Cambridge IGCSE Grade Thresholds 2026: Subject-Wise Analysis
Cambridge has published the IGCSE grade thresholds for the June 2026 IGCSE exams.
The grade threshold tells you how many marks you need for each grade. Cambridge sets a slightly different threshold for each exam series. They do this to keep the standard for each grade comparable.
The June 2026 tables cover a wide range of IGCSE subjects. They also show different IGCSE Grade thresholds for different combinations of components.
This article looks at the 2026 thresholds for several popular IGCSE subjects. It also compares them with the June 2025 thresholds.
What Is an IGCSE Grade Threshold?
The grade threshold tells you the minimum mark you need for a particular grade.
Cambridge publishes these IGCSE Grade thresholds after each exam series. The threshold can change from one exam series to another.
The change can happen because exam papers can differ in difficulty.
Cambridge adjusts the thresholds to keep the standard for each grade comparable. A harder paper can lead to a lower threshold. An easier paper can lead to a higher threshold.
The threshold also depends on the components a student took.
Cambridge lists the thresholds for different combinations of components. Students should use the combination that matches their exam entry.
How Should You Read the 2026 IGCSE Grade Threshold Tables?
Start with your syllabus code.
Then find the components you took.
Next, find the row that matches your component combination. That row gives you the thresholds for your subject grade.
This step matters.
The same subject can have different thresholds for different combinations of components.
For example, Mathematics 0580 has separate thresholds for the 21 and 41 combination, the 22 and 42 combination, and the 23 and 43 combination.
So you should not use a threshold from another combination.
Raw Marks and Weighted Marks
The threshold tables can show a maximum mark after weighting.
This is important because the mark shown in the table is not always the simple total of the raw marks from each paper.
Cambridge can apply a weighting factor to component marks before it combines them. The weighting makes each component count according to its place in the syllabus.
For example, the Mathematics 0580 Extended route has two papers. Paper 2 carries 50% of the qualification. Paper 4 also carries 50%. Each paper has 100 raw marks.
For some science subjects, the process is different. The papers can have different raw marks and different weightings.
This is why the IGCSE grade thresholds table may show a maximum mark after weighting, such as 200.
Students should use the threshold shown for their exact component combination. They should not try to recreate the threshold by simply adding raw marks from different papers.
How Should You Read the 2026 IGCSE Grade Thresholds Tables?
Start with your syllabus code.
Then find the components you took.
Next, find the row that matches your component combination. That row gives you the thresholds for your subject grade.
This step matters. The same subject can have different thresholds for different combinations of components. For example, Mathematics 0580 has separate thresholds for the 21 and 41 combination, the 22 and 42 combination, and the 23 and 43 combination. So you should not use a threshold from another combination.
2026 IGCSE Grade Thresholds: What Has Changed From 2025?
The 2026 thresholds give us a useful comparison with the June 2025 exam series.
The table below uses the A* threshold for the same component combination in both years.
| Subject | Component combination | June 2025 A* | June 2026 A* | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics 0580 | 21, 41 | 156 | 162 | +6 |
| Physics 0625 | 21, 41, 51 | 147 | 162 | +15 |
| Chemistry 0620 | 21, 41, 51 | 171 | 173 | +2 |
| Biology 0610 | 21, 41, 51 | 159 | 165 | +6 |
| Computer Science 0478 | 11, 21 | 116 | 117 | +1 |
| Economics 0455 | 11, 21 | 114 | 118 | +4 |
These figures come from the Cambridge June 2025 and June 2026 grade threshold tables.
The biggest movement in this comparison is Physics 0625. Its A* threshold for the 21, 41, 51 combination moved from 147 in June 2025 to 162 in June 2026.
Chemistry and Computer Science show much smaller changes.
This comparison needs careful reading.
A higher threshold does not automatically mean that students performed better. It also does not prove that the exam was easier. Cambridge uses thresholds to keep grading standards comparable between exam series.
IGCSE Mathematics 0580 Thresholds 2026
Mathematics 0580 shows why the combination of components matters.
For the 21, 41 combination, the June 2026 thresholds are:
| Grade | June 2026 threshold |
|---|---|
| A* | 162 |
| A | 138 |
| B | 114 |
| C | 90 |
| D | 73 |
| E | 56 |
The same combination had an A* threshold of 156 in June 2025. The A threshold was 131. The B threshold was 106. The C threshold was 81.
That means the A* threshold moved up by six marks.
The A threshold moved up by seven marks.
The B threshold moved up by eight marks.
The C threshold was raised by 9 marks.
But the other Mathematics combinations have different thresholds.
For example, the June 2025 A* threshold was 176 for the 22, 42 combination and 178 for the 23, 43 combination.
This is why students should always check their own component combination.
IGCSE Physics 0625 Thresholds 2026
For the Physics Extended combination 21, 41, 51, the June 2026 thresholds are:
| Grade | June 2026 threshold |
|---|---|
| A* | 162 |
| A | 137 |
| B | 112 |
| C | 88 |
| D | 77 |
| E | 67 |
| F | 57 |
| G | 47 |
The same combination had an A* threshold of 147 in June 2025. The A threshold was 123. The B threshold was 99. The C threshold was 75.
The A* threshold therefore increased by 15 marks.
That is the largest A* movement among the subjects in our comparison.
Students should not read this as proof that the 2026 Physics exam was easier. The IGCSE grade threshold is only one part of the grading process. Cambridge sets it to keep the grade standard comparable.
