UK Exam Grade Boundaries 2025/2026
Everything you need to know about how grade boundaries work for GCSE and A-Level exams
Grade boundaries are the minimum marks a student needs to achieve each grade in an exam. For GCSEs, this means the raw marks required for grades 9 through 1. For A-Levels, it means the marks needed for grades A* through E. These boundaries are not fixed numbers that stay the same year after year — they are set fresh after every exam session by each exam board.
The reason boundaries change is that exam papers vary in difficulty from year to year. If a paper turns out to be harder than intended, the boundaries are lowered so that students are not unfairly penalised. If a paper is easier, boundaries rise. This system, overseen by the exam regulator Ofqual, is designed to maintain consistent standards so that a grade achieved in one year represents the same level of ability as the same grade in another year.
Because boundaries are only finalised after marking is complete, they are not published until results day. This means students cannot know the exact marks they need beforehand. Instead, the most productive approach is to learn the full specification content and practise with past papers, rather than trying to hit a specific mark target based on previous years' boundaries.
How Grade Boundaries Work
Students sit their exams
Exam papers are written and moderated well in advance. Students across the country take the same papers under controlled conditions during the exam window, typically May and June.
Papers are marked by examiners
Thousands of trained examiners mark student papers using detailed mark schemes. This process takes several weeks and includes quality checks to ensure marking is consistent and accurate.
Statistical analysis and awarding
Senior examiners review the mark distribution and sample scripts at key grade boundaries. They compare the difficulty of the current paper to previous years and assess whether the quality of work at each boundary is consistent with the expected standard for that grade.
Boundaries are set and results released
Once boundaries are finalised, student raw marks are converted into grades. Results are released to schools and students on results day, and grade boundaries are published simultaneously on each exam board's website.
Grade Boundaries by Level
GCSE Grade Boundaries
Understand the 9-1 grading scale, what counts as a pass, and how boundaries vary across subjects and exam boards.
A-Level Grade Boundaries
Learn how A*-E grades are awarded, how UMS scoring works, and what boundaries mean for your university applications.
Grade Boundaries by Exam Board
Each exam board publishes its own grade boundaries. Use the links below to access official boundary information directly from your exam board.
AQA
Assessment and Qualifications Alliance
The largest exam board in England. Grade boundaries are published on results day for all GCSE and A-Level subjects.
Edexcel
Edexcel (Pearson)
Part of Pearson, offering widely-taken GCSE and A-Level qualifications. Boundaries are available through their support portal.
OCR
Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations
Developed in partnership with Cambridge University. OCR publishes detailed grade boundary documents for every exam series.
WJEC
Welsh Joint Education Committee (Eduqas)
The principal exam board in Wales, also operating as Eduqas in England. Boundaries are published for both WJEC and Eduqas qualifications.
Related Guides
GCSE Grade Boundaries 2026
What to expect from this year's GCSE grade boundaries and how to prepare.
Read articleEdexcel GCSE Maths Boundaries
Analysis and predictions for Edexcel GCSE Maths grade boundaries.
Read articleGCSE 9-1 Grades Explained
What each grade means and how the 9-1 system compares to old A*-G grades.
Read articleFrequently Asked Questions
When are grade boundaries released?
Grade boundaries are released on results day. For A-Levels this is typically in mid-August, and for GCSEs it is usually a week later. Exam boards publish the boundaries on their websites at the same time that students receive their results. Boundaries are never available before results day because they are finalised after marking is complete.
Can grade boundaries go down from one year to the next?
Yes, grade boundaries can go down. If a paper is harder than the previous year, boundaries are typically lowered so that students are not penalised for the increased difficulty. The goal of the awarding process is to maintain consistent standards, so the boundaries adjust to reflect how challenging the paper was. Boundaries can also go up if a paper is easier.
What is the difference between raw marks and UMS?
Raw marks are the actual marks you score on a paper. UMS (Uniform Mark Scale) is a standardised scoring system used primarily at A-Level to allow fair comparison across different exam sessions and optional units. Your raw marks are converted to UMS using a formula that accounts for the difficulty of the specific paper you sat. Not all qualifications use UMS — GCSEs in England use raw marks only.
Are grade boundaries the same across all exam boards?
No, each exam board sets its own grade boundaries independently. AQA, Edexcel, OCR, and WJEC all have different papers with different total marks, so their boundaries will differ. A grade 7 in AQA GCSE Maths might require a different percentage of marks than a grade 7 in Edexcel GCSE Maths. However, the exam regulator Ofqual works to ensure that standards are broadly comparable across boards.
Should I revise based on grade boundaries?
You should not aim for a specific mark based on last year's boundaries, because boundaries change every year depending on paper difficulty. Instead, focus on learning all the content on your specification thoroughly. Grade boundaries are most useful for understanding roughly what proportion of marks you need, not as a fixed target to aim for.
Track Your Predicted Grade
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