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.
The same figures as a table
| Board | Out of | Grade 4 | Grade 7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AQA | 160 | 7547% | 10364% |
| Pearson Edexcel | 160 | 8754% | 11572% |
| OCR | 160 | 7547% | 11069% |
| Eduqas | 200 | 8945% | 12965% |
| WJEC | 400 | 204 (C)51% | 276 (A)69% |
GCSEs in Wales and Northern Ireland are graded with letters. Grade C lines up with grade 4, and grade A with grade 7.
AQA
AQA past papersSpecification 8700, English Language.
Grade 4 needed 75 out of 160 marks (47%) in June 2026; in the June series from 2017 to 2025 it ranged from 44% (2022) to 48% (2018).
June 2026 out of 160
- 9
- 122 76%
- 8
- 112 70%
- 7
- 103 64%
- 6
- 93 58%
- 5
- 84 53%
- 4
- 75 47%
- 3
- 55 34%
- 2
- 35 22%
- 1
- 16 10%
Grade 4 as a share of the maximum: June 2017 45%, June 2018 48%, June 2019 48%, June 2022 44%, June 2023 44%, June 2024 46%, June 2025 46%, June 2026 47%. Grade 7 as a share of the maximum: June 2017 65%, June 2018 68%, June 2019 68%, June 2022 63%, June 2023 64%, June 2024 64%, June 2025 63%, June 2026 64%.
Every mark, every series
| Series | Out of | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | 160 | 12276% | 11270% | 10364% | 9358% | 8453% | 7547% | 5534% | 3522% | 1610% |
| June 2025 | 160 | 11974% | 10968% | 10063% | 9157% | 8251% | 7346% | 5434% | 3522% | 1610% |
| November 2024 | 160 | 12176% | 11169% | 10264% | 9157% | 8050% | 7044% | 5233% | 3421% | 1610% |
| June 2024 | 160 | 12176% | 11169% | 10264% | 9258% | 8251% | 7346% | 5434% | 3522% | 1610% |
| November 2023 | 160 | 12075% | 11069% | 10163% | 9056% | 8050% | 7044% | 5233% | 3421% | 1610% |
| June 2023 | 160 | 12176% | 11169% | 10264% | 9157% | 8151% | 7144% | 5233% | 3421% | 1610% |
| November 2022 | 160 | 12075% | 11069% | 10163% | 9157% | 8151% | 7144% | 5233% | 3421% | 1610% |
| June 2022 | 160 | 11974% | 10968% | 10063% | 9056% | 8050% | 7044% | 5233% | 3421% | 1610% |
| November 2021 | 160 | 12176% | 11169% | 10163% | 9056% | 7949% | 6843% | 5031% | 3220% | 149% |
| November 2020 | 160 | 12377% | 11371% | 10364% | 9157% | 7949% | 6843% | 4931% | 3019% | 128% |
| November 2019 | 160 | 13182% | 12176% | 11169% | 10063% | 8956% | 7949% | 5836% | 3723% | 1610% |
| June 2019 | 160 | 12779% | 11773% | 10868% | 9761% | 8654% | 7648% | 5635% | 3623% | 1610% |
| November 2018 | 160 | 13484% | 12578% | 11773% | 10566% | 9358% | 8151% | 5937% | 3723% | 1610% |
| June 2018 | 160 | 12880% | 11874% | 10868% | 9761% | 8654% | 7648% | 5635% | 3623% | 1610% |
| November 2017 | 160 | 13283% | 12377% | 11471% | 10264% | 9157% | 8050% | 5836% | 3723% | 1610% |
| June 2017 | 160 | 12377% | 11371% | 10465% | 9358% | 8251% | 7245% | 5333% | 3421% | 1610% |
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, November 2024, June 2024, November 2023, June 2023, November 2022, June 2022, November 2021, November 2020, November 2019, June 2019, November 2018, June 2018, November 2017, June 2017.
Pearson Edexcel
Edexcel past papersSpecification 1EN0, English Language.
Grade 4 needed 87 out of 160 marks (54%) in June 2026; in the June series from 2017 to 2025 it ranged from 46% (2017) to 54% (2025).
June 2026 out of 160
- 9
- 132 83%
- 8
- 123 77%
- 7
- 115 72%
- 6
- 105 66%
- 5
- 96 60%
- 4
- 87 54%
- 3
- 67 42%
- 2
- 47 29%
- 1
- 27 17%
Grade 4 as a share of the maximum: June 2017 46%, June 2018 47%, June 2019 52%, June 2022 48%, June 2023 50%, June 2024 53%, June 2025 54%, June 2026 54%. Grade 7 as a share of the maximum: June 2017 70%, June 2018 69%, June 2019 73%, June 2022 68%, June 2023 71%, June 2024 71%, June 2025 72%, June 2026 72%.
