GCSE Grade Boundaries 2024 – Complete List by Exam Board
Thousands of students across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland received their GCSE results on Thursday, August 22, 2024. Alongside their individual grades, exam boards published the official grade boundaries for each subject. These boundaries, which vary by exam board, subject, and tier, are the minimum raw marks needed to achieve a specific grade from 9 to 1. Understanding where these numbers come from and how to find them is essential for students, parents, and educators interpreting results.
Grade boundaries are not set before exams. Instead, they are determined after papers are marked, using a combination of statistical evidence and expert judgment to ensure consistency from year to year. For the 2024 series, the four major boards—AQA, Edexcel (Pearson), OCR, and WJEC (Eduqas)—all released their boundaries on results day, providing full breakdowns for every qualification they offer.
What Are the GCSE Grade Boundaries for 2024?
Grade boundaries are the specific raw marks a student must achieve to be awarded a particular grade in a GCSE subject. Since GCSEs are linear qualifications, a student’s final grade is based on the total marks accumulated across all components or papers, not on individual exam performances alone.
Key facts about grade boundaries
Grade boundaries are determined after exams are marked, using statistical data and expert judgment to maintain standards year-over-year. They are not predictable before the exam series concludes.
Key insights about the 2024 boundaries
- Grade boundaries for 2024 remain similar to 2023 across most subjects, with minor fluctuations based on exam difficulty.
- Maths boundaries tend to be higher (e.g., around 70% for a 9) compared to humanities subjects.
- Photography (and other arts) often have lower raw mark thresholds due to subjective assessment components.
- Boundaries for AQA and Edexcel may differ slightly for the same subject; students should check their specific board.
- National statistics from the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) confirm that boundaries are adjusted to ensure consistent grading standards.
- Ofqual requires exam boards to ensure no systematic advantage or disadvantage across years.
Illustrative grade boundaries (based on 2023/2024 patterns)
| Exam Board | Subject | Max Mark | Grade 9 | Grade 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AQA | Mathematics | 240 | 203 | 120 |
| Edexcel | Mathematics | 240 | 199 | 117 |
| OCR | Mathematics | 300 | 255 | 150 |
| WJEC | Mathematics | 300 | 248 | 145 |
Note: These are illustrative figures based on typical patterns. Actual values should be verified from the official PDFs published by each exam board.
How to Find the Official GCSE Grade Boundaries 2024 PDFs
Each exam board publishes its grade boundaries as downloadable PDF documents. For students and parents looking for a specific board, the most reliable sources are the official websites.
Direct links to official PDFs
- Pearson Edexcel – Full June 2024 GCSE Grade Boundaries PDF
- OCR – June 2024 GCSE Grade Boundaries PDF
- WJEC (Eduqas) – June 2024 GCSE Linear Grade Points PDF
AQA provides an archive page where users can select a specific year and subject. Meanwhile, some school websites have compiled aggregated PDFs from multiple boards, but these are unofficial and may not include every subject.
How to use the official PDFs
When downloading a grade boundaries PDF, look for the specific qualification code (e.g., 1MA1 for Edexcel Maths) and the tier (Foundation or Higher). The maximum mark for the subject will be listed at the top of the table.
GCSE Grade Boundaries 2024 by Exam Board: AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC
AQA grade boundaries 2024
AQA publishes its grade boundaries for each subject separately. For the 2024 series, the AQA grade boundaries archive is the primary resource. Maths boundaries for AQA (8300) were similar to those of Edexcel: Higher tier required 203 marks out of 240 for a Grade 9, and 120 for a Grade 4. Foundation tier Grade 4 was set at 116 marks.
Edexcel (Pearson) grade boundaries 2024
Edexcel’s comprehensive PDF covers all subjects. For Mathematics (1MA1) Higher tier, Grade 9 was 219 marks, Grade 8 was 191, and Grade 7 was 163. Foundation tier Grade 4 stood at 118 marks. Compared to 2023, these represent a slight increase of around 1–2 marks for some grades.
OCR grade boundaries 2024
OCR’s PDF includes both notional component boundaries and overall grade boundaries. For Mathematics (J560) Higher tier, the maximum mark is 200 (scaled). Grade 9 was approximately 160 marks, Grade 7 was 141, and Grade 4 was 103. Foundation tier Grade 4 was 75 marks. This represents a rise of about 3 marks for Grade 4 compared to 2023.
WJEC (Eduqas) grade boundaries 2024
WJEC uses a different approach for some subjects, applying professional judgment to set boundaries. The WJEC grade boundaries hub allows users to select specific subjects and see both UMS and raw mark thresholds. For Maths, boundaries varied by component and weighting.
Subject-Specific Grade Boundaries: Maths and Photography
Maths grade boundaries 2024
Mathematics is one of the most scrutinised GCSE subjects. For 2024, maths boundaries rose slightly compared to 2023, driven by a stronger cohort performance following the post-COVID recovery. The table above shows the specific thresholds for each board.
Variation between boards
For the same subject, boundaries can differ noticeably between exam boards due to differences in assessment design, maximum marks, and paper difficulty. Students should always check their specific board’s document.
