Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE English as a Second Language Grade Boundaries (2020-2024)

Grade boundaries are a key element of the education system, designed to ensure student grades accurately reflect their knowledge, understanding, and mastery of a subject. These boundaries are established by the different exam boards, AQA, Edexcel, and OCR, and they play a crucial role in determining final grades, shaping academic progression, and influencing future opportunities.

On this page, you'll find the latest grade boundaries for Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE English as a Second Language, with insights to help you interpret them and practical tools to support your exam success.

SubjectYearMonthMaximum MarkGrade 9Grade 8Grade 7Grade 6Grade 5Grade 4Grade 3Grade 2Grade 1
English as a Second Language Paper(s) 01 022024November150140134128120112105927967
English as a Second Language Paper(s) 01 022024June150141135129121113105927967
English as a Second Language Paper(s) 01 022023November15014013412911910999877564
English as a Second Language Paper(s) 01 022023June150140134128120112104917865
English as a Second Language Paper(s) 01 022023January15013813012211110089766351
English as a Second Language Paper(s) 01 022022June15013813012211110089766351
English as a Second Language Paper(s) 01 022021November150133123113998571625446
English as a Second Language Paper(s) 01 022020November1501341251171038976675849
English as a Second Language Paper(s) 01R 02R2024June15013913112311510799867462
English as a Second Language Paper(s) 01R 02R2023November4037322824201713107
English as a Second Language Paper(s) 01R 02R2023June15014013212511610798847057
English as a Second Language Paper(s) 01R 02R2023January15013813012211110089766351
English as a Second Language Paper(s) 01R 02R2022June1501381291201089685736150
English as a Second Language Paper(s) 01R 02R2020November150136124113937354474135
English as a Second Language Paper(s) 032024November4037322824201713107
English as a Second Language Paper(s) 032024June4037322824201713107
English as a Second Language Paper(s) 032023June4037322824201713107
English as a Second Language Paper(s) 032023January40373228221611987
English as a Second Language Paper(s) 032022June40373228221611987
English as a Second Language Papers 01 & 022020January15013913212511510697857362
English as a Second Language Papers 01R & 02R2020January15013713112511510697857362
English as a Second Language Speaking Endorsement2020January4038343026232015117

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What is the best way to prepare for your Edexcel (Pearson) English as a Second Language exam?

Preparing for your IGCSE exam requires the right resources and strategies. Here are some tools that can help you improve your performance:

  • Exam Questions: Use Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE English as a Second Language exam questions to improve your knowledge on weaker topics. This will make it more likely that you will achieve higher raw marks in your IGCSE English as a Second Language exam.

  • Past Papers: Practice with Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE English as a Second Language past exam papers to familiarise yourself with the format and types of questions. This helps in understanding how grade boundaries are applied in real exams.

  • Flashcards: Review key terms, formulas, and concepts with Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE English as a Second Language flashcards to strengthen memory and understanding. This quick, efficient method is especially helpful for last-minute revision, making it easier to recall important information on exam day.

  • Revision Notes: Use Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE English as a Second Language revision notes to break down complex topics into concise summaries. These notes help ensure you cover all essential content, providing a clear, structured way to review material before the exam.

  • Marking Schemes: Reviewing marking schemes can provide insights into how marks are awarded and what Edexcel (Pearson) examiners look for in responses.

Understanding IGCSE Grade Boundaries for Edexcel (Pearson) English as a Second Language

Grade boundaries for Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE English as a Second Language exams play a crucial role in understanding your final results. These boundaries are set to define the minimum scores needed for each grade, ensuring consistent assessment standards across different exam sessions. Here’s some key information that’s useful to know:

  • Purpose of Grade Boundaries: Grade boundaries provide a standardised measure of student performance across various exam sessions. For example, Edexcel (Pearson) sets specific grade boundaries for IGCSE English as a Second Language to ensure fair grading for all students, whether the exam session was particularly challenging or straightforward.

  • Year-on-Year Shifts in Boundaries: Grade boundaries are not fixed; they can shift annually based on overall student performance and exam difficulty. For instance, if the Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE English as a Second Language exam in a recent year proved more challenging, the grade boundaries might be adjusted to reflect that difficulty. This flexibility ensures that the students who took a more difficult paper aren’t unfairly disadvantaged.

  • Raw Marks vs. Scaled Marks: In Edexcel (Pearson) English as a Second Language exams, you’ll often encounter both raw marks and scaled marks. Raw marks are your original scores based on correct answers, while scaled marks adjust for any variations in exam difficulty. This process ensures that achieving a certain grade in Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE English as a Second Language reflects the same level of understanding and skill, regardless of the exam version or year.

  • Differences Across Boards and Subjects: The criteria for setting grade boundaries can differ by board and subject. For example, the Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE boundaries for English as a Second Language may not be the same as for other subjects, as each subject demands unique skills and knowledge. This customisation allows Edexcel (Pearson) to align boundaries with the specific requirements of each English as a Second Language exam, ensuring fair and accurate assessment.

Need help reaching your target grade? Explore our notes, questions by topic and worked solutions, tailor-made for Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE English as a Second Language

Explore Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE English as a Second Language

How are the Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE grade boundaries determined?

Setting grade boundaries is a meticulous process undertaken by Edexcel (Pearson). The process involves several factors:

  • Exam Difficulty: The complexity of exam questions is a primary factor. For instance, if the English as a Second Language exam is particularly challenging, grade boundaries may be adjusted to ensure fairness.

  • Statistical Analysis: Edexcel (Pearson) will analyse statistical data on student performance. This includes comparing current results with previous years to maintain consistency in grading standards

  • Moderation: To ensure consistency in grades across the different exam boards, there is a process of moderation. Edexcel (Pearson) examiners will re-mark IGCSE English as a Second Language papers to ensure that the marking process has been fair to all students.

  • Examiner Judgments: Experienced examiners review a sample of Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE English as a Second Language papers to gauge overall performance levels and set appropriate boundaries.

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Past papers are vital for preparing for your exam. You can familiarise yourself with the structure and timings of the paper, the types of questions asked and the knowledge and skills needed to ace your exam.You can find English as a Second Language past papers for Edexcel (Pearson) IGCSE papers here.

If you’re feeling behind in English as a Second Language, don't worry! Your revision should focus on key concepts and topics that are likely to appear on the exam, you can use past exam papers to get a better idea of what these might be in the future. Create a structured revision timetable that dedicates extra time to key concepts and topics, ensuring the efficient use of your study time.

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