At a glance
- 4MA1 Higher, main: grade 9 / 7 / 4
- 165 / 111 / 41 out of 200
- 4MA1 Higher, R paper: grade 9 / 7 / 4
- 171 / 119 / 45 out of 200
- IAL Maths overall A
- 480 of 600 UMS
- Published
- 13 Aug (IAL), 20 Aug 2026 (Int GCSE)
How Pearson's International GCSE boundaries work
Edexcel International GCSE is linear: all papers are sat in one series and the grade comes from the total raw mark. Pearson's boundary document gives one line per subject and route, showing the maximum mark and the minimum total for each grade from 9 down to 1. A boundary is the lowest mark that earns the grade: if a grade 6 boundary is 70, a total of 69 is a 5.
Each line names the papers it covers. "Paper(s) 1H 2H" is the main Higher tier route; "1HR 2HR" is the R-paper version. Pearson's start-times document lists the UAE and Oman among the countries that use R papers in May/June, while Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain sit main papers. Check the paper codes on your child's statement of entry before reading the table.
June 2026 International GCSE boundaries (verified examples)
| Subject and papers | Max | Grade 9 | Grade 7 | Grade 6 | Grade 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics A Higher (4MA1: 1H, 2H) | 200 | 165 | 111 | 87 | 41 |
| Mathematics A Higher, R papers (1HR, 2HR) | 200 | 171 | 119 | 94 | 45 |
| Biology (4BI1: 1B, 2B) | 180 | 142 | 112 | 97 | 67 |
| Biology, R papers (1BR, 2BR) | 180 | 146 | 117 | 104 | 80 |
| Chemistry (4CH1: 1C, 2C) | 180 | 141 | 103 | 90 | 66 |
| Chemistry, R papers (1CR, 2CR) | 180 | 150 | 111 | 99 | 77 |
| Physics (4PH1: 1P, 2P) | 180 | 138 | 105 | 94 | 72 |
| Physics, R papers (1PR, 2PR) | 180 | 134 | 99 | 88 | 67 |
Source: Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9-1) grade boundaries, June 2026. Mathematics A Foundation tier (1F, 2F) is graded 5 to 1, with a grade 4 at 125 out of 200 on the main papers. Checked 6 October 2026.
International A Level: raw marks, UMS and the overall grade
International A Level is modular, so Pearson publishes boundaries for each unit on two scales: the raw mark, which changes every series, and the UMS score, which does not. In June 2026, Pure Mathematics 1 (WMA11, Unit 1) was out of 75 raw marks, and 54 raw converted to the grade a boundary of 80 out of 100 UMS; 40 raw was the grade c boundary of 60 UMS.
Some units list two papers in the same series (for example "Unit 1" and "Unit 1A"), each with its own raw boundaries but the same UMS scale. Use the row for the paper your child actually sat.
The overall grade comes from adding unit UMS scores. For International A Level Mathematics (YMA01) the cash-in is out of 600 UMS, with A at 480, B at 420, C at 360, D at 300 and E at 240. International AS Mathematics (XMA01) is out of 300, with A at 240. Pearson notes that A2 units show a theoretical A* boundary, while A* itself is awarded only for the overall International A Level.
June 2026 IAL Mathematics: selected unit boundaries
| Unit | Raw max | Raw for a | Raw for c | Raw for e | UMS max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMA11 Pure Mathematics 1 (Unit 1) | 75 | 54 | 40 | 26 | 100 |
| WMA12 Pure Mathematics 2 (Unit 2) | 75 | 48 | 36 | 26 | 100 |
| WMA13 Pure Mathematics 3 (Unit 3) | 75 | 57 | 45 | 33 | 100 |
| WMA14 Pure Mathematics 4 (Unit 4) | 75 | 58 | 44 | 31 | 100 |
| WST01 Statistics 1 (Unit 1) | 75 | 65 | 47 | 31 | 100 |
| WME01 Mechanics 1 (Unit 1) | 75 | 57 | 43 | 29 | 100 |
Source: Pearson Edexcel International AS/A Level grade boundaries, June 2026. On the UMS scale, a = 80, c = 60 and e = 40 out of 100 for these units. Checked 6 October 2026.
Using the boundaries well
- Ask the school for the raw mark on each paper. The International GCSE certificate shows only the grade.
- Match the paper codes, including the R suffix, before reading any line.
- For IAL, check the UMS per unit on the results slip and add them to see how far the total is from the next cash-in boundary.
- Use past boundaries as a guide for mock papers, not as fixed targets: they move each series.
How a tutor uses these numbers
A tutor can mark a full Edexcel past paper, apply the boundary for that series and route, and show your child exactly which grade the paper would have earned and how many marks separate it from the next one. For IAL, the same exercise per unit shows which resit would lift the overall grade most.
LiveTutor lessons are one to one, 60 minutes and online, with tutors who teach the Edexcel specifications they list.
Common questions
What did you need for a 9 in Edexcel International GCSE Maths in June 2026?
On the main Higher papers (1H, 2H), 165 out of 200. On the R papers (1HR, 2HR), used in the UAE and Oman, 171 out of 200.
Why are R-paper boundaries different?
R papers are different question papers, so Pearson sets boundaries for them separately. In June 2026 some R boundaries were higher than the main ones (Maths, Biology, Chemistry) and some lower (Physics).
Where are Pearson grade boundaries published?
On Pearson's grade boundaries page, as one PDF per qualification and series. The June 2026 International A Level document was posted on 13 August 2026 and the International GCSE document on 20 August 2026.
Does a high UMS score on one IAL unit make up for a weak one?
Yes, within the qualification: the overall grade comes from the total UMS across the units that count, so a strong unit can offset a weaker one.
How much do Edexcel lessons cost with LiveTutor?
$15 a lesson for every subject and level, on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons a week billed monthly. The first lesson is a free trial.
Sources
Dates and figures on this page come from these official and published sources. Always confirm deadlines on the official page before acting on them.