What are the CIE IGCSE Grade Boundaries in 2024 and Why They Matter

Grade boundaries set by CIE are the minimum number of marks you need to score in your IGCSE exam to achieve a certain grade. The grade boundaries change for every exam series, so they will be different in 2024 than they were in previous years. Grade boundaries are set after your CIE IGCSE exams have been marked, so you won’t know the exact grade boundaries for the 2024 exams before you take them.

This article will provide you with the grade boundaries for CIE IGCSE 2024, help you interpret them, and provide tools to help you succeed in your exams.

SubjectYearMonthMaximum MarkGrade 9Grade 8Grade 7Grade 6Grade 5Grade 4Grade 3Grade 2Grade 1
Accounting (AX) 11, 212024June1431089174614937302316
Accounting (AY) 12, 222024June14311610186705540322417
Accounting (AY) 12, 222024November14311610288735843332415
Art and Design (A) 01, 022024June20017315313412010794704622
Art and Design (A) 01, 022024November20017315313412010794704622
Biology (BX) 21, 41, 512024June2001661501341159779655239
Biology (CX) 21, 41, 612024June2001671511351169880665239
Biology (CY) 22, 42, 622024June20017716114512710991735537
Biology (FX) 11, 31, 512024June200131115937251
Biology (GX) 11, 31, 612024June200132116947251
Biology (GY) 12, 32, 622024June200131115978063
Biology (BY) 22, 42, 522024November200175161147131116101836547
Biology (CY) 22, 42, 622024November200175161148132116101836547
Biology (GY) 12, 32, 622024November200145120977452
Business Studies (X) 11, 212024June160988675645444352618
Business Studies (X) 11, 212024November1601099683705846362616
Business Studies (Y) 12, 222024June1601079787756352402918
Chemistry (BX) 21, 41, 512024June2001691521351169778634935
Chemistry (CX) 21, 41, 612024June2001691531371179778645037
Chemistry (CY) 22, 42, 622024June2001711561411209979655138
Chemistry (FX) 11, 31, 512024June200126106836038
Chemistry (GX) 11, 31, 612024June200127106846240
Chemistry (GY) 12, 32, 622024June200117102816141
Chemistry (CY) 22, 42, 622024November20016214713311610084675135
Chemistry (GY) 12, 32, 622024November200134109886747
Co-Ordinated Sciences (Double Award) (CX) 21, 41, 612024June24018416514712810990745842
Co-Ordinated Sciences (Double Award) (CX) 21, 41, 612024November24018316414512610788725640
Co-Ordinated Sciences (Double Award) (CY) 22, 42, 622024June240196178160140121102816141
Co-Ordinated Sciences (Double Award) (GX) 11, 31, 612024June240140115947454
Co-Ordinated Sciences (Double Award) (GX) 11, 31, 612024November240132111896847
Co-Ordinated Sciences (Double Award) (GY) 12, 32, 622024June240147114937251
Computer Science (AX) 11, 212024June15011610084685338302316
Computer Science (AY) 12, 222024June15012611095786145352515
Computer Science (AY) 12, 222024November11210088756351392715
Design and Technology (AY) 02, 12, 322024June20015714513412211099816447
Design and Technology (BY) 02, 12, 422024June200168156144130116103836344
Design and Technology (CY) 02, 12, 522024June200170158146133120107866544
Design and Technology (DY (DY1) 12, 32, 822024November200159148137125114103846648
Design and Technology (DY (DY2) 12, 32, 922024November200159148137125114103846648
Design and Technology (FY (FY1) 12, 52, 822024November200171160149135122109876645
Design and Technology (FY (FY2) 12, 52, 922024November200171160149135122109876645
Drama (AY) 02, 122024June200167157148135123111855934
Drama (AY) 02, 122024November200169159150137124111855934
Economics (X) 11, 212024June15011210497877767534027
Economics (Y) 12, 222024June150120111103907866523926
Economics (Y) 12, 222024November150132119107958473594531
English (as an Additional Language) (X) 03, 11, 21, 412024June18016114613111810593735333
English as a Second Language (Count-In Speaking) (AX) 11, 21, 312024November1601511471441371311251078972
English as a Second Language (Count-In Speaking) (BX) 11, 21, 812024November1601511471441371311251078972
English as a Second Language (Count-In Speaking) (CX) 11, 21, 912024November1601511471431371311251078972
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (AX) 11, 21, 312024November1501431401371311261211059075
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (B1) 11, 21, 812024November1501431401371311261211059075
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (CX) 11, 21, 912024November1501431401371311261211059075
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (LA) 11, 212024November1501431401371311261211059075
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (AX) 11, 21, 312024June1501431401371301231171008468
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (AY) 12, 22, 322024June150141138136127118109947964