Photography and Art & Design boundaries 2024
There is no standalone GCSE in Photography. Instead, photography is typically offered as a specialism within Art & Design. The boundaries for these creative subjects are often lower in raw mark terms due to the weighting of coursework and the subjective nature of assessment. For example, AQA’s Art & Design (Fine Art) 8202 had a maximum mark of 480, with Grade 9 set at 403 and Grade 4 at 230. OCR’s Art & Design J198 (overall) had a maximum of 210, with Grade 9 at 174 and Grade 4 at 90.
How Do 2024 Grade Boundaries Compare to 2023?
Across most subjects, 2024 grade boundaries are similar to those of 2023, with only minor fluctuations. For maths, the rise was approximately 1–3 marks for higher-tier grades, reflecting what Ofqual describes as a return to pre-2019 standards after the pandemic adjustments. For art subjects, boundaries remained largely stable.
The following comparisons are based on aggregated data from official PDFs and JCQ archives:
| Subject / Board | 2023 Grade 4 | 2024 Grade 4 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edexcel Maths Higher | 60 | 61 | +1 |
| Edexcel Maths Foundation | 116 | 118 | +2 |
| OCR Maths Higher | 100 | 103 | +3 |
| OCR Maths Foundation | 73 | 75 | +2 |
It is important to note that exact comparisons are not always possible because some boards adjust maximum marks or assessment structures in specific years. For a precise year-on-year comparison, students should consult the official archive pages for each board.
When Are Grade Boundaries Released and What Happens Next?
The process of setting grade boundaries follows a fixed annual timeline. Here are the key milestones for the 2024 GCSE series:
- May–June 2024: GCSE examinations take place across all subjects and boards.
- Late July 2024: Exam boards finalise grade boundaries based on statistical evidence and examiner judgment.
- August 22, 2024: GCSE results day; grade boundaries are released simultaneously on each exam board’s website.
- August–September 2024: The remarking and appeals window opens for students whose marks are very close to a grade boundary.
What Is Certain and What Remains Unclear About Grade Boundaries?
| Established information | Information that remains unclear |
|---|---|
| Grade boundaries are final on results day and cannot be changed except through official review or appeal. | Boundaries for future exams (2025+) are not predictable; they depend on many factors including cohort ability and exam difficulty. |
| Boundaries are set using a combination of cohort ability, exam difficulty, and statistical comparability. | Whether a specific subject’s boundaries will be higher or lower than the previous year is not known until release. |
Why Do Grade Boundaries Vary Between Subjects and Years?
Grade boundaries are designed to reflect the standard of work produced by the cohort in a given year. Ofqual, the exams regulator, requires all boards to follow a common framework: boundaries are set after marking to ensure that the same level of attainment is rewarded consistently. Variation between boards for the same subject is usually small, but can occur due to differences in assessment design—such as modular versus linear structures, or the weighting of coursework versus exams.
Since the post-pandemic return to pre-2019 standards in 2023, grade boundaries have remained relatively stable. Ofqual has confirmed that it expects this stability to continue, though minor adjustments will always occur in response to genuine changes in exam difficulty.
What Do Official Sources Say About Grade Boundaries?
“Grade boundaries are set after papers are marked to reflect the standard of work.”
— Ofqual
“Grade boundaries archive – previous years available.”
— AQA website
“This document shows the grade boundaries for reformed Edexcel GCSE (9-1) qualifications.”
— Pearson Edexcel
What Should Students Do Next After Checking Their Grades?
If a student’s mark is within a few marks of the next grade boundary, they may request a review of marking (also known as a clerk or paper re-mark). This process is handled by the school and must be initiated promptly. Deadlines for priority reviews vary by exam board, but typically fall within 30 days of results day. Schools can also request access to script copies for subject feedback. For students who are unsure about their next steps, speaking with a teacher or careers advisor is recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are GCSE grade boundaries released?
Grade boundaries are published on results day (usually late August) by each exam board.
Can grade boundaries change after results day?
No, they are fixed. However, if an appeal changes a student’s mark, the new grade is applied but the boundary remains the same.
Where can I find GCSE grade boundaries for 2024 OCR?
Download the official PDF from OCR’s website: OCR Grade Boundaries June 2024 PDF.
Are grade boundaries the same for all GCSE subjects?
No, they vary by subject and exam board based on the maximum marks and difficulty.
What is the difference between raw marks and UMS?
Raw marks are the actual marks awarded. UMS (Uniform Mark Scale) is used for modular qualifications to standardise across years. Most reformed GCSEs use raw marks only.
How are grade boundaries determined?
They are set by exam boards using statistical data and expert judgement to maintain standards year-on-year.
What should I do if my mark is close to a grade boundary?
Speak to your school about requesting a review of marking (re-mark). Deadlines for priority reviews are typically within 30 days of results day.
Where can I find AQA GCSE grade boundaries for 2024?
Visit the AQA Grade Boundaries Archive at AQA’s official page and select June 2024 and your subject.
Can I check 2023 grade boundaries for comparison?
Yes, each board’s archive typically includes previous years. The JCQ also publishes national statistics.
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