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Edexcel GCSE Combined Science grade boundaries 2026

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The 2026 table, pair by pair

From Pearson's June 2026 GCSE (9-1) document. Combined Science (1SC0) gives two grades for six papers, so the table lists each pair. A dash would mean the tier does not award it.

GradeHigher 2025Higher 2026Change
9-9284282−2
9-8269266−3
8-8255251−4
8-7241236−5
7-7227221−6
7-6207202−5
6-6187183−4
6-5167164−3
5-5147145−2
5-4127126−1
4-4107108+1
4-39799+2
GradeFoundation 2025Foundation 2026Change
5-5215231+16
5-4194212+18
4-4174194+20
4-3151168+17
3-3128142+14
3-2105116+11
2-28291+9
2-15966+7
1-13741+4

For the course see the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science guide, and for every subject Edexcel GCSE grade boundaries 2026.

Three summers

Adding 2024, the picture is:

Out of 3602024202520262026 on 2025
Higher 9-9272284282−2
Higher 7-7210227221−6
Higher 5-5132147145−2
Higher 4-494107108+1
Foundation 5-5217215231+16
Foundation 4-4178174194+20
Foundation 3-3132128142+14

Foundation 4-4 climbed from 178 in 2024 to 174 and then 194 in 2026, a rise of 16 marks in two years. Foundation 5-5 went from 217 to 231. Higher 4-4 stayed near 108: it was 94, 107 and 108. Higher 9-9 fell 2 on 2025, to 282.

Half marks on every paper

A student scores 30 out of 60 on each of the six papers, a total of 180. That is a good test of the table. On Higher, 180 is above 164 (6-5) and below 183 (6-6), so it is a 6-5. On Foundation, 180 is above 168 (4-3) and below 194 (4-4), so it is a 4-3, 14 marks short of 4-4.

The same 180 is a 6-5 on one tier and a 4-3 on the other. That is the reason the tier is chosen before the exam, not after.

The two tiers overlap at 5-5 and 4-4

Both tiers award 5-5 and 4-4, at very different totals. In 2026 a Foundation 5-5 needed 231, while a Higher 5-5 needed 145. A Foundation 4-4 needed 194 and a Higher 4-4 needed 108. A student on 150 would earn a 5-5 on Higher (above 145, below 164) but a 3-3 on Foundation (above 142, below 168).

The tier you were entered for decides which column applies. A Foundation entry cannot reach 6-6 or above, however high the total.

What to take from 2026

  • A Foundation 5-5 needs 64% of 360. It was 60% in 2025.
  • Higher 4-4 needs 30%. A Higher entry is safe with fewer than a third of the marks.
  • The six papers each count equally. Cover biology, chemistry and physics evenly.

Check a share against the table with today's Higher or Foundation paper. It is 8 questions, 25 to 35 marks and not an Edexcel paper.

Common questions

What are the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science grade boundaries for 2026?
Higher: 9-9 at 282, 7-7 at 221, 5-5 at 145, 4-4 at 108, 4-3 at 99. Foundation: 5-5 at 231, 4-4 at 194, 3-3 at 142, 1-1 at 41.
What mark is 4-4 in Edexcel Combined Science 2026?
108 out of 360 on Higher and 194 on Foundation.
What mark is 7-7 in Edexcel Combined Science 2026?
221 out of 360, down from 227.
Did Foundation Combined Science boundaries go up in 2026?
Yes, by 14 to 20 marks at 5-5, 4-4 and 3-3. 4-4 went from 174 to 194.

Revision cards

Answer, then flip the card.

Where to go next

  • Solve it

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    GCSE Combined Science Foundation

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UK · GCSEEdexcel GCSE Combined Science grade boundaries 2025Edexcel GCSE Combined Science boundaries for June 2025: Higher 4-4 was 107 and 7-7 was 227 out of 360, with Foundation and 2024.