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (BX) 11, 21, 81/912024June1501431401371301231171008468
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (BY) 12, 22, 822024June150141138136127118109947964
English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) (LA) 11, 212024June1501431401371301231171008468
First Language Arabic (A) 01, 022024June100736660544944352617
First Language Arabic (A) 01, 022024November100767064575145362718
First Language English (AR (A1) 03, 112024June160125115106968677614529
First Language English (AS (A2) 03, 122024June160121112104958779624528
First Language English (AS (A2) 03, 122024November1601311221131039383624121
First Language English (AX (A1) 03, 112024June160125115106968677614529
First Language English (AY (A2) 03, 122024June160121112104958779624528
First Language English (AY (A2) 03, 122024November1601311221131039383624121
First Language English (BR (B1) 11, 212024June160119110102938476604429
First Language English (BS (B2) 12, 222024June160115107100928578614428
First Language English (BS (B2) 12, 222024November1601261181101019283624121
First Language English (BX (B1) 11, 212024June160119110102938476604429
First Language English (BY (B2) 12, 222024June160115107100928578614428
First Language English (BY (B2) 12, 222024November1601261181101019283624121
First Language English (CR (CJ1) 11, 832024June160125115106968677614529
First Language English (CR (CN1) 11, 932024June160125115106968677614529
First Language English (CS (CJ2) 12, 832024June160121112104958779624528
First Language English (CS (CJ2) 12, 832024November1601311221131039383624121
First Language English (CS (CN2) 12, 932024June160121112104958779624528
First Language English (CS (CN2) 12, 932024November1601311221131039383624121
French (X) 03, 11, 21, 412024June20017215714212611196755535
French (Y) 03, 12, 22, 422024June200170157144129115101795837
French (Y) 03, 12, 22, 422024November20016815514212711297765636
Geography (AY) 03, 12, 222024June220185174163147131116926845
Geography (BY) 12, 22, 422024June220174163152137122108856341
Geography (CY) 12, 22, 832024June220185174163147131116926845
Geography (AY) 03, 12, 222024November220191178165149134119967350
Geography (BY) 12, 22, 422024November220186172159143128113927150
German (Y) 03, 12, 22, 422024June200176159143128114100785635
German (Y) 03, 12, 22, 422024November200174158143129116103826140
History (AY) 03, 12, 222024June15011310393857871604939
History (BY) 12, 22, 422024June150978777685951433528
History (CY) 12, 22, 832024June15011210191827365534130
History (AX) 03, 11, 212024November150119109100918274614836
History (BX) 11, 21, 412024November1501039384746455443323
History (CX) 11, 21, 832024November15011910999908274604633
Information and Communication Technology (AY) 12, 21, 312024June280212191171151131111876340
Information and Communication Technology (BY) 12, 22, 312024June280214193173153133114896440
Information and Communication Technology (CY) 12, 21, 322024June280216195174154134115906540
Information and Communication Technology (DY) 12, 22, 322024June280218197177157137117916540
Information and Communication Technology (EX) 02, 03, 112024November280214190166144122100795837
Italian (Y) 03, 12, 22, 422024June200174156139126113100806041
Literature in English (AY) 12, 222024June100716457504438322620
Literature in English (BY) 12, 32, 422024June100746760534639322620
Literature in English (CY) 05, 12, 322024June100766963564942332517
Mathematics (AY) 12, 322024June16010989664321
Mathematics (BY) 22, 422024June2001801651501281068560
Mathematics (AX) 11, 312024November16011888644017
Mathematics (BX) 21, 412024November2001801601401211028460
Music (A) 02, 03, 122024June170134122110988675563719
Physical Education (AY) 02, 122024June20015113912711710797765535
Physical Education (BY) 12, 822024June20015113912711710797765535
Physical Education (AX) 02, 112024November200158147136126116106846240
Physical Education (BX) 11, 822024November200158147136126116106846240
Physics (BX) 21, 41, 512024June2001501341191028670615244
Physics (CX) 21, 41, 612024June2001501361221069074645445
Physics (CY) 22, 42, 622024June2001521381241079074604734
Physics (FX) 11, 31, 512024June200126113947557
Physics (GX) 11, 31, 612024June200130117977758
Physics (GY) 12, 32, 622024June200127113927150
Physics (BX) 21, 41, 512024November2001551371201069278645036
Physics (CX) 21, 41, 612024November2001531351171038976624834
Physics (GX) 11, 31, 612024November2001361201008162
Spanish (Y) 03, 12, 22, 422024June20017115514012611298785839
Spanish (X) 03, 11, 21, 412024November20017215513912411096775839

