Maths Higher — Grade 9
217/240
90% of total marks
Edexcel · Pearson · GCSE · Grades 1–9
Edexcel GCSE Grade Boundaries 2025-26
Verified against official Pearson Edexcel documents📅 2026 boundaries: 20 Aug 2026Last checked: 31 May 2026Source: qualifications.pearson.com ↗Add GradesNova as a Preferred Source
This page shows the official historic Pearson Edexcel GCSE grade boundaries from the June 2022–2025 exam series — the most recent data currently available. Maths Higher grade 9 required 217 out of 240 in 2025. The official 2026 Edexcel grade boundaries have not been released yet and will be published here at 8:00am on Thursday 20 August 2026, the moment Pearson Edexcel makes them public. Covers Maths, English, Sciences, History, Geography, Computer Science and more.
Edexcel grade boundaries 2025-26 (GCSE) — key figures
Mathematics Higher tier (out of 240)
Grade 9: 217 marks · Grade 8: 186 · Grade 7: 156 · Grade 6: 121 · Grade 5: 87 marks (strong pass) · Grade 4: 53 marks (standard pass) · Grade 3: 36
Mathematics Foundation tier (out of 240)
Grade 5: 175 marks · Grade 4: 144 marks · Grade 3: 105 · Grade 2: 67 · Grade 1: 29
English Language Higher tier (out of 160)
Grade 9: 122 marks · Grade 5: 83 marks · Grade 4: 73 marks
Biology / Chemistry / Physics Higher tier (out of 200)
Biology — Grade 9: 155, Grade 4: 61 · Chemistry — Grade 9: 158, Grade 4: 47 · Physics — Grade 9: 156, Grade 4: 66
Source: Pearson Edexcel official grade boundary documents, June 2025. Published 20 August 2025. Verified 31 May 2026.
Edexcel GCSE 2025 key boundaries at a glance
Maths Higher — Grade 5
87/240
36% — strong pass
Maths Higher — Grade 4
53/240
22% — standard pass
English Lang — Grade 9
122/160
76% of total marks
Edexcel Results Day 2026 — Thursday 20 August 2026
Pearson Edexcel publishes all 2026 GCSE grade boundaries at 8:00am on Thursday 20 August 2026, simultaneously with AQA, OCR, and WJEC. GradesNova updates this page with live Edexcel 2026 data the moment the official boundary documents are released.
Pearson Edexcel: the global exam board
Edexcel is the only major GCSE board owned by a publicly listed commercial company (Pearson plc), which shapes its assessment design, international reach, and the way boundaries interact with a broader qualification ecosystem.
~40%
England market share
Edexcel is England's second-largest GCSE board by candidate entries, used by roughly 40% of students. Its London and south-east concentration means it disproportionately covers high-performing urban cohorts, which can subtly influence boundary dynamics.
100+
Countries
Pearson Edexcel qualifications are taught in over 100 countries. International GCSE (iGCSE) and the standard UK GCSE share a brand but use separate boundary-setting processes. The boundaries on this page apply to UK GCSEs only.
1996
Edexcel founded
Edexcel was formed in 1996 through a merger of the Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) and the University of London Examinations and Assessment Council (ULEAC). Pearson acquired it in 2003. BTEC qualifications are still published under the Pearson/Edexcel umbrella.
Edexcel-specific assessment features that affect boundaries
- Maths: three equal papers: Edexcel GCSE Maths Higher consists of one non-calculator paper (80 marks) and two calculator papers (80 marks each), totalling 240. The non-calculator/calculator split is identical to AQA, but Edexcel's paper style tends to front-load marks on standard methods — a factor senior examiners account for during boundary-setting.
- English Language: source-based unseen texts: Edexcel's English Language specification (1EN0) uses two components: Fiction and Imaginative Writing, and Non-fiction and Transactional Writing. Unlike AQA, Edexcel's reading sections emphasise synthesis across sources — students compare two texts in both components. This structural difference is why English Language boundaries don't transfer between boards.
