A grade boundary is the lowest total mark that earns a grade. Exam boards set them after the exams, once marking is nearly complete, and they change from year to year with how demanding the papers were (Ofqual). To use them with a past paper, add up your child's marks across all of that year's papers and compare the total with that year's row, which is out of the same maximum. Each year links to its papers.
June 2026, board by board
The marks needed for grade 4 and 7 in June 2026, as a share of each board's maximum. Each board writes its own papers and sets boundaries for them, so a lower boundary doesn't mean a board's exam is easier to pass.
Higher tier
Foundation tier
The same figures as a table
| Board | Tier | Out of | Grade 4 | Grade 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AQA | Higher | 200 | 5226% | 10754% |
| AQA | Foundation | 200 | 12764% | Not on this tier |
| Pearson Edexcel | Higher | 200 | 8442% | 14774% |
| Pearson Edexcel | Foundation | 200 | 11558% | Not on this tier |
| OCR, Biology A (Gateway Science) | Higher | 180 | 6938% | 12167% |
| OCR, Biology A (Gateway Science) | Foundation | 180 | 9352% | Not on this tier |
| OCR, Biology B (Twenty First Century Science) | Higher | 180 | 5329% | 11061% |
| OCR, Biology B (Twenty First Century Science) | Foundation | 180 | 9151% | Not on this tier |
AQA
AQA past papersSpecification 8461, Biology.
Grade 4 needed 52 out of 200 marks (26%) in June 2026; in the June series from 2018 to 2025 it ranged from 24% (2024) to 28% (2019).
June 2026 out of 200
- 9
- 133 67%
- 8
- 120 60%
- 7
- 107 54%
- 6
- 88 44%
- 5
- 70 35%
- 4
- 52 26%
- 3
- 43 22%
Grade 4 as a share of the maximum: June 2018 27%, June 2019 28%, June 2022 26%, June 2023 26%, June 2024 24%, June 2025 28%, June 2026 26%. Grade 7 as a share of the maximum: June 2018 51%, June 2019 54%, June 2022 52%, June 2023 52%, June 2024 56%, June 2025 57%, June 2026 54%.
Grade 4 needed 127 out of 200 marks (64%) in June 2026; in the June series from 2018 to 2025 it ranged from 54% (2018) to 61% (2025).
June 2026 out of 200
- 5
- 144 72%
- 4
- 127 64%
- 3
- 91 46%
- 2
- 55 28%
- 1
- 19 10%
Grade 4 as a share of the maximum: June 2018 54%, June 2019 57%, June 2022 55%, June 2023 59%, June 2024 57%, June 2025 61%, June 2026 64%.
Every mark, every series
Higher tier
| Series | Out of | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | 200 | 13367% | 12060% | 10754% | 8844% | 7035% | 5226% | 4322% |
| June 2025 | 200 | 14171% | 12764% | 11357% | 9447% | 7538% | 5628% | 4623% |
| June 2024 | 200 | 14171% | 12663% | 11256% | 9045% | 6935% | 4824% | 3719% |
| June 2023 | 200 | 13266% | 11859% | 10452% | 8643% | 6935% | 5226% | 4322% |
| June 2022 | 200 | 13266% | 11859% | 10452% | 8643% | 6834% | 5126% | 4221% |
| November 2021 | 200 | 13065% | 11457% | 9849% | 8141% | 6432% | 4824% | 4020% |
| November 2020 | 200 | 13166% | 11658% | 10151% | 8241% | 6332% | 4523% | 3618% |
| June 2019 | 200 | 13467% | 12060% | 10754% | 8945% | 7236% | 5528% | 4623% |
| June 2018 | 200 | 13266% | 11759% | 10251% | 8543% | 6935% | 5327% | 3719% |
Foundation tier
| Series | Out of | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | 200 | 14472% | 12764% | 9146% | 5528% | 1910% |
| June 2025 | 200 | 14070% | 12161% | 8744% | 5327% | 1910% |
| June 2024 | 200 | 13266% | 11357% | 8241% | 5226% | 2211% |
| June 2023 | 200 | 13467% | 11759% | 8543% | 5327% | 2111% |
| June 2022 | 200 | 12663% | 10955% | 7940% | 4925% | 2010% |
| November 2021 | 200 | 11960% | 10251% | 7437% | 4623% | 189% |
| November 2020 | 200 | 12261% | 10151% | 7236% | 4422% | 168% |
| June 2019 | 200 | 13065% | 11457% | 8342% | 5226% | 2111% |
| June 2018 | 200 | 12161% | 10754% | 8040% | 5327% | 2613% |
Raw marks for the whole qualification, with the share of the maximum.The chart shows June series only; November and January sittings, mostly resits, are in the table.No exams were sat in 2020 or 2021, when grades were assessed by teachers, so those years are blank. From AQA's GCSE grade boundary documents: June 2026, June 2025, June 2024, June 2023, June 2022, November 2021, November 2020, June 2019, June 2018.
