents.
AQA GCSE grade boundaries by subject — 2025
Detailed grade 9, 5 and 4 boundaries for the most searched AQA GCSE subjects.
Mathematics
Higher Tier (out of 240)
219
Grade 9
96
Grade 5★
63
Grade 4+
Foundation Tier (out of 240)
188
Grade 5 (max)
160
Grade 4+
Higher tier required for grade 6–9. Foundation max is grade 5.
English Language
Higher Tier (out of 160)
119
Grade 9
82
Grade 5★
73
Grade 4+
Grade 4 is legally required. Two terminally assessed components; no Speaking and Listening contribution to grade.
Biology
Higher Tier (out of 200)
141
Grade 9
75
Grade 5★
56
Grade 4+
Foundation Tier (out of 200)
140
Grade 5 (max)
121
Grade 4+
Separate science. Combined Science boundaries differ.
Chemistry
Higher Tier (out of 200)
150
Grade 9
66
Grade 5★
42
Grade 4+
Foundation Tier (out of 200)
132
Grade 5 (max)
109
Grade 4+
Separate science. Chemistry Higher grade 4 has been below 45 in each year since 2022 — this is a consistent feature, not an anomaly.
Physics
Higher Tier (out of 200)
152
Grade 9
88
Grade 5★
70
Grade 4+
Foundation Tier (out of 200)
144
Grade 5 (max)
131
Grade 4+
Separate science. Physics Foundation grade 4 is high at 131/200.
History
Higher Tier (out of 168)
146
Grade 9
98
Grade 5★
86
Grade 4+
Single tier. High boundaries reflect essay-based assessment.
Geography
Higher Tier (out of 200)
154
Grade 9
102
Grade 5★
89
Grade 4+
Single tier. Grade 9 requires 77% of total marks.
Computer Science
Higher Tier (out of 180)
155
Grade 9
92
Grade 5★
74
Grade 4+
Single tier. Programming knowledge heavily tested.
Source: AQA official grade boundary documents, June 2025. ★ = strong pass. + = standard pass.
How AQA sets GCSE grade boundaries
AQA does not decide grade boundaries before your exam. Boundaries are set after all papers are marked, in a process involving senior examiners and statistical models. Here is how it works step by step.
01
Papers are marked
All AQA GCSE papers are marked by trained examiners, producing a raw mark for every student. For Maths Higher, the maximum raw mark is 240 across three papers.
02
Grade setting meeting
Senior AQA examiners review a sample of actual student scripts from across the mark range. They make professional judgements about what standard of work represents each grade.
03
Statistical modelling
AQA uses Ofqual's comparable outcomes methodology. It compares this year's cohort prior attainment data with previous years to determine where boundaries should sit to maintain consistent national grade distributions.
04
Boundaries are locked
Final boundaries are agreed and embargoed. AQA submits them to Ofqual for approval. They are not released until exactly 8:00am on Results Day — 20 August 2026 for the 2026 series.
05
Results are issued
Your raw mark is looked up against the AQA boundary table for your specific subject and tier. Your grade is determined automatically — no human discretion is applied to individual results.
AQA GCSE grade boundaries 2025 — frequently asked questions
Common questions about AQA grade boundaries, raw marks, Results Day, and how AQA compares to other boards.
What are the AQA GCSE grade boundaries for 2025?
The official AQA GCSE grade boundaries from June 2025 are shown in the full table above. Key figures: Maths Higher grade 9 = 219/240, grade 5 = 96/240, grade 4 = 63/240. English Language grade 9 = 119/160, grade 4 = 73/160. 2026 boundaries will be published at 8:00am on 20 August 2026.
What was the AQA GCSE Maths grade 9 boundary in 2025?
The AQA GCSE Maths Higher grade 9 boundary in 2025 was 219 out of 240 (91%). For context: 2024 was 213, 2023 was 210, and 2022 was 198. The 2026 boundary will be confirmed on Results Day 20 August 2026.
What is the AQA grade 5 strong pass boundary for Maths?
In 2025, the AQA Maths Higher grade 5 boundary was 96 out of 240 (40%). For Foundation tier it was 188 out of 240 (78%). Grade 5 is the strong pass required by most sixth forms for A-Level Maths.
How does AQA grade 4 compare to Edexcel grade 4 in Maths?
In 2025, AQA Maths Higher grade 4 was 63/240 while Edexcel Maths Higher grade 4 was 53/240 — AQA required 10 more marks for a standard pass. Both are equivalent grade 4 standards set by different paper structures.
When does AQA publish 2026 GCSE grade boundaries?
AQA publishes all 2026 GCSE grade boundaries at exactly 8:00am on Thursday 20 August 2026. Boundaries are strictly embargoed before this date.
Will AQA 2026 grade boundaries be higher or lower than 2025?
This depends on the difficulty of the 2026 AQA papers. Ofqual uses a comparable outcomes process to prevent large year-on-year swings. Based on the 2022–2025 trend, Maths Higher grade 4 has ranged from 55–63. The 2026 boundary will be confirmed on 20 August 2026.
How do I calculate my AQA grade from my raw mark?
Add up your raw marks from all papers for the subject. For AQA Maths Higher, you have 3 papers totalling 240 marks. If your total is 219 or above, you achieved grade 9 in 2025. If it is 63–95, you achieved grade 4.
What is the difference between AQA Foundation and Higher tier boundaries?
Foundation tier is capped at grade 5 and targeted at students expecting grades 1–5. Higher tier allows grades 4–9. For Maths Foundation in 2025, grade 4 required 160 out of 240 (67%), compared to 63 out of 240 (26%) on Higher tier.
Data sources and methodology
Source data
All grade boundaries on this page are taken directly from the official AQA grade boundary documents published on aqa.org.uk on 20 August 2025. GradesNova does not estimate, interpolate, or adjust boundaries — every figure is copied verbatim from the official document.
Verification
Data was last verified against aqa.org.uk official documents on 31 May 2026. GradesNova is not affiliated with AQA or Ofqual.
2026 update process
On 20 August 2026 from 8:00am, GradesNova updates this page with official AQA 2026 grade boundary data as soon as the documents are publicly released on aqa.org.uk.