Both the Foundation and Higher tier GCSE Maths exams follow the same format: students sit three papers in total: one non-calculator and two calculator papers. Each paper is 1 hour and 30 minutes long, worth 80 marks. Foundation tier is graded from 1 to 5, while Higher tier covers grades 4 to 9.
You can explore all the topics included in each of these categories right here on the website, select the relevant Foundation or Higher section from the Edexcel dropdown menu above.
This table shows the typical percentage of marks each topic covers in Foundation and Higher tier exams. The ranges come from the official Edexcel specification.
| Topic | Foundation Papers | Higher Papers |
|---|---|---|
| Number | 22–28% | 12–18% |
| Algebra | 17–23% | 27–33% |
| Ratio & Proportion | 22–28% | 17–23% |
| Geometry & Measures | 12–18% | 17–23% |
| Statistics & Probability | 12–18% | 12–18% |
Grade boundaries show the minimum total mark needed to achieve each grade. For Edexcel GCSE Maths, your final result is based on your combined score from all three papers, with a total of 240 marks available (80 marks per paper). The tables below show the raw marks required in the June exams from the past five years.
| Year | Grade 5 | Grade 4 | Grade 3 | Grade 2 | Grade 1 | U (Fail) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 175 | 142 | 103 | 65 | 27 | 0 |
| 2023 | 182 | 147 | 109 | 71 | 33 | 0 |
| 2022 | 173 | 135 | 100 | 66 | 32 | 0 |
| 2019 | 168 | 134 | 98 | 63 | 28 | 0 |
| 2018 | 156 | 124 | 91 | 60 | 27 | 0 |
| Year | Grade 9 | Grade 8 | Grade 7 | Grade 6 | Grade 5 | Grade 4 | Grade 3 | U (Fail) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 197 | 167 | 137 | 105 | 73 | 42 | 26 | 0 |
| 2023 | 203 | 174 | 145 | 112 | 79 | 47 | 31 | 0 |
| 2022 | 194 | 165 | 137 | 104 | 71 | 38 | 21 | 0 |
| 2019 | 199 | 170 | 141 | 109 | 77 | 45 | 31 | 0 |
| 2018 | 200 | 171 | 141 | 110 | 79 | 47 | 32 | 0 |
Note: Grade 3 may be awarded as a safety net, but it is not officially a pass. Most colleges, apprenticeships, and employers require at least a Grade 4 in Maths.
