Are the 2026 GCSE Physics grade boundaries out yet?
No official AQA or OCR June 2026 GCSE Physics boundary marks are public on 18 August. Both exam boards say they will publish GCSE grade boundaries at 8am on results day, Thursday 20 August 2026. We will replace this status with the official Physics and Combined Science figures when those tables are released.
That timing matters because a boundary is only confirmed after the papers have been marked and the awarding process is complete. A number circulating before publication may be a prediction, a past-paper boundary or a screenshot without enough information to identify the qualification. It is not a reliable 2026 result.
Your results sheet gives the grade awarded by your exam board. The boundary table is useful when you want to understand how your total mark relates to that grade, how far you were from the next boundary or which information to discuss with your school.
How do GCSE Physics grade boundaries work?
A grade boundary is the minimum total mark needed for a particular grade. If the grade 7 boundary were 120 marks, for example, 120 would be the lowest mark awarded grade 7. This is only an illustration, not a prediction of any 2026 Physics boundary.
Separate GCSE Physics gives one grade from 9 to 1. For AQA Physics 8463, the two 100-mark papers are added to give a total out of 200. OCR Physics A J249 uses two 90-mark papers, giving an overall total out of 180. OCR Physics B J259 is a different qualification, so its row must be checked separately.
Combined Science works differently. It produces a pair of grades because it is worth two GCSEs. AQA Combined Science: Trilogy 8464 adds marks from all six Biology, Chemistry and Physics papers to a total out of 420. The Physics papers contribute to the final pair, but there is no separate GCSE Physics grade inside that result.
Always use the overall qualification boundary for the route and tier you sat. Dividing a raw mark by the maximum and applying a generic percentage rule can give the wrong answer.
GCSE Physics grade boundaries 2026: what can previous years tell us?
The last two official series give a sensible historical range, but not a forecast. The values below are overall qualification boundaries, not individual-paper boundaries.
| Course and tier | Maximum mark | June 2024 key boundaries | June 2025 key boundaries |
|---|---|---|---|
| AQA Physics 8463 Higher | 200 | Grade 9: 151; 7: 122; 5: 85; 4: 67 | Grade 9: 152; 7: 126; 5: 88; 4: 70 |
| AQA Physics 8463 Foundation | 200 | Grade 5: 136; 4: 122; 3: 89; 2: 56 | Grade 5: 144; 4: 131; 3: 95; 2: 59 |
| OCR Physics A J249 Higher | 180 | Grade 9: 147; 7: 123; 5: 85; 4: 66 | Grade 9: 150; 7: 127; 5: 92; 4: 75 |
| OCR Physics A J249 Foundation | 180 | Grade 5: 115; 4: 102; 3: 77; 2: 52 | Grade 5: 114; 4: 101; 3: 77; 2: 54 |
AQA 8463 and OCR J249 are shown because they are the main separate-Physics routes supported by PhysicsUK. OCR Physics B J259 has a different row and should be checked separately.
Recent Combined Science boundaries
Combined Science uses the overall total from every Biology, Chemistry and Physics component and awards a paired grade.
| Course and tier | Maximum mark | June 2024 key boundaries | June 2025 key boundaries |
|---|---|---|---|
| AQA Trilogy 8464 Higher | 420 | 9-9: 289; 7-7: 215; 5-5: 133; 4-4: 93 | 9-9: 299; 7-7: 228; 5-5: 140; 4-4: 96 |
| AQA Trilogy 8464 Foundation | 420 | 5-5: 266; 4-4: 225; 3-3: 171; 2-2: 117 | 5-5: 271; 4-4: 231; 3-3: 173; 2-2: 117 |
| OCR Combined Science A J250 Higher | 360 | 9-9: 273; 7-7: 224; 5-5: 160; 4-4: 129 | 9-9: 280; 7-7: 226; 5-5: 158; 4-4: 126 |
| OCR Combined Science A J250 Foundation | 360 | 5-5: 220; 4-4: 194; 3-3: 147; 2-2: 101 | 5-5: 212; 4-4: 176; 3-3: 134; 2-2: 92 |
These are historical overall boundaries. Do not add together the notional Biology, Chemistry and Physics paper boundaries to recreate them.
