Everyone talks about getting an A* but nobody tells you what mark that actually requires. Here is the complete, honest guide to how IGCSE grade boundaries really work.

By Muneeb Farooq · May 2026 · 7 min read · For Students

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Every year, thousands of IGCSE students walk out of their exam and immediately ask the same question: “What do I need to pass?” or “How many marks away from an A* am I?”

The frustrating answer is: nobody knows until after the exam.

But that does not mean grade boundaries are a mystery you cannot understand. Once you know how the system works, you can use that knowledge to revise smarter, set realistic targets, and stop panicking over every mark you drop.

This is the guide nobody gave you.

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What Is a Grade Boundary?

A grade boundary, also called a grade threshold, is the minimum raw mark a student needs to achieve a specific grade in a particular exam paper.

For example, if the grade boundary for an A* in Cambridge IGCSE Physics Paper 2 is set at 68 out of 80, then any student who scores 68 or above receives an A*. A student who scores 67 receives an A.

That one mark difference matters. Which is exactly why understanding boundaries is so important.

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Cambridge vs Edexcel: Two Different Grading Systems

This is where most students and parents get confused. Cambridge and Edexcel use completely different grading scales, and mixing them up leads to serious misunderstandings.

Cambridge IGCSE: A* to G Scale

Cambridge IGCSE uses the traditional A* to G grading scale worldwide. The grades from highest to lowest are:

A*, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and U (ungraded)

An A* is the highest grade. A C is considered a pass for most progression pathways. Anything below C is generally considered below the standard required for A Level entry.

Edexcel IGCSE: 9 to 1 Scale

Edexcel IGCSE uses the 9 to 1 scale, where 9 is the highest grade and 1 is the lowest. The alignment roughly works like this:

• Grade 9 = high A*
• Grade 7 = A
• Grade 4 = C (standard pass)
• Grade 1 = G

Cambridge states that the thresholds at grades 7, 4, and 1 in the 9 to 1 grading scheme are aligned with what were historically A, C, and G in the old A* to G scale.

If your school uses Edexcel, a grade 5 or above is considered a strong pass and is the target most universities and sixth forms look for.

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The Most Important Thing Nobody Tells You

Grade boundaries are not fixed. They change every single exam session.

Exam boards like Cambridge and Edexcel review student performance after each exam session. If a paper is more challenging than expected, grade boundaries may be lowered. If overall performance is high, boundaries may be raised.

This means there is no single answer to “how many marks do I need for an A*?” It depends on how difficult that specific paper was, how all the students performed globally, and decisions made by senior examiners after marking is complete.

Edexcel does not release grade boundaries until after your exams are marked, so you will not know the exact numbers before you sit your papers. Cambridge works the same way.

This is actually good news for students. A harder paper means lower boundaries. If you found the exam difficult, so did everyone else, and the boundary adjusts accordingly.

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How Grade Boundaries Are Set

Exam boards follow a standardised process to set grade boundaries once exams are marked. Examiners assess each paper using a standard mark scheme. Experts then analyse student performance to spot trends and inconsistencies. Based on this data, grade thresholds are adjusted to keep grading fair. Once reviewed, grade boundaries are finalised and published with exam results.

The key point here is that this process happens after the exam, not before. No examiner decides in advance that 70 percent will always equal an A*. The boundary reflects the reality of that specific paper in that specific session.

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Realistic Mark Targets Based on Past Boundaries

Since 2026 boundaries are not yet published, the most useful thing you can do is look at historical boundaries from recent sessions to understand the typical range.

Based on past Cambridge and Edexcel data across Physics, Chemistry and Maths, here is a general picture of what boundaries typically look like. These are approximate ranges based on recent years, not guarantees for 2026:

Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 (approximate ranges):

• A*: typically 75 to 85 percent of total marks
• A: typically 65 to 75 percent
• C: typically 45 to 55 percent

Edexcel IGCSE Physics 4PH1 (approximate ranges):

• Grade 9: typically 80 to 90 percent
• Grade 7: typically 65 to 75 percent
• Grade 4: typically 40 to 50 percent

Cambridge IGCSE Maths 0580 (approximate ranges):

• A*: typically 80 to 90 percent of total marks
• A: typically 68 to 78 percent
• C: typically 40 to 50 percent

These ranges give you a working target. Aim for the top of each range and you protect yourself against boundary fluctuations.

To find exact boundaries from past sessions, visit:

• Cambridge: https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-upper-secondary/cambridge-igcse/grade-threshold-tables/
• Edexcel: https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/support/support-topics/results-certification/grade-boundaries.html

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How to Use Grade Boundaries in Your Revision

Most students look up grade boundaries after results day. The smart move is to use them during revision. Here is how:

Step 1: Find the boundary for your target grade Look up the June 2024 or November 2024 boundary for your subject and exam board. Use it as your working target for past paper practice.

Step 2: Mark every past paper and log your score After each timed past paper, calculate your percentage. Compare it to the historical boundary for your target grade. Are you above it, below it, or right on the edge?

Step 3: Focus on the gap If your target is an A* and you are currently scoring in the A range, identify exactly which question types are costing you marks. Those are your revision priority.

Step 4: Build a buffer Do not aim to just reach the boundary. Aim to sit 8 to 10 percentage points above it. That buffer protects you on a difficult paper where the boundary drops but your performance stays consistent.

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The Mistake That Costs Students Grades

The single biggest mistake students make with grade boundaries is this: they look up the boundary, see that a C is around 45 percent, and conclude that they only need to answer half the paper correctly.

That logic is dangerous for two reasons.

First, boundaries change. A 45 percent boundary this year could be 50 percent next year on an easier paper. Building your strategy around the minimum is building it on unstable ground.

Second, aiming for the minimum means you have no margin for error. One question you misread. One calculation error. One topic you forgot to revise. Suddenly you are below the boundary.

Since grade boundaries change each year, students should aim for the highest marks possible rather than relying on past thresholds. That is the only safe strategy.

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When Are Grade Boundaries Published?

For the May/June 2026 series:

• Cambridge: Boundaries published on results day, August 2026, alongside your grades
• Edexcel: Boundaries published on results day, August 2026

You cannot access them before that date. Anyone claiming to share 2026 grade boundaries before results day is sharing either fabricated data or historical data mislabelled as current.

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Final Thought

Grade boundaries exist to make the system fairer, not to make your life harder. A paper that was harder than expected results in lower boundaries. A paper that was straightforward results in higher ones. The system balances itself out over time.

Your job is simple: score as many marks as possible on every paper. Let the boundary fall where it falls. If you have revised strategically, practised under timed conditions, and understood the mark scheme deeply, the boundary will almost always be in your favour.

Stop chasing the minimum. Chase the maximum. That is the only target worth setting.

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Want help identifying exactly where you are dropping marks across your IGCSE subjects? I offer one-to-one tutoring in Physics, Chemistry and Maths for students across the UK, UAE, Pakistan and the Gulf. Book a free consultation here.

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Sources:

• Cambridge Grade Threshold Tables:
• Edexcel Grade Boundaries:
• Edumentors IGCSE Grade Boundaries Guide: