What percentage of students get a 9 at GCSE Maths?
DIS Academic Team
Education Specialist · 8 May 2026
Roughly 5–6% of GCSE Maths students in England earn a grade 9 each year.
In the 2024 summer series, about 5.4% of entries received a grade 9. The year before, 2023, the figure sat around 5.0%. During 2022, it was higher at roughly 6.2% because that cohort still benefited from adjusted grade boundaries after the pandemic.
Before COVID, the 2019 figure was approximately 4.7%. Results have hovered in this range since the 9–1 system replaced A*–G in 2017.
Grade 9 is deliberately hard to achieve. Ofqual designed it so that fewer students reach it than previously earned an A*. It signals truly exceptional performance, not just strong performance.
The exact percentage varies across exam boards. Here is a rough comparison from recent years:
| Exam Board | Approx. Grade 9 (%) |
|---|---|
| AQA | Around 5% |
| Edexcel (Pearson) | Around 5–6% |
| OCR | Around 5–6% |
These figures shift slightly each year, but the boards produce broadly similar outcomes at the top.
Higher vs Foundation tier matters too. Grade 9 is only available on the Higher tier paper. Students entered for Foundation can reach a maximum of grade 5. So the 5–6% figure applies only to the full GCSE entry, not just Higher tier candidates.
Many families exploring homeschooling or online schooling wonder whether their children can realistically target a grade 9. The answer is yes — the grade depends on exam performance, not where a student studies.
Private candidates and online school students sit the same papers, marked by the same examiners. What matters most is consistent practice, strong teaching, and enough time on exam technique.
At Digital International School, students study GCSE-equivalent Cambridge IGCSE Maths in live classes from AED 500/month. Small groups and direct instructor access help students build the depth of understanding that top grades demand.