CCEA GCSE Physics grade boundaries 2025: raw marks by unit and tier
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CCEA GCSE Physics grade boundaries 2025, unit by unit
These are the figures in CCEA's Raw to Uniform Mark Boundaries for GCSE Physics, Summer 2025. The qualification is made up of two written units and a practical skills unit. Unit 1 and Unit 2 are 37.5% each and Unit 3 is 25%. Each unit is entered at Foundation or Higher.
| Unit grade | Unit 1, Foundation | Unit 1, Higher | Unit 2, Foundation | Unit 2, Higher | Unit 3, Foundation | Unit 3, Higher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Out of | 80 | 100 | 80 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| a | - | 84 | - | 85 | - | 74 |
| b | - | 70 | - | 70 | - | 62 |
| c* | 43 | 56 | 50 | 55 | 30 | 51 |
| c | 34 | 43 | 41 | 40 | 25 | 40 |
| d | 26 | 30 | 34 | 25 | 21 | 29 |
| e | 19 | 23 | 27 | 17 | 17 | 23 |
| f | 12 | - | 20 | - | 13 | - |
| g | 5 | - | 13 | - | 9 | - |
| Unit grade | Unit 1, Foundation | Unit 1, Higher | Unit 2, Foundation | Unit 2, Higher | Unit 3, Foundation | Unit 3, Higher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Most you can earn | 109 | 150 | 109 | 150 | 72 | 100 |
| a | - | 120 | - | 120 | - | 80 |
| b | - | 110 | - | 110 | - | 73 |
| c* | 101 | 101 | 101 | 101 | 67 | 67 |
| c | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 60 | 60 |
| d | 75 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 50 | 50 |
| e | 60 | 68 | 60 | 68 | 40 | 45 |
| f | 45 | - | 45 | - | 30 | - |
| g | 30 | - | 30 | - | 20 | - |
Subject lines, Summer 2025
| Subject grade | Lowest total uniform mark, out of 400 |
|---|---|
| A* | 357 |
| A | 320 |
| B | 292 |
| C* | 268 |
| C | 240 |
| D | 200 |
| E | 160 |
| F | 120 |
| G | 80 |
How a 2025 total was built
A Foundation candidate who earned exactly the grade c raw mark in every unit, 34, 41, 25, was given 90, 90, 60 uniform marks. These add to 240, the C line. Foundation Unit 2 needed 41 out of 80 for a grade c, more than Unit 1's 34, so the same effort on the two papers did not give the same grade. That is why CCEA works in uniform marks: the totals are comparable whatever the paper.
A Higher candidate needed 84, 85, 74 raw marks for grade a across the three units, which gives 120 + 120 + 80 = 320, the A line.
How 2025 compares with 2024
| Unit and grade | Summer 2024 | Summer 2025 | Change in last year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 Higher, a | 77 | 84 | +7 |
| Unit 1 Higher, c* | 51 | 56 | +5 |
| Unit 1 Foundation, c* | 49 | 43 | −6 |
| Unit 2 Higher, a | 82 | 85 | +3 |
| Unit 2 Foundation, c* | 48 | 50 | +2 |
| Unit 3 Higher, a | 75 | 74 | −1 |
The picture split by tier. On Unit 1 Higher, grade a rose from 77 to 84 and grade c* from 51 to 56, but Unit 1 Foundation grade c* fell from 49 to 43. In Unit 2 the Foundation boundaries rose by two marks. Raw boundaries come out of the marking, so each series has its own pattern. The A* line was 358 in 2024 and 357 in 2025.
The practical unit
Unit 3 is a quarter of the Physics GCSE. Booklet A is two pre-release practicals done in school and marked externally; Booklet B is a written paper on planning and carrying out the nine prescribed practicals and on general practical situations. The Foundation raw boundaries for the unit were the same in 2024 and 2025. The Higher ones moved: grade a fell from 75 to 74, and grade c* from 53 to 51. Our CCEA GCSE Physics guide sets out what the papers cover.
What to do with these numbers
- Work from the uniform lines. Raw boundaries are one year of evidence only.
- Aim 10 or so uniform marks above the line you want, because a harder paper can cost raw marks.
- Between the tiers, remember the Foundation ceiling is a C*.
Sit today's Foundation or Higher paper as a quick check. It is 8 questions and 25 to 35 marks, set by us and not by CCEA.
Common questions
What were the CCEA GCSE Physics grade boundaries in 2025?
What was a grade c in Higher Physics Unit 1 in 2025?
Did Physics get harder in 2025?
What is Unit 3 in CCEA GCSE Physics?
Can I resit a CCEA Physics unit?
Revision cards
Say the answer first, then flip the card to check it.
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UK · GCSECCEA GCSE Physics grade boundaries 2026: raw marks by unitCCEA GCSE Physics grade boundaries for Summer 2026: raw and uniform marks for Units 1 to 3 at Foundation and Higher, plus the 400 mark subject lines.