- Sciences: consistent Higher/Foundation spread: Edexcel separate sciences show a consistent pattern: Higher Chemistry grade 4 (47/200 in 2025) sits notably lower than Higher Physics grade 4 (66/200) and Higher Biology grade 4 (61/200). This reflects Edexcel Chemistry Higher being calibrated as the most demanding at the boundary margin — a pattern that has held across the 2022–2025 series.
Edexcel GCSE grade boundaries calculator
Select your subject and enter your raw mark to instantly find your Edexcel GCSE grade based on the latest 2025 boundaries.
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Using 2025 official boundaries — updates on 20 Aug 2026
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Edexcel GCSE grade boundaries 2025 — all subjects
Complete official Edexcel 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 Pearson documents.
| Subject | Tier | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 ★ | 4 + | 3 | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | Higher | 217 | 186 | 156 | 121 | 87 | 53 | 36 | 240 |
| Mathematics | Foundation | — | — | — | — | 175 | 144 | 105 | 240 |
| English Language | Higher | 122 | 112 | 102 | 92 | 83 | 73 | 55 | 160 |
| English Literature | Higher | 132 | 118 | 105 | 89 | 74 | 59 | 44 | 160 |
| Biology | Higher | 155 | 138 | 121 | 101 | 81 | 61 | 49 | 200 |
| Biology | Foundation | — | — | — | — | 136 | 116 | 84 | 200 |
| Chemistry | Higher | 158 | 140 | 122 | 97 | 72 | 47 | 34 | 200 |
| Chemistry | Foundation | — | — | — | — | 128 | 105 | 77 | 200 |
| Physics | Higher | 156 | 141 | 126 | 106 | 86 | 66 | 57 | 200 |
| Physics | Foundation | — | — | — | — | 140 | 126 | 91 | 200 |
| History | Higher | 143 | 131 | 119 | 106 | 94 | 81 | 61 | 168 |
| Geography | Higher | 156 | 143 | 130 | 116 | 102 | 88 | 64 | 200 |
| Religious Studies | Higher | 190 | 172 | 154 | 134 | 114 | 94 | 71 | 252 |
| Computer Science | Higher | 152 | 139 | 126 | 108 | 90 | 72 | 54 | 180 |
| Physical Education | Higher | 160 | 150 | 140 | 127 | 114 | 102 | 77 | 200 |
| Design Technology | Higher | 175 | 161 | 147 | 130 | 113 | 96 | 70 | 200 |
★ Grade 5 = strong pass. + Grade 4 = standard pass (resit required below this in English/Maths). Source: Pearson Edexcel official grade boundary documents, June 2025 series. Verified against qualifications.pearson.com, 31 May 2026. GradesNova is not affiliated with Pearson Edexcel.
Edexcel GCSE Maths grade boundaries 2022–2025
Four-year trend for Edexcel GCSE Maths Higher tier. Boundaries have risen steadily since 2022 as post-pandemic grade deflation corrected. The 2026 boundary will be confirmed on Results Day 20 August 2026. Based on this trend, the 2026 Edexcel Maths Higher grade 9 is expected in the range of 210–225.
| Year | Grade 9 | Grade 7 | Grade 5 | Grade 4 | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025latest | 217 | 156 | 87 | 53 | 240 |
| 2024 | 210 | 144 | 87 | 49 | 240 |
| 2023 | 205 | 139 | 85 | 50 | 240 |
| 2022 | 193 | 131 | 82 | 48 | 240 |
Source: Pearson Edexcel official grade boundary documents, June series 2022–2025.
Edexcel vs AQA vs OCR grade boundaries 2025
All three boards set boundaries independently. In 2025 Maths Higher, Edexcel required 53 out of 240 for grade 4 — 10 marks below AQA (63) and 2 below OCR (51). Different paper structures drive different raw marks; the grade standards are equivalent across boards.
| Subject / Board | Grade 9 | Grade 5 | Grade 4 | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edexcel Maths Higher | 217 | 87 | 53 | 240 |
| AQA Maths Higher | 219 | 96 | 63 | 240 |
| OCR Maths Higher | 210 | 84 | 51 | 240 |
| Edexcel English Language | 122 | 83 | 73 | 160 |
| AQA English Language | 119 | 82 | 73 | 160 |
| OCR English Language | 115 | 79 | 69 | 160 |
| Edexcel Chemistry Higher | 158 | 72 | 47 | 200 |
| AQA Chemistry Higher | 150 | 66 | 42 | 200 |
| OCR Chemistry Higher | 153 | 69 | 44 | 200 |
Sources: Pearson Edexcel, AQA, and OCR official grade boundary documents, June 2025.
