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Pearson Edexcel International · International GCSE · 4MA1

Edexcel IGCSE Maths grade boundaries (4MA1) explained

International GCSE Maths (4MA1) is awarded on its own boundary tables, separate from UK GCSE, with January and June series treated independently. This guide explains how the two papers are combined, how tier choice affects the grade you can reach, and where Pearson publishes the official threshold tables.

Grade scale

Grades 9–1 across Foundation and Higher tiers

How the total is formed

The two papers are added together and thresholds are applied to the combined total for the tier entered.

What to know about Pearson Edexcel International boundaries

  • International GCSE boundaries are published separately from UK GCSE, so use the International tables for 4MA1.
  • January and June series are awarded independently and have their own thresholds.
  • Each tier is awarded on its own scale, so tier choice matters more than a few marks either way.

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 International 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 IGCSE 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

Edexcel GCSE Maths grade boundariesAQA GCSE 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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