IGCSE Chemistry 0620 Thresholds 2026
For the Chemistry Extended combination 21, 41, 51, the June 2026 thresholds are:
| Grade | June 2026 threshold |
|---|---|
| A* | 173 |
| A | 147 |
| B | 119 |
| C | 91 |
| D | 78 |
| E | 66 |
| F | 53 |
| G | 40 |
In June 2025, the A* threshold for the same combination was 171. The A threshold was 143. The B threshold was 115. The C threshold was 88.
The A* threshold therefore moved up by two marks.
The A threshold moved up by four marks.
The B threshold moved up by four marks.
The C threshold moved up by three marks.
This makes the change in Chemistry much smaller than the change in Physics.
IGCSE Biology 0610 Thresholds 2026
For the Biology Extended combination 21, 41, 51, the June 2026 thresholds are:
| Grade | June 2026 threshold |
|---|---|
| A* | 165 |
| A | 137 |
| B | 109 |
| C | 82 |
| D | 72 |
| E | 63 |
| F | 53 |
| G | 43 |
In June 2025, the A* threshold for the same combination was 159. The A threshold was 131. The B threshold was 103. The C threshold was 75.
The A* threshold therefore increased by six marks.
The A threshold increased by six marks.
The B threshold increased by six marks.
The C threshold increased by seven marks.
The change is larger than the change seen in Chemistry.
IGCSE Computer Science 0478 Thresholds 2026
Computer Science uses a different mark structure.
For the 11, 21 combination, the June 2026 thresholds are:
| Grade | June 2026 threshold |
|---|---|
| A* | 117 |
| A | 93 |
| B | 69 |
| C | 46 |
The June 2025 A* threshold for the same combination was 116. The A threshold was 94. The B threshold was 72. The C threshold was 50.
The A* threshold changed by only one mark.
The A threshold fell by one mark.
The B threshold fell by three marks.
The C threshold fell by four marks.
This shows that the movement does not have to go in the same direction at every grade.
IGCSE Economics 0455 Thresholds 2026
In Economics, the 11-21 combination has a maximum mark of 150.
The June 2026 thresholds are:
| Grade | June 2026 threshold |
|---|---|
| A* | 118 |
| A | 102 |
| B | 86 |
| C | 71 |
The June 2025 A* threshold for the same combination was 114. The A threshold was 97. The B threshold was 80. The C threshold was 63.
The A* threshold increased by four marks.
The A threshold increased by five marks.
The B threshold increased by six marks.
The C threshold increased by eight marks.
Can You Compare Your 2026 Result With the 2025 Threshold?
Yes, but you need to make a like-for-like comparison.
Use the same syllabus.
Use the same exam series.
Use the same component combination.
Mathematics 0580 is a good example.
For the 21, 41 combination, the A* threshold was 156 in June 2025. It was 162 in June 2026.
That is a useful comparison because both figures come from the same subject and the same combination of components.
You should not compare the 2026 Mathematics 21, 41 threshold with the 2025 Mathematics 22, 42 threshold.
The two combinations have different thresholds.
Why Does the Component Combination Matter?
Cambridge uses different components for different exam routes and paper combinations.
The grade threshold table lists the applicable combination.
This can change the threshold for the same subject.
Mathematics 0580 shows this clearly.
The June 2025 A* threshold was 156 for 21, 41. It was 176 for 22, 42. It was 178 for 23, 43.
What Should You Check After Receiving Your Result?
Start with your syllabus code.
Then check the components you took.
Find that exact combination in the June 2026 threshold table.
Now look at the threshold for the grade you received.
This gives you a better understanding of your result.
Do not use a threshold from a different component combination.
Also, do not assume that the threshold stays the same every year. Cambridge publishes new thresholds for each exam series.
Where Can You Find the Official 2026 Thresholds?
Cambridge publishes the official IGCSE grade threshold tables on its website.
The tables cover the June 2026 Cambridge IGCSE examination series. They include subjects such as Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science and Economics.
Students and parents should use the table that matches the subject and component combination.
The June 2025 tables are also available on the Cambridge website. This makes it possible to compare the two exam series.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an IGCSE grade threshold?
The grade threshold tells you the minimum mark needed for a particular grade. Cambridge publishes the thresholds after each exam series.
Does the IGCSE threshold change every year?
It can change from one exam series to another. Cambridge adjusts the thresholds to keep the standard for each grade comparable.
Does a higher threshold mean the exam was easier?
Not by itself. Cambridge considers the exam’s difficulty when setting the thresholds. The threshold alone does not tell you how well students performed.
Why does the same subject have different thresholds?
Some subjects have different component combinations. Cambridge publishes separate thresholds for those combinations.
What do components 21 and 41 mean in Mathematics 0580?
Component 21 is Paper 2, the Non-calculator paper. Component 41 is Paper 4, the Calculator paper. Each paper carries 50% of the Mathematics 0580 Extended qualification.
Can I use another student’s threshold to check my grade?
Only if the student took the same syllabus and the same component combination. Otherwise, the threshold may be different.
Where can I find the June 2026 IGCSE thresholds?
Cambridge publishes the official June 2026 grade threshold tables on its website. The tables provide the thresholds for the different subjects and component combinations.
Conclusion
The June 2026 IGCSE thresholds give students a useful way to understand their results.
The most important step is to check the correct component combination.
The 2026 figures also show that thresholds can change from one year to another. The magnitude of the change varies across subjects and grades.
A threshold does not tell the whole story about an exam.
It tells you the marks Cambridge required for each grade in that particular exam series.
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