What percentage do you need for a grade 4 or grade 5 GCSE?

A grade 4 (standard pass) and grade 5 (strong pass) boundary varies by subject, exam board and year, but as a national average grade 4 typically falls around 30-40% and grade 5 around 45-55% of the total marks. Use the calculator with your subject and tier to see an estimate.

Are GCSE grade boundaries the same every year?

No. Grade boundaries are set after each exam series based on how the whole cohort performed, so they shift year to year and differ between AQA, Edexcel, OCR and WJEC. This tool shows national Ofqual 2024 averages, an estimate, not the exact boundary for a specific paper.

What is the difference between Higher and Foundation tier?

Foundation tier covers grades 1-5 and Higher tier covers grades 4-9 (with a safety-net grade 3 in some subjects). Foundation is not offered in every subject, English Literature and History, for example, are untiered.

What happens if I get a grade 3 or below?

A grade 3 or below is a below-standard pass. English and Maths must be retaken post-16 if the grade is below a 4. A tutor focused on the specific weak topics can often close a small gap before a resit.

GCSE Grade Calculator

Enter your percentage mark to see the estimated GCSE grade. Based on national grade boundary averages from Ofqual 2024 data. Actual boundaries vary by exam board and year.

Subject

Tier

Your score (%)

Grade boundaries explained

Grade	Min % (higher)
9	78%+
8	68%+
7	57%+
6	46%+
5	37%+
4	28%+
3	18%+

These are estimated averages based on national Ofqual data. Actual grade boundaries are set by each exam board (AQA, Edexcel, OCR) after each exam series and vary year to year. Boundaries are adjusted to maintain consistent standards across years.

What the GCSE grades mean

Grade 9: Top of the highest grade — awarded to around 3–5% of students in most subjects.
Grade 7–8: Strong pass. Required for most A-Level courses and competitive sixth form entry.
Grade 5: Strong pass. Employers and universities often require grade 5 in Maths and English.
Grade 4: Standard pass. Minimum threshold for most post-16 pathways.
Grade 3 or below: Below standard pass. English and Maths must be retaken post-16 if below grade 4.

Preparing for your GCSE exams

If you're close to a grade boundary, a few targeted sessions with a tutor can make the difference. TutorLab tutors set their own rates and you contact them directly — one all-in price.

Maths tutors English Language tutors English Literature tutors Biology tutors Chemistry tutors Physics tutors Combined Science tutors History tutors

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A-Level pass rates by subject 2024 — grade distributions for 25 A-Level subjects