Every mark, every series
| Series | Out of | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | 160 | 13283% | 12377% | 11572% | 10566% | 9660% | 8754% | 6742% | 4729% | 2717% |
| November 2025 | 160 | 13182% | 12377% | 11572% | 10566% | 9559% | 8654% | 6641% | 4629% | 2616% |
| June 2025 | 160 | 13182% | 12377% | 11572% | 10566% | 9559% | 8654% | 6641% | 4629% | 2616% |
| November 2024 | 160 | 13283% | 12377% | 11471% | 10465% | 9459% | 8453% | 6440% | 4528% | 2616% |
| June 2024 | 160 | 13283% | 12377% | 11471% | 10465% | 9459% | 8453% | 6440% | 4528% | 2616% |
| November 2023 | 160 | 13182% | 12276% | 11371% | 10264% | 9157% | 8050% | 5836% | 3623% | 159% |
| June 2023 | 160 | 13182% | 12276% | 11371% | 10264% | 9157% | 8050% | 5836% | 3623% | 159% |
| November 2022 | 160 | 12779% | 11773% | 10868% | 9761% | 8754% | 7748% | 5736% | 3824% | 1912% |
| June 2022 | 160 | 12779% | 11773% | 10868% | 9761% | 8754% | 7748% | 5736% | 3824% | 1912% |
| November 2021 | 160 | 13081% | 11974% | 10968% | 9761% | 8553% | 7446% | 5233% | 3119% | 106% |
| November 2020 | 160 | 13283% | 12176% | 11169% | 9962% | 8754% | 7547% | 5333% | 3119% | 106% |
| November 2019 | 160 | 13584% | 12578% | 11673% | 10566% | 9559% | 8553% | 6239% | 3924% | 1711% |
| June 2019 | 160 | 13584% | 12578% | 11673% | 10566% | 9459% | 8352% | 6239% | 4126% | 2013% |
| November 2018 | 160 | 13584% | 12779% | 11974% | 10666% | 9358% | 8050% | 5836% | 3623% | 159% |
| June 2018 | 160 | 13383% | 12276% | 11169% | 9962% | 8754% | 7547% | 5434% | 3321% | 128% |
| November 2017 | 160 | 13484% | 12578% | 11673% | 10364% | 9056% | 7748% | 5635% | 3522% | 159% |
| June 2017 | 160 | 13484% | 12377% | 11270% | 9962% | 8654% | 7446% | 5233% | 3019% | 96% |
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, November 2025, June 2025, November 2024, June 2024, November 2023, June 2023, November 2022, June 2022, November 2021, November 2020, November 2019, June 2019, November 2018, June 2018, November 2017, June 2017.
OCR
OCR past papersSpecification J351, English Language.
Grade 4 needed 75 out of 160 marks (47%) in June 2026; in the June series from 2017 to 2025 it ranged from 41% (2017) to 46% (2024).
June 2026 out of 160
- 9
- 132 83%
- 8
- 121 76%
- 7
- 110 69%
- 6
- 98 61%
- 5
- 86 54%
- 4
- 75 47%
- 3
- 58 36%
- 2
- 42 26%
- 1
- 26 16%
Grade 4 as a share of the maximum: June 2017 41%, June 2018 42%, June 2019 44%, June 2022 42%, June 2023 43%, June 2024 46%, June 2025 44%, June 2026 47%. Grade 7 as a share of the maximum: June 2017 66%, June 2018 66%, June 2019 67%, June 2022 64%, June 2023 67%, June 2024 68%, June 2025 66%, June 2026 69%.
