Welcome to our 2023 GCSE GUIDE. School Entrance Tests will explain how GCSE grade boundaries are calculated.

And we will guide you through our many GCSE revision and GCSE past papers resource to help you achieve your full GCSE Potential.

How 2024 GCSE grade boundaries are set?

If you can’t find what you are looking for here, then we suggest reviewing the full range of School Entrance Test past GCSE papers.


Rob Williams

Ask ROB (expert test developer) your questions by emailing passedpapers@gmail.com

An Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, Rob Williams is a Chartered Psychologist with over 25 years of experience working and designing tests. Rob has worked for the school entrance test publishers ISEB, Hodder and GL Assessment.

GCSE Maths Paper 1 (Foundation) Specimen Mark Scheme (AQA).
Maths Paper 1 (Foundation) Specimen Question Paper (AQA).
GCSE Maths Paper 2 (Foundation) Specimen Mark Scheme (AQA)
Maths Paper 2 (Foundation) Specimen Question Paper (AQA)
GCSE Maths Paper 3 (Foundation) Specimen Mark Scheme (AQA)
Maths Paper 3 (Foundation) Specimen Question Paper (AQA)
GCSE Maths Paper 1 (Higher) Specimen Mark Scheme (AQA)
Maths Paper 1 (Higher) Specimen Question Paper (AQA)
GCSE Maths Paper 2 (Higher) Specimen Mark Scheme (AQA)
Maths Paper 2 (Higher) Specimen Question Paper (AQA)
GCSE Maths Paper 3 (Higher) Specimen Mark Scheme (AQA)
Maths Paper 3 (Higher) Specimen Question Paper (AQA)
GCSE Maths Practice test set 1A – Paper 1F (Pearson)
Maths Practice test set 1A – Paper 2F (Pearson)
GCSE Maths Practice test set 1A – Paper 3F (Pearson)

The equivalent 2023 GCSE grades

Here’s the full list of equivalent GCSE grades, as compared to the earlier GCSE grade boundary system:

  • 9 = High A* grade
  • 8 = Lower A* or high A
  • 7 = Lower A grade
  • 6 = High B grade
  • 5 = Lower B or high C
  • 4 = Lower C grade
  • 3 = D or high E
  • 2 = Lower E or high F
  • 1 = Lower F or G
  • U = U remains the same

How are GCSE exams moderated each year?

Well, the specific methods of moderation can vary between different exam boards and subjects. The aim is to maintain standards and fairness across the education system.

  1. Teacher Assessments: Teachers initially assess students’ work. This includes grading coursework and sometimes, mock exam results.
  2. Standardization: Exam boards provide guidance to teachers to help standardize grading. This may include exemplar materials and detailed criteria.
  3. External Moderation: External moderators from the exam boards review a sample of the students’ work from each school. They ensure that the teachers’ assessments align with the national standards.
  4. Adjustments: If discrepancies are found, grades may be adjusted. This could be up or down, depending on the moderators’ findings.
  5. Examination: The written exams are marked by external examiners. The marking is guided by detailed mark schemes to ensure consistency.
  6. Review and Appeals: Schools can request a review or appeal against the awarded grades if they believe there has been an error in the marking or moderation process.
  7. Statistical Moderation: In some cases, statistical methods may be used to ensure that grades are comparable across different schools and years. This was notably used during the COVID-19 pandemic when exams were canceled.
  8. Quality Assurance: Exam boards have quality assurance processes to oversee the entire grading and moderation system.