AQA GCSE Maths (8300) grade boundaries, June 2026
Raw marks out of 240 (three papers of 80 marks).
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| Grade | Higher tier | Foundation tier |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | 219 | |
| 8 | 192 | |
| 7 | 166 | |
| 6 | 131 | |
| 5 | 97 | 187 |
| 4 | 63 | 154 |
| 3 | 46 (allowed grade) | 115 |
| 2 | 76 | |
| 1 | 38 |
AQA GCSE English Language (8700) grade boundaries, June 2026
Raw marks out of 160 (two papers of 80 marks).
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| Grade | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark | 122 | 112 | 103 | 93 | 84 | 75 | 55 | 35 | 16 |
Source: AQA GCSE grade boundaries, June 2026, published 20 August 2026. For other subjects and boards, use the board's own PDF: AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR and WJEC Eduqas each publish one on results day.
What percentage is a grade 4?
There is no fixed percentage. The 2026 AQA figures show why the question has no single answer:
- Maths Higher: grade 4 at 63 of 240, about 26% of the marks, because Higher papers are written to stretch students aiming for grades 7 to 9.
- Maths Foundation: grade 4 at 154 of 240, about 64%, because Foundation papers are aimed at grades 1 to 5.
- English Language: grade 4 at 75 of 160, about 47%. English Language is not tiered.
The same grade means the same standard on both tiers; the papers are different, so the marks needed are different.
How grade boundaries are set
- Every script is marked against a fixed mark scheme.
- Senior examiners look at scripts around the key grades with statistical evidence, including how the same group of students did at the end of primary school.
- The board sets the boundary so a grade 4 this year reflects the same standard as a grade 4 last year. A harder paper gets lower boundaries; an easier paper gets higher ones.
- Ofqual regulates the process for AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR and WJEC Eduqas.
Because each board writes its own papers, the marks needed for the same grade differ between boards and between the summer and November series.
November resits have their own boundaries
GCSE English Language and Maths can be resat in November. The November 2026 exams run from 2 to 11 November 2026 and results are issued on Thursday 14 January 2027 (JCQ). November boundaries are set separately for that series, so do not plan around last summer's figures. See the November 2026 resit timetable.
Using boundaries as an adult resitter
- Work out your tier first. Foundation caps you at grade 5 but most questions are accessible; Higher reaches grade 4 with fewer marks but harder questions. Your tutor can advise once you have tried past papers.
- Use past boundaries as a guide, not a target. Aim to secure whole topics; the boundary moves with the paper.
- Check the requirement you need. A course asking for a grade 4 accepts any grade 4, whatever the mark.
For what each grade means and the old letter equivalents, see GCSE grades explained. For every date in the 2026 to 2027 exam year, see GCSE results day 2027.
If you need a grade 4 in maths, Lift College's online GCSE Maths course gives you a named UK tutor, AQA 8300 content and exams booked through Tutors & Exams on the +Exams plan. Compare every subject in our online GCSE courses.