What are the Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE Grade Boundaries in 2021 and Why They Matter

Grade boundaries set by Edexcel (Pearson) 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 2021 than they were in previous years. Grade boundaries are set after your Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE exams have been marked, so you won’t know the exact grade boundaries for the 2021 exams before you take them.

This article will provide you with the grade boundaries for Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE 2021, 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
Accounting2021November1501018671605040302010
Arabic (First Language)2021November125948577706357463525
Bangla2021November100857872584532262015
Biology2021January18012910989705133282318
Biology2021January18012911091745842352822
Biology Paper(s)2021November18012811194765840312315
Business2021November16084715846342318138
Chemistry2021January18013711593725130241914
Chemistry2021January180148129110927457463525
Chemistry Paper(s)2021November18013611697785940302112
Chinese2021November1201098561554943332415
Commerce2021November1607356393123151297
Computer Science2021November16012010488695133282319
Economics2021November160928068574635282216
English Language A Paper(s) 01 022021November1501089786746352392614
English Language A Paper(s) 01 032021November150119109100887766513621
English Language A Paper(s) 01 03T2021November150119109100887766513621
English Language B Paper(s) 012021November10067595245393324157
English Literature Paper(s) 01 022021November1501029283716049362310
English Literature Paper(s) 01 032021November15011210190786655412713
English as a Second Language Paper(s) 01 022021November150133123113998571625446
Further Pure Mathematics Paper(s) 01 022021November2001501096956443226--
Geography2021November16012210895796449382716
History Paper(s) 1A 2A2021November9070615246403425167
History Paper(s) 1B 2B2021November9069605144373122146
Human Biology2021November18012711093827160453016
ICT2021November200113917056422821159
Mathematics A (Foundation)2021January200----12397714520
Mathematics A (Foundation)2021January200----11893684420
Mathematics A (Foundation) Paper(s) 1F 2F2021November200----11687644220
Mathematics A (Higher)2021January2001411169168462413--
Mathematics A (Higher)2021January200152121916743208--
Mathematics A (Higher) Paper(s) 1H 2H2021November2001361118664422110--
Mathematics B2021January30019715611586572813--
Mathematics B2021January300231186142106713618--
Mathematics B Paper(s) 01 022021November30019615511484552611--
Physics2021January18012810480624528231814
Physics2021January18013411596775839322620
Physics Paper(s) 1P 2P2021November18012510381654934272013
Science (Single Award)2021November1801078972625243332313
Swahili Paper(s) 01 022021November120988878665442352822

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

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What is the best way to prepare for your IGCSE Edexcel (Pearson) exam?

The best way to prepare for your Edexcel (Pearson) 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 Edexcel (Pearson) 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 2021 Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE past exam papers to practice your exam technique. Set a timer for the amount of time allowed for your Edexcel (Pearson) 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 2021 grade boundaries for Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE exams

Grade boundaries are established by exam boards such as Edexcel (Pearson) 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 Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE grade boundaries for previous years can help you get an idea of the marks you need in 2021 to achieve the grade you want. With this information and your Edexcel (Pearson) 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 Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE grade boundaries were lowered to minimise the disadvantage faced by students who missed school due to lockdowns. Therefore, the grade boundaries for the Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE years 2020 to 2022 will not be representative of other years.

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