Which GCSE Physics grade-boundary row do I need?
Start with your results sheet or exam timetable and match the awarding body, qualification code and tier. Similar-looking course names can have different papers and different boundaries.
AQA separate Physics: 8463
Look for GCSE Physics 8463 and then the Foundation or Higher overall qualification row. Do not use the Combined Science 8464 row.
AQA Combined Science: Trilogy 8464
Look for the Foundation or Higher overall Combined Science: Trilogy result. It uses all six papers and awards a double grade.
OCR Physics A: J249
This is the Gateway Science separate Physics course. Match J249 and the Foundation or Higher entry option.
OCR Physics B: J259
This is the Twenty First Century Science separate Physics course. It has its own J259 row and must not be confused with J249.
OCR Combined Science A: J250
This is Gateway Combined Science. The overall result uses Biology, Chemistry and Physics components and awards a paired grade.
OCR Combined Science B: J260
This is Twenty First Century Combined Science. Use the J260 overall row rather than a separate Physics row.
How to read your Physics marks against the boundary
Use the qualification total shown on the official table. Paper-level or component boundaries may be included to show approximately how demanding one component was, but they are described as notional because the qualification grade is awarded from the combined total.
Check the tier first
Foundation and Higher papers have different available grades and different boundary rows. Foundation usually awards grades 1 to 5; Higher awards grades 4 to 9, with a narrow grade 3 safety net for pupils just below grade 4.
Check whether the mark is raw or scaled
Use the kind of mark named in the table. Do not combine a paper raw mark with an overall scaled boundary or compare marks from different maximum totals.
Find the minimum mark for each grade
A boundary is inclusive. A mark exactly on the listed grade 7 boundary receives grade 7; one mark below falls into the next grade band unless another rule applies.
Combined Science uses paired grades
Read 7-6 as one Combined Science result worth two GCSEs. It does not mean grade 7 in Physics and grade 6 in another science.
What should I do with my GCSE Physics result?
Start with the grade and the next decision it affects. A boundary table can add context, but it should not turn results morning into a frantic argument over one paper before you know your options.
If you received the grade you needed
Confirm your sixth-form, college or apprenticeship place and ask which course and exam board you will study next. If you are considering A-level Physics, check its actual Physics or Combined Science and Maths entry requirements.
If you narrowly missed a requirement
Speak to the provider directly. It may look at your complete grade profile, available places and its own entry policy. A different school's published rule does not decide your case.
If the mark looks surprising
Ask your school or college to explain the result and the available post-results services. A review of marking checks whether the mark scheme was applied correctly; it is not a fresh marking exercise and the mark can stay the same, rise or fall.
If you want to improve your Physics
Use the mark information to choose a precise next step. You could revisit the specific heat capacity required practical, motion graphs or Newton's laws instead of trying to revise the entire course again at once.
How should I read the AQA and OCR grade-boundary tables?
On the AQA and OCR documents, find the overall qualification row that matches your code and tier. That row decides the grade. A separate paper row is useful for understanding performance, but it does not award an independent GCSE grade.
Do not compare an AQA mark directly with an OCR boundary. Exam boards assess the same national subject content and assessment objectives, but their paper questions and total marks are not identical. Ofqual requires comparable grade standards, not identical boundary numbers.
The same warning applies across years. A 2025 boundary describes the 2025 papers. It can show the rough historical range, but it cannot convert a 2026 mark until the 2026 awarding process is complete.
Why do GCSE Physics grade boundaries change each year?
The principle is similar to evaluating experimental data. You cannot interpret a number until you know what was measured, the scale used and the uncertainty around the comparison. Here, that means checking the qualification, tier, maximum mark and whether the figure is an overall or notional boundary.
Ofqual explains that exam boards set boundaries after marking because the difficulty experienced by pupils cannot be known perfectly in advance. If a paper proves harder, the boundary may be lower; if it proves easier, it may be higher. The aim is to keep the standard of work for a grade comparable over time.
There is no fixed percentage that always earns a grade 9, 7, 5 or 4, and there is no quota that forces a set number of pupils to fail. Treat claims such as "70% is always a grade 7" as shortcuts, not grading rules.
