Edexcel GCSE Maths — Past Papers, Mark Schemes, Grade Boundaries & Resources
Every higher tier Edexcel GCSE Maths past paper and mark scheme, plus grade boundaries by year — collected and kept up to date by Kevin Holdstock, a full-time private maths tutor for 14 years.
Studying for this course? See how weekly tuition works →
Starting A-Level Maths in September? See what to do next →
Sitting the GCSE in 2027 or 2028?
Lessons are usually one hour per week, always one-to-one and online, and cost £120ph. Our approach will depend on whether you're sitting the Exam in 2027 or 2028.
Sitting in 2028?
Starting tuition early means we have time to cover the whole syllabus properly, and for students needing extension, time for maths challenges and competition preparation. It also means we can build in good exam technique from the start, something that helps students think clearly and logically and reduce so-called 'silly' mistakes, as well as pick up maximum method marks in exam questions. All too often even good GCSE students haven't been taught this or don't practice in their own work.
Ask about a placeSitting in 2027?
Let's get started! We won't have time to cover the whole syllabus in depth, but we will identify your gaps and look at those, whilst also polishing what you do know up to a higher level. We'll aim to leave the last 2 or 3 months of tuition for a solid period of past paper practice and revision.
Check my AvailabilityWhat weekly tuition looks like for GCSE Maths
I'm Kevin. I've been a full-time private maths tutor for 14 years — the first seven travelling house to house, and every year since 2019 entirely online. Lessons are usually one hour a week, always one to one, online and £120 an hour.
How I work with GCSE students
Weekly checking on school work
Each week we'll confirm what was covered in class actually landed, and I set extra practice wherever it didn't. If a topic was taught in a way that didn't click, I'll teach it again, my way.
Exam technique as a taught skill
We'll build in good exam technique from the start, something that helps students think clearly and logically and reduce so called 'silly' mistakes, as well as picking up maximum method marks in exam questions. All too often, even good GCSE students haven't been taught this or don't practise it in their own work.
Extension where needed
Be that setting grade 8 and 9 questions across the syllabus (something I aim to do with all of my students) or preparing for competitions like the Intermediate Maths Challenge, I'll make sessions challenging and engaging for able students wanting more.
Testimonials
"I highly recommend Kevin without hesitation. He has inspired a love of Maths in my 16 yr old son who was finding it difficult to keep up in class and loosing his confidence. Kevin is extremely professional with a kind, calm and engaging nature. He is clearly a brilliant mathematician but his ability to teach, to pass on his understanding, is what`s most impressive whilst all the time gently, subtly building the students self-belief. Kevin has been exactly the right tutor for my son and I`m not sure who was more proud when my son got a Maths GCSE Grade 9 – me or Kevin!"
Edexcel GCSE — Grade 9
"Our daughter is being home schooled by Kevin for Year 11. Her clarity and confidence have soared with Kevin and she has rediscovered her love of maths. Highly recommended."
Edexcel GCSE, home schooled — moved from a grade 5 to an 8
Edexcel GCSE Maths past papers - Higher tier
Starting A-Level Maths in September? See what to do next →
Marking a paper? The grade boundaries for every year are further down this page — worth checking what your score actually meant that year before you judge it. Jump to grade boundaries ↓
- Jun 2017
- Nov 2017
- Jun 2018
- Nov 2018
- Jun 2019
- Nov 2019
- Nov 2020
- Nov 2021
- Jun 2022
- Nov 2022
- Jun 2023
- Nov 2023
- Jun 2024
- Nov 2024
- Jun 2025
- Nov 25 & Jun 26
November 2017
| Paper 1 | Question Paper | Mark Scheme | Examiners Report |
| Paper 2 | Question Paper | Mark Scheme | Examiners Report |
| Paper 3 | Question Paper | Mark Scheme | Examiners Report |
November 2018
| Paper 1 | Question Paper | Mark Scheme | Examiners Report |
| Paper 2 | Question Paper | Mark Scheme | Examiners Report |
| Paper 3 | Question Paper | Mark Scheme | Examiners Report |
June 2019
| Paper 1 | Question Paper | Mark Scheme | Examiners Report |
| Paper 2 | Question Paper | Mark Scheme | Examiners Report |
| Paper 3 | Question Paper | Mark Scheme | Examiners Report |
November 2019
| Paper 1 | Question Paper | Mark Scheme | Examiners Report |
| Paper 2 | Question Paper | Mark Scheme | Examiners Report |
| Paper 3 | Question Paper | Mark Scheme | Examiners Report |
November 2020
| Paper 1 | Question Paper | Mark Scheme | Examiners Report |
| Paper 2 | Question Paper | Mark Scheme | Examiners Report |
| Paper 3 | Question Paper | Mark Scheme | Examiners Report |
November 2021
| Paper 1 | Question Paper | Mark Scheme | Examiners Report |
| Paper 2 | Question Paper | Mark Scheme | Examiners Report |
| Paper 3 | Question Paper | Mark Scheme | Examiners Report |
June 2023
| Paper 1 | Question Paper | Mark Scheme | Examiners Report |
| Paper 2 | Question Paper | Mark Scheme | Examiners Report |
| Paper 3 | Question Paper | Mark Scheme | Examiners Report |
November 2023
| Paper 1 | Question Paper | Mark Scheme | Examiners Report |
| Paper 2 | Question Paper | Mark Scheme | Examiners Report |
| Paper 3 | Question Paper | Mark Scheme | Examiners Report |
June 2024
| Paper 1 | Question Paper | Mark Scheme | Examiners Report |
| Paper 2 | Question Paper | Mark Scheme | Examiners Report |
| Paper 3 | Question Paper | Mark Scheme | Examiners Report |
November 2025 and June 2026 papers remain locked on the pearson edexcel website so schools can use them for mock exams. If you haven’t seen them by the time of your exam, please ask your teacher at school for them.
