GCSE · June 2026
Which subjects had
the highest boundaries?
Compare the percentage needed for the same grade across subjects and exam boards.
Grade9
Qualification-level thresholds. Each row is a subject, board and entry option. High percentages don’t rank subject difficulty.
Highest boundary91.3%
Lowest boundary66.5%
Matching entries42
The top of this view
| Rank | Subject / entry | Grade 9 | Change | Check / compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MathematicsAQA · 8300 · Higher tier | 91.3%219 / 240 marks | 0.0 pp | Source for Mathematics · Higher tier ↗ |
| 2 | Chemistry A: GatewayOCR · J248 · Higher tier | 90.6%163 / 180 marks | +2.8 pp | Source for Chemistry A: Gateway · Higher tier ↗ |
| 3 | Computer ScienceAQA · 8525 · C# (8525A) | 88.9%160 / 180 marks | +2.8 pp | Source for Computer Science · C# (8525A) ↗ |
| 3 | Computer ScienceAQA · 8525 · Python (8525B) | 88.9%160 / 180 marks | +2.8 pp | Source for Computer Science · Python (8525B) ↗ |
| 3 | Computer ScienceAQA · 8525 · VB.NET (8525C) | 88.9%160 / 180 marks | +2.8 pp | Source for Computer Science · VB.NET (8525C) ↗ |
| 6 | English LiteratureAQA · 8702 | 88.8%142 / 160 marks | +3.8 pp | Source for English Literature ↗ |
| 7 | DramaOCR · J316 | 88.5%177 / 200 marks | -1.0 pp | Source for Drama ↗ |
| 8 | Computer ScienceOCR · J277 | 88.1%141 / 160 marks | 0.0 pp | Source for Computer Science ↗ |
| 9 | MathematicsOCR · J560 · Higher tier | 88.0%264 / 300 marks | +2.0 pp | Source for Mathematics · Higher tier ↗ |
| 10 | MusicPearson Edexcel · 1MU0 | 87.0%174 / 200 marks | 0.0 pp | Source for Music ↗ |
| 11 | MathematicsPearson Edexcel · 1MA1 · Higher tier | 86.7%208 / 240 marks | -3.8 pp | Source for Mathematics · Higher tier ↗ |
| 12 | Food Preparation and NutritionAQA · 8585 | 86.0%172 / 200 marks | — | Source for Food Preparation and Nutrition ↗ |
| 13 | EconomicsAQA · 8136 | 85.0%136 / 160 marks | — | Source for Economics ↗ |
| 13 | BiologyPearson Edexcel · 1BI0 · Higher tier | 85.0%170 / 200 marks | +1.5 pp | Source for Biology · Higher tier ↗ |
| 13 | English LiteraturePearson Edexcel · 1ET0 | 85.0%136 / 160 marks | +0.6 pp | Source for English Literature ↗ |
| 16 | Physics A: GatewayOCR · J249 · Higher tier | 84.4%152 / 180 marks | +1.1 pp | Source for Physics A: Gateway · Higher tier ↗ |
| 17 | Citizenship StudiesPearson Edexcel · 1CS0 | 84.4%135 / 160 marks | -0.6 pp | Source for Citizenship Studies ↗ |
| 17 | English LiteratureOCR · J352 | 84.4%135 / 160 marks | +1.3 pp | Source for English Literature ↗ |
| 19 | Physical EducationPearson Edexcel · 1PE0 | 84.3%295 / 350 marks | -0.3 pp | Source for Physical Education ↗ |
| 20 | PsychologyAQA · 8182 | 84.0%168 / 200 marks | — | Source for Psychology ↗ |
| 21 | Geography BPearson Edexcel · 1GB0 | 84.0%215 / 256 marks | — | Source for Geography B ↗ |
| 22 | DramaAQA · 8261 | 83.5%167 / 200 marks | 0.0 pp | Source for Drama ↗ |
| 23 | DramaPearson Edexcel · 1DR0 · weighted total | 83.3%200 / 240 marks | 0.0 pp | Source for Drama ↗ |
| 24 | Physical EducationAQA · 8582 | 83.1%216 / 260 marks | — | Source for Physical Education ↗ |
| 25 | ChemistryPearson Edexcel · 1CH0 · Higher tier | 82.5%165 / 200 marks | +2.0 pp | Source for Chemistry · Higher tier ↗ |
| 25 | English LanguagePearson Edexcel · 1EN0 | 82.5%132 / 160 marks | +0.6 pp | Source for English Language ↗ |
| 25 | English LanguageOCR · J351 | 82.5%132 / 160 marks | +1.9 pp | Source for English Language ↗ |
| 28 | Art, Craft and DesignPearson Edexcel · 1AD0 | 82.2%148 / 180 marks | 0.0 pp | Source for Art, Craft and Design ↗ |
| 29 | BusinessPearson Edexcel · 1BS0 | 81.7%147 / 180 marks | +2.2 pp | Source for Business ↗ |
| 30 | PhysicsPearson Edexcel · 1PH0 · Higher tier | 81.5%163 / 200 marks | +1.0 pp | Source for Physics · Higher tier ↗ |
| 31 | GeographyAQA · 8035 | 81.0%204 / 252 marks | — | Source for Geography ↗ |
| 32 | Geography APearson Edexcel · 1GA0 | 80.9%207 / 256 marks | — | Source for Geography A ↗ |
| 33 | AstronomyPearson Edexcel · 1AS0 | 80.5%161 / 200 marks | -0.5 pp | Source for Astronomy ↗ |
| 34 | BusinessOCR · J204 | 80.0%128 / 160 marks | +5.0 pp | Source for Business ↗ |
| 35 | Computer SciencePearson Edexcel · 1CP2 | 78.7%118 / 150 marks | -4.0 pp | Source for Computer Science ↗ |
| 36 | PhysicsAQA · 8463 · Higher tier | 78.5%157 / 200 marks | +2.5 pp | Source for Physics · Higher tier ↗ |
| 37 | Biology A: GatewayOCR · J247 · Higher tier | 78.3%141 / 180 marks | +1.1 pp | Source for Biology A: Gateway · Higher tier ↗ |
| 38 | ChemistryAQA · 8462 · Higher tier | 77.5%155 / 200 marks | +2.5 pp | Source for Chemistry · Higher tier ↗ |
| 39 | English LanguageAQA · 8700 | 76.3%122 / 160 marks | +1.9 pp | Source for English Language ↗ |
| 40 | BusinessAQA · 8132 | 73.9%133 / 180 marks | +1.1 pp | Source for Business ↗ |
| 41 | PsychologyPearson Edexcel · 1PS0 | 68.9%124 / 180 marks | 0.0 pp | Source for Psychology ↗ |
| 42 | BiologyAQA · 8461 · Higher tier | 66.5%133 / 200 marks | -4.0 pp | Source for Biology · Higher tier ↗ |
A dash means there is no comparable previous-year value in this dataset. Separate entry options may share identical boundaries. Percentages are rounded for display; ranks use the unrounded figures. Coverage varies by year.
Does a higher boundary mean a harder subject?
A boundary tells you how many marks reached a grade on that particular assessment. Papers, mark schemes, coursework and the students taking each subject all differ. A lower percentage can accompany a paper where marks are harder to earn.
These rankings compare published thresholds. They cannot rank your ability, the work a course takes, or how fairly a board grades. Read the explanation and Ofqual evidence →