Is GCSE higher maths hard?
James Craig
Updated on March 21, 2026
This is a surprisingly tough question to answer for a number of reasons. But we can certainly say that it is harder than its caricature in the popular press has it. The dark blue bars are current "higher" GCSE maths papers, which contain the questions designed to tell higher aptitude children apart.
Also know, is the new GCSE maths harder?
New GCSEs 'hardest since O-levels' The new-style GCSE exams in England are the most difficult since the end of O-levels in the 1980s, according to an independent school leader. The first results of revised GCSEs in English and maths will be published this week, with a grading system using numbers from 9 to 1.
Beside above, are GCSEs really that hard? This year, students will receive a mixture of number and letter grade results in certain subjects instead of the traditional A-E grades, while the exams are the “hardest since 1980s O Levels”, experts say. The reforms introduced this year are designed to make GCSEs more rigorous and challenging for students.
One may also ask, which exam board is the hardest for GCSE maths?
AQA
What is the hardest GCSE subject?
So in no particular order, here are the subjects that we believe are the toughest GCSEs to do well in!
- Music.
- English Literature.
- Maths.
- Sciences.
- Engineering.
- Drama.
- Geography. Similar to History, Geography is largely essay based (although sometimes exam questions may be short answer too).
- Computing/Computer Science.
Related Question Answers
Will GCSE 2020 be harder?
So most GCSEs are now graded 9 to 1, and the very last of the new exams will be sat in 2020. 9 is the highest grade, and will be awarded to fewer students than the old A*. The new grading scale has more grades above a grade 4 than above the old grade C, to provide greater differentiation for higher achieving students.Is further maths GCSE hard?
How hard is Further Maths in the GCSE? If you are on track to an 8 or 9 (perhaps even 7) in GCSE maths you will be fine. Further Maths GCSE is essentially C1 (1st module) of A-level maths, it's nothing too tricky, but does require a lot more careful though and complex processes as opposed to GCSE maths.Do GCSEs get harder every year?
Every year, GCSE and A-level results could only get better. Of course this might raise the question as to why, if so many schools have improved, they do not get better exam results - but that again runs up against an exam system that is currently set on a steady outcome.Is it hard to get a Grade 9?
The coveted grade 9, which is intended to be more difficult to achieve than an A*, made up 4.5 per cent of all grades given to 16-year-olds, meaning it was achieved approximately 187,000 times. A total of 732 pupils across all age ranges who took seven or more GCSEs achieved a grade 9 in all of them.Are GCSEs harder than SATs?
“Harder” is a difficult question to answer. SATs, everyone sits the same test and it is graded on a scale from 400 - 1600. Overall (particularly in the science subjects) it appears that the SAT subjects are pitched at a higher level than GCSEs - closer to A/S level, but not as high as A-level.Is it hard to get a 9 in GCSE?
The coveted grade 9, which is intended to be more difficult to achieve than an A*, made up 4.5 per cent of all grades given to 16-year-olds, meaning it was achieved approximately 187,000 times. A total of 732 pupils across all age ranges who took seven or more GCSEs achieved a grade 9 in all of them.Is Edexcel easier than AQA GCSE?
Looking at the AQA papers, they do appear easier. If Edexcel papers are difficult but you only need 50% to pass, AQA papers are easier but you need 70% to pass (numbers completely made up), then you have to take that into consideration.Is Foundation GCSE maths hard?
With the new GCSE foundation maths is grades 1-5 and higher, grades 4-9. So you can 'pass' on either paper but the higher includes harder questions.What is the easiest GCSE to pass?
The Easiest GCSE Subjects to Pass- Modern foreign languages. With a pass rate of almost 90%, it's clear that these are amongst the easiest to pass!
- Sciences. Science subjects like Biology, Chemistry and Physics (alongside any Combined versions) are also some of the easiest subjects to pass at GCSE.
- English literature.
- Music.
- Religious studies.
Which is easier AQA or Edexcel maths?
Looking at the AQA papers, they do appear easier. If Edexcel papers are difficult but you only need 50% to pass, AQA papers are easier but you need 70% to pass (numbers completely made up), then you have to take that into consideration.Which GCSE board is the easiest?
Generally, exam boards try to maintain the same standards as other exam boards, meaning Pearson Edexcel should be as easy or hard as AQA. Exam boards also follow the same rules for setting grade boundaries - so if one exam was particularly difficult grade boundaries would be lowered.Are GCSEs stressful?
Although it is likely that anyone preparing for and taking exams will experience some stress and anxiety, research has suggested that around 15% of GCSE students may fall into the category of being 'highly test anxious' (Putwain & Daly, 2014).What is a GCSE equivalent to in America?
GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) – formerly known as O-levels. A single-subject exam taken upon completion of two years of study at the age of 16 (age at US 10th grade). Students take anywhere between 5-10 subjects, which, if passed, are generally considered equivalent to a US high school diploma.What is the easiest exam board?
AQAIs Aqa easier than OCR?