Examiner-written IGCSE revision resources that improve your grades 2x

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  • Everything you need to know, and nothing you don’t

What is the best way to prepare for your IGCSE CIE exam?

The best way to prepare for your CIE IGCSE exam is to start your revision early. Begin with a list of topics for all your IGCSE courses and highlight the ones you are the most unsure about. Create a revision timetable with short periods of focus, giving the most time to these topics.

Ideally, you will want to revise all the topics for each subject, but often there just isn’t time. Prioritising topics will help you make the best use of the time you do have, and will give you the biggest increase in marks for your IGCSE exams.

Use revision notes to revise CIE IGCSE content. Flashcards are a great tool to practice recall, reinforce key concepts and boost memory retention. Then use exam questions to test your understanding and identify any areas that you are still unsure of.

It is also super helpful to use 2024 CIE IGCSE past exam papers to practice your exam technique. Set a timer for the amount of time allowed for your CIE IGCSE exam, and sit the paper under exam conditions. This will help you to manage your time more effectively. It will also help increase your exam stamina! It is difficult to concentrate and to write for extended periods, so you need to practice this before the big day.

How to interpret 2024 grade boundaries for CIE IGCSE exams

Grade boundaries are established by exam boards such as CIE to reflect student performance in any given year. It is important to understand that the IGCSE grade boundaries are set after the IGCSE exams have been marked.

A variety of methods are used to ensure the grade boundaries are set fairly. Statistical analysis and examiner judgement are used to ensure the grade boundaries are fair and consistent with previous years.

Each IGCSE exam paper is different, so the level of difficulty of the paper as a whole can fluctuate slightly from year to year. For example, if an entire cohort of students finds an exam paper particularly difficult, the grade boundary is lowered slightly so that students are not unfairly penalised.

Looking at the CIE IGCSE grade boundaries for previous years can help you get an idea of the marks you need in 2024 to achieve the grade you want. With this information and your CIE IGCSE past paper scores, you can get an idea of the grade you are currently working at. You will be able to see how many marks you would have needed to get the higher grade. Armed with this information and an effective revision process, you can successfully work to increase your grade.

A word of caution. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CIE IGCSE grade boundaries were lowered to minimise the disadvantage faced by students who missed school due to lockdowns. Therefore, the grade boundaries for the CIE IGCSE years 2020 to 2022 will not be representative of other years.

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