Never mix boundaries between boards. Edexcel Maths Higher grade 4 was 53/240 in 2025, while AQA was 63/240 — a 10-mark difference. Applying the wrong board's boundary will give you a completely incorrect grade. Check with your school if unsure which board you were entered for.
Edexcel GCSE 9–1 grade scale: what each grade means
All GCSE boards — including Edexcel — use the same 9–1 grading scale. Grade descriptors are consistent across Edexcel, AQA, OCR, and WJEC.
| Grade | Old equivalent | Description | Benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | A* (top fraction) | Top ~3–5% nationally | Exceptional |
| 8 | A*/A | High distinction | |
| 7 | A | Distinction | |
| 6 | B | Merit | |
| 5 | B/C | Strong pass ★ | Most sixth forms require 5+ for A-Levels |
| 4 | C | Standard pass + | Minimum for most employers and colleges |
| 3 | D | Below standard pass | |
| 2 | E | ||
| 1 | F/G | ||
| U | U | Ungraded |
Source: Ofqual GCSE grade descriptors (2024). Equivalences are approximate.
Edexcel GCSE grade boundaries 2025 — frequently asked questions
Common questions about Edexcel grade boundaries, raw marks, Results Day, and how Edexcel compares to other boards.
What are the Edexcel GCSE grade boundaries for 2025?
The official Edexcel GCSE grade boundaries from June 2025 are shown in the full table above. Key figures: Maths Higher grade 9 = 217/240, grade 5 = 87/240, grade 4 = 53/240. English Language grade 9 = 122/160, grade 4 = 73/160. 2026 boundaries will be published at 8:00am on 20 August 2026.
What was the Edexcel GCSE Maths grade 9 boundary in 2025?
The Edexcel GCSE Maths Higher grade 9 boundary in 2025 was 217 out of 240 (90.4%). For context: 2024 was 210, 2023 was 205, and 2022 was 193. The 2026 boundary will be confirmed on Results Day 20 August 2026.
What is the Edexcel GCSE grade 5 strong pass boundary for Maths?
In 2025, the Edexcel Maths Higher grade 5 boundary was 87 out of 240 (36%). For Foundation tier it was 175 out of 240 (73%). Grade 5 is the strong pass required by most sixth forms for A-Level Maths.
How does Edexcel grade 4 compare to AQA grade 4 in Maths?
In 2025, Edexcel Maths Higher grade 4 was 53/240 while AQA Maths Higher grade 4 was 63/240 — Edexcel required 10 fewer marks for a standard pass. Both are equivalent grade 4 standards set by different paper structures.
When does Edexcel publish 2026 GCSE grade boundaries?
Pearson Edexcel publishes all 2026 GCSE grade boundaries at exactly 8:00am on Thursday 20 August 2026. Boundaries are strictly embargoed before this date.
Will Edexcel 2026 grade boundaries be higher or lower than 2025?
This depends on the difficulty of the 2026 Edexcel 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 48–53. The 2026 boundary will be confirmed on 20 August 2026.
How do I calculate my Edexcel grade from my raw mark?
Add up your raw marks from all papers for the subject. For Edexcel Maths Higher, you have 3 papers totalling 240 marks. If your total is 217 or above, you achieved grade 9 in 2025. If it is 53–86, you achieved grade 4.
What is the difference between Edexcel 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 144 out of 240 (60%), compared to 53 out of 240 (22%) on Higher tier.
Data sources and methodology
Source data
All grade boundaries on this page are taken directly from the official Pearson Edexcel grade boundary documents published on qualifications.pearson.com 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 qualifications.pearson.com official documents on 31 May 2026. GradesNova is not affiliated with Pearson Edexcel or Ofqual.
2026 update process
On 20 August 2026 from 8:00am, GradesNova updates this page with official Edexcel 2026 grade boundary data as soon as the Pearson documents are publicly released.