A lot of the time these differences just seem harder or easier due to your personal preferences and strengths. For example OCR being a lot more context based than AQA so for some people they may struggle with applying their knowledge to situations and therefore find it harder.How many GCSEs do you get for maths?
five GCSEsCan you get GCSE papers back?
Yes. The exams officer at your school or college will be able to request for us to return your marked question paper on your behalf. This service is sometimes called an 'Access to Script' request.Is English GCSE hard to pass?
English Language has a pass rate of 70.2% as of 2018. That being said, you do still need to revise for your exams. Practicing your writing skills and storytelling can both contribute to your final grade, so make sure you do some revision.Is a GCSE Grade 7 GOOD?
In a word, no. A good rule of thumb for the new grading system is a grade 7 is broadly equivalent to an A in old money, while a grade 9 is above an A*. A grade 4 is similar to an old grade C. Relatively few students will achieve grade 9s as they will effectively be rationed.Do GCSEs determine your future?
GCSEs determine the qualifications you take next If your grades are mostly Cs (4 or 5), studying A-levels or Advanced Highers could be off limits altogether; a sixth form may offer you a vocational (ie a more practical and hands-on) course such as a BTEC Level 3 qualification instead.What percentage is a 9 GCSE?
The approach to awarding the top grades will be the same for all GCSE subjects. A formula will be used that means that around 20% of all grades at 7 or above will be a grade 9. The grade 8 boundary will be equally spaced between the grade 7 and grade 9 boundaries.What is harder GCSE or national 5?
In broad terms, National 5 (N5) qualifications are the Scottish equivalent of the GCSE. The N5 is the more academically advanced of the qualifications, with candidates being awarded the qualification at grades A, B, C and D. Scottish National 5 certificates grade A to C are equivalent to GCSEs grade grade 4 to 9.Is it easy to pass GCSE?
To make GCSE's easier for yourself, you just need to be relatively well organised and revise effectively. 2 hours of effective, intense studying is way more effective than 5 hours of sloppy work. I think with average effort someone can pass GCSEs easily, but how hard GCSEs are depends on what grades you're aiming for.How early should you start revising for GCSEs?
When Should You Start Revising For Your GCSEs?- You really should start revising two or even three months before your GCSE exams – so ideally around the 10th of March.
- This means starting on (or around) the 10th of March.
- You don't need to revise in your last year of school, but it is definitely recommended if you want to get anything above a pass in your exams!
What is a d1 grade equivalent to?
Grading| Band | Grade | Independent Research Report |
|---|---|---|
| Distinction | D1 | 12 |
| D2 | 11 | |
| D3 | 10 | |
| Merit | M1 | 9 |
How can I be successful in my GCSEs?
Here's 7 handy revision tips to help prepare for your GCSEs over the next few months.- Set goals.
- Create a realistic revision timetable.
- Understand your learning style.
- Take regular breaks.
- Practice papers are your new best friend!
- Work in study groups.
- Mix it up!
What's the easiest GCSE?
The Top 10 Easiest GCSEs- Physics - 41.8% of students achieving As or above.
- Biology - 41.4% of students achieving As or above.
- Further additional science - 35.3% of students achieving As or above.
- Music - 30.8% of students achieving As or above.
- Religious studies - 29.5% of students achieving As or above.
Which is the hardest subject in the world?
Top 10 Most Difficult Subjects to Study- Foreign Language.
- Human Anatomy.
- Aerospace Engineering.
- Neuroscience.
- Statistics.
- Psychology.
- Forensic Science.
- Quantum mechanics. Quantum mechanics is the branch of physics developed to challenge and find solutions to problems unanswered by classical physics.
Is German GCSE hard?
French and German GCSE exams will be marked less severely from 2020 in England, after a review of grading. It could mean a boost of between a quarter and a half of a grade for some pupils. The exams regulator, Ofqual, said the change would bring grading of these two languages into line with GCSE Spanish.Is French GCSE easy?
When Ofqual repeated this analysis for the 2019 exam series, it found that the overall difficulty of subjects had changed, with Spanish now the seventh most difficult GCSE, while French and German were still among the five most difficult GCSEs.How many marks do you need to pass maths GCSE?
The maximum mark is 200. For the Mathematics exam, a score of 206 gets you a 9, 171 an 8, 136 a 7, 105 a 6, 74 a high pass 5, and 43 a standard pass 4.Is Greek GCSE hard?
The language is actually not as difficult as Latin, once the script and vocabulary have been learned. The Greek exams are taken at the end of the Fifth form, and there is no opportunity to drop out after Latin GCSE in the Fourth form. Why Study Classical Greek? Greek is academically challenging and stimulating.What are the most popular GCSE subjects?
10 most popular GCSE subjects 2018- English language – 706,255.
- English literature – 537,990.
- Religious studies – 260,300.
- History – 248,925.
- Geography – 244,925.
- Art and design subjects – 168,765.
- Biology – 167,075.
- Chemistry – 160,110. Similarly, chemistry has seen huge increases of around 28,000 to bring it into the Top 10.