Every mark, every series
| Series | Out of | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | 160 | 13283% | 12176% | 11069% | 9861% | 8654% | 7547% | 5836% | 4226% | 2616% |
| November 2025 | 160 | 13383% | 12176% | 10968% | 9761% | 8553% | 7446% | 5736% | 4126% | 2516% |
| June 2025 | 160 | 12981% | 11773% | 10666% | 9459% | 8251% | 7144% | 5534% | 4025% | 2516% |
| November 2024 | 160 | 13484% | 12176% | 10868% | 9559% | 8352% | 7144% | 5635% | 4126% | 2616% |
| June 2024 | 160 | 13081% | 11974% | 10968% | 9761% | 8553% | 7346% | 5736% | 4126% | 2616% |
| November 2023 | 160 | 12981% | 11874% | 10767% | 9459% | 8151% | 6943% | 5031% | 3220% | 149% |
| June 2023 | 160 | 12981% | 11874% | 10767% | 9459% | 8151% | 6943% | 5031% | 3220% | 149% |
| November 2022 | 160 | 12377% | 11169% | 10063% | 8855% | 7648% | 6541% | 5132% | 3723% | 2415% |
| June 2022 | 160 | 12679% | 11471% | 10264% | 9056% | 7849% | 6742% | 5333% | 3924% | 2516% |
| November 2021 | 160 | 12578% | 11270% | 9962% | 8553% | 7245% | 5937% | 4327% | 2818% | 138% |
| November 2020 | 160 | 12478% | 11169% | 9962% | 8654% | 7346% | 6038% | 4428% | 2818% | 128% |
| November 2019 | 160 | 13283% | 12176% | 11169% | 9761% | 8352% | 6943% | 5132% | 3321% | 1610% |
| June 2019 | 160 | 13182% | 11974% | 10767% | 9459% | 8251% | 7044% | 5233% | 3421% | 1610% |
| November 2018 | 160 | 13584% | 12679% | 11874% | 10364% | 8855% | 7446% | 5434% | 3522% | 1610% |
| June 2018 | 160 | 12981% | 11773% | 10566% | 9258% | 7949% | 6742% | 5031% | 3321% | 1610% |
| November 2017 | 160 | 14088% | 12578% | 11169% | 9861% | 8553% | 7245% | 5333% | 3421% | 1610% |
| June 2017 | 160 | 13081% | 11874% | 10666% | 9258% | 7949% | 6641% | 4931% | 3220% | 1610% |
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, November 2025, June 2025, November 2024, June 2024, November 2023, June 2023, November 2022, June 2022, November 2021, November 2020, November 2019, June 2019, November 2018, June 2018, November 2017, June 2017.
Eduqas
Eduqas past papersSpecification C700, English Language.
Grade 4 needed 89 out of 200 marks (45%) in June 2026; in the June series from 2017 to 2025 it ranged from 36% (2019) to 43% (2025).
June 2026 out of 200
- 9
- 153 77%
- 8
- 141 71%
- 7
- 129 65%
- 6
- 115 58%
- 5
- 102 51%
- 4
- 89 45%
- 3
- 68 34%
- 2
- 47 24%
- 1
- 27 14%
Grade 4 as a share of the maximum: June 2017 38%, June 2018 38%, June 2019 36%, June 2022 37%, June 2023 38%, June 2024 42%, June 2025 43%, June 2026 45%. Grade 7 as a share of the maximum: June 2017 58%, June 2018 57%, June 2019 57%, June 2022 59%, June 2023 60%, June 2024 63%, June 2025 64%, June 2026 65%.
Every mark, every series
| Series | Out of | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | 200 | 15377% | 14171% | 12965% | 11558% | 10251% | 8945% | 6834% | 4724% | 2714% |
| November 2025 | 200 | 15276% | 13970% | 12764% | 11055% | 9447% | 7839% | 6030% | 4221% | 2412% |
| June 2025 | 200 | 15276% | 13970% | 12764% | 11357% | 9950% | 8643% | 6533% | 4422% | 2412% |
| November 2024 | 200 | 14874% | 13668% | 12462% | 11055% | 9648% | 8241% | 6131% | 4121% | 2111% |
| June 2024 | 200 | 15075% | 13869% | 12663% | 11256% | 9849% | 8442% | 6432% | 4422% | 2412% |
| November 2023 | 200 | 14573% | 13266% | 12060% | 10553% | 9045% | 7538% | 5628% | 3819% | 2010% |
| June 2023 | 200 | 14573% | 13266% | 12060% | 10553% | 9045% | 7538% | 5628% | 3819% | 2010% |
| November 2022 | 200 | 14372% | 13065% | 11759% | 10251% | 8844% | 7437% | 5729% | 4020% | 2312% |
| June 2022 | 200 | 14372% | 13065% | 11759% | 10251% | 8844% | 7437% | 5729% | 4020% | 2312% |
| November 2021 | 200 | 13869% | 12563% | 11256% | 9749% | 8241% | 6734% | 4925% | 3216% | 158% |
| November 2020 | 200 | 13869% | 12563% | 11256% | 9749% | 8241% | 6734% | 4925% | 3216% | 158% |
| November 2019 | 200 | 14472% | 13065% | 11658% | 10251% | 8945% | 7638% | 5729% | 3819% | 2010% |
| June 2019 | 200 | 14171% | 12764% | 11457% | 10050% | 8643% | 7236% | 5427% | 3719% | 2010% |
| November 2018 | 200 | 15075% | 13367% | 11658% | 10352% | 9045% | 7739% | 5628% | 3518% | 158% |
| June 2018 | 200 | 13970% | 12663% | 11457% | 10151% | 8844% | 7538% | 5628% | 3819% | 2010% |
| November 2017 | 200 | 14874% | 13065% | 11357% | 9950% | 8543% | 7236% | 5226% | 3317% | 147% |
| June 2017 | 200 | 14271% | 12965% | 11658% | 10251% | 8844% | 7538% | 5327% | 3116% | 105% |
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 Eduqas's GCSE grade boundary documents: June 2026, November 2025, June 2025, November 2024, June 2024, November 2023, June 2023, November 2022, June 2022, November 2021, November 2020, November 2019, June 2019, November 2018, June 2018, November 2017, June 2017.
