Question 1

What mark do I need for a grade 5 in Edexcel GCSE Maths?

Accepted Answer

In 2025, Edexcel set the grade 5 boundary at 87 marks out of 240 on Higher tier, and 175 marks out of 240 on Foundation tier. This changes slightly every year depending on how difficult that year's papers were, so always check the year you actually sat.

Question 2

How many marks is Edexcel GCSE Maths out of?

Accepted Answer

Pearson Edexcel GCSE Mathematics (spec 1MA1) is marked out of 240 in total, across 3 papers × 80 marks. The grade boundary is the combined mark across all three papers, not a per-paper cut-off.

Question 3

Why do grade boundaries change every year?

Accepted Answer

Exam boards set boundaries after every series to account for how hard that particular set of papers was, so the same grade represents a consistent standard of work year on year. A harder paper generally gets a lower boundary, and an easier paper gets a higher one.

Question 4

Were there real Edexcel grade boundaries in 2020 or 2021?

Accepted Answer

No. Exams were cancelled in both years because of COVID-19. Grades were awarded as Centre Assessed Grades in 2020 and Teacher Assessed Grades in 2021, so no genuine raw-mark boundaries exist for those two years.

Year	Grade 9	Grade 8	Grade 7	Grade 6	Grade 5	Grade 4	Grade 3
2025	217	186	156	121	87	53	36
2024	197	167	137	105	73	42	26
2023	203	174	145	112	79	47	31
2022	194	165	137	104	71	38	21
2020–2021: No exams held (COVID-19) — grades were centre/teacher assessed
2019	198	167	137	108	80	52	38
2018	202	170	139	109	79	50	35
2017	190	157	124	96	68	41	27

Year	Grade 5	Grade 4	Grade 3	Grade 2	Grade 1
2025	175	144	105	67	29
2024	175	142	103	65	27
2023	182	147	109	71	33
2022	173	135	100	66	32
2020–2021: No exams held (COVID-19) — grades were centre/teacher assessed
2019	184	149	111	73	36
2018	169	136	101	66	31
2017	158	122	90	58	26

Edexcel GCSE Maths grade boundaries.

Higher tier

Foundation tier

Common questions

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