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How are grade boundaries set?

Grade boundaries are the minimum marks needed for each grade. Here’s who sets them, when, and how - with the official position and the data to see it in action.

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In short

Grade boundaries are the minimum marks needed for each grade. Exam boards set them after students have sat the papers and marking is complete or nearly complete - using statistical evidence about the students who took the exam alongside senior examiners’ review of real work, so the standard for each grade stays comparable with previous years. The same approach is used for vocational and technical qualifications, such as BTEC Applied Generals and Technicals, as for GCSEs and A levels.

How it works

  1. Marking is complete or nearly complete
    Papers are marked by standardised examiners whose marking is monitored throughout (see how marking works).
  2. Statistical evidence is prepared
    Boards look at what students of similar prior attainment achieved before - a prediction for this year’s entry, often called comparable outcomes.
  3. Senior examiners review real work
    Around the likely boundary marks, senior examiners compare this year’s scripts with work at the same standard from previous years.
  4. Boundaries are confirmed, marks become grades
    The agreed boundaries turn each student’s raw mark into a grade.

Example

If a paper is harder than last year’s, the same standard of work scores fewer marks - so the boundary comes down. If it’s easier, the boundary can go up. The grade standard is what’s held steady, not the mark.
Common misconception

Grade boundaries aren’t decided before the exam, and they aren’t a fixed percentage - a grade A isn’t always 80%.

Frequently asked questions

Are grade boundaries decided before the exam?

No. They can’t be finalised until the exam has been sat and marking is complete or nearly complete, because they depend on how hard that year’s paper turned out to be. Source: Ofqual ↗

Does Ofqual decide individual grade boundaries?

No. The exam boards set their own boundaries; Ofqual regulates the boards to keep standards comparable. Source: Ofqual ↗

Can a grade boundary be 70%?

Yes - boundaries vary with paper difficulty, so the mark needed for a grade differs between papers, boards and years. Source: AQA ↗

See it in the data

See real grade boundaries for any subject and board, and how they’ve moved over four years.

Browse grade boundary pages →Open a subject page →

Official sources

Official sources: Ofqual: what happens after your exams · Ofqual: guide for schools & colleges 2026 · Pearson: understanding marks & grades · AQA: grade boundaries
About this guide. Produced independently by tutor2u using published guidance from Ofqual, JCQ and the awarding organisations, to explain the system clearly and put it in context. Reviewed by Jim Riley, tutor2u. How we check this guidance. Last reviewed 11 August 2026.
In Wales: this guide covers England, where exams are regulated by Ofqual. Qualifications in Wales are regulated by Qualifications Wales and awarded by WJEC - see WJEC’s grade boundaries and post-results services.

Explore more

Why grade boundaries changeHow exams are marked & gradedCan boundaries be predicted?Are some boards easier?Exam Results Explorer (interactive)Grade boundary pages by subject

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Last checked August 2026. This is a plain-English summary of official guidance; always check the linked Ofqual, JCQ and exam-board pages for the definitive rules, which can change.

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