WJEC
Specification 3700, English Language GCSE.
Grade C needed 204 out of 400 marks (51%) in June 2026; in the June series from 2017 to 2025 it ranged from 48% (2023) to 55% (2018).
June 2026 out of 400
- A*
- 312 78%
- A
- 276 69%
- B
- 240 60%
- C
- 204 51%
- D
- 164 41%
- E
- 125 31%
- F
- 86 22%
- G
- 47 12%
Grade C as a share of the maximum: June 2017 50%, June 2018 55%, June 2019 51%, June 2022 49%, June 2023 48%, June 2024 52%, June 2025 53%, June 2026 51%. Grade A as a share of the maximum: June 2017 70%, June 2018 70%, June 2019 69%, June 2022 66%, June 2023 67%, June 2024 70%, June 2025 71%, June 2026 69%.
Every mark, every series
| Series | Out of | A* | A | B | C | D | E | F | G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | 400 | 31278% | 27669% | 24060% | 20451% | 16441% | 12531% | 8622% | 4712% |
| November 2025 | 400 | 31880% | 28271% | 24862% | 21454% | 17343% | 13233% | 9223% | 5213% |
| June 2025 | 400 | 31679% | 28271% | 24762% | 21253% | 17243% | 13233% | 9223% | 5213% |
| November 2024 | 400 | 31479% | 27870% | 24261% | 20652% | 16642% | 12632% | 8622% | 4612% |
| June 2024 | 400 | 31679% | 28070% | 24461% | 20852% | 16742% | 12632% | 8622% | 4612% |
| November 2023 | 400 | 30877% | 27268% | 23659% | 20050% | 16040% | 12130% | 8221% | 4311% |
| June 2023 | 400 | 30476% | 26867% | 23058% | 19248% | 15439% | 11729% | 8020% | 4311% |
| November 2022 | 400 | 30476% | 26867% | 23258% | 19649% | 15739% | 11830% | 8020% | 4211% |
| June 2022 | 300 | 22374% | 19966% | 17358% | 14849% | 12040% | 9331% | 6622% | 3913% |
| November 2021 | 300 | 22374% | 19766% | 17157% | 14548% | 11839% | 9130% | 6421% | 3712% |
| November 2020 | 400 | 29875% | 26466% | 23058% | 19649% | 15840% | 12030% | 8221% | 4411% |
| November 2019 | 400 | 31679% | 28070% | 24461% | 20852% | 16742% | 12632% | 8622% | 4612% |
| June 2019 | 400 | 31278% | 27669% | 24060% | 20451% | 16441% | 12431% | 8421% | 4411% |
| November 2018 | 400 | 31378% | 28371% | 24962% | 21654% | 17343% | 13033% | 8822% | 4612% |
| June 2018 | 400 | 31378% | 28170% | 25063% | 22055% | 17444% | 12932% | 8421% | 3910% |
| November 2017 | 400 | 31579% | 28471% | 24461% | 20451% | 16441% | 12431% | 8421% | 4411% |
| June 2017 | 400 | 31579% | 28070% | 24060% | 20050% | 16040% | 12030% | 8020% | 4010% |
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 WJEC's GCSE grade boundary documents: June 2026, November 2025, June 2025, November 2024, June 2024, November 2023, June 2023, November 2022, June 2022, November 2021, November 2020, November 2019, June 2019, November 2018, June 2018, November 2017, June 2017.
CCEA
CCEA past papersSpecification 490, English Language.
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