Pearson Edexcel
Edexcel past papersSpecification 1BI0, Science.
Grade 4 needed 84 out of 200 marks (42%) in June 2026; in the June series from 2018 to 2025 it ranged from 27% (2018) to 42% (2025).
June 2026 out of 200
- 9
- 170 85%
- 8
- 158 79%
- 7
- 147 74%
- 6
- 126 63%
- 5
- 105 53%
- 4
- 84 42%
- 3
- 73 37%
Grade 4 as a share of the maximum: June 2018 27%, June 2019 29%, June 2022 32%, June 2023 30%, June 2024 36%, June 2025 42%, June 2026 42%. Grade 7 as a share of the maximum: June 2018 57%, June 2019 63%, June 2022 65%, June 2023 66%, June 2024 70%, June 2025 72%, June 2026 74%.
Grade 4 needed 115 out of 200 marks (58%) in June 2026; in the June series from 2018 to 2025 it ranged from 39% (2018) to 56% (2024).
June 2026 out of 200
- 5
- 132 66%
- 4
- 115 58%
- 3
- 84 42%
- 2
- 53 27%
- 1
- 22 11%
Grade 4 as a share of the maximum: June 2018 39%, June 2019 46%, June 2022 48%, June 2023 49%, June 2024 56%, June 2025 56%, June 2026 58%.
Every mark, every series
Higher tier
| Series | Out of | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | 200 | 17085% | 15879% | 14774% | 12663% | 10553% | 8442% | 7337% |
| June 2025 | 200 | 16784% | 15578% | 14472% | 12462% | 10452% | 8442% | 7437% |
| June 2024 | 200 | 16683% | 15276% | 13970% | 11658% | 9347% | 7136% | 6030% |
| June 2023 | 200 | 16281% | 14673% | 13166% | 10754% | 8342% | 5930% | 4724% |
| June 2022 | 200 | 16583% | 14774% | 13065% | 10754% | 8543% | 6332% | 5226% |
| November 2021 | 200 | 15075% | 13065% | 11055% | 8744% | 6533% | 4322% | 3216% |
| November 2020 | 200 | 15276% | 13266% | 11357% | 8945% | 6533% | 4121% | 2915% |
| June 2019 | 200 | 15779% | 14171% | 12663% | 10352% | 8040% | 5729% | 4523% |
| June 2018 | 200 | 14573% | 12965% | 11457% | 9347% | 7337% | 5327% | 3317% |
Foundation tier
| Series | Out of | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | 200 | 13266% | 11558% | 8442% | 5327% | 2211% |
| June 2025 | 200 | 13065% | 11156% | 8141% | 5126% | 2211% |
| June 2024 | 200 | 13065% | 11156% | 8141% | 5126% | 2211% |
| June 2023 | 200 | 11960% | 9849% | 7236% | 4724% | 2211% |
| June 2022 | 200 | 11558% | 9548% | 6935% | 4322% | 179% |
| November 2021 | 200 | 9246% | 7236% | 5226% | 3317% | 147% |
| November 2020 | 200 | 9749% | 6935% | 4925% | 2915% | 105% |
| June 2019 | 200 | 11357% | 9146% | 6734% | 4322% | 2010% |
| June 2018 | 200 | 10553% | 7839% | 5729% | 3618% | 168% |
Raw marks for the whole qualification, with the share of the maximum.The chart shows June series only; November and January sittings, mostly resits, are in the table.No exams were sat in 2020 or 2021, when grades were assessed by teachers, so those years are blank. From Pearson Edexcel's GCSE grade boundary documents: June 2026, June 2025, June 2024, June 2023, June 2022, November 2021, November 2020, June 2019, June 2018.
OCR
OCR past papersBiology A (Gateway Science) (J247)
Grade 4 needed 69 out of 180 marks (38%) in June 2026; in the June series from 2018 to 2025 it ranged from 26% (2022) to 39% (2024).
June 2026 out of 180
- 9
- 141 78%
- 8
- 131 73%
- 7
- 121 67%
- 6
- 103 57%
- 5
- 86 48%
- 4
- 69 38%
- 3
- 60 33%
Grade 4 as a share of the maximum: June 2018 30%, June 2019 32%, June 2022 26%, June 2023 31%, June 2024 39%, June 2025 37%, June 2026 38%. Grade 7 as a share of the maximum: June 2018 53%, June 2019 59%, June 2022 57%, June 2023 61%, June 2024 67%, June 2025 65%, June 2026 67%.
Grade 4 needed 93 out of 180 marks (52%) in June 2026; in the June series from 2018 to 2025 it ranged from 43% (2022) to 52% (2024).
June 2026 out of 180
- 5
- 112 62%
- 4
- 93 52%
- 3
- 68 38%
- 2
- 43 24%
- 1
- 18 10%
Grade 4 as a share of the maximum: June 2018 44%, June 2019 45%, June 2022 43%, June 2023 50%, June 2024 52%, June 2025 50%, June 2026 52%.
Every mark, every series
Higher tier
| Series | Out of | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | 180 | 14178% | 13173% | 12167% | 10357% | 8648% | 6938% | 6033% |
| June 2025 | 180 | 13977% | 12871% | 11765% | 10056% | 8346% | 6637% | 5732% |
| June 2024 | 180 | 14279% | 13173% | 12167% | 10458% | 8748% | 7039% | 6134% |
| June 2023 | 180 | 13374% | 12167% | 10961% | 9151% | 7341% | 5531% | 4626% |
| June 2022 | 180 | 13173% | 11664% | 10257% | 8346% | 6536% | 4726% | 3821% |
| November 2021 | 180 | 12871% | 11262% | 9754% | 7843% | 5933% | 4022% | 3017% |
| November 2020 | 180 | 12972% | 11363% | 9854% | 7642% | 5531% | 3419% | 2313% |
| June 2019 | 180 | 13474% | 12067% | 10759% | 9050% | 7341% | 5732% | 4927% |
| June 2018 | 180 | 11866% | 10659% | 9553% | 8145% | 6737% | 5430% | 4123% |
Foundation tier
| Series | Out of | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | 180 | 11262% | 9352% | 6838% | 4324% | 1810% |
| June 2025 | 180 | 10961% | 9050% | 6637% | 4223% | 1810% |
| June 2024 | 180 | 11162% | 9452% | 6938% | 4525% | 2112% |
| June 2023 | 180 | 10558% | 9050% | 6637% | 4324% | 2011% |
| June 2022 | 180 | 10257% | 7843% | 6033% | 4324% | 2614% |
| November 2021 | 180 | 8044% | 6335% | 4626% | 2916% | 127% |
| November 2020 | 180 | 7542% | 5933% | 4324% | 2715% | 127% |
| June 2019 | 180 | 9653% | 8145% | 6033% | 3922% | 1810% |
| June 2018 | 180 | 9050% | 7944% | 5732% | 3620% | 158% |
Raw marks for the whole qualification, with the share of the maximum.The chart shows June series only; November and January sittings, mostly resits, are in the table.No exams were sat in 2020 or 2021, when grades were assessed by teachers, so those years are blank. From OCR's GCSE grade boundary documents: June 2026, June 2025, June 2024, June 2023, June 2022, November 2021, November 2020, June 2019, June 2018.
Biology B (Twenty First Century Science) (J257)
Grade 4 needed 53 out of 180 marks (29%) in June 2026; in the June series from 2018 to 2025 it ranged from 25% (2022) to 35% (2024).
June 2026 out of 180
- 9
- 138 77%
- 8
- 124 69%
- 7
- 110 61%
- 6
- 91 51%
- 5
- 72 40%
- 4
- 53 29%
- 3
- 43 24%
Grade 4 as a share of the maximum: June 2018 26%, June 2019 34%, June 2022 25%, June 2023 31%, June 2024 35%, June 2025 33%, June 2026 29%. Grade 7 as a share of the maximum: June 2018 48%, June 2019 56%, June 2022 53%, June 2023 57%, June 2024 66%, June 2025 66%, June 2026 61%.
Grade 4 needed 91 out of 180 marks (51%) in June 2026; in the June series from 2018 to 2025 it ranged from 42% (2018) to 56% (2025).
June 2026 out of 180
- 5
- 112 62%
- 4
- 91 51%
- 3
- 71 39%
- 2
- 52 29%
- 1
- 33 18%
Grade 4 as a share of the maximum: June 2018 42%, June 2019 52%, June 2022 45%, June 2023 48%, June 2024 53%, June 2025 56%, June 2026 51%.
