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Pearson Edexcel · GCSE · 1MA1

Edexcel GCSE Maths grade boundaries (1MA1) explained

Edexcel sets the 1MA1 grade boundaries after every script has been marked, so the marks needed for a grade 4, 7 or 9 shift a little each series depending on how hard the papers turned out. This guide explains how the three papers combine into one total, how the Foundation and Higher tables differ, and how to use recent boundaries sensibly when you mark your own practice papers.

Grade scale

Grades 9–1, with Foundation capped at grade 5 and Higher starting at grade 4

How the total is formed

Three papers of 80 marks each are added to a total out of 240, and the thresholds are applied to that total.

What to know about Pearson Edexcel boundaries

  • Foundation and Higher tiers have separate threshold tables — a Higher grade 4 total is not the same as a Foundation grade 4 total.
  • Higher tier includes an allowed grade 3 below the grade 4 threshold for candidates who fall a little short.
  • Boundaries are set once every script has been marked, so no boundary exists before results day for that series.

Official boundary tables

We do not republish boundary marks, because they change every series and only the awarding body's table is authoritative. Use the official source below for the exact series you sat.

Pearson grade boundaries

Turning a mark into a grade

  1. 1. Find the official table for your series

    Boundaries are published on results day for that specific series. Use the table for the exact year and month you sat, never an older one.

  2. 2. Add your three paper marks together

    GCSE maths boundaries are set on the total across all papers, not on each paper separately, so a weak paper can be balanced by a strong one.

  3. 3. Compare the total with the tier's thresholds

    Foundation and Higher have separate tables. Read down the correct tier until your total reaches a threshold — that is your grade.

  4. 4. Work out the gap to the next grade

    Subtract your total from the next threshold. That number of marks is your revision target, and it is usually smaller than students expect.

Frequently asked questions

Why do Edexcel GCSE maths grade boundaries change every year?

Boundaries are set after the papers are marked so that a grade means the same standard from one year to the next. If a paper turns out harder than intended, the boundaries fall; if it is easier, they rise. That is why last year's marks are only a rough guide.

When are grade boundaries published?

Awarding bodies publish the threshold tables on results day for that series, usually a short time before results are released to students. They are not available in advance, and any figure circulating before then is a prediction rather than a boundary.

Can I use last year's boundaries to predict my grade?

You can use them as an estimate, but treat them as a range rather than a line. Comparing your total against two or three recent series gives a fairer picture than trusting a single year, and it is safer to aim several marks above the boundary you want.

Do boundaries apply to each paper or the whole qualification?

They apply to the total across the papers in the qualification. Individual paper marks are added first, then compared with the thresholds, so a poor paper does not by itself cap your grade.

Close the gap to the next grade

Knowing the boundary is only useful if you know which marks you are dropping. MathsGradeUp marks your working against exam-board criteria and shows the topics costing you the most marks.

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Other exam boards

AQA GCSE Maths grade boundariesEdexcel IGCSE Maths grade boundariesCambridge IGCSE Maths grade thresholdsEdexcel A Level Maths grade boundariesAQA A Level Maths grade boundariesOCR A Level Maths grade boundaries

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