Edexcel GCSE Maths grade boundaries — Higher tier
Overall qualification boundaries for Higher tier, out of 240 across all three papers, with the percentage in brackets. June is the main series; November is the resit series for post-16 students.
Starting A-Level Maths in September? See what to do next →
| Series | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | 208 (87%) | 177 (74%) | 146 (61%) | 114 (48%) | 82 (34%) | 50 (21%) | 34 (14%) |
| Nov 2025 | 211 (88%) | 182 (76%) | 153 (64%) | 119 (50%) | 85 (35%) | 51 (21%) | 34 (14%) |
| June 2025 | 217 (90%) | 186 (78%) | 156 (65%) | 121 (50%) | 87 (36%) | 53 (22%) | 36 (15%) |
| Nov 2024 | 200 (83%) | 170 (71%) | 140 (58%) | 107 (45%) | 75 (31%) | 43 (18%) | 27 (11%) |
| June 2024 | 197 (82%) | 167 (70%) | 137 (57%) | 105 (44%) | 73 (30%) | 42 (18%) | 26 (11%) |
| Nov 2023 | 203 (85%) | 174 (73%) | 145 (60%) | 112 (47%) | 79 (33%) | 47 (20%) | 31 (13%) |
| June 2023 | 203 (85%) | 174 (73%) | 145 (60%) | 112 (47%) | 79 (33%) | 47 (20%) | 31 (13%) |
| Nov 2022 | 194 (81%) | 165 (69%) | 137 (57%) | 104 (43%) | 71 (30%) | 38 (16%) | 21 (9%) |
| June 2022 | 194 (81%) | 165 (69%) | 137 (57%) | 104 (43%) | 71 (30%) | 38 (16%) | 21 (9%) |
| Nov 2021 | 187 (78%) | 154 (64%) | 122 (51%) | 93 (39%) | 65 (27%) | 37 (15%) | 23 (10%) |
| Nov 2020 | 189 (79%) | 157 (65%) | 126 (53%) | 96 (40%) | 66 (28%) | 37 (15%) | 22 (9%) |
| Nov 2019 | 197 (82%) | 165 (69%) | 133 (55%) | 103 (43%) | 73 (30%) | 43 (18%) | 28 (12%) |
| June 2019 | 198 (83%) | 167 (70%) | 137 (57%) | 108 (45%) | 80 (33%) | 52 (22%) | 38 (16%) |
| Nov 2018 | 194 (81%) | 159 (66%) | 125 (52%) | 95 (40%) | 66 (28%) | 37 (15%) | 22 (9%) |
| June 2018 | 202 (84%) | 170 (71%) | 139 (58%) | 109 (45%) | 79 (33%) | 50 (21%) | 35 (15%) |
| Nov 2017 | 189 (79%) | 150 (63%) | 112 (47%) | 85 (35%) | 58 (24%) | 32 (13%) | 19 (8%) |
| June 2017 | 190 (79%) | 157 (65%) | 124 (52%) | 96 (40%) | 68 (28%) | 41 (17%) | 27 (11%) |
What these numbers tell you
Grade boundaries do vary between exam series because papers differ in difficulty, however, the grade boundaries are trending higher. With so many past papers to go on now, students have more practice materials and the teaching of this syllabus is getting better. With a grade 9 boundary now touching the 90's, exam technique is becoming even more important to reduce 'silly' mistakes and also to gain maximum method marks when you do make a mistake.
With 1-1 tuition we can focus on exam technique from the start, whilst also exposing you to as many grade 8 and 9 questions as possible.
One hour a week. One to one. All online.
Weekly lessons at a time that suits you.
£120 per hour