Every mark, every series
Higher tier
| Series | Out of | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | 180 | 13877% | 12469% | 11061% | 9151% | 7240% | 5329% | 4324% |
| June 2025 | 180 | 14178% | 12972% | 11866% | 9854% | 7944% | 6033% | 5028% |
| June 2024 | 180 | 14379% | 13173% | 11966% | 10056% | 8145% | 6335% | 5430% |
| June 2023 | 180 | 12871% | 11564% | 10357% | 8748% | 7139% | 5531% | 4726% |
| June 2022 | 180 | 12569% | 11061% | 9553% | 7843% | 6134% | 4525% | 3721% |
| November 2021 | 180 | 11765% | 10357% | 9050% | 7642% | 6335% | 5028% | 4324% |
| November 2020 | 180 | 11966% | 10659% | 9352% | 7843% | 6335% | 4827% | 4022% |
| June 2019 | 180 | 12368% | 11162% | 10056% | 8748% | 7441% | 6134% | 5430% |
| June 2018 | 180 | 10961% | 9754% | 8648% | 7341% | 6033% | 4726% | 3419% |
Foundation tier
| Series | Out of | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | 180 | 11262% | 9151% | 7139% | 5229% | 3318% |
| June 2025 | 180 | 11664% | 10156% | 8044% | 5933% | 3922% |
| June 2024 | 180 | 10961% | 9653% | 7542% | 5531% | 3519% |
| June 2023 | 180 | 10458% | 8748% | 6436% | 4223% | 2011% |
| June 2022 | 180 | 9854% | 8145% | 6134% | 4223% | 2313% |
| November 2021 | 180 | 10357% | 8145% | 5933% | 3721% | 169% |
| November 2020 | 180 | 10257% | 8044% | 5832% | 3721% | 169% |
| June 2019 | 180 | 10860% | 9352% | 7139% | 5028% | 2916% |
| June 2018 | 180 | 9050% | 7642% | 5732% | 3821% | 2011% |
Raw marks for the whole qualification, with the share of the maximum.The chart shows June series only; November and January sittings, mostly resits, are in the table.No exams were sat in 2020 or 2021, when grades were assessed by teachers, so those years are blank. From OCR's GCSE grade boundary documents: June 2026, June 2025, June 2024, June 2023, June 2022, November 2021, November 2020, June 2019, June 2018.
Eduqas
Specification C400.
Grade 4 needed 49 out of 240 marks (20%) in June 2019, against 20% in June 2018.
June 2019 out of 240
- 9
- 158 66%
- 8
- 139 58%
- 7
- 120 50%
- 6
- 96 40%
- 5
- 72 30%
- 4
- 49 20%
- 3
- 37 15%
Grade 4 as a share of the maximum: June 2018 20%, June 2019 20%. Grade 7 as a share of the maximum: June 2018 53%, June 2019 50%.
Grade 4 needed 80 out of 240 marks (33%) in June 2019, against 33% in June 2018.
June 2019 out of 240
- 5
- 96 40%
- 4
- 80 33%
- 3
- 66 28%
- 2
- 53 22%
- 1
- 40 17%
Grade 4 as a share of the maximum: June 2018 33%, June 2019 33%.
Every mark, every series
Higher tier
| Series | Out of | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 2020 | 240 | 15464% | 12853% | 10343% | 8033% | 5724% | 3414% | 229% |
| June 2019 | 240 | 15866% | 13958% | 12050% | 9640% | 7230% | 4920% | 3715% |
| June 2018 | 240 | 16569% | 14560% | 12653% | 10042% | 7431% | 4820% | 229% |
Foundation tier
| Series | Out of | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2019 | 240 | 9640% | 8033% | 6628% | 5322% | 4017% |
| June 2018 | 240 | 10443% | 8033% | 6527% | 5121% | 3715% |
Raw marks for the whole qualification, with the share of the maximum.The chart shows June series only; November and January sittings, mostly resits, are in the table. From Eduqas's GCSE grade boundary documents: November 2020, June 2019, June 2018.
WJEC
WJEC past papersSpecification 3400, Biology.
WJEC awards this qualification on its uniform mark scale (UMS), so there is no raw-mark total for the whole qualification. Its documents give the raw marks for each paper.
WJEC, June 2026 · WJEC, June 2025 · WJEC, June 2024 · WJEC, June 2023
CCEA
CCEA past papersSpecification 7, Biology.
CCEA awards this qualification on its uniform mark scale (UMS), so there is no raw-mark total for the whole qualification. Its documents give the raw marks for each unit.
CCEA, June 2026 · CCEA, June 2025 · CCEA, June 2024 · CCEA, June 2023