GCSE: grades, boundaries & 2026 dates
GCSEs are graded 9 to 1 in England, and the grade behind your mark is decided by boundaries set fresh each year. These pages explain how the 9–1 system really works and give you the real, dated grade boundaries — straight from Ofqual, AQA and JCQ, with every source linked.
- How GCSE grades work (9–1)The 9–1 scale, how it maps to the old A*–G, standard vs strong pass, whether a 9 equals an A*, and why boundaries move.
- GCSE grade boundaries (AQA & Edexcel)The raw marks for every grade in Maths, English, the sciences and more — AQA and Pearson Edexcel, from each board's official tables.
- GCSE subjects: specification & assessmentHow each subject is assessed — papers, marks, durations, weightings, assessment objectives and what you study, from AQA's spec.
- Choosing your GCSE optionsWhat actually matters when you pick options: English and Maths, triple vs combined science, and what the EBacc change means.
- GCSE results day 2026Thursday 20 August 2026: when you get your grades, and the review-of-marking deadlines.
- GCSE exam timetable 2026Exams run 7 May – 17 June 2026, with the contingency day and results date — the national anchor dates from JCQ.
Also: A-level · UCAS Tariff calculator · What's changing in the curriculum
These guides cover the Ofqual-regulated GCSE taken in England (AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR and Eduqas). Wales (Qualifications Wales / WJEC) and Northern Ireland (CCEA) use different grading regimes for some subjects, so check with your board. GCSE is regulated by Ofqual. Every figure on these pages is sourced to the exam boards, JCQ, UCAS or Ofqual.