What do notional paper boundaries mean?
A notional component boundary is produced by taking the qualification-level standard and applying it to one paper. It can help a teacher or pupil interpret strengths and weaknesses, but good performance on one component can compensate for weaker performance on another when the final total is calculated.
Boundary comparability is about the quality of work represented by a grade, not the same raw mark every year. Senior examiners examine scripts around possible boundaries alongside statistical evidence before recommendations are finalised.
A pupil one mark below a boundary has not necessarily had one question marked incorrectly. Marks come from the application of a mark scheme across the whole paper. If there is a specific concern, discuss access to scripts and review options with the school rather than assuming the boundary itself can be appealed.
Key words
GCSE Physics grade boundaries 2026: common questions
Are the 2026 GCSE Physics grade boundaries out yet?
No. On 18 August 2026, the official June 2026 GCSE boundaries are not public. AQA and OCR say they will publish them at 8am on Thursday 20 August.
When will AQA publish the 2026 GCSE Physics grade boundaries?
AQA says it publishes grade boundaries at 8am on results days. The June 2026 GCSE results day is Thursday 20 August 2026.
When will OCR publish the 2026 GCSE Physics grade boundaries?
OCR says its June 2026 GCSE grade boundaries will be published at 8am on Thursday 20 August 2026.
What is the 2026 grade 9 boundary for AQA GCSE Physics?
The official mark is not public before 8am on 20 August. Use the AQA 8463 Higher overall qualification row when it is released; do not use a prediction as the confirmed boundary.
Is there a separate Physics grade in AQA Combined Science?
No. AQA Combined Science: Trilogy 8464 combines marks from six Biology, Chemistry and Physics papers and awards a paired grade for the complete qualification.
What grades are available on Foundation and Higher Physics?
Foundation normally awards grades 1 to 5. Higher normally awards grades 4 to 9, with a narrow grade 3 safety net for a pupil who just misses grade 4. Combined Science uses paired grades.
Do individual GCSE Physics papers have grade boundaries?
Exam boards may publish notional component boundaries for individual papers, but the final GCSE grade is awarded from the overall qualification total, not as separate paper grades.
Why do GCSE Physics grade boundaries change?
Paper difficulty varies. Exam boards set boundaries after marking and examine statistical evidence and pupils' work so that the standard represented by a grade remains comparable.
Can I predict the 2026 Physics boundary from 2025?
No. A previous boundary can provide historical context, but it cannot confirm the mark needed in 2026 because the questions and experienced difficulty are different.
What are the predicted GCSE Physics grade boundaries for 2026?
There are no confirmed predicted boundaries. For context, AQA 8463 Higher in 2024 and 2025 placed grade 9 at 151 to 152 marks, grade 7 at 122 to 126, grade 5 at 85 to 88 and grade 4 at 67 to 70. OCR J249 Higher placed those grades at 147 to 150, 123 to 127, 85 to 92 and 66 to 75. The 2026 marks can fall outside those ranges.
What were the AQA GCSE Physics grade boundaries in 2025?
For AQA Physics 8463 Higher in June 2025, the overall boundaries included 152 marks for grade 9, 126 for grade 7, 88 for grade 5 and 70 for grade 4, from a maximum of 200. These do not predict the 2026 boundaries.
What were the OCR Physics A grade boundaries in 2025?
For OCR Physics A J249 Higher in June 2025, the overall boundaries included 150 marks for grade 9, 127 for grade 7, 92 for grade 5 and 75 for grade 4, from a maximum of 180. These do not predict the 2026 boundaries.
What should I do if I am one mark below a Physics grade boundary?
Speak to your school or college. Ask it to explain the result, access-to-script options and whether a review of marking is sensible. A review can leave the mark unchanged or move it up or down.
Which code is AQA GCSE Physics?
AQA separate GCSE Physics is 8463. AQA Combined Science: Trilogy is 8464, so check that you use the row matching the qualification you actually took.
Which codes are OCR GCSE Physics?
OCR Physics A (Gateway Science) is J249 and OCR Physics B (Twenty First Century Science) is J259. OCR Combined Science A is J250 and Combined Science B is J260.